Portland: Booze & caffeine

Portland has 37 microbreweries, more than any other city in the world (take that, Düsseldorf!), and leads the charge when it comes to subtler, second-wave microbrews like Belgian-style lambics and French Saisons. It’s also the nerve center of the microdistillery trend, with 5 clustered around Distillery Row, and folks innovating their own vermouth and sake. And while Seattle has the caffeine edge, P-town still has the hottest cup in the West—Stumptown Roasters. 

Score: 10