Can Grand Rapids Defend Its Title of ‘Beer City USA’?
We've been calling Grand Rapids "Beer City USA" for a good, long time... more than a decade!
To back that up, we should probably keep scoring these national honors, right?
Well, Grand Rapids is once again in the running for a national contest. This time it's USA TODAY asking, "What's the Best Beer City in America"?
Grand Rapids totally nabbed the No. 1 spot last year - can we do it again?
Your vote can help keep Grand Rapids "Beer City USA"!
Grand Rapids in the Running for Best Beer City in America in USA Today Poll
We must defend our title! In 2022, and in previous years, Grand Rapids took the No. 1 spot in USA Today and 10Best's "Best Beer City in America" poll.
In 2023 GR is once again duking it out with other beer-centric cities. Grand Rapids is among 20 U.S. cities chosen by a panel of beer experts as having the best beer scenes in the nation. According to USA Today,
That means stellar selections of established and up-and-coming breweries, beer bars, brewpubs, beer festivals and even thriving homebrewing communities where novice brewers can get their foot in the door.
Well, that sure sounds like Grand Rapids to me! And now it's up to us to vote for the Top 10.
You can vote for Grand Rapids once per day until voting ends on Monday July 24th at noon.
Here's USA Today's praise for GR:
"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'."
So who are we up against this year?
Cities in the Running for Best Beer City in America 2022
Here are all the cities in the running for Best Beer City in America:
- Asheville, North Carolina
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Boulder, Colorado
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Chicago, Illinois
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Portland, Maine,
- Portland, Oregon
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- San Diego, California
- Seattle, Washington
- Tampa, Florida
You can vote for Grand Rapids here.