PITTSBURGH, Pa. (MEDIA GENERAL) – Real estate company Redfin teamed up with the Beer Institute to analyze the best cities in the United States for beers lovers and the city that claimed the top spot may surprise you.
Pittsburgh, known for its steel and iron roots, came in at No. 1.
“Pittsburgh has always been what I’d call ‘a beer and a shot town,’ with our blue collar roots,” Pittsburgh Redfin real estate agent Keith Jimenez said of the Steel City. “Back in the day, all the steel workers would meet at the bar for an Iron City beer and a shot of whiskey. Today, those roots are alive and well.”
Redfin ranked cities by the number of breweries in their state per 100,000 adults over age 21, the number of active brewery permits in each state, state beer taxes, the median home sale price and the walkability of the city so beer lovers don’t drink and drive.
Buffalo, with new breweries opening up all around the city, according to Buffalo Redfin real estate agent Lesley Lannan, claimed the No. 2 spot.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, came in at No. 3 with Grand Rapids, Michigan, ranking fourth.
“Often referred to as ‘Beer City,’ Grand Rapids has a strong tradition of brewing,” said Kent Selders, Grand Rapids Redfin real estate agent. “Founders Brewery is perhaps the most well-known across the country, but we also have HopCat, voted the best brewpub in the country. We have places like Brewery Vivant, the first LEED-certified microbrewery, Harmony Brewing, B.O.B.’s Brewery – the list goes on and on. It’s a true beer lover’s paradise!”
West coast cities Seattle, Portland and San Francisco all placed highly on the list, however, the growing home prices kept them from the top spots.
In addition to Milwaukee, home of Miller, the hometowns of beer staples Budweiser (St. Louis) and Coors (Denver) placed in the top 10.
The top 15 cities are as follows:
1. Pittsburgh, Pa.
2. Buffalo, N.Y.
3. Milwaukee, Wisc.
4. Grand Rapids, Mich.
5. Philadelphia
6. Portland, Ore.
7. Denver, Colo.
8. Detroit, Mich.
9. Cleveland, Ohio
10. St. Louis, Mo.
11. Madison, Wisc.
12. Long Island, N.Y.
13. Seattle, Wash.
14. Cincinnati, Ohio
15. San Francisco
Read more at RedFin.com.
