Livability.com has named the 10 Best Beer Cities, 2014. These cities offer innovative and award-winning breweries, residents who consume beer at higher rates than the average American, sophisticated beer tastes and a high-quality of life for beer lovers.
Livability.com looked at both sides of the beer equation: production and consumption. For the production side, they took into account the number of award-winning breweries and beers the town has crafted in recent years, according to the Great American Beer Festival. On the consumption side, they used data from Esri to find cities where people were drinking more craft and high-end beers than average, and less macro-brews than average.
In addition, its editors considered the number of liquor stores per capita. They also weighed in the city’s reputation as a beer town, its overall livability, and a shot of its editor’s own experiences with the towns and their brews.
“Being a great beer city has positive implications for attracting talent, fostering business and drawing in tourists,” said Livability editor Matt Carmichael. “But most importantly, it means you have great beer.”
10 Best Beer Cities 2014
1. Bend, OR
2. Denver, CO
3. San Diego, CA
4. Albuquerque, NM
5. Tampa, FL
6. Grand Rapids, MI
7. St. Louis, MO
8. Bellingham, WA
9. Hershey, PA
10. Billings, MT
(CBB Editor’s note: We’re sure that coming up at No. 11 is Cleveland.)
Jerrod Hays liked this on Facebook.
Are you lucky enough to live nearby???!! http://t.co/lrTOsuW6nm
And Chicago isn’t even on the list. Come on man! #ChooseChicago
http://t.co/yCr4CRzHMo
10 best U.S. craft beer cities in 2014 http://t.co/fV3pC3xj0l via @craftbrewingbiz
10 best U.S. craft beer cities in 2014 http://t.co/22Hdks0uno #DontSleep on #NYC #craftbeer
Top 10 best #craftbeer cities in the US
http://t.co/N8QhiBwDh4
Jonathan Nobinger says
What? No Asheville, NC???? Mmmm, list definitely incomplete.
This list is suspect:10 best US craft beer cities in 2014. Hershey? Not Lancaster? #avlbeer!? #huh http://t.co/NMemmDjatW @craftbrewingbiz
Interesting. 10 best U.S. craft beer cities in 2014 http://t.co/O6SDM1mXBm
Nate Fochtman liked this on Facebook.
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Nathan Thompson liked this on Facebook.
Love seeing #Michigan cities make these lists. We’re truly in the best #craftbeer state there is http://t.co/XGmorXA0ZN
Ken Stephens liked this on Facebook.
10 best U.S. craft beer cities in 2014 http://t.co/6bV7VUr1zc
@CraftBrewingBiz @livability Of course, Cleveland is in a multi-city tie for No. 11. Heh. Powered by Great Lakes!
Robert TheException Moreland liked this on Facebook.
RT @CraftBrewingBiz: 10 best U.S. craft beer cities in 2014 http://t.co/E6vBgvayZd Great list @livability. We assume the #CLE is No. 11
RT @CraftBrewingBiz: 10 best U.S. craft beer cities in 2014 http://t.co/E6vBgvayZd Great list @livability. We assume the #CLE is No. 11