# 22 Bellingham, WA
A tall, frosty glass of beer has proven welcome succor during the distressing COVID-19 pandemic: Through the first half of 2020, beer sales in the U.S. rose about 16% compared to the same period in 2019, according to Chicago-based market research firm IRI. Though lock-down orders and restrictions on bars and restaurants have changed the way Americans are drinking, they’re still spending their money to quench their thirst for a frothy pint. But not all cities are equally equipped to provide access to the working man’s amber nectar. So SmartAsset decided to find out which cities in America are best for those among us who consider themselves beer nerds.