It might make you smile, or scream, or scratch your head. It might please you, or it might outrage you. Bellingham is the worst place in the USA if you’re looking for a bad beer. This news comes to us via a study performed by Priceonomics: An analysis of the beers available at drinking establishments across the United States. The results appeared in an article called, The United States of Beer.
Not surprisingly, the study revealed that in Seattle the beer you are most likely to encounter on a menu in a restaurant or bar is Manny’s Pale Ale from Georgetown Brewing. In San Diego, you’re most likely going to find Bud Light on the beer menu. In Chicago, it’s Miller Light. And, get ready for this, in Portland (presumably Oregon) the one beer you are most likely to find on a beer menu is Heineken. Say what? Can it be true?
Don’t shoot the messenger. I got the information from Priceonomics and apparently they got their information from BeerMenus.com.
It’s an interesting and fun study revealing that Mac and Jack’s African Amber is the beer you are most likely going to find on tap in Washington. Before you poo-poo that information, consider the fact that in just about every other state in the USA, including Oregon, you are most likely going to find one of the big swill brands sitting atop the list—Coors Light, Miller Lite, Bud Light, etc are among the beers most commonly found on beer menus in most states.
But what’s really cool, the study included a listing of the cities where “Bud Light, Coors Light, and Miller Lite are least available in bars and restaurants.” Atop the list, Bellingham, where a shocking 92 percent of bars and restaurants do not offer one of those Mega Beer options. This gives Bellingham the distinction of being the worst place in America for finding bad beer.
This is just one study conducted by one organization. Take it for what it’s worth. There was a method, to be sure. Before you dismiss the results, I encourage you to take a look at the complete story. It is some interesting information.