Best Beer Scene (2019)

Large German and Irish populations, plenty of water and rail connections pretty much destined St. Louis to have a thriving beer scene. The city is not only home to Anheuser-Busch, the world's largest brewer, but a host of other craft breweries and pubs the likes of 4 Hands, Urban Chestnut and Schlafly. The 50 taps at 21st Street Brewer’s Bar give beer lovers a chance to sample many local brews in one spot, while the popular Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar boasts a beer list of more than 200 labels.
Photo courtesy of St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission

Winner of two past Best Beer Scene titles, Michigan’s second-largest city sports the state’s strongest beer scene, thanks largely to the presence of the world-renowned Founders Brewing Co. Not to be outdone, there are several other brewing operations around town, most notably the Belgian-inspired Brewery Vivant. The city’s official “Beer City Ale Trail” lists more than 80 breweries in the surrounding area, and the local calendar is constantly filled with beer festivals, events, and promotions. Throw in exceptional beer stores such as Siciliano’s Market, and it’s easy to see why Grand Rapids proudly stakes its claim as “Beer City USA.”
Photo courtesy of Experience Grand Rapids

A beer destination on the rise, Richmond's lineup of 25-plus craft breweries – Veil, Strangeways and Triple Crossing among them – are earning awards and fans across the country. Heavyweight Stone Brewing Co. opened a location in Richmond in 2016. Beer bars like Mekong, The Answer, Saison and Cask Cafe keep local beer lovers happy.
Photo courtesy of Visit Richmond

There’s good reason the Milwaukee baseball team is called the Brewers. Beer giant Miller Brewing put the city on the beer map, and a host of modern craft breweries and beer bars have maintained its legacy as an epic beer destination. Beer history is on display at places like the Original Pabst Headquarters and Miller Brewery Visitor Center. Those looking to try something new can to so at some of the city’s many beer gardens, pubs, beer bars and craft breweries.
Photo courtesy of Darren Hauck/Getty Images

Just over an hour’s drive north of Denver, the city of Fort Collins punches well above its weight when it comes to beer. This city of only 165,000 houses the nationally-renowned heavyweight New Belgium as well as smaller, award-winning breweries such as Odell, Funkwerks and Equinox. College kids and outdoorsy locals welcome the night by sampling the best of the area’s output at a host of beer-focused bars (Tap and Handle, The Mayor of Old Town and The Forge Publick House).
Photo courtesy of Visit Ft. Collins

The “Paris of the South” has more breweries per capita than just about any U.S. city. A plethora of friendly beer bars (Thirsty Monk, The Bywater) and bottle shops (Appalachian Vintner, Bruisin’ Ales) provide enthusiasts with easy access to more than 100 local beers. First-time visitors often start out at Wicked Weed’s comprehensive brewpub, and adventurous types make a beeline for the brewery’s “Funkatorium,” where a dozen sour and funky beers are served.
Photo courtesy of ExploreAsheville.com

The City of Brotherly Love is a hard-drinking town – ask anyone who’s been on South Street during last call – and more and more Philadelphians are focusing their efforts on enjoying the area’s impressive craft brews. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of top-notch beer bars, from the much-lauded Monk’s Cafe to the equally impressive City Tap House. Yards Brewing Company is the city’s most popular craft brewery, and there are several smaller outfits that have popped up in recent years. Perhaps it’s the year-round event calendar that sets Philly’s beer scene apart. Spanning 10 days, Philly Beer Week is the country’s oldest and biggest event of its kind.
Photo courtesy of J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA

Thanks to its central location and large population of beer enthusiasts, Chicago offers one of the country’s most comprehensive beer scenes. The Windy City is home to numerous award-winning breweries (60 and counting), several of which (Off Color Brewing, Penrose Brewing Company, Revolution) were started by alumni of Goose Island, the brewery that essentially kicked off Chicago’s craft beer craze. There are plenty of mind blowing beer bars (Local Option, Hopleaf, Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar) that provide visitors with a one-stop shop for trying out the best of the Midwest’s craft brews.
Photo courtesy of Adam Alexander Photography Photo Courtesy of Choose Chicago

As the home of the world-renowned Great American Beer Festival, Denver attracts tens of thousands of beer lovers annually; over time, many of those attendees decided to set up shop in the Mile High City. The local behemoth that is Coors once cast a shadow over the Denver beer scene, but that shadow has been cast aside by the roughly 100 craft breweries, brewpubs and tap rooms currently operating in the metro area. Denver’s first brewpub, the Wynkoop Brewing Company, was co-founded in 1988 by former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, and today there are a plethora of new-school breweries and brewpubs that dot the scenic landscape.
Photo courtesy of Visit Denver

Ohio’s oldest craft brewery, Great Lakes Brewing, set up shop in Cleveland in 1988. Ever since, Northeast Ohio has served as a regional mecca for beer enthusiasts. Forward-thinking breweries such Platform Beer Co., Market Garden and Nano Brew have elevated The Forest City’s beer scene into the national consciousness. City Tap Cleveland, McNulty’s Bier Markt and Tremont Taphouse are just three of the many beer bars that give beer hounds ample opportunities to taste the best area brews.
Photo courtesy of ThisIsCleveland.com