The 10 Best US Cities for Beer Lovers

Best US Cities for Beer Lovers. Photo: KnowInsiders

Millions of the US will be toasting pint glasses in celebration of Oktoberfest this month and four New England cities have been ranked among the best places in the country to grab a quality beer.

Dozens upon dozens of cities across the country are home to a slew of popular breweries, pubs, and taprooms, giving beer lovers endless options when it comes to finding the perfect pint.

The List of 10 Best US Cities for Beer Lovers

1. Spokane, Washington

2. Portland, Oregon

3. Denver

4. Seattle

5. Cincinnati

6. Salt Lake City, UT

7. Boston, MA

8. Pittsburgh, PA

9. Fort Lauderdale, FL

10. Fort Collins, CO

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Which are the 10 Best US Cities for Beer Lovers?

1. Spokane, Washington

Photo: City of Spokane

The city of Spokane is a scenic destination located in the midst of many natural sights. Known for being the gateway to the American West, Spokane has come a long way since the days of being a rail hub, transforming into a vibrant city with a plethora of outdoor opportunities whist retaining that authentic feel of inland Northwest culture.

When you come to Spokane, come hungry. This foodie paradise will tempt you with every type of cuisine and all of the latest food trends. Spokane is making a name for itself in the national food scene and it's all because of the many local chefs dedicated to the culinary craft. Since Spokane County is home to thousands of farms, there’s no shortage of farm-to-table efforts. More often than not, you’ll discover that our restaurants focus on all things local and fresh. Known to be one of the best cities in the U.S. for beer and wine connoisseurs, come thirsty. With over 35 breweries and 20 wineries and tasting rooms, you can tour and taste your way through the Spokane region.

2. Portland, Oregon

Photo: Extra Space Storage

With over 70 breweries within its city limits, it’s kind of hard to top the Portland, Oregon, beer scene, to be perfectly honest. Breakside, Cascade, Hair of the Dog, and Gigantic are serving some of the most innovative, unique beers in the country, and that’s really just the tip of the Portland iceberg. You don’t have to go to beer-centric eateries such as Cascade Brewing Barrel House, Belmont Station, or Horse Brass Pub to enjoy an incredible beer. Seemingly every establishment in Portland — from the mini-golf course to the movie theater to the museum — serves beer.

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3. Denver

Photo: EDM Identity

The Mile High City has long been known for its saloons and beer-loving pioneers, and its beer-centric reputation was cemented when Coors Brewing set down in the foothills of the Rockies where it still overlooks Denver. But a lot has happened since those wild west days. Today, Denver and the surrounding areas are absolutely ripe with micro and craft breweries spanning the famous, obscure, boutique, and everything in between--so much so that Denver has become the long-running host of the Great American Beer Festival, which attracts the biggest and most ambitious brewers from all over the country to sip, share, and glory in their foamy yield.

4. Seattle

Photo: Prologis

Portland may get all of the glory when it comes to Pacific Northwest beer cities, but don’t sleep on Seattle by any means. As we know from its massive coffee business, Seattle takes its beverages seriously. In addition to being the home of four Elysian locations, Seattle is the home to Two Beers, Fremont, and Pike, all of which serve up amazing beers. If the 16-plus breweries aren’t enough to make you want to book a flight, consider going to the Stumbling Monk for a wide selection of local craft brews or to Kells Irish Restaurant for the best Guinness you’ll find on the West Coast.

5. Cincinnati

Photo: Blank Rome

Cincinnati was practically built on beer, and the city’s recent hipster influx has greatly been aided by craft brews. Beer hotspots like the Brass Tap and The Lackman are supported by top-notch local breweries such as Rivertown, Rhinegeist, MadTree and Mt. Carmel. If all of that beer isn’t enough for you, head across the Ohio River to Newport, Kentucky, which has one of the best porches at its Hofbrauhaus that this writer has ever seen.

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6. Salt Lake City, UT

Photo: TravelPulse

US beer lovers are all about the craft beer and sales are up relative to mass market beers. No where is this upward trend more noticeable than in Salt Lake. Thirty years ago there were three brew pubs in Salt Lake City and now there are 21 brew pubs and micro breweries. The growth is coming from a confluence of evolving demographics, refined consumer demand and city zoning.

Salt Lake’s demographics are becoming less Anglo/Mormon and more multi-ethnic, pantheistic and hipster. And the same sort hipster gentrification that brought you food trucks, avocado toast and man buns has been playing out in Salt Lake. It has been declared #2 on the (somewhat dubious) national hipster index, which uses factors such as the rate of tattoo parlors, vegan eateries and microbreweries to determine it’s rankings.

The budding craft beer movement was also aided by some smart city planning and a little legislative nudge. South Salt Lake made a very deliberate decision to redesign its zoning for creative industries (which includes breweries). They reworked zoning restrictions by axing a per-capita limit on breweries and changed restrictions that made it impractical to brew there. Now, the affordable light industrial warehouse space in South Salt Lake, is an appealing place for a small brewer to get started.

7. Boston, MA

Photo: PlanetWare

Go ahead--sing a few bars of the “Cheers” theme song. Got it out of your system? Good. While this legendary beer city has no shortage of iconic breweries and landmarks, from the fictional TV show to the very real Samuel Adams beer, Boston has not let the past bog it down when it comes to libations. Sure, any beery itinerary in Boston may necessitate a visit to Cheers on Beacon Hill--formerly known as the Bull & Finch Pub, where the famous sitcom took place--but it’d be wise to make it a short visit and then move on to Trillium, Harpoon, and other breweries for a taste of Boston’s living, breathing beer culture.

8. Pittsburgh, PA

Photo: Conde Nast Traveler

Like many cities, craft beer has absolutely taken over Pittsburgh. You don’t need to go to great brewpubs like the Beer Market Pittsburgh, Smokin’ Joes Saloon, or Sharp Edge to get a quality beer. Even the dingiest dive bar will have something solid on tap. If you don’t want to just bar hop (which would be a great craft beer experience on its own), go to some of the local breweries such as East End Brewing Company, Grist House, and Hop Farm.

9. Fort Lauderdale, FL

Photo: Blank Rome

To the citizens of Fort Lauderdale, their home offers quintessential Florida – beaches, palm trees, shopping and relaxation – without the see-and-be-seen attitude of the state's other beachside cities. You can judge if they're right, but certainly expect a different atmosphere than their close rival Miami Beach. Fort Lauderdale's wide stretches of white sand surpass those of its southern neighbor and, to some, are the best shores statewide. And when you consider its fantastic scenery, great dining options and range of things to do, Fort Lauderdale is also somewhat affordable compared to similar vacation spots. The "Venice of America," nicknamed for its 165 miles of waterways and canals, is slowly but surely climbing the ranks of top beach destinations to the cheer of its residents.

10. Fort Collins, CO

Photo: Mission Rock Residential

An hour north of the larger and more metropolitan Denver and two hours north of the trendier and winter sports-oriented Colorado Springs is the lush mountain gate city of Fort Collins. The Colorado State college town of just 160,000 carries a lofty reputation as one of America's most desirable cities. At one time or another, Fort Collins has been named the “Best Place to Live" by Money, the fourth “Happiest City in America" by Forbes and one of the top 10 “Best Places To Retire" by CBS.

A lot of this happiness in Fort Collins can be traced to beer. Fort Collins is one of America's best beer towns, overflowing with a plethora of breweries — 26 to be exact — and still growing. In fact, for a small college city at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Fort Collins produces seven percent of all craft beer in the nation.

And how does one experience this revolution in the most Colorado way? Why not try one of the beer-and-bike tours that visit many of Fort Collins' two dozen breweries along the way? And in such a tightknit community, don't be surprised to see many of the same happy faces patronizing a variety of establishments like Odell Brewing Company and Purpose Brewing.

But the undisputed king of craft brewing in Fort Collins is New Belgium Brewery, brewer of the famous Fat Tire Ale. The brewery is the fourth-largest craft brewer in the nation, and one of the nation's “Best Places to Work," according to Outside Magazine and one of the Wall Street Journal's “Top Small Workplaces."

Fans can tour the zero-waste brewing facility and sample a variety of New Belgium's styles year-round. For a smaller experience, place an order with Equinox Brewing, which delivers kegs via “Bootlegger," a custom-built tricycle.

Settling down in this beer mecca will cost you $1,260 each month for a one-bedroom apartment.

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