Rochester Hills Now Boasts One of Country's 'Best Beer Bars' in America

One of the newest bars in Rochester Hills has been included on a national beer magazine's list of top beer bars in the country.

Draft Magazine's "America's 100 Best Beer Bars" list for 2013, which was released this week, includes Clubhouse BFD, which opened in February near Crooks and M-59.

"Think traditional beer house, but quirkier: beer-kitsch décor with a sense of humor, samplers served on ping-pong paddles, and the occasional cheeseburger slider sandwiched between two Krispy Kremes," reads the description.

Four bars in Michigan made the list, including Ashley's in Ann Arbor. Read the full list here.

Clubhouse owner Scott LePage learned of the distinction Monday afternoon while meeting with a brewer on the west side of the state. 

"We had no idea — it's a big-time honor," LePage said Tuesday. "We've only been here less than one year. We were super excited, too, because there is such great competition here in Michigan."

Clubhouse has 40 beers on tap and will expand to 46 in April, when his dad, restaurateur Norman LePage, opens the Griffin Claw Brewery in Birmingham. Those six added taps will be Griffin Claw beer. The Clubhouse also offers about 190 craft beers.

LePage owns East Side Mario's. His vision for Clubhouse was to create a place where "beer would be the shining star," he told Rochester Patch last year.

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LePage said he is thankful for the response from the community since opening last February. "We have a great customer base, and we have all of the same staff that we opened with," he said.

The Draft Magazine list "celebrates those special haunts with less than three locations and one passionate focus: beer. ... in every spot on our list, you’ll find an excellent brew in your glass and people—staff, owners, barflies—who care about that as much as you do."

What's your favorite beer?