Since 2009, there has been a nationwide annual poll conducted known as ‘Beer City USA’ and Asheville NC has taken home four of the five titles. The poll is designed to evaluate the support of both small town and metropolitan Americans for their brewing communities, according to Charlie Papazian, Brewers Association President. Each May, they do this "Beer City USA" poll online. Unfortunately, Asheville did not take the title home this year; it was snatched up by Grand Rapids MI.
How the Beer City Poll is Designed
The poll is not constructed to appraise the quality, quantity, or brewery per capita of beer. It was designed, as described earlier, to measure the support system that beer had in a specific city. Asheville is unique in that the cities it has defeated are much bigger and often contain many more breweries. That being said, Asheville has approximately 7,000 people per brewery (brewery per capita) suggesting that the beer culture here is strong. In the latest poll, Grand Rapids MI which has roughly double the population, barely beat Asheville for the title.
Why The Title Matters
Why even strive to get Beer City USA? After Asheville tied with Portland OR in 2009, the prospering micro-breweries in town drew international praise. While no empirical research increases the chances of winning the award, it's obviously a good start in relation to Asheville's small business trade.
Dodie Tephens, Senior Communications Manager with the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau, further advertises the award, estimating the breweries and brewery-related business helps to boost the $2 billion per year tourism industry in Western North Carolina. A symbiotic link between Asheville's eclectic restaurants and craft brewers has developed, in which businesses showcase others, and which helps many small Asheville organizations.
Dodie Tephens, Senior Communications Manager with the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau, further advertises the award, estimating the breweries and brewery-related business helps to boost the $2 billion per year tourism industry in Western North Carolina. A symbiotic link between Asheville's eclectic restaurants and craft brewers has developed, in which businesses showcase others, and which helps many small Asheville organizations.
The Beer City USA Title Draws in the Crowd
For several local businesses, telling the story of the Asheville brewing scene and culinary culture has been an useful tactic for their marketing and communication efforts. The same story is also featured through social media, long-form blog posts, print articles, and television specials. The news media campaigns are reinforced by Asheville's title of Beer City USA and more media coverage keeps tourists returning to visit.
A pint for everyone! Asheville's craft brewery success has just started, and there's no stopping it. Asheville's fate as a craft beer city was really sealed when Sierra Nevada, the largest and original US craft brewery, publicized their plans to open an east coast brewing location in South Asheville. Sierra Nevada stated that their decision to build in Asheville was highly influenced by a high quantity of potable water as well as the friendly atmosphere between locals and the microbrewery sector.
A pint for everyone! Asheville's craft brewery success has just started, and there's no stopping it. Asheville's fate as a craft beer city was really sealed when Sierra Nevada, the largest and original US craft brewery, publicized their plans to open an east coast brewing location in South Asheville. Sierra Nevada stated that their decision to build in Asheville was highly influenced by a high quantity of potable water as well as the friendly atmosphere between locals and the microbrewery sector.
Don't Worry Asheville! Better Luck in 2014!
Well, no one wins every time. Asheville didn't win the Beer City USA Title this year. This was despite all the furious marketing efforts from online blogs, social media, print, television, radio, and newspaper. Of course, some people have totally criticized local businesses for not trying hard enough to spread the word about voting for Asheville as Beer City USA. Hopefully, hopefully this loss will encourage residents and business owners to win the title back in 2014.