We love suds but barely know the difference between Leinenkugel and potato kugel. That’s why we keep Barry Shlachter, publisher of <em>The Beer Guide </em>(Savory House Press, $9.95), on speed dial. It took a lot of persuading (OK, we promised to buy him a beer), but Barry agreed to open his vault of knowledge and answer our six burning questions about the beer-drinking scene ’round here.</p><p><strong>1. Best places to find exotic, hard-to-find brews? </strong></p><p>The region is blessed with two watering holes that know their ales from their lagers: Flying Saucer, 111 E. Fourth St. in Fort Worth, which boasts an astounding 78 draft beers and another 136 in bottles, and The Ginger Man, 3716 Camp Bowie Blvd., which offers 67 beers on tap and more than 100 in bottles. That enough? ( <a href="http://www.beerknurd.com/stores/fortworth">www.beerknurd.com/stores/fortworth</a>; ftworth. <a href="http://gingermanpub.com">gingermanpub.com</a>)</p><p>As for the very best packaged-beer selection in Texas, mosey on over to Hall’s Grocery, 4200 Glade Road, off Interstate 121 in Colleyville; 817-267-6803. But don’t get too close to old Charlie Hall — he bites.</p><p><strong>2. Best place to find great deals on good beer? </strong></p><p>Can’t get much better than free beer, no? Several helpings gratis with the $5 purchase of a pub glass at Rahr & Sons Brewing Co., 701 Galveston Ave. in Fort Worth, from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Limited-release beers are featured Wednesdays, and there’s usually live music and sometimes barbecue on Saturdays. 817-810-9266. <a href="http://www.rahrbrewing.com">www.rahrbrewing.com</a>.</p><p>To get the best bang for buck at The Covey, join its $59.95 Crew. With it, beer geeks get a 20-ounce mug for the price of a 16-ounce pint, as well as a T-shirt and a different special every day of the week. 3010 S. Hulen St., Fort Worth; 817-731-7933, <a href="http://www.thecovey.com">www.thecovey.com</a>.</p><p>Tired of paying stadium prices for beer in Arlington? Stop by Humperdink’s, which offers $1.99 pints on Tuesdays and take away 64-ounce growler jug refills for $5.99 on Wednesdays and Sundays, down from the usual $8.99. 700 Six Flags Drive, Arlington; 817-640-8553, <a href="http://www.humperdinks.com">www.humperdinks.com</a>.</p><p><strong>3. Places you would never expect to find great beer?</strong></p><p>Who’d a thunk it? There’s some very exciting suds at Mellow Mushroom, a TCU pizza joint. It has 20 beers on tap, including UFO Hefeweizen from Harpoon, Full Sail Amber from Oregon, Real Ale’s Rio Blanco Pale Ale, Kona Fire Rock from Hawaii, Pyramid Juggernaut, Vermont’s Magic Hat No. 9, Franconia Lager from McKinney and Abita Purple Haze. And among the 63 more in bottles are a bunch of Leinenkugels, Monty Python Holy Grail Ale, Unibroue’s La Fin du Monde and Chimay Grand Réserve (blue). The last two are among the world’s best.</p><p><strong>4. Restaurant with the best beer list? </strong></p><p>Tucked away in Pantego is an eclectic, Eastern European restaurant that likely has more beers available than any other eatery. Chef-owner Miroslav Badonsky, a beer fanatic, has five world-class European beers on tap, including Spaten Optimator, while offering 120 bottled imports and choice U.S. craft beers, from Rahr’s lagers to Stone Brewing’s Arrogant Bastard Ale. The 3-to-6 p.m. happy hour special is $1 off already reasonable prices. Blue Danube European Restaurant & Cafe, 2230 W. Park Row Drive, Pantego; 817-861-5900. Try a schwartzbier with a hearty jaegerschnitzl, a mushroom-drowned schnitzl.</p><p><strong>5. Most intriguing Oktoberfest beers? </strong></p><p>All of our local brewers are churning out very good seasonal beers, so there’s no need to spend extra on imports:Covey Oktoberfest and Rahr’s Oktoberfest are tops on our list. Humperdink’s award-winning Freidabrau is not technically a Märzen/Oktoberfest-style beer but is nonetheless excellent. Can’t find those? Samuel Adams Octoberfest is a very good bet.</p><p><strong>6. What’s on Barry’s beer wish list? </strong></p><p>Früh or any other kölsch beer from Cologne, Germany, a great style underrepresented or purely seasonal in Texas. Dortmunder Gold from Great Lakes Brewing Co., a Dortmunder Export style that everyone in Cleveland drinks while the rest of the country hardly knows it exists. Zywiec, pronounced <em>ZHEV-VEE-etz</em>, an extremely refreshing pilsnerlike beer, and simply the best in Poland. Finally, there’s Thomas Hardy’s Ale, a very sophisticated brew from England that proves that a good, strong ale can be aged like fine wine.