Best US Beer City (without a car)

Denver. Bus transportation is awesome though the whole city. Plus light rail. Really easy to get around

 

San Diego. San diego and Los Angeles have tons of breweries and lots of times they are a bunch grouped together in bunches. Theres a pretty good san diego brewery app for your phone, which makes it easier to plan out. Also LA as SD have brewery tour buses that just drive you around to different breweries. I warn you though after visiting San Diego you might want to move there.. it's not cheap either.

 

Portland (Maine) is a solid choice. Foundation Brewing, Bissel Brothers, Allagash, Oxbow. All within a few minutes walk of each other. There are also countless bars/restaurants in the area. No need for a car there

Good luck!

 

NYC and Portland (Oregon) are very manageable via public trans. The NYC subway system is unmatched, and Portland's bus system is easy to figure out. Can't speak to San Diego.

I'm a proud native New Yorker but Portland probably has it beat beer-wise.

 

I'll vote Philly. Not the best for Breweries, but great distribution and many beer bars within walking distance of one another. Maybe a short cab ride at most. Wonderful city for local brews, domestic favorites, Belgians and Germans. Great food scene too. Might be one to consider.

 

Sorry about the divorce. I know it probably is way too far but there are so many awesome breweries in downtown Asheville, NC and even more just outside of downtown. It is a mountain beer heaven.

Hope things get better for you. Good luck with the trip.

 

Portland.

Done a lot in that town and no car needed. Best beer scene of the three when on foot and/or using public transit. Includes great place for beer at the airport. Plus if you want to do something other than drink beer, lots of scenic areas to visit (tours, etc.) and what may be one of the world's greatest books stores--Powell's.

As for beer, whereelse would you find a local bar that could, for a joke, put Miller Lite on your beer board and have the regulars recognize that that is a joke and they PtY on tap.

 

While I love San Diego, Portland, and Denver a bit, these are all large cities. Not normally a homey, but Asheville is a small city that is so walkable it's crazy. Just go and see the continual carnival, great food, and even beer if you wish. I would recommend The Haywood Park Hotel as a locus. The place is wonderful.

 

Portland (OR), Denver, or Asheville, NC. These are all extremely accessible without a car (which is the way to go on a beercation).

 

San Francisco, Portland OR, NYC, Chicago.

San Diego? Was there for the NHC in June, Uber was the way to get around.

 

Based on your avatar, I'd go to Brussels instead.

Out of the ones you mentioned, I can only talk about NYC, but I know that spot very well. It's lacking in terms of breweries. Other Half is the main attraction for chasers of hot IPAs. The bar options here are expensive but incredibly plentiful and distribution to NYC is fantastic. The subway system is a huge plus. You can also use the Metro North trains and Long Island Railroad to visit breweries just outside of the city. Overall, if you are interested in the atmosphere of NYC, it's a great choice for outstanding bar hopping.

 

Portland. From the airport to the city and all around you can get there easy and cheap without a car

 

go with Chicago my friend, you will not be disappointed, theres half acre, revolution,and theres two brothers and penrose out in the burbs, many choices!

 

PDX. No discussion.

 

Most of the major "beercentric" cities I have visited have decent public transit: of course, NYC has the best options - and the cheapest, since a single fare can take you from Mid-town to Brooklyn. I recently used the NY Water Taxi that ferries you from 34th West to the Williams burg area in Brooklyn. Second choice is Portland with it's free streetcar (when riding downtown). I did visit San Diego sans car and had no problem; one issue was the problem of getting to Stone in Escondidio (commuter trains and a bus); however, there is now a venue in Liberty Station - you can get there by the Rosecrans Street bus from Old Towne. Enjoy.

 

Portland, Oregon.
Bend, Oregon.
Seattle (specifically the Ballard/Fremont area).
Any of these areas, you can't walk more than three or four blocks in any direction without arriving at a brewery, and then there are also the pubs, ale houses, beer bars on top of that.

 

I'm pretty happy with Minneapolis. I can get to about 20 breweries on a reasonably short bike ride and can more than double that number if I get inspired or am feeling particularly athletic. I can easily hit 4 or 5 in an afternoon. Several are on or just off bike trails. Also several decent bars that feature craft beer.

 

+1 Chicago. If you're bold, you can bike to 3 Floyds or Two Brothers.

 

I think many of the above are good suggestions. Since there plenty of places that fit your transportation criteria, I'd ask instead "which place has the most exciting beer?" and see where your answer to that leads you. For me, I'd choose San Diego or San Francisco/Oakland, but your tastes may differ.