Chicago Moves To Number One On This Important Beer List

Looking for a brewery? Chicago has more choices than any other city in the country. 

ChicagoTribune - The metro region has surged past several longtime stalwarts to become home to more breweries than any other city in the nation — 167 — according to statistics published this week by the Brewers Association.

Behind Chicago are these cities:

• Denver - 158
• Seattle - 153
• San Diego - 150
• Los Angeles - 146
• New York - 141

The numbers of breweries have exploded in the past 5 years, the last time this survey was conducted.

In 2013, Chicago ranked fifth in the country with 62 breweries. Seattle lead the country back then with 87, half of what Chicago has now.

The reasons for the brewery explosion can be explained by the vast metro area, the survey included breweries from Northwest Indiana to Aurora and Joliet to the Wisconsin border. There is a lot of land in that area and a lot of disposable income that is funneled towards beer.

Chicago still trails Portland in breweries per capita. Chicago has 167 breweries with 8.1 million people while Portland sports 139 breweries for 1.8 million.

No matter how you look at it, there is no shortage of good beer in the Chicago area.

My favorites are Revolution and Three Floyds. Do you have a favorite?