Four area beer bars make list of best in the nation

The editors of Draft, a magazine for beer enthusiasts, have come out with a huge honking list of the best beer bars in America, and they had plenty of love to bestow upon four Atlanta-area taverns. The picks were made by local beer expert (and Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist) Bob Townsend. They are:

> Brick Store Pub: Calling it the “go-to place for beer in the ATL,” the magazine cites the Decatur pub’s savvy staff, monthly beer-and-cheese pairings and cellar program. (125 E. Court Square, Decatur. 404-687-0990)

> The Porter Beer Bar: The magazine dubs this Little Five Points newcomer “a cover band” of the Brick Store, “right down to the lip-synching design of its beer menu.” But it heaps praise on the selection and says that chef Nick Rutherford’s menu “ups the ante for beer bars in the city.” (1156 Euclid Ave., Atlanta. 404-223-0393)

> Summits Wayside Tavern: The Woodstock location boasts, according to the magazine, a “world-class beer list” with 150 choices on tap and 700 in the bottle. Also of note: regular cask-ale tapping and beer-and-chocolate tastings. (2990 Eagle Drive, Woodstock. 770-924-5315)

> Taco Mac: The wing-and-brewski chain gets a nod for its Lindbergh City Center locale, which has 100 beers on tap, another 280 in the bottle, and an ongoing beer-dinner series where guests are “seated in an intimate, mezzanine-level private dining room.” In other words, don’t throw your chicken bones on the floor. (573 Main St., 404-574-5813)