The Top 10 Beer Cities in America (based on Nielsen Scantrack 2014 numbers)

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Orca, Jun 3, 2015.

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  1. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I personally like this one because it puts Seattle at #2, right behind Portland. And say what you want, but it does base its results in actual craft beer market share. So there's actual, like, data behind it rather than a bunch of fanboys voting for where they live.

    http://www.washingtonbeerblog.com/top-10-beer-cities-in-america/
     
  2. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,534) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Ironic as I was just about to go on another beer pilgrimage to New Haven this weekend.
     
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  3. blues_fever

    blues_fever Initiate (0) Apr 2, 2015 California
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    Guess its hard for LA to make that list, since very few things come out from here that are highly sought after. Oh well, hope to try something from each one of those cities at some point.
     
  4. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Not to pick nits there partner, but I believe this is a coincidence, not irony. :wink:
     
  5. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    It's based purely on market share. If 25% or more of the beer people in LA buy was considered "craft" beer (based on however the people who did this study define that term), it would be a contender for the list.
     
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  6. Mehinaman

    Mehinaman Initiate (0) May 16, 2015 Washington
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    I live in the Seattle area and therefore can proudly say that being #2 is justified
     
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  7. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,534) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If I'd gone on to say "but I'm not now as this thread will probably mean the place will be overrun" - would that have helped my cause? If not then I guess I suck at English and thanks for everybody's time
     
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  8. pioneer13

    pioneer13 Devotee (357) Jun 9, 2007 Minnesota

    Data is not accurate as here in Minnesota the only beer we can buy in grocery stores is 3.2. I believe the same is true for Colorado. Strange way to do a study. I believe Denver belongs on that list and Minneapolis also has a strong argument as well.
     
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  9. Scott17Taylor

    Scott17Taylor Initiate (0) Oct 28, 2013 Iowa
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    It's also a huge city. Most of the cities that make lists like this are the smaller ones that have a great beer culture.
     
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  10. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Hey, don't blame dumb state laws for the results :wink:
     
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  11. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    But here are the populations of some cities that did make the list:
    San Diego 1.356 million
    San Francisco 837,442
    Washington, D.C. 658,893
    Seattle 652,405
    Portland 609,456
    These aren't metropolises like LA, but they are still medium to large cities.
     
  12. Scott17Taylor

    Scott17Taylor Initiate (0) Oct 28, 2013 Iowa
    Trader

    Yes they are medium to large, I agree. I was speaking comparatively to las angelas they are smaller cities. Should've been more specific.
     
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  13. SCW

    SCW Initiate (0) Jul 25, 2004 New York

    its one of the most common misuses, done mostly by convenience, so you are not alone
     
  14. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Well, New York City (the largest city in the U.S.) was a runner up, with 21.7% market share, although that might be partly because beer is so freaking expensive there and the study based its results on $ sales, not volume. OTOH, that makes Portland's #1 spot all the more impressive because beer (including "craft") is relatively cheap there.
     
  15. woemad

    woemad Grand Pooh-Bah (5,145) Jun 8, 2003 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I like Seattle being so highly ranked, but agree the methodology is flawed due to some states having asinine laws (Yet more proof that Washington is a great state to live in for beer).
     
  16. ONovoMexicano

    ONovoMexicano Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2012 New Mexico

    I thought you were trying to make a joke about New Haven's inclusion on here. As in something along the lines of, "Oh yeah, let me go to New Haven to score a huge haul." But then again, it's been ten years at least since I've been there and I suppose things have improved mightily. I imagine NEBCO's not far off.
     
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  17. ONovoMexicano

    ONovoMexicano Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2012 New Mexico

    Another thing about NYC is that it has so many immigrants, many who buy the beers of their homeland with vigor and these beers are all of the massed-produced variety. I know for sure this is the case with the Dominican, Mexican, Colombian and other Latino immigrants.
     
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  18. ONovoMexicano

    ONovoMexicano Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2012 New Mexico

    It would be nice to see other cities and states numbers. Albuquerque can still feel very BMC-preferential, but other times, it seems like everyone from every corner of the city is drinking something from a craft brewery, local or otherwise.
     
  19. fx20736

    fx20736 Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2009 New York

    I am completely dumbfounded that Rochester, NY made the list. We have a great beer city!
     
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  20. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    A better methodology would be to track all craft beer sales (draft, grocery stores, liquor stores, bottle shops, breweries, restaurants etc.), either by $ value or volume, and then somehow divide that number by population to get a per capita figure, but I don't know if that's even possible. I still think Portland would come out on top no matter how you did it.
     
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