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Top 10 beer cities of 2021, according to Untappd

05 January 2022 By Silvia Pellegrino

As we welcome 2022, let’s remember the Top 10 Cities of 2021, created by Untappd. Based on global venue check-ins, these cities have seen the most beer-motivated people in the past year.

For the first time in almost two full years, people have been allowed to go out and meet friends again, and this list is the proof.

So, here is the Top 10 Cities of 2021, if you are a beer enthusiast.

10. SEATTLE, WA, USA

Home to the Space Needle, the rainy city in Washington has registered 222,000 venue check-ins. Clearly, the rain has not been stopping anyone, as Seattle’s Ballard Brewery District hosts almost a dozen breweries and bars. 2020 statistics from the Brewers Association also show that Seattle has led the whole state of Washington to reach the fifth position in number of craft breweries.

Some of the breweries you might want to write down are Reuben’s Brews, Fair Isle Brewing and Fremont Brewing. But the city is home to 69 breweries, so get ready to pick and choose.

9. KØBENHAVN (COPENHAGEN), DENMARK

The ninth place goes to the first out of two European cities on this list, Copenhagen. Home to the renowned Carlsberg brewery, Copenhagen has registered 222,500 check-ins in 2021.

We, too, were hoping to not have to travel so far for some øl (if you want to impress your friends, this is the Danish for beer), however, there are over 200 breweries in this city.

Talking about Europe, most of the cheapest breweries can be found here!

8. ASHEVILLE, NC, USA

Even if apparently isolated and nestled in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has hit 226,400 venue check-ins in the past year. It is certainly a promising craft beer spot, reaching the eighth position.

7. CHARLOTTE, NC, USA

Home to NASCAR races and bankers, Charlotte has gotten 226,500 venue check-ins, landing at seventh place. The most interesting factor is that minority and women-owned breweries are going to have the chance to test out new recipes at a future incubation brewery owned by Weathered Souls Brewing Co.

6. PITTSBURGH, PA, USA

The Steel city turns into the beer city, with 232,000 venue check-ins. Pennsylvania’s finest lands at sixth place.

And now, the top 5…

5. SAN DIEGO, CA, USA

This Californian city has seen 237,000 venue check-ins, starting off the top 5. 150 is the number of breweries in San Diego, the most famous of which are Karl Strauss and Stone Brewing. There is clearly more than a zoo in San Diego, California.

4. LONDON, ENGLAND

Here it is: the second European city on this list. It comes fourth with 265,000 venue check-ins. Since London and, more in general, England is famous for its pub culture, it was pretty easy that this historic city would have occupied a high place on this list.

3. DENVER, CO, USA

In third place, we have a city with 275,000 venue check-ins. Every year, the Mile High City hosts the Great American Beer Festival in Denver and, because of this, it has gained its popularity. Untappd describes it as “the heart of American craft beer”.

2. PORTLAND, OR, USA

Considered one of the best craft beer capitals in the USA, Portland – nicknamed “Beervana” – has been swimming in beer innovation since 1980s. It has registered a whopping 326,000 venue check-ins, motivated by having the highest concentration of craft breweries in the world (70 breweries).

And now, in first place…

1. CHICAGO, IL, USA

The third biggest and windiest American city wins this competition with 355,000 venue check-ins. It sees the flourishing of every brewery: from the small, independent ones to the mass-production ones. It is certainly a well-deserved win, maybe we do have to go to the States, after all.

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