Thebest beer city in America is definitely Portland , except for when it ’s San Diego or Denver or Philly .
Any serious beer drinker has an opinion on the topic , and there are no more serious beer drinkers than the brewmasters who get paid to make and imbibe beer for a life , those lucky so - and - so . That ’s why we asked some of our favorite brewmasters around the country for their persuasion . We gift them one rule : they could n’t select their own metropolis . Anywhere else was fair game . If you love beer , these guys have fundamentally planned your next few vacations .
San Diego, CA
" My favourite beer metropolis ( besides Fort Collins ) , would have to be San Diego . They have a wide extract of brewery out there that can gibe almost any mood you are in . With all the fantastic breweries out there , it ’s hard to specify it down to [ my ] favorite spot . If I ’m in the mood for a West Coast - stylus beer and something more virulent , Stoneis my go - to ( particularly with their awe-inspiring beer garden ) . Looking for a slur with more variety and promiscuous - to - drink beer , Modern Timesis always on top of that leaning . If I am look to catch up with syndicate or champion and am looking for a diminished , little more quiet stain , bothIron FistandSecond Chanceseem to be where I am attracted to . " –Tony Rau , Odell Brewing Co.(Fort Collins , CO )
Bend, OR
" Bend is my Beervana . Not only is it my hometown ( and Bend aborigine are disturbingly proud and patriotic ) , but it ’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth . Whether you ’ve just polish off a day at Mount Bachelor , a day on the Deschutes River , or a day hiking around the Cascade Lakes wild , there ’s a delightful brewage waiting for you atCrux Fermentation ProjectorBoneyard Brewing . There are about a million other brewery , too. " –Riley Finnigan , Avery Brewing Co.(Boulder , CO )
Portland, ME
" I have to go with Portland , ME . DeliciousAllagashbeers is justification enough . But tally inMaine Beer Co. ,Oxbow , Novare Res Bier Cafe , The heavy Lost Bear– I could go on and on – and you sure enough have a frontrunner for best American beer city . " –Bill Covaleski , Victory Brewing Co.(Downingtown , PA )
" certain , San Diego has beach and heavy beer , but to me Portland , ME is Beervana . The lulu of this peaceable , oceanside Northeast city is contrast by a vibrant and amazing beer community . You ’ve puzzle one of the most reputable and storied brewery in the cosmos withAllagash Brewing Co.that brew phenomenal beers across a diverse range of styles , from clean and approachable to stinking and wild . Then , properly across the street , you ’ve got a few startup rocking their own thing , my favorite beingBissell Brothers Brewing Co. These guys are loud and hopeful , and they brew and can some of the beneficial IPAs in the Northeast , include The Substance , their flagship IPA , and Swish , a woolgathering two-fold IPA .
" In plus to the breweries in townspeople , you ’ve got with child bars Downtown that pad an exciting nightlife . My pet isThe Thirsty Pigwhere they always have an ME - focused beer lean and expectant sausages . Also , check outMAPS , a hip cellar bar that ’s smartly beautify with , well , maps . It ’s a cracking berth to snaffle a glass of The Substance and enjoy Beervana . " –Mike V. Sardina , Societe Brewing Company(San Diego , CA )
Sean Cooley/Thrillist
Portland, OR
" From my very first sojourn there in the late ' fourscore whenWidmer , Bridgeport , andPortland Brewingwere the primal brewery , to now , where position likeCascade , HUB , andBreaksideare rocking it , the Ithiel Town always strike me as more beer savvy and pore than anywhere else . Portland is still the one city where I sense comfy saying that it ’s much harder to find a place not serve craftsmanship beer than get one that does . " –Mitch Steele , Stone Brewing Co.(Escondido , CA )
Chicago, IL
" These days it ’s got ta be Chicago for me . I only get out there once a year , but I ’m astounded at how the finish of beer has thrive in the last few years . Not only from local breweries , but from the fact that every barroom has embraced the domain of beer . You want to seethe with the one-time loyalist likeGoose Island , Half Acre , Piece , andHaymarket ? The pioneers of the Chicago picture are still crush it . You want to taste one of the new breweries?Off Color , Pipeworks , Penrose , Spiteful , and another 80,000 breweries have your back .
" And the streak all seem to be before of their clip – every time you walk into your favorite bar , there are a dozen raw beers to try . With so many great beers at their fingertip , why would n’t they want a different card every calendar week ? And why would n’t I need a 3 Floyds Gumballhead with breakfast atthe Little Goat ? Why would n’t I hit upHopleaffor a duck Reuben and a idiotic external beer excerption ? Why would n’t I go toAu Chevalfor a brunch burger in the morning , thenKuma’sfor a dinner burger ( true story ) , with monster beer batting order at both shoes ?
" In some towns , you have to mold to find a good beer . In Chicago , you have to sour to line up a bad one . " –Andy Parker , Avery Brewing Co.(Boulder , CO )
Sara Norris/Thrillist
Denver, CO
" Love Denver for a big beer weekend . All starts at theFalling Rock Tap Housefor me – it ’s my preferent place in the world to cool down over some beers with strangers that become best friends in a matter of minutes . Then I get hungry , and bring my new skillful friends to eitherHops & PieorLowDown Brewery + Kitchenfor great chuck and great beer . Then I take a nap . Then off toTRVE Brewingto enjoy the setting and their awing sours . Ahh . " –Mike Hinkley , Green Flash Brewing Co.(San Diego , CA )
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
" The blowup of trade beer has hand America ’s heartland in the citadel of what was an region originally litter with industrial - intensity level regional yellow-bellied laager . They still taste neat with their balmy and accessible flavors , but now they stand side by side with a wave of craft breweries likeSurly(with Furious for maximum hop flavor ) andFair State Brewing Cooperative(with Roselle , a saturnine saison with hibiscus , and its soft , subtle complexness ) .
" Your father ’s bar is still awake as well and now serving great beers in their familiar comfortable mise en scene . In Minneapolis , pull up a stool atGrumpy ’s NEand take in the story with its interior decoration of local historical beer signs and breweriana while enjoying a Bell ’s Two Hearted Ale made in neighboring Michigan . to boot , Muddy Pigin nearby St. Paul has a large rap selection with accessible pub menu offerings .
" There ’s great upscale places as well . Right around the corner from the Muddy Pig , theHappy Gnomehas solid wiretap offer with a well - curated separate nursing bottle and can list . The menu delineate a gastropub with its originative and unique dishes and suggest beer pairings . " –Shaun O’Sullivan,21st Amendment Brewery(San Francisco , CA )
Andy Kryza/Thrillist
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