USA TODAY 10Best
Best Beer Garden: The Raleigh Beer Garden wins
Best Beer Garden (2021)
Our readers voted these 10 American beer gardens as the best spots to enjoy a beer outdoors.
- The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden - Nashville
- Dacha Beer Garden - Washington, DC
- Lowry Beer Garden - Denver
- VBGB Beer Hall and Garden - Charlotte, North Carolina
- Funkatorium Biergarten - Asheville, North Carolina
- Saint Arnold Brewing Company - Houston
- Tucker Brewing - Tucker, Georgia
- The Charlotte Beer Garden - Charlotte, North Carolina
- New Realm Brewing Company - Virginia Beach
- The Raleigh Beer Garden - Raleigh, North Carolina
Photo courtesy of The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden
No. 10:
The Pharmacy calls itself Nashville’s “wurst burger joint” — a nod to its selection of German wurst and beer, available to enjoy in the spacious outdoor beer garden.
Photo courtesy of Dacha Beer Garden
No. 9:
This dog and family friendly beer garden in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, DC serves a menu of German, Belgian and American craft beers, alongside local ciders, meads and draft cocktails. The seasonal menu takes inspiration from a traditional Bavarian beer garden with a focus on locally sourced ingredients.
Photo courtesy of Lowry Beer Garden
No. 8:
The Lowry Beer Garden sits within its own park with more than 9,000 square feet of outdoor space, including a covered pavilion. Guests sit at Oktoberfest-style picnic tables while enjoying a selection of draft and bottled beers with Colorado brews heavily represented. The menu includes locally-made sausages, fresh-baked pretzels, burgers, fries and salads.
Photo courtesy of VBGB Beer Hall and Garden
No. 7:
VBGB Beer Hall and Garden serves up 30 local and regional craft beers on tap served at the frost rail bar or outside on one of Charlotte’s largest patios. This outdoor beer garden area includes bar games and cornhole alongside communal picnic tables. The venue is slated to reopen in March.
Photo courtesy of Wicked Weed Brewing
No. 6:
The Funkatorium, Asheville’s sour beer-dedicated taproom, offers an expansive outdoor Biergarten, open seasonally. This space on the South Slope of Asheville offers sour beer lovers a place to sip sours and Rosé on draught while enjoying brett-risen pizzas, salads or sandwiches from the menu.
Photo courtesy of Saint Arnold Brewing Company
No. 5:
Guests at Saint Arnold’s sprawling outdoor beer garden enjoy stellar views of the downtown Houston skyline as they sip on their favorite pint. The food menu includes pizzas, sandwiches and sharable bites, like pretzels, pork rinds or chips and Lawnmower queso with Hatch chile salsa. Between sips, be sure to check out the collection of art cars behind the brewery.
Photo courtesy of Tucker Brewing
No. 4:
Tucker Brewing Company specializes in easy-to-drink pilsners and lagers. Visitors can sip them in the 8,500-square-foot outdoor beer garden — among the largest in the state of Georgia. The space is shaded by trees and umbrellas and includes a stage and cornhole. Dogs are welcome.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Alina Rosanova
No. 3:
The Charlotte Beer Garden offers one of the largest selections of draft beers you’re likely to find in a single restaurant — some 400 beers on tap. Visitors can enjoy their beer of choice at the indoor-outdoor beer bar or on the heated patio.
Photo courtesy of New Realm Brewing Company
No. 2:
The expansive outdoor beer garden at New Realm in Virginia Beach features lawn games, fire pits and plenty of room to spread out. Diners enjoy a selection of New Realm Brewing Co. beers alongside a menu of burgers, sandwiches, salads and small bites.
Photo courtesy of iStock / DavidPrahl
No. 1:
Beer lovers will find more than 350 beers on tap at The Raleigh Beer Garden in the downtown Glenwood South district. The bar includes plenty of outdoor seating options, including a patio and a rooftop garden.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning beer gardens!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Dennis Malcolm "Ale" Sharpton
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a... Read More
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a world-renowned beer authority, award-winning journalist, blogger (AleSharpton.com), photographer, event planner, host, speaker and beer judge to name a few of his roles. While passionately traveling the globe to cover everything from automobiles to culinary scenes, celebrity profiles, sports, hotel destinations, art, and what he terms “the world’s best beverage,” Ale has contributed to more than 30 magazines and websites combined. His current media outlets include USAToday, Thrillist.com, Craft Beer & Brewing, CraftBeer.com, Theinfatuation.com, ButterATL.com, James Beard Foundation, Atlanta Magazine, and others. Along with being featured in various publications, on the web, radio, podcasts, television, beer fests, conferences, and ongoing Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ video series, Ale utilizes his Cornell University School of Hotel Administration education and vast work experience to consult in the culinary industry as well. Forbes, Smithsonian Institution, UNTAPPD, Good Beer Hunting, and numerous others have showcased Ale’s accomplishments. In a collaboration going on six years with brewing giant New Belgium, Ale has produced a beer he conceptualized called Piano Keys—a chocolate vanilla imperial stout—geared to support diversity and racial equality. This project with New Belgium also spawned his initiative, BrewGether, which raises funds to support nonprofits embracing the same mission as Piano Keys. Ale proudly owns AllWays Open Creative Solutions, an agency specializing in creative direction, logo design, branding, web design, video production, photography, consulting, and social media. Although a native New Yorker, Ale proudly calls Atlanta his home. Follow Ale’s globetrotting adventures on his captivating Instagram (@realalesharpton).
Dennis Malcolm "Ale" Sharpton
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a world-renowned beer authority, award-winning journalist, blogger (AleSharpton.com), photographer, event planner, host, speaker and beer judge to name a few of his roles. While passionately traveling the globe to cover everything from automobiles to culinary scenes, celebrity profiles, sports, hotel destinations, art, and what he terms “the world’s best beverage,” Ale has contributed to more than 30 magazines and websites combined. His current media outlets include USAToday, Thrillist.com, Craft Beer & Brewing, CraftBeer.com, Theinfatuation.com, ButterATL.com, James Beard Foundation, Atlanta Magazine, and others. Along with being featured in various publications, on the web, radio, podcasts, television, beer fests, conferences, and ongoing Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ video series, Ale utilizes his Cornell University School of Hotel Administration education and vast work experience to consult in the culinary industry as well. Forbes, Smithsonian Institution, UNTAPPD, Good Beer Hunting, and numerous others have showcased Ale’s accomplishments. In a collaboration going on six years with brewing giant New Belgium, Ale has produced a beer he conceptualized called Piano Keys—a chocolate vanilla imperial stout—geared to support diversity and racial equality. This project with New Belgium also spawned his initiative, BrewGether, which raises funds to support nonprofits embracing the same mission as Piano Keys. Ale proudly owns AllWays Open Creative Solutions, an agency specializing in creative direction, logo design, branding, web design, video production, photography, consulting, and social media. Although a native New Yorker, Ale proudly calls Atlanta his home. Follow Ale’s globetrotting adventures on his captivating Instagram (@realalesharpton).
Gary Monterosso
Gary Monterosso is an award-winning critic, who... Read More
Gary Monterosso is an award-winning critic, who has written for national and regional publications. He is a regular guest on “You Oughta Know,” on WHYY-TV, a PBS station based in Philadelphia. Gary also hosts one-minute beverage updates on several southern NJ radio stations. From 2010-2017, he was seen on the History Channel show called “The Epic History of Everyday Things.” He is the author of the book, “Artisan Beers.” After a 41-year career as a NJ- based educator, Gary now teaches beer appreciation classes at Wilmington University. Gary has appeared on many television programs discussing craft beers and has guested on BBC radio offering an American perspective on the beverage. In late 2014, he lent his expertise to CBS News New York, by offering fall beer recommendations. One of the highlights of his career was a three-year stint on the Sirius Satellite Radio network, talking about the latest happenings in the beer world. In 2014, Gary was selected by Chilled Magazine to be a member of the “Chilled 100,” signifying him as one of the top 100 beverage personalities in the United States. He continues to be a fixture at regional beer events by hosting dinners and tasting seminars. He has qualified as a Certified Beer Server, a part of the Cicerone Certification Program, recognizing his knowledge of beer styles, culture, the brewing process and ingredients.
Gary Monterosso
Gary Monterosso is an award-winning critic, who has written for national and regional publications. He is a regular guest on “You Oughta Know,” on WHYY-TV, a PBS station based in Philadelphia. Gary also hosts one-minute beverage updates on several southern NJ radio stations. From 2010-2017, he was seen on the History Channel show called “The Epic History of Everyday Things.” He is the author of the book, “Artisan Beers.” After a 41-year career as a NJ- based educator, Gary now teaches beer appreciation classes at Wilmington University. Gary has appeared on many television programs discussing craft beers and has guested on BBC radio offering an American perspective on the beverage. In late 2014, he lent his expertise to CBS News New York, by offering fall beer recommendations. One of the highlights of his career was a three-year stint on the Sirius Satellite Radio network, talking about the latest happenings in the beer world. In 2014, Gary was selected by Chilled Magazine to be a member of the “Chilled 100,” signifying him as one of the top 100 beverage personalities in the United States. He continues to be a fixture at regional beer events by hosting dinners and tasting seminars. He has qualified as a Certified Beer Server, a part of the Cicerone Certification Program, recognizing his knowledge of beer styles, culture, the brewing process and ingredients.
Latiesha Cook
Latiesha Cook is the Co-Founder, President and CEO... Read More
Latiesha Cook is the Co-Founder, President and CEO of Beer Kulture, a St. Petersburg, Florida based nonprofit focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in the craft beer industry. Born in the Bronx, New York, Latiesha is a wife, mother of four, Cicerone certified beer server, published author and entrepreneur. In her leadership role at Beer Kulture, she has guided the team in launching an array of initiatives designed to diversify craft beer, including Cicerone scholarships, internships, a job board, and kollaboration beers with breweries around the world, as well as community projects to help local neighborhoods and causes throughout the country.
Latiesha Cook
Latiesha Cook is the Co-Founder, President and CEO of Beer Kulture, a St. Petersburg, Florida based nonprofit focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in the craft beer industry. Born in the Bronx, New York, Latiesha is a wife, mother of four, Cicerone certified beer server, published author and entrepreneur. In her leadership role at Beer Kulture, she has guided the team in launching an array of initiatives designed to diversify craft beer, including Cicerone scholarships, internships, a job board, and kollaboration beers with breweries around the world, as well as community projects to help local neighborhoods and causes throughout the country.
