For all you folks new to BarAmerica, consider this your orientation.

It's a great time to be alive in America.

Whether you realize it or not a beer renaissance is sweeping the United States, and the world. You can see it virtually everywhere, from your local neighborhood bar to the convenience store or supermarket. Suddenly there's a lot more than Bud to chose from. The huge selection of brews now available is totally unprecedented, and wonderful! From savory dark stouts and porters to tangy fruit ales, to the really weird, and unexpected, the American palate is awash in the creativity of this domestic and international craft-brewed beer revolution.

Pioneered here in America at the end of last decade by such intrepid craft-brewers as the Boston Beer Company and Anchor Brewing Company, an explosion of new microbreweries and brewpubs from coast to coast have taken up the challenge to meet the growing demand for good beer. In addition, superb international beers from countries such as England, Belgium, and Germany are finally making it to the United States for the first time in large quantities.

A whole generation of young Americans are also coming to appreciate super-premium spirits-especially single malt scotch and bourbon-like never before. In cities across the America scotch-tasting events are gaining in popularity, often paired with good cigars.

It's seems that Americans have finally not only learned how to appreciate good beer, but enjoy a full range of high-quality alcoholic beverages. It's about time.

Thanks in large part to the great beer renaissance the bar scene in America is itself more vital, quirky and fun than it has been in years. With the coming of the millennium there's an electric vitality palpable in the American night. That's where we come in. We want to help you find where you're going, and decide what to drink when you get there. Check us out, you'll find we know what we're talking about.

But we need your help. We're looking to build the definitive on-line bar guide in America, and we are asking everyone out there to help us build our bar database. Take a look at our Bar Database for details on how you can review your favorite bars on-line and be a contributor to BarAmerica. We'd love to hear from you. So spread the word, and make sure to come back and see us again, there's always something new on tap.