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10 best U.S. craft beer cities in 2014

December 16, 2014Chris Crowell

best beer cities
Livability.com looked at both sides of the beer equation: production and consumption.

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.)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jerrod Hays says

    December 18, 2014 at 6:22 pm

    Jerrod Hays liked this on Facebook.

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  2. BrewBizTracy says

    December 18, 2014 at 2:17 pm

    Are you lucky enough to live nearby???!! http://t.co/lrTOsuW6nm

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  3. brianormi says

    December 18, 2014 at 11:00 am

    And Chicago isn’t even on the list. Come on man! #ChooseChicago

    http://t.co/yCr4CRzHMo

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  4. mrbrewreview says

    December 18, 2014 at 10:10 am

    10 best U.S. craft beer cities in 2014 http://t.co/fV3pC3xj0l via @craftbrewingbiz

    Log in to Reply
  5. HarlemBlueBeer says

    December 18, 2014 at 9:11 am

    10 best U.S. craft beer cities in 2014 http://t.co/22Hdks0uno #DontSleep on #NYC #craftbeer

    Log in to Reply
  6. BuyOurBottles says

    December 18, 2014 at 7:52 am

    Top 10 best #craftbeer cities in the US
    http://t.co/N8QhiBwDh4

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  7. Jonathan Nobinger says

    December 18, 2014 at 7:11 am

    What? No Asheville, NC???? Mmmm, list definitely incomplete.

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  8. DrinkItWriteIt says

    December 17, 2014 at 4:18 pm

    This list is suspect:10 best US craft beer cities in 2014. Hershey? Not Lancaster? #avlbeer!? #huh http://t.co/NMemmDjatW @craftbrewingbiz

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  9. Greenmonkeyshop says

    December 17, 2014 at 3:22 pm

    Interesting. 10 best U.S. craft beer cities in 2014 http://t.co/O6SDM1mXBm

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  10. Nate Fochtman says

    December 16, 2014 at 9:52 pm

    Nate Fochtman liked this on Facebook.

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  11. Bo Hyun Kim says

    December 16, 2014 at 9:52 pm

    Bo Hyun Kim liked this on Facebook.

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  12. Nathan Thompson says

    December 16, 2014 at 5:52 pm

    Nathan Thompson liked this on Facebook.

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  13. StephCasola says

    December 16, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    Love seeing #Michigan cities make these lists. We’re truly in the best #craftbeer state there is http://t.co/XGmorXA0ZN

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  14. Ken Stephens says

    December 16, 2014 at 2:22 pm

    Ken Stephens liked this on Facebook.

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  15. COBrewDenver says

    December 16, 2014 at 2:12 pm

    10 best U.S. craft beer cities in 2014 http://t.co/6bV7VUr1zc

    Log in to Reply
  16. mcarmichael says

    December 16, 2014 at 1:00 pm

    @CraftBrewingBiz @livability Of course, Cleveland is in a multi-city tie for No. 11. Heh. Powered by Great Lakes!

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  17. Robert TheException Moreland says

    December 16, 2014 at 12:52 pm

    Robert TheException Moreland liked this on Facebook.

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  18. hensonbrew says

    December 16, 2014 at 12:31 pm

    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

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  19. MittenBrewingCo says

    December 16, 2014 at 12:31 pm

    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

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