Craftbeer.com, a Brewers Association website, wants to know your favorite beer bar. The first step in their yearly determination of the Great American Beer Bars, nominations are now open for 2014.

It’s a popularity contest, for sure, but one that is at least rooted in nominations from knowledgeable (?) beer fans.  To take part, click on this highlighted link and fill in the information for your favorite beer bar. Nominations are accepted through noon MDT on Wednesday, August 13, 2014.

The bars with the highest number of nominations face off in a public vote. The three bars receiving the most votes in each of five regions are named regional winners with the top three across all regions named overall winners.  Richmond, VA’s Mekong Restaurant has taken the top spot the past two years.

I enjoy this process for several reasons. For one, it involves nominations and votes rather than some freelancer stringing together the latest click-bait. For another, it’s the Great American Beer Bars, not the “Best American Beer Bars,” a subtle and perhaps meaningless difference, but I prefer it. For a third, it never ceases to add a new bar to my growing list of places to explore while traveling.

Finally, it’s a happier way for a trade organization to promote craft beer than the whole craft versus crafty thing.  (Even if my personal favorites have yet to make the list.)