The craft beer surge is exploding on an international scale, and two Buffalo bars rank among the world’s leaders.

Elmwood Avenue’s Blue Monk and Cole’s, both owned by local beer aficionado Mike Shatzel, were recognized in RateBeer.com’s Best Beer Restaurants 2012, a poll that compiled the results of 3.5 million craft beer reviewers across the world. We love it when Buffalo is recognized on a national scale, so international attention should really make the city blush.

In a list of 50 beer restaurants organized first by country and then by total score, Blue Monk finished seventh in the United States, while Cole’s placed 28th. If you’ve visited the Blue Monk, you’ve witnessed the jaw-dropping chalkboard list of craft beers, many of which I have a terrible time pronouncing. Blue Monk boasts 32 beers on tap and over 75 different bottled beers. So many decisions!

RateBeer.com describes itself as “the premier resource for consumer-driven beer ratings, features on beer culture and industry events, weekly beer-related editorials, and an internationally recognized, semi-annual RateBeer Best competition.” 

Follow Blue Monk on Facebook, and check out Cole’s website here. The latter also has popular beer tastings to check out!