Move over, Portland. Step aside, Asheville. The tiny town of Avondale Estates just schooled them all — again.
🏆 What We Know: Avondale Estates claimed the top spot as America’s Best Small Town Beer Scene in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. This marks the fourth time in five years this Georgia gem has outbrewed the competition, despite being one of the smallest contenders with a population under 30,000.
🍻 Who Made It Happen: The victory belongs to the passionate residents who clicked, tapped and probably sipped their way through the voting process. Local breweries Wild Heaven, Little Cottage, and The Lost Druid formed the hoppy backbone of this win, with craft beer bar, My Parents Basement and community fixtures, The Stratford Pub and O’Keefe’s Pub rounding out the impressive lineup.
🥇 Why It Matters: In a David versus Goliath showdown, Avondale Estates bested larger contenders like Astoria, Oregon and Traverse City, Michigan. The complete top 10 rankings show just how fierce the competition was:
- Avondale Estates, Georgia
- Astoria, Oregon
- Boone, North Carolina
- Traverse City, Michigan
- Littleton, New Hampshire
- Fredericksburg, Virginia
- Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
- Cody, Wyoming
- Fredericksburg, Texas
- Bryson City, North Carolina
🍺 What’s Next: Mark your calendars for October 25 when Avondale Estates hosts its annual Avondale Ale Day. The event promises to showcase the town’s craft culture that apparently punches well above its weight class.
🤝 Remember The Golden Rule: Support your local brewers. They’re not just making beer — they’re putting small towns on maps and creating community gathering spots one pint at a time.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
