Top 5 Beer Towns in U.S.

This entry is for all the beer lovers out there. I am a bartender, so I thought, why not write a blog entry about the Top 5 Beer Towns in the United States. I thought this may cause some searching and coming up with my own list. But wouldn’t you know it? There was already a list put together by Men’s Journal. So here are the Top 5 Beer Towns according to them.


1. San Diego

This is the new beer capital of the U.S. Stone (the maker of their number one ale). They have a variety of beers across the city that makes it the most eclectic in the country.

Beer Culture: There are 33 breweries. If you go to any of them, you are most likely to find the brew master on hand ready to talk with you.

Best Brew: Alpine Ale, Lost Abbey Duck-Duck-Gooze

2. New York City

NYC is home to more young drinkers than any other city in this country. This makes it the greatest beer-bar scene in the U.S. There are more than 20,000 bars and restaurants that operate within the five boroughs.

Beer Culture: There is one place, the Blind Tiger, that lets brew masters from around the world use its taps t o pour their own creations.

Best Brews: Captains Reserve Imperial IPA, Brooklyn Intensified Coffee stout

3. Portland

The Rose City’s festivals and a new vanguard of innovators help this city remain popular.

Beer Culture: There are two festivals that rival any in the world. The America’s first organic beer festival and the OBF, a huge outdoor summer event along the waterfront.

Best Brews: Hopworks Urban Crosstown Pale, Deschutes Hop Trip

4. Philadelphia

There are a huge crop of emerging microbreweries, an upsurge in beer-focused events, and a strong brewing tradition dating to before founding beer godfather Ben Franklin and the Revolutionary War.

Beer Culture: Within a 80-mile radius of the city center, there are three breweries that cook up creatively hooped pilsners and experimental pale ales that are pushing the limits of traditionally mild styles.

Best Brews: Stoudt’s Pils, Victory Storm King Stout

5. Chicago

It has become the epicenter of the Midwest’s micro brewing revolution, most bars stack the chalkboard tap list with craft beers brewed an L ride away.

Beer Culture: There is more than 20 breweries and brewpubs, many that are award winning.

Best Brews: Goose Island Matilda, Two Brothers Cane and Ebel Red Rye