I'll give my personal top ten, since I don't think the list does a great job telling you about places that actually serve good beer. It's more geared towards telling you interesting places you can find
any beer, which is fine, but not what I was hoping for. Anyway, here's my list of favorite places to grab a beer, based on quality of brew
and interesting location/ambiance (that is, so far; I haven't been to or maybe even know about all of the places I'd like to go, yet):
10.
Sommerfest - Nothing quite says "I love beer" like enjoying an Oktoberfest brew in a souvenir mug. At Sommerfest you can do just that! Grab a Becks or Spaten and toast away to German drinking songs, without having to go into Biergarten... Not that there's anything wrong with that. The joint has a fun ambiance, as do many of the pavilions in Epcot, of course, but my ranking is lower than it probably should be due to their lack of variety. There is so much good beer in Germany. I find their selections on tap to be a little disappointing.
9.
Scat Cat's Club - Located just off the foyer of the main entrance in Port Orleans French Quarter is a small bar, only open for the dinner and late night crowd. staying true to the Bayou theme of the resort, they serve a variety of Abita beers on tap, including the famous (or infamous, depending on how much you've indulged)
Purple Haze. If beer isn't your thing (and why not?), even though they sometimes aren't advertised anymore since the great bar menu standardization, Scat Cat's serves a variety of fruity, rummy hurricanes for your drinking enjoyment. On certain nights, you even get some live blues/jazz entertainment. One of the more underrated nightlife spots on property.
8.
Belle Vue Lounge - A small lounge tucked away on the second floor of the Boardwalk Inn, the Belle Vue is a great place to relax after a long day. Decorated like a 1930's or 1940's family den, it's full of nostalgia. The last time we were there, we were at a small, two-person table, and the old-timey radio on the shelf next to us was playing comedy serials. They have a decent selection of beers (try the Drifter's Pale Ale) on tap and a full bar with friendly bartenders. The big plus: they are loaded with board games that you can use for free, from Candyland to Scrabble. Even most of the tabletops are either chess/checker or backgammon boards! Even some of the books that line the shelves are real and for your use, if you're so inclined.
7.
The Wave Lounge - This is a place I'm a little reluctant to share. For some reason, the relative popularity of the restaurant to which it's attached nor the grand neon entrance to the place have announced the lounge's presence to many. Every time we've been in there, it's been peaceful. The subtly lit, blue layout of the lounge area is classy, but when it's quiet, it's practically zen. As others on the thread have already stated, they serve a small variety of organic brews, all of which are very tasty. Organic is kind of the underlying theme of the lounge. All of their specialty drinks are made with organic liquors and mixers, and they tend to use fresh ingredients whenever available. The bar is definitely nice, but the curtained and partitioned lounges are where the Wave actually shines. This is the kind of dim, upscale alcove that you see in movies. Dress nice, hang out with some good friends and order some ritzy drinks and brews in one of these, and I guarantee you'll feel like a VIP.
6.
Victoria Falls/Sanaa Lounge - I'll combine the two since they serve such similar drink menus, but you really can't go wrong with either. I can see starting an evening at Victoria Falls, having dinner at Jiko and then closing out the night at Sanaa. With Victoria Falls Lounge, you're getting a great view. Just around the corner from the indoor waterfall and overlooking Boma, it's a prime location for taking in the beautiful Animal Kingdom Lodge atmosphere. In addition, you can ask for your drink to go, and sip it while walking along the paths that skirt the savanna just out the back door or sit next to the fireplace right up the stairs. So what's the bonus at Sanaa? Well, aside from a great staff, they serve appetizers and desserts from the restaurant at the bar until midnight. Grab a Tusker Lager (bottle) and a Dessert Sampler, and go nuts. Not a bad way to close out a night, if you ask me. Special Insider Note: Our bartender at Sanaa told us to stay away from the "Berries and Cream" specialty dessert drink. She said it tastes like the milk left over in the bowl after you polish off some Froot Loops, except sweeter and fattier.
5.
Crew's Cup Lounge - Similarly to Sanaa, they also serve food at the Crew's Cup Lounge, located right next to the entrance to the Yachtsman Steakhouse, in the Yacht Club Resort. Unlike, Sanaa, however, after 5:00 PM, you can order from the
entire Steakhouse menu at the bar. Their beer selection is pretty good, too. There's nothing special about the ambiance. It looks pretty much like a New England harbor dive bar, but sometimes, that's exactly what you're in the mood for: a little quiet anonymity and a nice mugful... Maybe a big steak. Your call.
4.
Jellyrolls - This might be the one place I have on my list where the beer selection isn't particularly worth noting, but what evening visit to the Boardwalk is complete without a stop at Jellyrolls? It's just a fun place to have a drink. With dueling pianos playing sing-along music all night long, you'd be a fool to go here and not have a drink in your hand to compliment your experience. I think they almost expect it. Almost. They do charge a cover, after all. They serve your standard tap offerings, and if that's not your thing for the night, they often have a drink special served up in a huge 32 oz. Dixie Cup. Make sure you check the dry-erase board by the bar to see if the special is to your liking!
3.
Raglan Road - It's like Jellyrolls, except with good beer! I don't know, I think I like the entertainment more at Jellyrolls, but I've never had a bad time at Raglan Road. They have good food and a good crowd of people. It's a recipe for a fun time had by all. We've sat at the bar and in a booth, and I've gotta say, I prefer a table or booth in the bar area. It might not be the best view in the house, but it lets you converse with your friends a little more easily. Have you ever tried to talk across two people at a bar during a live band's performance? In ain't easy. Other than that, I don't have much more to say about the place. Just go and have fun. Get some whiskey, too. It's like beer, but older.
2.
Rose & Crown Pub - If not for my number one, this would be my favorite place in the parks to get a tap pour. It's one of the few places in my life where I've encountered Boddingtons on tap. If you've never had a freshly pulled pint of Boddingtons, you're missing out. In about two months, I will be in the World Showcase. I have very few definite plans, outside of some dinner reservations, but one of those must-dos is going to be getting a pint and the single malt scotch flight here in the pub. They also have special blends of their tap beers, ciders and sodas. Personally, I think the Shandy (Sprite and Harp or Bass) sounds gross, but people seem to like it. It's often busy, sometimes a little raucous, but for a pub atmosphere, you won't find anything else like it anywhere in the parks. (It's also a great place to watch Illuminations, if you can find a spot and deal with the constant smell of fish and chips wafting through the air.)
1.
Big River Grille & Brewing Works - Ah, Big River. Look, the food is adequate. I'm not going to rave about the restaurant, because it's just a fresher take on your normal pub fare. Soups, sandwiches and such. The beer, though, now that's something special. At any time, depending on availability, they will have as many as five original creations on tap, beers that you won't find anywhere else in the parks or outside of a Big River Grille. If you're new to the place, I highly recommend grabbing a seat on the front deck, right on the Boardwalk (weather permitting, of course), and ordering up a sampler of what they have. If you like beer, you won't be disappointed. The position of the place on the Boardwalk lends to some of the best people watching in any of the resorts, and also offers a great view of the ferryboats comings and goings.
A couple quick honorable mentions:
Kimonos Lounge - Good sushi and karaoke, if that's something you're into. Could be pretty frightening. You'll find this in the the Swan.
Territory Lounge - Not particularly impressive in design or selection, it's still a cozy place to hang out and wait for a reservation time. They have a passable appetizer menu and plenty of booths. You'll find this one in Wilderness Lodge.
Cabana Bar and Beach Club - I haven't been here yet (located at the pool in the Dolphin), but all signs point to this being a winner. I'll be checking it out on my upcoming trip, time permitting.
Did I miss anything?