Grand Rapids rates among ‘America’s Best Beer Cities’

Grand Rapids rates among ‘America’s Best Beer Cities’

Unruly Brewery Co. said it’s “the first craft brewery to be founded in Muskegon since prohibition.” Photo via fb.com

Grand Rapids has been bestowed a beer city title by a major brand in the media and travel industries.

Condé Nast Traveler features Grand Rapids in its photo slideshow of “America’s Best Beer Cities, as Chosen by Beer Experts,” which it posted this month.

"Best Beer Cities"

The slideshow also features Cleveland, Asheville, N.C., Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., San Diego and New York.

“As the craft beer industry continues to grow, more and more cities across the United States have become home to world-class breweries,” the post says. “And we're not just talking Portland, Oregon or Denver, Colorado: Now, you'll find excellent beers in unexpected places, much to the delight of brew geeks everywhere."

"Vibrant scene"

Grand Rapids was chosen because of the way the community has embraced the beer culture.

“Grand Rapids is a novice beer city in many respects, but the community is fiercely loyal to its local breweries and extraordinarily excited to play a major role in the constantly evolving world of craft beer,” says Angela Steil, the house certified cicerone and beverage director at Gravity in Grand Rapids, in the post. “Grand Rapids seems to have an attitude of, 'We have a vibrant scene here and plenty of beer to go around. Why should we look elsewhere? Support Michigan and support local!'”