You know there is a group on here that got a region. I think GR and Kzoo should account for SW MI, and win Beer City USA as a team. That way we can show our pride and give props to the outliers like, New Holland, Saugatuck, Paw Paw, Dark Horse, Arcadia, The Livery, Greenbush, The Waldorff, etc. Come on here and sing the praises of your region, and don't pretend that you wouldn't be excited to go to any one of these towns and drink what they have to offer. Somebody mentioned there are only a few places in Kalamazoo that make beer. We have Bell's, Olde Peninsula, Bilbo's, Bravo. Opening this summer is Arcadia's 2nd location, Boatyard, Gonzo's Biggdogg, Centre City Taphouse, and potentially 2 more are in the works. Other great things about Kzoo is a huge Homebrewing community. The Kalamazoo Libation Order of Brewers often times has over 100 people at their meetings. We also are home to Shakespeares Pub and the Kalamazoo Beer Exchange, two of the State's top ranked beer bars. There is so much more. Tell us about your community. Name your breweries. Give us a reason to come visit. Please stop bashing.
Matt - 12 years ago
Not sure why it has to get so nasty on here... There are great beer towns all over the country. I happen to live in Asheville and love what has happened over the last few years to make this a beer destination, BUT none of it would be possible without a whole lot of other beer towns starting the trend a long time ago. We are standing on the shoulders of giants. Asheville doesn't have the most breweries or necessarily the absolute best breweries in the country (although there are some great beers made here), but what they have done to create a fun, vibrant beer culture in a town of 80,000 people is tremendous. Don't hate Asheville simply because they have won this poll before. Come on down for a visit and you might begin to understand why it's such a great beer town. I plan on visiting some other great beer towns in the coming years and there isn't a bit of hate for any town that is able to support a microbrewery...
Matt - 12 years ago
Roger, you're a douche. Both Western MI and Western NC have great beer, stop acting like one is great and one sucks. Have you ever even been to Asheville? I'm from MI, I live in Asheville now, and both have great beer - so vote but stop being a douche.
Butch Markel - 12 years ago
Beer fest time
keith sellers - 12 years ago
Asheville Is the Best Brew city!!
Roger - 12 years ago
People from Asheville, NC don't know what true beer is. Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo pumps out unique specialty beer's which are KNOWN NATION WIDE! They are also featured in Magazines like Mens Health, GQ, and other widely known magazines. When it gets cold in the north we like to drink, when it gets warm we bring out the grills and drink. You have no chance.
Keep cooking your Paula Dean style Beers no one cares or likes it.
tb - 12 years ago
Say what you want about the south, but you don't see us southerners moving up north to retire or for any logical reason for that matter..
I'm sure GR and Kalamazoo are great, but you'll all flee south at some point.
Asheville it is!! The Beer is just one great facet of WNC.
Debbie - 12 years ago
The debate between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo is simple to resolve. Number of breweries and/or places that brew their own beer in Kalamazoo = 5, which puts them in the same category as Ann Arbor (6 total Breweries) and Detroit (5 Breweries). Grand Rapids has 11 breweries/places that brew their own beer and new ones opening all the time! This should be a no brainer.
BigDogMi - 12 years ago
Hey GR and KZoo... If we were smart we would be combining our votes and then just alternate every year. This year we do GR to get Asheville out of the running and then next year Kalamazoo gets it, then the next year GR, then KZoo, etc... That's what smart and loyal West Michigan beer drinkers would do. ;-)
Nate - 12 years ago
GR baby! Founders is crushing on everyone in the micro brew industry! Come get some and find out for yourself.
Breweries within 30 miles:
14. Sierra Nevada (opening soon)
15. Oskar Blues
16. Southern Appalachian Brewery
17. Brevard Brewing Company
18. Frog Level
Not bad for a city of less then 90,000.
Bruce Legion - 12 years ago
I vote for Grand Rapids as Bible Thumping Neo-Conservative Douchebag City USA.
Jon - 12 years ago
I'd vote for Ashville before I'd vote for Grand Rapids
Tracy - 12 years ago
Denver is where it is at for micro brews. We have several right here in Denver as well as access to the micros from Fort Collins and Breckenridge.
John - 12 years ago
Hey you guys. Nobody's city is "way better", or "hands down", the clear standout, most awesomest, 100% Beer City. If you guys were smart you'd agree with Valerie and vote for Grand Rapids because she had very valid points. All of you Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids citizens should strategize. Vote for GR and that way we don't risk losing to Ashville or something.
Bob - 12 years ago
Kzoo
Megan - 12 years ago
Milwaukee all the way!
CassieG - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo
KzooFTW - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo, MI get's my vote. Grand Rapids and the other cities don't even stand close. The quality of beer, the character of the city, and the community of beer enthusiasts/home brewers here in Kalamazoo can't be beat!
MidCenturyBrewing - 12 years ago
TJ Lee Williams you crack me up! It must be "God's will" that tens of thousands of people love Founder's beer as well as many others in GR! lol
You are either a disgruntled ex employee of Founder's, a current employee of Bell's or on the City Council in Asheville, NC!! :-)
GR is where it's At! Beer City USA
Mike - 12 years ago
Kazoo and GR are only 45 miles apart...can they be combined into the same geographical microbrew area? If not, I'll go with Kalamazoo, where my microbrew roots were planted. GR is a close second, where I have since honed my quaffing skills.
BigDogMi - 12 years ago
Grand Rapids, and West Michigan!
http://youtu.be/4ULFwF-264M
MichiganGoat - 12 years ago
Grand Rapids without a doubt, but then again I have Founders a few miles from my house and the vast landscape of beer in West Michigan is why living in GR is wonderful. My great fear is that the West Michigan vote will get split between KZoo and GR.
Donny - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo!
BrandoCalrisean - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo! Hands down! A great city too, culturally speaking.
Katie - 12 years ago
Grand Rapids is the best city. The beer is amazing, the food at the breweries is delicious, and the art in the city is top notch. This "smaller" city is the most grand of all. Grand Rapids Brewing Co., new on the map this year, has some of the most amazing beer and food I've had.
ASHEVILLE - no doubt. Any day, any time of the year there are local brews, tastings and events for both visitors and residents all in the most beautiful mountain setting. Get a complete list of Asheville's breweries and Beer shops at: http://www.climbeverymountain.com/Asheville_North_Carolina_Cabin_and_Vacation_Rentals.htm
Julia Fosson - 12 years ago
Asheville Rocks
Dave R. - 12 years ago
Go Grand Rapids
Behind Blue Eyes - 12 years ago
If you haven't been to Asheville, NC, you're missing out. It's like voting for vanilla ice cream as your favorite flavor. Vanilla's not bad, it's just vanilla.
Paul - 12 years ago
Any city in the running has to be a place that I'd like to be. As a long time resident of Asheville, a small mountain city with about 8 or so microbreweries with some big players like New Belgium, Sierra Nevada and Oskar Blues developed, under construction and planned, it's hard to imagine how a greater ratio of a breweries to population would be possible. It's the water - you can't beat a water source of thousands of acres of wilderness watershed, and some of the highest rainfall in the mountains (80" +) of anywhere in the country. Just sayin'!
Mal - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo has my vote. GR has an incredible beer scene no doubt, but I've lived in both Kalamazoo and GR and I have to say Kalamazoo has much more character! Although Kzoo has less breweries than GR, it is a smaller city and the breweries and beer bars we do have are stellar. Not to mention, the home brew scene in Kalamazoo is busting at the seams. Bells of course brews some of the best beers in the world (and no I'm NOT talking about Oberon but rather, Two Hearted, Hopslam, Expedition Stout...etc). Founders also brews top notch beer (Breakfast Stout opened my taste buds to stouts and there is a reason KBS has the following it does), but doesn't have the history, volume, or beer culture that Bells does. Attend an eccentric day at Bells and you'll know exactly what I mean. On any given day, Bells easily has double the amount of brews on tap than Founders. Other notable breweries in/around Kalamazoo: Old Pinnesula, Bilbos, Bravo, Boatyard, Arcadia, Latitude 42...and you;re just a stones throw away from PawPaw, Greenbush, Dark Horse, and of course the vast beer landscape of GR. When it comes to beer, West Michigan is where it is at so a vote for Kzoo or GR is more than justified...its just a matter of preference and biases! San Diego is also a VERY close second (shout out to Alesmith and Lost Abbey) to Kalamazoo, but I have to stick to my roots!
Kim - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo has the best option for breweries. So come on over, sit yourself down and enjoy the best brew city.
I was born and raised in the Grand Rapids, MI area. I didn't learn of microbrews and craft beers until I moved out to Fort Collins, CO for some time. It's great that GR now has some microbreweries but Fort Collins has New Belgium Brewery, makers of Fat Tire, best beer I have ever had. They also have other breweries in town and the surrounding area. I have never agreed with GR being Beer City USA. Sorry, but out west has MI beat hands down!
Brewery Vivant, Founders, Hideaway, Hop Cat, Grand Rapids Brewing Company, Perrin, and Schmohz > just Bells. Grand Rapids is for the beer lovers!
Al - 12 years ago
Such good Brew in Kalamazoo!!
Nate Phillips - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo is beer city!
DAVE VANDENBOSCH - 12 years ago
BEER CITY USA 2013 most definitely need to be Grand Rapids.
Brooke - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo = BELLS
Brooke - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo = BELLS
Brooke - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo = BELLS
Brooke - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo = BELLS
Brooke - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo = BELLS
Brooke - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo = BELLS
Samantha - 12 years ago
Uhh what, Carl? GR!
David - 12 years ago
Grand Rapids rocks the beer world!
Lindsay - 12 years ago
GR has a pop. of like 180K and that's not including the surrounding area, which comes to like 1 mil.
Asheville has a pop. of around 80K and around 400K including the area.
So to the people who are whining about "splitting the vote:" let's not talk about who has the advantage here.
BTW: The fact that Avl won this poll 4 years running is due to the fact that it's truly a great beer city.
Jude - 12 years ago
From the looks of the comments, (some more intelligent and less offensive than others), it appears that only three cities are in the running: Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Asheville. Nobody else from anywhere seems to be voting or commenting. While I do love Bells Oberon, I have to say that the beers from Brewery Vivant are exceptional. Plus, the combination brewery/restaurant culture that seems to be ever evolving in Grand Rapids is something that sways me. It's not just how many breweries a town has, or whether Bells is better than Founders (I think it is personally), but how the advent of the micro-brewer has affected the city, its economy and its culture. And there, I'm afraid that Grand Rapids wins hands down.
Rachel - 12 years ago
Grand Rapids is awesome!
Jim - 12 years ago
incredible number of craft breweries opening up in Asheville and the surrounding areas Mills RiverandBrevard Brevard
Carl - 12 years ago
HRRR UR CITY IS NO GUD BCAUSE I LIEK BEER FROM DIFFRENT CITY, HRRR!!!11 U NO LIEK REEL BEER AND UR A STOOPID PERSON TWO. HRRRR.]
Grow up. All of you.
tabby - 12 years ago
GRAND RAPIDS hands down! we have so many different breweries and selections of beer! if you haven't been you are really missing out on all of these amazing places!
tabby - 12 years ago
GRAND RAPIDS hands down! we have so many different breweries and selections of beer! if you haven't been you are really missing out on all of these amazing places!
B CLIFFE-MILLER - 12 years ago
GR all the way!
Kelly - 12 years ago
Asheville, hands down!
Max Haner - 12 years ago
Asheville is a great beer city
MJC - 12 years ago
I wonder how close to popping this economic beer bubble is...
Nikki - 12 years ago
Love Kalamazoo! We are Beer City!
Beau - 12 years ago
The Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo corridor was rated number three place in the country to visit for craft beer last year. Lets remember that we are in this together and with each new brewery in Kzoo or GR or Holland, paw paw, or any place between, we all win. Each city is getting better by the day, and as the tide rolls in, all our boats rise. If we work together, we can be rated #1 each and every year. Imagine what that would do to tourism and economic development. Beer City or not, collectively, there no better place to be than West Michigan.
To benz, grow up man. I've lived in both Kzoo and grand rapids, both are great cities and great places for great beer and good times. Personally, I prefer g.r. slightly over kzoo, but I'm not going to tear down your city for it. It's voting for beer, this should be friendly competition. This is Michigan, your have tons of other options for cities to rip on..Flint, Jackson, Detroit, battle creek, Lansing, etc..
TJ Lee Williams - 12 years ago
Benz, so true. Couldn't have said it better. Except to add that if you vote GR you're a douche.
Michael - 12 years ago
Come on, stop with the put downs! Putting down others is just ridiculous! Be the beer lover that you are w/o judging someone else..it's just makes your(Our) city look bad! Be RESPECTFUL!
Big Chief 51 - 12 years ago
GR Brewers building Beer City USA!
kbh - 12 years ago
Go Grand Rapids!
Jon - 12 years ago
Go GR!
Mama K - 12 years ago
Go Kzoo
Jill Berry - 12 years ago
Lets go GR!
Jill Berry - 12 years ago
Lets go GR!
SHIRLEY - 12 years ago
GR WERE ELSE
Benz - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo is Beer City.
Hey Grand Rapids, no one is splitting any vote. No self-respecting Kalamazoo native would consider voting for Grand Rapids as beer city, even if Kalamazoo wasn't a choice. Beer and breweries in G.R. are exactly like the city itself. They may look and seem like something of substance, but in reality there isn't any kind of character or personality.
There are certainly more breweries in Grand Rapids, but this isn't really all that important. Go down to Bell's on a Friday evening in the summertime and compare that experience to the factories and warehouses you serve your overrated beers in.
Michael - 12 years ago
Respect each others opinions! We all have a favorite, let the votes decide! That being said, I love Kalamabrew!
Maureen Snyder - 12 years ago
Go Kalamazoo
Shippwreck - 12 years ago
Yeah Asheville! Yeah Sierra Nevada, Blue ridge and Asheville brewery
Shippwreck - 12 years ago
Yeah Asheville! Yeah Sierra Nevada, Blue ridge and Asheville brewery
Shippwreck - 12 years ago
Yeah Asheville! Yeah Sierra Nevada, Blue ridge and Asheville brewery
Shippwreck - 12 years ago
Yeah Asheville! Yeah Sierra Nevada, Blue ridge and Asheville brewery
Shippwreck - 12 years ago
Yeah Asheville! Yeah Sierra Nevada, Blue ridge and Asheville brewery
Action - 12 years ago
GR. I love me some two-hearted, but Oberon has to be the most overrated beer out there.
JJS - 12 years ago
Unite Midwest, vote for Kalamazoo! Asheville is great, but Kalamazoo should be recognized!
Josh - 12 years ago
Don't split the vote West Michigan Vote Kalamazoo.
Steve - 12 years ago
Kalamabrew! Just Bell's... Chucky please. ARCADIA moving there now, and if you haven't tried BOATYARD yet, you are missing out on the best one in SW Michigan!
Norm - 12 years ago
ASHEVILLE ... GR? Kazoo? Posers!!!
The great Ashe rules.
Jocko - 12 years ago
Have never tasted finer beer then served in Grand Rapids.
Patrick - 12 years ago
Grand Rapids hands down! The selection of craft breweries and excellent beer bars is unparalleled. Kalamazoo is great as well but I think it's a conspiracy by Asheville to split the West Michigan vote! Vote GR!
Josiah Barber - 12 years ago
Grand Rapids 100%
Dan - 12 years ago
Good, great, delicious, Grand rapids beer and atmosphere!
TJ Lee Williams - 12 years ago
Just to reiterate: GR beer=swill. Must have something to do with the fact that beer making is a science, and religious fundies don't believe in science. They think god put the bubbles in their beer. Just dump in the cheapest ingredients you can buy. God will do the rest! Aaaaaaaaand *poof* God gave you Founders.
Alan - 12 years ago
Hands down Grand Rapids! I can walk into 1 bar and it has 49 craft beers on tap... I love me some Hopcat! Then you have Founders, Vivant, Mitten, Grand Rapids Brewing company. And also a shout out to my Friends at High Five Brewing Company ( A hopefully soon to be started up Brewery Co-op) started by a college classmate of mine. And that's just my favorite little list, there are many more. Grand Rapids for sure. And to the person somewhere up the line who said all Founders beer tastes like swill...go back to your bush lite and leave this for the grown ups.
Emilie Walker - 12 years ago
Let's make it a second year!!
TJ Lee Williams - 12 years ago
Kalamazoo without a doubt. Founders is literally the worst beer on the planet. It's the McDonalds of beer. GR is beneath Milwaukee. They don't have a single beer that doesn't taste like swill. At least Milwaukee has high life. GR doesn't have a single beer better than high life. True story.
You know there is a group on here that got a region. I think GR and Kzoo should account for SW MI, and win Beer City USA as a team. That way we can show our pride and give props to the outliers like, New Holland, Saugatuck, Paw Paw, Dark Horse, Arcadia, The Livery, Greenbush, The Waldorff, etc. Come on here and sing the praises of your region, and don't pretend that you wouldn't be excited to go to any one of these towns and drink what they have to offer. Somebody mentioned there are only a few places in Kalamazoo that make beer. We have Bell's, Olde Peninsula, Bilbo's, Bravo. Opening this summer is Arcadia's 2nd location, Boatyard, Gonzo's Biggdogg, Centre City Taphouse, and potentially 2 more are in the works. Other great things about Kzoo is a huge Homebrewing community. The Kalamazoo Libation Order of Brewers often times has over 100 people at their meetings. We also are home to Shakespeares Pub and the Kalamazoo Beer Exchange, two of the State's top ranked beer bars. There is so much more. Tell us about your community. Name your breweries. Give us a reason to come visit. Please stop bashing.
Not sure why it has to get so nasty on here... There are great beer towns all over the country. I happen to live in Asheville and love what has happened over the last few years to make this a beer destination, BUT none of it would be possible without a whole lot of other beer towns starting the trend a long time ago. We are standing on the shoulders of giants. Asheville doesn't have the most breweries or necessarily the absolute best breweries in the country (although there are some great beers made here), but what they have done to create a fun, vibrant beer culture in a town of 80,000 people is tremendous. Don't hate Asheville simply because they have won this poll before. Come on down for a visit and you might begin to understand why it's such a great beer town. I plan on visiting some other great beer towns in the coming years and there isn't a bit of hate for any town that is able to support a microbrewery...
Roger, you're a douche. Both Western MI and Western NC have great beer, stop acting like one is great and one sucks. Have you ever even been to Asheville? I'm from MI, I live in Asheville now, and both have great beer - so vote but stop being a douche.
Beer fest time
Asheville Is the Best Brew city!!
People from Asheville, NC don't know what true beer is. Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo pumps out unique specialty beer's which are KNOWN NATION WIDE! They are also featured in Magazines like Mens Health, GQ, and other widely known magazines. When it gets cold in the north we like to drink, when it gets warm we bring out the grills and drink. You have no chance.
Keep cooking your Paula Dean style Beers no one cares or likes it.
Say what you want about the south, but you don't see us southerners moving up north to retire or for any logical reason for that matter..
I'm sure GR and Kalamazoo are great, but you'll all flee south at some point.
Asheville it is!! The Beer is just one great facet of WNC.
The debate between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo is simple to resolve. Number of breweries and/or places that brew their own beer in Kalamazoo = 5, which puts them in the same category as Ann Arbor (6 total Breweries) and Detroit (5 Breweries). Grand Rapids has 11 breweries/places that brew their own beer and new ones opening all the time! This should be a no brainer.
Hey GR and KZoo... If we were smart we would be combining our votes and then just alternate every year. This year we do GR to get Asheville out of the running and then next year Kalamazoo gets it, then the next year GR, then KZoo, etc... That's what smart and loyal West Michigan beer drinkers would do. ;-)
GR baby! Founders is crushing on everyone in the micro brew industry! Come get some and find out for yourself.
Undeniable Asheville is the Beer City.
Asheville:
1. New Belgium Brewing
2. Highland Brewing
3. Asheville Brewing
4. Wicked Weed Brewing
5. Hi-Wire
6. Burial
7. Pisgah Brewing
8. Burial 2nd location (opening soon)
9. Catawba River Brewing 2nd location (opening soon)
10. Altamont Brewing
11. Wedge Brewery
12. Green Man Brewing
13. Lexington Avenue Brewery
14. Oysterhouse Brewing
Breweries within 30 miles:
14. Sierra Nevada (opening soon)
15. Oskar Blues
16. Southern Appalachian Brewery
17. Brevard Brewing Company
18. Frog Level
Not bad for a city of less then 90,000.
I vote for Grand Rapids as Bible Thumping Neo-Conservative Douchebag City USA.
I'd vote for Ashville before I'd vote for Grand Rapids
Denver is where it is at for micro brews. We have several right here in Denver as well as access to the micros from Fort Collins and Breckenridge.
Hey you guys. Nobody's city is "way better", or "hands down", the clear standout, most awesomest, 100% Beer City. If you guys were smart you'd agree with Valerie and vote for Grand Rapids because she had very valid points. All of you Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids citizens should strategize. Vote for GR and that way we don't risk losing to Ashville or something.
Kzoo
Milwaukee all the way!
Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, MI get's my vote. Grand Rapids and the other cities don't even stand close. The quality of beer, the character of the city, and the community of beer enthusiasts/home brewers here in Kalamazoo can't be beat!
TJ Lee Williams you crack me up! It must be "God's will" that tens of thousands of people love Founder's beer as well as many others in GR! lol
You are either a disgruntled ex employee of Founder's, a current employee of Bell's or on the City Council in Asheville, NC!! :-)
GR is where it's At! Beer City USA
Kazoo and GR are only 45 miles apart...can they be combined into the same geographical microbrew area? If not, I'll go with Kalamazoo, where my microbrew roots were planted. GR is a close second, where I have since honed my quaffing skills.
Grand Rapids, and West Michigan!
http://youtu.be/4ULFwF-264M
Grand Rapids without a doubt, but then again I have Founders a few miles from my house and the vast landscape of beer in West Michigan is why living in GR is wonderful. My great fear is that the West Michigan vote will get split between KZoo and GR.
Kalamazoo!
Kalamazoo! Hands down! A great city too, culturally speaking.
Grand Rapids is the best city. The beer is amazing, the food at the breweries is delicious, and the art in the city is top notch. This "smaller" city is the most grand of all. Grand Rapids Brewing Co., new on the map this year, has some of the most amazing beer and food I've had.
ASHEVILLE - no doubt. Any day, any time of the year there are local brews, tastings and events for both visitors and residents all in the most beautiful mountain setting. Get a complete list of Asheville's breweries and Beer shops at: http://www.climbeverymountain.com/Asheville_North_Carolina_Cabin_and_Vacation_Rentals.htm
Asheville Rocks
Go Grand Rapids
If you haven't been to Asheville, NC, you're missing out. It's like voting for vanilla ice cream as your favorite flavor. Vanilla's not bad, it's just vanilla.
Any city in the running has to be a place that I'd like to be. As a long time resident of Asheville, a small mountain city with about 8 or so microbreweries with some big players like New Belgium, Sierra Nevada and Oskar Blues developed, under construction and planned, it's hard to imagine how a greater ratio of a breweries to population would be possible. It's the water - you can't beat a water source of thousands of acres of wilderness watershed, and some of the highest rainfall in the mountains (80" +) of anywhere in the country. Just sayin'!
Kalamazoo has my vote. GR has an incredible beer scene no doubt, but I've lived in both Kalamazoo and GR and I have to say Kalamazoo has much more character! Although Kzoo has less breweries than GR, it is a smaller city and the breweries and beer bars we do have are stellar. Not to mention, the home brew scene in Kalamazoo is busting at the seams. Bells of course brews some of the best beers in the world (and no I'm NOT talking about Oberon but rather, Two Hearted, Hopslam, Expedition Stout...etc). Founders also brews top notch beer (Breakfast Stout opened my taste buds to stouts and there is a reason KBS has the following it does), but doesn't have the history, volume, or beer culture that Bells does. Attend an eccentric day at Bells and you'll know exactly what I mean. On any given day, Bells easily has double the amount of brews on tap than Founders. Other notable breweries in/around Kalamazoo: Old Pinnesula, Bilbos, Bravo, Boatyard, Arcadia, Latitude 42...and you;re just a stones throw away from PawPaw, Greenbush, Dark Horse, and of course the vast beer landscape of GR. When it comes to beer, West Michigan is where it is at so a vote for Kzoo or GR is more than justified...its just a matter of preference and biases! San Diego is also a VERY close second (shout out to Alesmith and Lost Abbey) to Kalamazoo, but I have to stick to my roots!
Kalamazoo has the best option for breweries. So come on over, sit yourself down and enjoy the best brew city.
Grand Rapids is Beer city.
I choose Kalamazoo!!!
I was born and raised in the Grand Rapids, MI area. I didn't learn of microbrews and craft beers until I moved out to Fort Collins, CO for some time. It's great that GR now has some microbreweries but Fort Collins has New Belgium Brewery, makers of Fat Tire, best beer I have ever had. They also have other breweries in town and the surrounding area. I have never agreed with GR being Beer City USA. Sorry, but out west has MI beat hands down!
K A L A M A Z O O!
Microbrew capital!!!!
Brewery Vivant, Founders, Hideaway, Hop Cat, Grand Rapids Brewing Company, Perrin, and Schmohz > just Bells. Grand Rapids is for the beer lovers!
Such good Brew in Kalamazoo!!
Kalamazoo is beer city!
BEER CITY USA 2013 most definitely need to be Grand Rapids.
Kalamazoo = BELLS
Kalamazoo = BELLS
Kalamazoo = BELLS
Kalamazoo = BELLS
Kalamazoo = BELLS
Kalamazoo = BELLS
Uhh what, Carl? GR!
Grand Rapids rocks the beer world!
GR has a pop. of like 180K and that's not including the surrounding area, which comes to like 1 mil.
Asheville has a pop. of around 80K and around 400K including the area.
So to the people who are whining about "splitting the vote:" let's not talk about who has the advantage here.
BTW: The fact that Avl won this poll 4 years running is due to the fact that it's truly a great beer city.
From the looks of the comments, (some more intelligent and less offensive than others), it appears that only three cities are in the running: Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Asheville. Nobody else from anywhere seems to be voting or commenting. While I do love Bells Oberon, I have to say that the beers from Brewery Vivant are exceptional. Plus, the combination brewery/restaurant culture that seems to be ever evolving in Grand Rapids is something that sways me. It's not just how many breweries a town has, or whether Bells is better than Founders (I think it is personally), but how the advent of the micro-brewer has affected the city, its economy and its culture. And there, I'm afraid that Grand Rapids wins hands down.
Grand Rapids is awesome!
incredible number of craft breweries opening up in Asheville and the surrounding areas Mills RiverandBrevard Brevard
HRRR UR CITY IS NO GUD BCAUSE I LIEK BEER FROM DIFFRENT CITY, HRRR!!!11 U NO LIEK REEL BEER AND UR A STOOPID PERSON TWO. HRRRR.]
Grow up. All of you.
GRAND RAPIDS hands down! we have so many different breweries and selections of beer! if you haven't been you are really missing out on all of these amazing places!
GRAND RAPIDS hands down! we have so many different breweries and selections of beer! if you haven't been you are really missing out on all of these amazing places!
GR all the way!
Asheville, hands down!
Asheville is a great beer city
I wonder how close to popping this economic beer bubble is...
Love Kalamazoo! We are Beer City!
The Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo corridor was rated number three place in the country to visit for craft beer last year. Lets remember that we are in this together and with each new brewery in Kzoo or GR or Holland, paw paw, or any place between, we all win. Each city is getting better by the day, and as the tide rolls in, all our boats rise. If we work together, we can be rated #1 each and every year. Imagine what that would do to tourism and economic development. Beer City or not, collectively, there no better place to be than West Michigan.
GR
Asheville, NC!
To benz, grow up man. I've lived in both Kzoo and grand rapids, both are great cities and great places for great beer and good times. Personally, I prefer g.r. slightly over kzoo, but I'm not going to tear down your city for it. It's voting for beer, this should be friendly competition. This is Michigan, your have tons of other options for cities to rip on..Flint, Jackson, Detroit, battle creek, Lansing, etc..
Benz, so true. Couldn't have said it better. Except to add that if you vote GR you're a douche.
Come on, stop with the put downs! Putting down others is just ridiculous! Be the beer lover that you are w/o judging someone else..it's just makes your(Our) city look bad! Be RESPECTFUL!
GR Brewers building Beer City USA!
Go Grand Rapids!
Go GR!
Go Kzoo
Lets go GR!
Lets go GR!
GR WERE ELSE
Kalamazoo is Beer City.
Hey Grand Rapids, no one is splitting any vote. No self-respecting Kalamazoo native would consider voting for Grand Rapids as beer city, even if Kalamazoo wasn't a choice. Beer and breweries in G.R. are exactly like the city itself. They may look and seem like something of substance, but in reality there isn't any kind of character or personality.
There are certainly more breweries in Grand Rapids, but this isn't really all that important. Go down to Bell's on a Friday evening in the summertime and compare that experience to the factories and warehouses you serve your overrated beers in.
Respect each others opinions! We all have a favorite, let the votes decide! That being said, I love Kalamabrew!
Go Kalamazoo
Yeah Asheville! Yeah Sierra Nevada, Blue ridge and Asheville brewery
Yeah Asheville! Yeah Sierra Nevada, Blue ridge and Asheville brewery
Yeah Asheville! Yeah Sierra Nevada, Blue ridge and Asheville brewery
Yeah Asheville! Yeah Sierra Nevada, Blue ridge and Asheville brewery
Yeah Asheville! Yeah Sierra Nevada, Blue ridge and Asheville brewery
GR. I love me some two-hearted, but Oberon has to be the most overrated beer out there.
Unite Midwest, vote for Kalamazoo! Asheville is great, but Kalamazoo should be recognized!
Don't split the vote West Michigan Vote Kalamazoo.
Kalamabrew! Just Bell's... Chucky please. ARCADIA moving there now, and if you haven't tried BOATYARD yet, you are missing out on the best one in SW Michigan!
ASHEVILLE ... GR? Kazoo? Posers!!!
The great Ashe rules.
Have never tasted finer beer then served in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids hands down! The selection of craft breweries and excellent beer bars is unparalleled. Kalamazoo is great as well but I think it's a conspiracy by Asheville to split the West Michigan vote! Vote GR!
Grand Rapids 100%
Good, great, delicious, Grand rapids beer and atmosphere!
Just to reiterate: GR beer=swill. Must have something to do with the fact that beer making is a science, and religious fundies don't believe in science. They think god put the bubbles in their beer. Just dump in the cheapest ingredients you can buy. God will do the rest! Aaaaaaaaand *poof* God gave you Founders.
Hands down Grand Rapids! I can walk into 1 bar and it has 49 craft beers on tap... I love me some Hopcat! Then you have Founders, Vivant, Mitten, Grand Rapids Brewing company. And also a shout out to my Friends at High Five Brewing Company ( A hopefully soon to be started up Brewery Co-op) started by a college classmate of mine. And that's just my favorite little list, there are many more. Grand Rapids for sure. And to the person somewhere up the line who said all Founders beer tastes like swill...go back to your bush lite and leave this for the grown ups.
Let's make it a second year!!
Kalamazoo without a doubt. Founders is literally the worst beer on the planet. It's the McDonalds of beer. GR is beneath Milwaukee. They don't have a single beer that doesn't taste like swill. At least Milwaukee has high life. GR doesn't have a single beer better than high life. True story.
GR MI 616 all day all night.
GR IS WHERE IT'S AT!!!
Asheville, NC without a doubt