North Carolina city ranks No. 1 for beer lovers in US. Here’s what makes it special
A North Carolina city has a “rich beer culture” — and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Now, Asheville ranks No. 1 on a list of the “best U.S. cities for beer lovers.” The top spot might not come as a surprise, given the popular mountain town has ranked among the nation’s best places to grab a pint again and again.
This time around, the food and drink website Tasting Table called Asheville “the ultimate destination for beer lovers, thanks to its high density of breweries, bars, and beer-tasting tours, combined with an affordable average beer price.”
To create the list, the website said it studied 100 cities that previously ranked among the nation’s best and those that are known for their beer scenes. It then “collected data on the number of breweries per 10,000 residents from RateBeer, the number of top-rated bars from CraftBeer, the number of bars from Yellow Pages, the number of beer-tasting tours from TripAdvisor, and the average cost of a pint of domestic beer from Numbeo.”
Why Asheville ranks No. 1 for beer drinkers
The rankings were published in late July, just in time to celebrate International Beer Day on Aug. 2. So, what makes Asheville a special place to raise a glass?
“The city boasts an impressive 4.00 breweries per 10,000 residents, making it a haven for craft beer lovers,” Tasting Table wrote in a news release. “With 16.52 bars per 10,000 residents and 9 beer-tasting tours, Asheville offers a diverse and immersive beer experience.”
The website — which said Asheville “got the highest overall score in our ranking by a long shot” — also praised the mountain travel destination for its beer festivals and $4 average cost for a cold one.
Across North Carolina, other cities didn’t fare as well in the national rankings, according to results a spokesperson shared with McClatchy News via email. Here’s where those cities landed:
- Greensboro at No. 30
- Charlotte at No. 50
- Raleigh at No. 73
- Durham at No. 76
After Asheville, these cities rounded out the top five nationwide destinations for beer drinkers:
- Pensacola, Florida, at No. 2
- Las Vegas at No. 3
- Portland, Maine, at No. 4
- Greenville, South Carolina, at No. 5
This story was originally published August 2, 2024 at 12:16 PM with the headline "North Carolina city ranks No. 1 for beer lovers in US. Here’s what makes it special."
