The Top 10 Cities of 2021
We wrap up our series of Untappd Year in Beer for 2021 by taking a look at the top ten cities of the year based on the total number of venue check-ins globally*. But first, don't forget to check out the top ten breweries of 2021, the top ten styles of 2021, and the top ten beers of 2021!
Check out what cities you checked into most based on venues this past year. For many of these cities our friends at Hop Culture curated their own travel guides, so we included links to those under the corresponding cities. Read those guides to see Hop Culture's recommendations for the best breweries, taprooms, and bars to visit in each city!
*Top Cities based on venue check-ins.
10. Seattle, WA, USA 🇺🇸Â
Seattle may be known as a rainy city, but this year it seems to be raining venue check-ins. Hitting tenth on the list with 222k venue check-ins is Seattle, WA in the United States. The popular Pacific Northwest city has helped the entire state of Washington rank fifth in the country in number of craft breweries in 2020 according to the most recent data from the Brewers Association. Specifically, Seattle's Ballard Brewery District has become a destination for craft beer drinkers, sporting nearly a dozen breweries and taprooms within a one-mile radius. Across the entire city breweries such as Reuben's Brews, Fair Isle Brewing, Fremont Brewing, Holy Mountain Brewing Company, Cloudburst Brewing Company, and The Good Society Brewery & Public House are heralded as some of the best.Â
Check out Hop Culture's 7 Best Breweries in Seattle, WA.
7% ABV
80 IBU
60,379 Ratings
9. København (Copenhagen), Denmark 🇩🇰Â
One of the major capitals of craft beer in Europe, Copenhagen boasts over 206 breweries including the renowned Mikkeller and Carlsberg. The capital and most populous city in all of Denmark, Copenhagen is the first European city to make the top ten list with 222.5k venue check-ins in 2021.
7.5% ABV
N/A IBU
81,317 Ratings
8. Asheville, NC, USA 🇺🇸
Undoubtedly one of the top beer cities in America, Asheville, NC, hits this list at the eighth spot with 226.4k venue check-ins. Nestled in the western North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has made a name for itself as a craft beer mecca with popular spots such as Burial Beer Co., Zilicoah Beer Co., Hi-Wire Brewing, and more.Â
Check out Hop Culture's 5 Best Breweries in Asheville, NC.
6.8% ABV
45 IBU
53,150 Ratings
7. Charlotte, NC, USA 🇺🇸
Hometown for Untappd HQ lands at seventh on the list of top cities in 2021 with 226.5k venue check-ins. The Queen City has grown into one of the better beer cities along the East Coast thanks to well-known breweries like Resident Culture Brewing Company, Salud Cerveceria, Divine Barrel Brewing, and more. Plus, the city continues to be a hot spot for new breweries. Most recently, San Antonio-based Weathered Souls Brewing Co. announced they'd be opening a new incubation brewery in Charlotte where minority and women-owned breweries will have the chance to test out and brew recipes before opening their own brick-and-mortar locations.Â
Check out Hop Culture's 5 Best Breweries in Charlotte, NC.
6.5% ABV
N/A IBU
20,083 Ratings
6. Pittsburgh, PA, USA 🇺🇸Â
It's no surprise that the first episode of Untappd's new travel show Next Exit took place in Pittsburgh, PA. With just shy of 232k venue check-ins, Pittsburgh just missed out on cracking the top five in 2021. Still the 'Burgh has plenty to celebrate. Revered breweries such as Dancing Gnome, Cinderlands Beer Co., and Grist House Craft Brewery have turned this blue collar Steel City into a craft beer powerhouse.Â
Check out Hop Culture's 11 Best Breweries and Bars in Pittsburgh, PA.
5.8% ABV
45 IBU
21,673 Ratings
5. San Diego, CA, USA 🇺🇸Â
Back in September, Untappd hosted its first in-person craft beer festival in over two years in San Diego, CA. The homebrewing capital of the country and craft beer destination was the perfect place to drink beers together again in real life. So it's fitting that San Diego kicks off our top five cities with 237k venue check-ins in 2021. According to the San Diego Brewers Guild this Southern California city is home to over 150 craft breweries. As the birthplace of behemoths such as Stone Brewing and Karl Strauss and smaller phenoms such as Burgeon Beer Company, Pure Project, Societe Brewing Company, plus so many more, San Diego has earned a coveted spot on this list.Â
Check out Hop Culture's 5 Best Breweries in San Diego, CA.
7.2% ABV
66 IBU
7,797 Ratings
4. London, England 🇬🇧
Only the second European location and city outside the U.S. on this list, London, England comes in fourth with 265k venue check-ins. London is a historic beer city. We have the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom to thank for so many styles of beer that we drink today. Including the iconic India Pale Ale, porter, and stout, among others. Beyond the history, London has become a hot spot for modern craft breweries including Beavertown, Gravity Well Brewing Co., Drop Project, and Cloudwater Brew Co.Â
Check Out Untappd's 9 Best American and English Porters of 2021.
5.4% ABV
45 IBU
150,948 Ratings
3. Denver, CO, USA 🇺🇸Â
With 275k venue check-ins Denver punches in as the third top city of the year. There is a reason that every year the Mile High City hosts the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). Breweries like Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales, Our Mutual Friend, Cerebral Brewing, TRVE Brewing Company, Bierstadt Lagerhaus, and many more have established Denver as the heart of American craft beer.Â
Check out Hop Culture's 5 Best Breweries in Denver, CO.
5.7% ABV
10 IBU
4,034 Ratings
2. Portland, OR, USA 🇺🇸
The third West Coast city to make the top cities list with 326k venue check-ins, Portland, OR has been well regarded as one of the best craft beer capitals in the U.S. Since the 1980's Portland has enjoyed a dynamic craft beer scene, earning the city the nickname "Beervana". With about seventy breweries inside the city, Portland has one of the highest concentrations of craft breweries in the world. Heavyweights like Great Notion Brewing, Breakside Brewery, and Cascade Brewing Barrel House lead the way.Â
Check out Hop Culture's 8 Best Breweries in Portland, OR.
11% ABV
N/A IBU
35,190 Ratings
1. Chicago, IL, USA 🇺🇸Â
Breaking away from the competition, Chicago, IL earns the crown as the city with the most number of venue check-ins at 355k. As the third largest city in America according to the 2020 U.S. Census Chicago has to be one of the most mature craft beer markets. This incredible Midwestern city has a bit of something for everyone from lager-focused breweries like Dovetail Brewery to funky, experimental breweries like Marz Community Brewing to seminal favorites like Half Acre Beer Co. And of course as the home to giants like Goose Island Beer Co. and Revolution Brewing it makes sense that Chicago ranks as number one on this year's list of top cities by venue check-ins. Will the Windy City be the king of 2022 too? We'll find out next year.Â
Check out Hop Culture's 7 Best Breweries in Chicago, IL.
5.2% ABV
60 IBU
160,270 Ratings
Surprised by any of the cities on this list? Let us know in the comments below!
Looking for more? Our friends at Hop Culture rounded up the Best New Breweries of 2021.
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