Zane Lamprey's 25 Best Beer Cities in the World

A little too high IMO. We definitely should not be above Philly - that's crazy talk. I'm not sure there is a single metric Boston beats Philly in when it comes to beer. Local breweries, local establishments serving craft beer, high-end beer bars, distribution, bar locations/access, brewpubs, etc, etc. Perhaps we have better festivals, solely thanks to Beer Advocate, but that's about it.

All subjective fun though...

Can anyone explain how Mexico City makes the Top 25 list?

 

http://drinkingmadeeasy.com/booze-in-the-news/zane-lampreys-top-25-beer-cities/

I know, another list, right?

This one is from Zane Lamprey, who apparently does a radio show and some food shows around beer.

Most notable (to me): #22 - Grand Rapids, MI.

Seems pretty solid, overall.

 

After living in Dublin for a short time, I can totally understand its ranking. Also, it is pretty sweet that Asheville is #6.

 

pretty cool list. I do not have much to comment as I have not been to many of these places, however they did really under state the number of breweries in SD county, they said over 30, while technically correct, the true number is 53.

Also serious question, not trolling or hating. But what is with Grand Rapids? I am from MI and have been there numerous times. I have not been back there in 2 years, but has the beer scene really blown up that much? I looked up the breweries in the area and have not heard of 90% of them. Sure Founders is top 5/10 in the US, but what else? I have been to HopCat (before they started brewing), and Hide Out, plus a few other beer bars. I am sure I will be making it back there at some point and I want to know what I have been missing and what to look for.

 

So... Asheville > San Diego?

 

it is kind of weird when the highlights for the city are that 1) some online poll says they are great and 2) they will be soon getting some West Coast breweries.

Also (and this goes for most places), I find it weird when they post "the city host some beer events". What city doesn't? In San Diego those days are called Saturday's. Seriously there are sooo many events held at breweries, bars, restaurants, etc., that if you come for any given week there is bound to be some great event during the week you can attend. I am sure this is the same for other large beer cities like Portland, Denver, Boston, Chicago, Seattle. Honestly the big festivals that are held in SD are usually the more lackluster beer nerd events, but still attract 100s of people, and happen very frequently.

 

I'd actually probably give Boston the nod on Breweries actually especially with all the recent additions ... agreed on the rest being in Philly's favor.

I've been to 8 of the top 10 plus Philly and can't argue too much with that part of the list.

 

Absolute lunacy that Bamberg, Germany, is not on the list. The town of 70,000 has 10 breweries and within 1 hour's radius there are more than 250 others. Plus the per capita consumption is the highest in the world.

 

I can't understand Dublin's ranking - Dublin is one of the top 'drinking' cities - but not 'beer' drinking !!!

Yes - a fair few bars selling a decent range of beers have cropped up over the last 5 or so years and it has a heritage from stouts/porters etc - but I don't see it up there in 3rd place nowhere near !

 

exactly - just one of these lists from someone who hasn't got a full knowledge of the history of beer and where you find the best beer/range of beer and bars/pubs

This list is part beer drinking cities part DRINKING cities!

 

Boston's a great beer city, but #9 is too high.

From everything I've heard, Philadelphia should be well ahead of Boston. In my book, Seattle and San Francisco should maybe jump ahead of Boston, as well.

Boston has had great bars--and a ton of local, regional, national and imported beer available--for as long as I've known. And it has some pretty old--by East Coast standard--breweries in Harpoon and CBC. But it's long had a dearth of local breweries, and especially brewpubs. Aside from the CBC, the Boston-Cambridge-Brookline-Somerville brewpubs are limited to a few chains. That's not to say that those can't be good, but it seems like a pretty small number considering the population. And the growth in local production breweries in the last few years has been great, but many of them are still on the edges of the Greater Boston area, like Jack's Abby, or actually do their brewing well outside the area, like Pretty Things. Maybe that doesn't matter, since those breweries have a (deservedly) huge presence on local taps, but it's different than being able to go into the local brewery easily for a pint or growler fill.

In many ways, Boston is a great beer city in spite of its relative lack of local breweries. It's greatness is built largely on top-rate bars, good distribution, good festivals and events, and many excellent breweries in the greater Greater Boston area.

I'm not sure where I'd come down on this, but I think you could even make an argument that Portland, Maine rivals Boston as the best beer city in New England. With 10 breweries in the city limits of Portland to just 4 in Boston (plus 2 more if you include Cambridge), Portland is well ahead in brewery count, and blows Boston out of the water per capita. Then, if you consider the comparable out-of-state distribution and excellent breweries from elsewhere in Maine, and the prevalence of great beer bars throughout the city, I'd say that Portland could give Boston a run for its money. They're both great towns for beer, but if Portland, Maine can rival Boston, I'd say Boston's #9 position is a bit high.

Also, I've never been to Dublin, but aside from some well known Irish stouts, is it really a great beer city?

 

He can keep Munich, if I can have Bamberg.

Edit - Bend was good last month.

 

I've been to 17 of those cities and can say his list and mine would be very different. But like you said, it's just another list(opinion).

 

I just read his disclaimer -

*Regardless of your knowledge of beer in the world, I expect that you will undoubtably disagree with some of my choices. You may feel that I gave one city too much credit, and feel that I neglected to mention another city
entirely. I can already hear someone from Cleveland, Ohio asking why Cleveland, Ohio didn’t make the list. Cleveland, like many American cities, has a burgeoning craft beer scene that locals should be proud of. But, as this is a list of 25 cities from around the world, some cuts had to be made.

At least he is honest and doesn't take himself too seriously.

 

I know I sound like a homer, but...I don't understand how Philadelphia is so low.

The idea of a "Beer Week" started in Philly. Was copied by everyone else across the country.

There are the breweries that don't distribute many places other than Philly like Heady Topper, Hill Farmstead, Russian River, Jester King, FiftyFifty, Funky Buddha, Cascade, etc. Breweries want to come to Philly to make a splash

There are several taverns still standing that served Generals of the Revolutionary Army, future Presidents, diplomats, etc. The US Marine Corp was founded in Tun Tavern, in Philadelphia. The Founding Fathers plotted the future of this country over many beers consumed here.

Bars like Monk's and brewpubs like Dock Street totally spurred the craft beer revolution in America.

 

I felt right at home drinking in portland, can't wait to visit again!

 

Dont get me wrong, i'm a North Carolinian and love the state as well as the beer, but I wouldnt rate Asheville any where near that high. Ive lived in asheville and love and support NC beer but I think that is crazy. There are some cities with a lot better beer scenes than Asheville.

 

I think I've seen all his shows thanks to DVR. IMO, he doesn't seem to know much about beer and seems
more interested in cocktails.

That list seems ridiculous to me.

 

weird to see asheville so high with some others out of whack (e.g. boston over philly, and i too am skeptical of dublin). you have to be pretty in the know to know about asheville.

boston is an awesome beer city though.