A guide to the tastiest beers from the best breweries

With all the beer choices out there these days, wandering through your beer distributor or bellying up to your favorite tavern can be a daunting experience. Or a great opportunity to discover scores of new flavors.

Here's a look at the region's breweries and their most notable offerings.

Craft Brewery

Brewery: 6 Cannery Village Center, Milton, Del. 302-684-1000.

Brewpub: 320 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del. 302-226-2739.

Alehouse: 800 West Diamond Ave., Gaithersburg, Md. 301-963-4847.

A well-deserved reputation for producing experimental styles that expand any conventional definition of beer.

60-Minute IPA. A nicely balanced IPA brewed with a constant addition of hops during the one-hour boil. Inside sources say the "secret" hop is Simcoe.

Aprihop. Yes, it's made with apricots, but I'd give this the edge over Magic Hat No. 9.

Chicory Stout. A stout you can sip glass after glass, brewed with chicory, organic Mexican coffee, St. John's Wort and licorice root.

Midas Touch Golden Elixir. A recipe based on DNA analysis from King Midas' tomb in Turkey, contains barley, white Muscat grapes, honey and saffron.

Raison d'Etre. A brown ale made with beet sugar and raisins. Rich, complex and a great value.

World Wide Stout. Once the world's strongest beer at about 25 percent alcohol, it is now reissued annually at a "mere" 18 percent. Surprisingly drinkable for something so strong.

1940 Olney Ave., Cherry Hill, N.J. 856-489-0061.

Masterfully brewed, well-balanced ales that define their styles.

Belgian Abbey Double. Very malty with a fruity nose. A low-priced alternative to the real thing.

Belgian Grand Cru Golden Winter Ale. Strong, golden and exceptionally warming at 7 percent alcohol. (October-February)

Extra Pale Ale. The brewery's best seller, XPA is the go-to brew on the upper deck at Citizens Bank Park.

Farmhouse Summer Ale. Light, very drinkable, lawn-mower beer. Bring this to the softball game.

Hopfish IPA. Closer to an English version of India Pale Ale, more subtle and malt-based than those West Coast monsters.

Oktoberfish. An ale version of the classic German Oktoberfest, it's brewed with Dusseldorf alt yeast for a clean but spicy flavor. (September-November)

2439 Amber St., Philadelphia. 215-427-2739.

The city's newest brewery opens with a lineup of ales that should be in taverns shortly.

Kenzinger.A golden session ale.

Newbold IPA. A hoppy ale.

Rowhouse Red. A Belgian-style farmhouse ale.

Walt Wit. A wheat-and-oats ale.

80 Lambert Lane, Lambertville, N.J. 609-397-7776.

Just sold to new investors; look for some changes in its lineup.

Belgian Frostbite. Surprisingly well-hopped for a Belgian-style dark ale. I wish this were available all year. (September-March)

Hop Hazard. This started out as an average pale ale, but it's growing on me.

Lager. Fairly run-of-the-mill lager, reminds me of Harp.

Special Ale. It's an ESB, the first brew out of the horse.

Summer Blond. Your basic easy-sipper. (April-August)

Triple Horse. The absolute best from this brewery. Since it's 10 percent alcohol, buy a case of this Belgian-style tripel and don't worry about polishing it off immediately.

Rt. 113, Pikeland Village Square, Phoenixville. 610-935-4540.

312 N. Lewis Road, Royersford. 610-948-8088.

Started as a brewpub, now packaging full-flavored brews in cans.

Dunkel Lager. A dark, full-flavored Bavarian-style lager. (Fall, winter, canned.)

O'Reilly's Stout. What I imagine Guinness tastes like when you're sipping in a Dublin pub.

Pikeland Pils. O'Reilly's signature beer, a bright medal-winner that holds its flavor in aluminum.

Royal Weisse. Yes, a wheat beer in a can. (Summer only)

Rt. 113 IPA. That "113" isn't just the name of the road, it's the IBU count, making this one of the most bitter beers in America.

Saison Vos. A light, spicy Belgian-style ale influenced by saison guru Phil Markowski of Southampton Brewing.

2800 N. Reading Road (Rt. 272), Adamstown. 717-484-4387.

Pennsylvania's first microbrewery is re-invigorated with a new generation of brewers.

American Pale Ale. A good-drinking West Coast ale, perfectly suitable on draft.

Blonde Double MaiBock. Clean, golden and smooth - try it with apple sausage.

Double IPA. Watch out! This beer is far stronger than it tastes. Beautiful balance, firmly hopped, excellent value. 10 percent alcohol.

Fat Dog Imperial Oatmeal Stout. Another deceptive head-banger at 9 percent. Black and roasty.

Gold Lager. One taste of this crisp German-style lager and you'll wonder why you ever drank Bud.

Triple. Once notoriously inconsistent, but now that it's in a 12-ounce bottle, it's a tidy little Belgian that's almost winelike in character.

800 Paxton St., Harrisburg. 717-232-1297.

Two brothers who've built a loyal following with beautifully crafted ales.

Dreamweaver Wheat. Right now, this is the best wheat beer made in America, period.

HopBack Amber. The flagship label, named for the device used to add extra hops before fermentation. Very aromatic and well-balanced.

Mad Elf. A holiday beer made with honey, cherries and chocolate malt. A spectacular Belgian-style ale, with complex layers of flavor. 11 percent. (November-January)

Nugget Nectar. An amped-up version of HopBack, they call it an "imperial amber ale" with intense hop (Tomahawk) flavors. (February)

Sunshine Pils. Bright and crisp with the added bonus of a Saaz hops bath. Find this on draft. (May-August)

Troegenator Double Bock. One of Playboy magazine's top beers in America. Rich, malty, well-balanced.

420 Acorn Lane, Downingtown. 610-873-0881.

Solid reputation for excellence at this fast-growing German-influenced brewery.

Golden Monkey. This delicious Belgian-style golden ale is one of the best values in Philly beer because it packs so much punch and flavor at about the same price as an average imported lager.

HopDevil. The flagship brand is an assertive India Pale Ale fermented with yeast that was used in the classic, old Ballantine Pale Ale recipe.

Old Horizontal. Rich, dark, warming - the beer to feed your friends stuck on Bigfoot Ale.

Prima Pils. A German-style pilsner with a crisp hops finish. It was named the grand champion pilsner for four straight years in the United States Beer Tasting Championship.

Storm King Imperial Stout. A rich, high-alcohol stout that - despite the strength - you can suck down all night. The best imperial stout in America, period.

Victory Lager. A light, crisp Helles - the beer to feed your friends stuck on Bud Light.

905 Line St., Easton. 610-559-5561.

A tiny brewery that makes BIG beers.

Blanche. If you like Hoegaarden, give this locally made version of a Belgian white ale a try.

Blithering Idiot. The best-named barleywine in the world. A monster beer (11 percent alcohol) with layers of flavor.

Double Simcoe IPA. That bright, fresh aroma is from the new Simcoe hops, a specialty variety that's the darling of craft brewers nationwide.

Hops Infusion. A new recipe pumps up the flavor in this IPA.

Merry Monks. Nice yeast character from this Belgian-style triple.

Old Heathen Imperial Stout. This style was originally brewed in England for the Russian czars. With seven types of malt, this roasty brew could help you survive a Siberian winter.

901 N. Delaware Ave., Philadelphia. 215-634-2600.

Moving into a new facility with a familiar and highly regarded lineup.

Extra Special Ale. The first real post-Prohibition ale bottled in Philadelphia. Known simply as ESA, it's best when poured from a cask by a hand pump.

India Pale Ale. Kensington's answer to that famous Downingtown IPA. This ale isn't as devilish, but it's an excellent quaff just the same.

Love Stout. No longer brewed with oysters to add body, but it's still a smooth-drinking dark ale.

Philadelphia Pale Ale. It took years for the brewery to perfect this recipe. Now, thanks to Simcoe hops, it's the city's standard pale ale.

Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce. Based on Ben Franklin's 18th-century recipe, it's made with an actual spruce tree in the boiling kettle.

Saison. A very refreshing summertime Belgian ale, with hints of spice.

5th and Mahantongo streets, Pottsville. 570-622-4141.

Just say "lager" in Philly, and you know what you'll get, from America's oldest brewery.

Light Lager. The only light beer on this list. This one actually has some decent flavor and body. (I still won't drink it!)

Lord Chesterfield Ale. A huge hop surprise that was once fairly common on draft in the city. Alas, it's mainly available only in mixed cases these days.

Original Black & Tan. The only locally made black and tan, it's a mildly roasty mix of Premium and Porter.

Porter. Not a true porter because it is bottom-fermented. Who cares? For much of the '70s, this (along with Prior Double Dark) was the only dark beer available in Philly. Still a very good value.

Premium. Almost impossible to find, it's a pilsner that is lighter and a bit sweeter than lager.

Traditional Lager. I know many who won't drink anything else. Why? The flavor is decent enough, but this is a matter of pride. It's a homegrown alternative to BudMillerCoors.

Appalachian Brewing. 50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg. 717-221-1080. Essentials: Purist Pale Ale, Jolly Scot Scottish Ale, Mountain Lager, Water Gap Wheat, Hoppy Trails India Pale Ale, Susquehanna Stout, Peregrine Pilsner, Kipona Fest.

Barley Creek Brewing. Sullivan Trail and Camelback Rd., Tannersville. 570-629-9399. Essentials: Antler Brown Ale, Rescue IPA, Navigator Golden Ale, Angler Black Lager.

Lancaster Brewing. 302 Plum St., Lancaster. 717-391-6258. Essentials: Franklinfest, Milk Stout, Strawberry Wheat, Hop Hog, Amish Four Grain Ale, Gold Star Pilsner.

Legacy Brewing. 545 Canal St., Reading. 610-376-9996. Essentials: Midnight Wit, Hedonism Ale; and Euphoria, Bixler's Alt, Triple H (all draft only).

Lion Brewery. 700 N. Pennsylvania Blvd., Wilkes-Barre. 570-823-8801. Essentials: Pocono Lager, Pocono Caramel Porter, Stegmaier Porter, Lionshead. Also look for limited seasonals, including Brewhouse Bock.

Twin Lakes. 4210 Kennett Pike, Greenville, Del. 302-658-1826. Essentials: Route 52 Pilsner, Greenville Pale Ale, Tweeds Tavern Stout (on tap only).

Brewpubs are taverns where beer is brewed on the premises. You'll often see the large stainless steel or copper tanks behind glass doors.

Typically, they offer a range of basic flavors, including a light ale or lager, a pale ale, a wheat beer, a hoppy ale (ESB or IPA) and a dark beer (porter or stout). Your best bet is to order a flight, usually a two-ounce serving of each beer on tap, then settle in on a favorite.

Be sure to try one of the nonregular taps - better brewpubs offer one or more seasonals or specialties, such as a Belgian-style ale or cask-conditioned ale. These often show off the brewer's talents the best.

Dock Street Brewery. 701 S. 50th St. 215-726-2337. Located in a former firehouse, it hopes to be an anchor for this edgy neighborhood's growth.

Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant. 4120 Main St. 215-482-8220. If you're lucky, the hefe or the bock is on tap - grab a glass and sit out on the deck.

Nodding Head Brewery & Restaurant. 1516 Sansom St. 215-569-9525. Ich Bin Ein Berliner Weisse is a world-class German-style sour wheat ale, Grog is a filling brown ale. Other notables: Monkey Knife Fight (ginger), George's Fault (coriander and honey) and 3C Extreme (imperial IPA).

Triumph Brewing Old City. 117-121 Chestnut St., Old City. 215-625-0855. Opened in spring '07. An outstanding addition to Old City's already-active beer scene, especially with PatrickJones - a big winner at the '05 GABF - at the helm.

Crabby Larry's Brew Pub. 237 W. Butler Ave., Chalfont. 215-822-8788. Though it's the area's most lightly regarded brewpub, it often surprises you with a wide tap selection from its tiny kettles.

Porterhouse Restaurant & Brew Pub. 5775 Lower York Rd., Lahaska. 215-794-9373. A tidy brewpub where you can wash off the dust after a day at Rice's Market.

Triumph Brewing New Hope. 400 Union Square Drive, New Hope. 215-862-8300. Smart, clean and surprisingly comfy for a shopping-center tavern. Best bet: whatever's on the hand pump.

Iron Hill Phoenixville. 130 E. Bridge St., Phoenixville. 610-983-9333. Because it's the smallest of Iron Hill's locations, this could well evolve into the most creative.

Iron Hill West Chester. 3 W. Gay St., West Chester. 610-738-9600. Located in a former Woolworth's store, this one has the warmest feel in the chain. Nice patio, an ideal spot to enjoy Sunday brunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m.).

McKenzie Brew House Malvern. 240 Lancaster Ave., Malvern. 610-296-2222. This mammoth brewpub, with an outdoor deck and huge downstairs game room with pool tables, is an oasis along the western Main Line. Fairly basic range; ask for the specialties.

Sly Fox Brewery & Restaurant Phoenixville. 519 Kimberton Rd., Phoenixville. 610-935-4540. Brewer Brian O'Reilly's annual IPA Project features a monthly ale made with a single hop variety; the year's selections are served together at an annual early December fest.

Victory Brewing. 420 Acorn Lane, Downingtown. 610-873-0881. The brewery's pub is undergoing extensive renovations with a promise of a new look and menu.

Iron Hill Media. 30 E. State St., Media. 610-627-9000. Generally considered Iron Hill's best brewer, big Bob is known for barrel-aging and a huge Russian imperial stout.

McKenzie Brew House Glen Mills. 451 Wilmington Pike, Glen Mills. 610-361-9800. Head downstairs and check out the foosball, darts, shuffleboard, billiards and 60" flat-screen in the Underground Pub.

Allentown Brew Works. 812 Hamilton St., Allentown. 610-433-7777. The off-shoot of the well-established Bethlehem Brew Works, it features an outdoor Biergarten and a classy downstairs lounge.

Bethlehem Brew Works. 569 Main St., Bethlehem. 610-882-1300. Proceed directly to very commendable lambics. Firkins on the first Thursday of each month; Belgians downstairs at the Steelgaarden lounge.

G.G. Brewers. 282 Keswick Rd., Glenside. 215-887-0809. Smallest brewpub in the vicinity, across the street from the Keswick Theater.

General Lafayette Inn & Brewery. 646 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill. 610-941-0600. An underrated gem with widely varying styles. Chocolate Thunder Porter, Alt! Who Goes There? and Cuvee de Lafayette are all strongly flavored.

Iron Hill North Wales. 1460 Bethlehem Pike, North Wales. 267-708-2000. Fairly spartan pub, but this is the one Iron Hill where you're most likely to find an offbeat ale, thanks to the always inventive brewer Larry Horwitz.

Rock Bottom. 160 N. Gulph Rd., King of Prussia. 610-230-2739. Located in a corner of the KofP mall, this is the Macy's of American brewpubs, with stylish but hard-to-find bargains in the midst of a bunch of Dockers. Look for the Schwarzbier or imperial stout.

Sly Fox Brewery & Restaurant Royersford. 312 Lewis Rd., Royersford. 610-948-8088. Somewhat larger than Sly Fox's original joint in P-ville, this one offers the same outstanding variety of brews. Wander to the back to catch a glimpse of the brewery's canning operation.

Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats. 320 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach. 302-226-2739. A bit of a shore bar dive, though very comfy, with excellent entertainment. Look especially for one-offs that are not part of DFH's usual bottles.

Iron Hill Newark. 147 E. Main St., Newark. 302-266-9000. The original Iron Hill is as good as ever, tucked along a lively street just off the campus of U. of D. In the summertime, make sure you get a glass of hefeweizen.

Iron Hill Wilmington. 710 S. Madison St., Wilmington. 302-658-8200. Handsome restaurant on a massive parking lot along Wilmington's scenic Riverwalk.

Stewart's Brewing. 219 Governor's Sq., Bear. 302-836-2739. Another shopping center brewpub, but don't let that fool you. Hoffman's turning out a solid range on his tiny system, including a full-flavored pilsener and an outstanding smoked porter.

Triumph Princeton. 138 Nassau St., Princeton. 609-924-7855. Nice downtown Princeton feel to this joint, and the beer selection is always a surprise. Smokey rauchbier is a favorite, and give the Roggenbock a try - it's flavored with caraway seeds.

Tun Tavern. 200 Kirkman Blvd, Atlantic City. 609-347-7800. Most of the spigots are fairly standard styles, so keep your eye open for specials with some spunk. *