9 Small Beer Cities that Deserve National Attention

If you love suds like we do, you might want to know about these 9 small beer cities that most definitely deserve national attention. It’s hard to turn down a beer just about anywhere here in Portland, OR. We have a ton of respected breweries known around the globe. But for this festive Friday, we thought you might want to know about smaller cities crafting some spectacular amber nectar from coast-to-coast.

Get the full flavor of these small, great beer cities at thrillist.com, who describe themselves simply as “being obsessed with everything that’s worth caring about in food, drink, and travel.”

*Full disclosure: I’m aware and in love with cities #2 and #4 on this list. And I loved #7 when I visited there last summer. Cheers!

9 Small Beer Cities That Deserve National Attention

“These nine towns are all making huge steps in the world of brewing, and they’re doing it despite fewer than 100,000 people calling them home. Some are relative metropolises in less-populated states. Others are tiny vacation towns most folks haven’t even heard of. All are putting forth some serious beer game worthy of your attention… and a visit.”

-Andy Kryza, thrillist.com

Asheville, NC
A combination of nearly 20 breweries and a big local music scene, and passionate home brewers.
Signature Event: The Beer City Festival (May)
Local Brewers: Asheville Brewing, Burial Beer, Wedge Brewing, Wicked Weed Brewing, Altamont Brewing

Bend, OR
A high-desert city rimmed by snowy mountains and an utdoor lifestyle, complimented by large and small breweries.
Signature Event: The Little Woody Barrel Aged Beer and Whiskey Festival (August)
Local Brewers: Deschutes Brewery, 10 Barrel, Boneyard Beer, Crux Fermentation Project, Bend Brewing, Rat Hole Brewpub

Burlington, VT
42,000 residents call this home and they’re served by 11 breweries, a wide selection for any location.
Signature Event: The Vermont Brewers Fest (July)
Local Brewers: Infinity Brewing, Vermont Pub & Brewery (the state’s oldest craft brewer), Three Needs, Magic Hat, Switchback, Zero Gravity Beer (The recommendation to visit Das Bierhaus has expired, they closed in lease negotiations earlier this year.)

Hood River, OR
Only 7,000 people call this town home, but the seleection of potables abound with breweries, cider-makers, wineries, and distilled liquors.
Signature Event: The Hood River Hops Fest (Sept)
Local Brewers: Full Sail Brewing, Big Horse Brewpub, Double Mountain Brewery, Pfriem Family Brewers, Walking Man Beer, Logsdon Farmhouse Beer

Longmont, CO
Often lost in the mix of Colorado brew towns, Longmont hosts a nice selection of local brewers.
Signature Event: Oktoberfest (Sept)
Local Brewers: Left Hand Brewing, Oskar Blues, Pumphouse Brewery, 300 Suns Brewing

Missoula, MT
A college town of about 70,000, Missoula hosts some of the best of the 40 breweries in the state
Signature  Event: Winter BrewFest (Feb)
Local Brewers: Big Sky Brewing, Bayern Brewery, Draught Works Brewery, Tamarack Brewing, Kettle House Brewing

Portland, ME
This Maine city of 66,000 challenges it’s younger namesake, Portland, OR, on breweries per capita.
Signature Event: The Maine Brewers Fest (Nov)
Local Brewers: Allagash Brewing, Maine Beer Company, Rising Tide Brewing, Foundation Brew, In’finiti Fermentation & Distillation, Bunker Brwewing, Bissell Brothers, D.L. Geary Brewing, Sebago Brewing

Santa Fe, NM
With weather ranging from frozen to frying, local brewers produce an equally wide array of temperature-matching temptations.
Signature Event: The Outside Bike & Brew Fest (May)
Local Brewers: Santa Fe Brewing, Duel Brewing, Second Street Brewery, Blue Corn Brewery, Falcon Meadery and Cidery

Traverse City, MI
Known as a vacation haven, this city packs 13 breweries into a town with just 15,000 locals.
Signature Event: The Traverse City Microbrew & Music Fest (August)
Local Brewers: Right Brain Brewery, Mackinaw Brewing Company, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Filling Station Microbrewery, Ferment, 45th Parallale, The Workshop Brewing Company

You can read the complete post here. Hey you beer connoisseurs! Let us know your thoughts below. Got any cities to add to this list? Share with us below.

Live well.