Where can I find the best craft beer?

[Brian Curtis]

My family will be at WDW from April 8-17, staying at the Polynesian. I'm curious what restaurants or bars have the best selection of craft beer? I'm also curious what places offer flights of beer? Thanks in advance!

 

[jsbowl16]

Big River Grill and Brewing Works is the only working brewpub on Disney property. It is located on the Boardwalk and probably the best place to find a nice selection of beers. We have stayed at the Boardwalk a few times now and always say we are going to stop in there but with our four year old it just hasn't happened yet.

 

[jsbowl16]

You can also look online for the beer in each country in world showcase. I have some friends who have drank a beer in each country while walking around. I am not sure how many of them would be considered craft beer but also a nice way to try some beer that you might have never had before.

 

[steg]

Depends on where you draw the line at "craft," and what you're accustomed to drinking, a lot of the niche styles that are popular right now haven't made it to Disney yet although it's gotten much better.


Being that you'll be there during food and wine the booth selections for beer (and beer flights) should be pretty good.


Via Napoli in Epcot had beer flights but italian beers aren't my thing. They also had some stuff from Birra Del Borgo the last time I was there but not as part of the flight

The Canada beer cart usually carries La Fin Du Monde from Unibroue and LeCellier had that and other Unibroue selections inside.

Shula's had a solid selection that was more reasonably priced than the parks

Dockside Margaritas in Disney Springs had Cigar City Jai Alai on tap

There was also a Quick Service kiosk in Epcot's Futureworld area that had Bear Republic Racer 5 on tap for $8.50 but I can't remember where

Block and Hans in Epcot has some local selections as well

UK Beer cart has Bass Ale, and Sam Smith's Organic Ale

Be Our Guest (Dinner Only) has some of the more common Belgians, including Saison DuPont and Chimay Blue (Grande Reserve)

Trader Sam's has a Kona beer flight (and an age restriction after a certain time in the evening)

Morimoto Asia has a selection (hideously overpriced) of his contract brewed beers by Rouge Ales but they also have some Hitachino stuff which depending on where you live might be hard to find.

+1 for Big River on the Boardwalk

 

[Tigger's ally]

I am not into the whole "Craft" beer scene (quite frankly because a lot of them are just plain horrible). I prefer good Ale's and stouts from long time brewers to jimmy and joe down on the corner. Hence, I will drink at Raglan Road, Rose and Crown and even the hole in the wall bar at DS. Disney has been much better lately at bringing in all kinds of beers though so you should be in luck. In September when I was there, the hole in the wall bar had quite a few taps that did have craft beers that rotated in and out. I was also a fan of many different beers at the F&W kiosks too. Give me a half and half at the Rose and Crown though and I am just fine. Here is a list of the Rose and Crown beers.

Imperial Sampler - Sampler of Ales, Lagers and Stouts $12

Bass Ale - easy-going with a caramel aroma and a lovely malt finish $9

Boddingtons English Pub Ale - a cream ale with a distinct, bitter aftertaste $9

Guinness Stout - deep, rich-flavored stout with a creamy top $9

Harp Lager - pale-to-golden colored beer with a noble hop bitterness $9

Smithwick's - Irish ale with a clear, ruby-hue and creamy top $9

Strongbow Cider - a refreshingly dry, hard apple cider $9.00

Golden Pub Blend - half Harp and half Bass Ale $9

Half & Half Pub Blend - half Harp and half Guinness $9

Black & Tan Pub Blend - half Bass Ale and half Guinness $9

Bumblebee Pub Blend - half Boddingtons and half Guinness $9

Golden Fox Pub Blend - half Boddingtons and half Bass Ale $9

Shandy Pub Blend - half Sprite and half Bass Ale $9

Snake Bite Blend - Half cider and half harp $9.00

Cider & Black Blend - cider with a shot of black currant juice $9.00

 

[Hopefully]

Depends on where you draw the line at "craft," and what you're accustomed to drinking, a lot of the niche styles that are popular right now haven't made it to Disney yet although it's gotten much better.


Being that you'll be there during food and wine the booth selections for beer (and beer flights) should be pretty good

+1 for Big River on the Boardwalk

The OP is there in April which is not Food & Wine it is Flower & Garden Festival.

Check out
Www.beersandears.net for WDW beers

 

[IrishNYC]

I know the poolside bar at CBR had a few Cigar City beers when we last stayed there.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I have to say, generally speaking, I think Disney has a relatively decent selection of beers of all types in various places across property. Drink/snack carts in the parks, restaurants, Flower & Garden booths, pool bars, etc. Frankly I'm always amazed how many nichy / limited known names you can find around property.

Check around on here to confirm this but the I think the Craft Beer thing in Odyssey at Epcot stayed open after F&W this year and has continuing hours. Pretty sure they have some good flights.

I'm thirsty now.

 

[Wilderness_Lodge]

Jock Lindseys at Disney springs had a small but nice selection. I'm fairly certain I had a flight there too

 

[Beer Me]

I know the poolside bar at CBR had a few Cigar City beers when we last stayed there.

Good stuff. We usually drive so I pick up a case or two of jai Alai to keep in the room.

The brew pub on the boardwalk is pretty good but nothing too original. worth a try if you are in the area. Raglan has a decent selection of bottles.

Just about every bar and restaurant has at least one interesting choice - most a few - but no one place stands out as having a good selection. The nice thing is that you will see different line up at each place. Finding a good brew in Disney can be a bit of a scavenger hunt. Collect a new one at each bar.

 

[kevtlas]

The only place I ever saw flights offered was Big River. I second the Epcot beer from each country. Germany was the best IMHO, although I opted for a hefeweizen instead of the pils.

 

[JerseyJanice]

A big thumb's up to Tigger's Ally for posting where to find a proper Black and Tan! Thank you.

If you find yourself at the Swan and Dolphin resort, be sure to check out the "Phins and Feathers" IPA made exclusively for the resort by a local brewer.

Bottoms up!

 

[MamaJessie]

My husband is very beer snobby and there are a couple places off site he is going to because I haven't found much on site that is what he is looking for.

 

[Tigger's ally]

A big thumb's up to Tigger's Ally for posting where to find a proper Black and Tan! Thank you.



Bottoms up!

You can get the proper Black and Tan at Ragland as well. And the hole in the wall if your bartender is not too busy.

 

[patster734]

I have to say, generally speaking, I think Disney has a relatively decent selection of beers of all types in various places across property. Drink/snack carts in the parks, restaurants, Flower & Garden booths, pool bars, etc. Frankly I'm always amazed how many nichy / limited known names you can find around property.

Check around on here to confirm this but the I think the Craft Beer thing in Odyssey at Epcot stayed open after F&W this year and has continuing hours. Pretty sure they have some good flights.

I'm thirsty now.

We were at Epcot about a month ago for the Christmas festival and the Odyssey Craft Beer stand was open. Unfortunately, a few of the beers were sold out, but there were still enough to fill a 4 beer flight.

 

[Little_Miss]

My husband and I like craft beers. We've found that most of the places around Disney do a pretty good job selecting a wide variety. There are some pretty good local breweries featured too.

For flights go to Raglan Road at Disney Springs. The great atmosphere is a plus.

 

[scrapquitler]

The only place I ever saw flights offered was Big River. I second the Epcot beer from each country. Germany was the best IMHO, although I opted for a hefeweizen instead of the pils.

We got a flight at Trader Sams, there were some decent beers in there that we had never had before because we come from the Northeast and have a different set of breweries (yay Vermont!).

 

[rwdavis2]

After having experienced a surge in micro breweries where I live, I don't think there is very much good beer at WDW. Most of the beers are mass-produced stuff akin to Budweiser. Just consider that WDW probably wants have access to huge amounts of each beer so they don't run out of a high-selling brew. That's why you see Bass, Guinness (IMO, tasteless), Harp, etc. as well as Budweiser products. There are a few exceptions but not many.

 

[JD11]

You can get the proper Black and Tan at Ragland as well. And the hole in the wall if your bartender is not too busy.

I don't know if I'd order a "black an tan" at Ragland. Order a "half and half" instead as they aren't exactly the same thing and are very different to the Irish!

 

[Tigger's ally]

I don't know if I'd order a "black an tan" at Ragland. Order a "half and half" instead as they aren't exactly the same thing and are very different to the Irish!

Yeah, always best to look at menu or just ask the pour guy/gal. I actually prefer Harp to Bass (U2 fan here ) As an aside, a half harp/half Boddington's is a good twist as well.

I got used to calling the bartender the pour guy and pour girl because they have to deal with me and other beer drinkers who have stories to tell. I think there are only 6 to 9 seats at the bar at the Hole in the Wall and I am still trying to find which one is my favorite. Tried them all a couple times. By the fourth time through I should know where I want to sit. Either that or I will ask the pour girl which one is best. What else is a guy to do when his wife is shopping?