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It was once the case that a beer city happened to be adjacent to a big national brewery (we're looking at you, St. Louis).
But as we all know, the American beer-scape has changed in the last 30 years. Today, there are more than 4,000 craft breweries in the U.S., and most of them are microbreweries — small enough to squeeze into the confined space of a city. So if you want to drink the best beers in the world, head downtown — to San Diego, Philadelphia, Portland, and Milwaukee.
The following is a list of cities with beer scenes spearheaded by people who passionately care about brewing and who serve the finest beers in the world. Some towns are more brewery-centric, while others are more intimately connected with the international beer world. But they all take beer to another level, and they all deserve to be on your travel wish list.
This longtime craft-brewing powerhouse continues to dominate the numbers board, with 52 breweries inside the city limits — more breweries than any other city in the world. For the beer drinker, that means real range. Portland's a place where you can hole up in a British-style pub with an extraordinary tap list or visit one of the country's largest craft brewers for a taste of beers made with experimental hops.
Best Brews, Breweries, and Bars
One of the city's original craft breweries, Widmer Brothers Brewing remains a stalwart. The brewpub serves impressive one-offs made from experimental hops (varieties grown especially for Widmer) alongside the iconic Hefeweizen, which is freshest here. Up the street, the celestial-themed Ecliptic Brewery is the city's newest destination brewery. Beers, including the Filament Winter IPA, change according to the old-world solstice calendar.
Cascade Barrel Brewing House taps its own sour ales, some straight from the barrel. Try the Sang Noir, a double red aged in pinot and whiskey barrels blended with cherries. Find more sours and Belgian-inspired beers at the casual taproom inside The Commons Brewery.
The British-inspired Horse Brass Pub is a world-class watering hole that feels British, but revolves around a tap list of stellar Pacific Northwest beers.
Oregon's deep love of beer doesn't stop at the Portland city limits. And just 20 miles from Mount Bachelor, Bend has the added bonus of being one of the country's premier outdoor-adventure destinations. There are few better spots in the world to ski, hike, or mountain bike, and then wind down with a few beers.
Best Brews, Breweries, and Bars
You can hit our three favorite Bend breweries along a one-mile walk. Start at Crux Fermentation Project for lunch and a pint — we like the Sugar Daddy pale ale. Then head north to Boneyard and try the Armored Fist black ale. Finally, arrive at Bend's biggest success story, Deschutes. You can't go wrong working your way through the flagships like Bachelor ESB and Black Butte Porter, but save room for the pub-only specialties.
Its status as "the other Portland" is unfair given everything this coastal town has going for it. The bar and brewery scene has blown up in the last five years, and though it can't match its Oregon counterpart in sheer numbers, the quality here is phenomenal.
Best Brews, Breweries, and Bars
Start with a tour and tasting at Allagash, the first great Belgian-style brewery to take root in the U.S. It doesn't offer a full-service bar (just four-ounce samples), but Allagash will sell you beer to-go from its retail store, and we highly recommend the available-only-at-the-brewery House Ale.
Portland, Maine's real strength lies in its ridiculously hoppy pale ales and IPAs. You'll find world-class offerings at an impressive triumvirate of breweries: Maine Beer, Bissell Brothers, and Foundation Brewing.
While we love eating seafood fresh at the docks, when you're ready to sit down for a meal, head to Novare Res. The cozy Belgian cafe features 30 taps covering the best of Maine, the U.S., and Belgium.
