Comments (0) Best Brew Pub - 2007

Magnolia

There are many brew pubs in the U.S. (particularly on the West Coast), but most of them look like atmosphere-challenged sports bars and serve Miller and Bud knock-offs to match. Magnolia brewmaster and propietor Dave McLean does things differently. Instead of swamping customers' conversations with wall-to-wall flat plasma TV screens blaring college football games across a converted warehouse, Magnolia — a converted early-20th-century pharmacy — is all dark wood, Grateful Dead-inspired friezes, and intimate booths. The pub boasts a wide, revolving range of house-made beers (typically, about five cask-conditioned and around 12 on tap) from a tangy Kalifornia Kölsch to a velvety Cole Porter. Magnolia also serves guest beers from all over Europe, with the offerings frequently betraying McLean's predisposition toward British ales. Chef Edward Blyden's menu of seasonal, organic food pairs perfectly with the house brews to create a true artisan brewery experience.