How Grand Rapids Became Beer City USA: The Full Story

It is a known fact that Grand Rapids is considered and nicknamed Beer City USA.

Since moving to the area in 2022, I always wondered how Grand Rapids received its nickname.

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If you are curious like me, let's discover the answer together.

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The Beginning Of The Beer City Era

Before Grand Rapids was Beer City USA, it was affectionately called "Furniture Capital of the World."

The way that it became Beer City USA is quite simple in fact.

Experience Grand Rapids shared that it earned its name after it "tied [with] Asheville, North Carolina in an online poll to determine America's best beer city."

Created by Charlie Papazian in 2009, the Beer City USA poll was meant to measure "community spirit and support for beer businesses" across the country.

With the rise of the craft beer scene in Grand Rapids around 2012, many breweries supporters, along with help from businesses and travelers created a "get out the vote" to get the city to the top of the poll in 2012 and 2013.

After winning for the first time in 2012, the city of Grand Rapids has never seen a flop era as it pertains to being Beer City USA.

Grand Rapids has taken home the crown more than others.

• USA Today's Best Beer Town in 2014
• USA Today's Best Beer Scene in 2017
• USA Today's Best Beer City in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024

Besides the poll that started it all, Grand Rapids continues to be voted as one of the top locations for the best beer from various publications.

• Best Beer Town (2014)
• Best Beer Scene (2017, 2018)
• Travel+Leisure’s “#1 Best Beercation”
• CNN Travel’s “1 of 15 Best Beer Cities Around the World.”

Now, thousands of people across the country come to little ol' Grand Rapids for the best of the best beer experience!

For more about the origin of Grand Rapids as Beer City USA, check out Experience Grand Rapids' website.