Have beer, will travel. Travel + Leisure readers have declared the best beer cities in America.

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A good bar is one thing—but a great beer may be quite another.

That's the verdict from Travel + Leisure readers, who voted on the best cities in America for finding an excellent microbrew. In this year's America's Favorite Cities survey, T+L readers ranked 35 cities on things like great restaurants and lively bar scenes. And some of the winners in that bar category—New York City, Las Vegas, and Miami—couldn't crack the top 20 for good-tasting beer. In fact, readers put mojito-loving Miami in last place for microbrews.

Not surprisingly, you'll find two of the top three beer-quaffing towns in the Pacific Northwest, but the rest of the Top 10 are scattered across the U.S. It's a sign that the microbrews—made in relatively small batches, and often emphasizing quirky flavors—are becoming more mainstream, and perhaps even flourishing during the recession. Craft beer sales were up by 11 percent in 2010, according to the Brewers Association, while U.S. beer sales were down 1 percent overall.

"This is definitely an age of exploration for the American beer drinker," says Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers Association. Loving beer can even make for a great vacation: while wine enthusiasts may head straight to Napa, serious beer enthusiasts can choose from several great beer regions, or go to beer festivals such as Philly Beer Week, Boston's American Craft Beer Fest, or the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Around the country, microbreweries increasingly offer winery-style touches such as tours, tasting rooms, and the chance to buy direct; plenty now offer their wares in half-gallon "growler" jugs.

While Gatza says that, in general, West Coast microbrews tend toward the bitter and "hoppy," and many East Coast microbrewers favor India Pale Ales, the most current brewing trend is to embrace the hometown roots. "You'll see beers with locally sourced honey or wheat," he says, "or [that] use certain fruits or spices that aren't available outside a small radius." Austin's Live Oak Brewery, for instance, makes an ale with a citrus flavor akin to Texas Ruby Red grapefruit.

Austin, meanwhile, is one of the few Top 10 beer cities that also ranked near the top for its overall bar scene. "To be a great beer city," says Gatza, "you need at least one good brewery to anchor the community." But otherwise, he says, "people have a good time in Austin—and beer just happens to go with that."

No. 1 Portland, OR

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Talk about a beer capital: the Oregon city has 39 operating breweries—more than any other city in the U.S. The big names include MacTarnahan's and BridgePort—the latter offering a seasonal Stumptown tart made with local strawberries. No surprise, AFC voters embraced the Oregon city for its all-natural personality, ranking it first for farmers' markets, summer visits, and being eco-conscious.

No. 2 Denver

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These Coloradoans are serious beer boosters. John Hickenlooper cofounded Denver's first microbrewery, Wynkoop Brewing Company, and then became mayor—and is now governor. But great beer hasn't turned Denverites into couch potatoes: AFC voters also gave the Mile High City top marks for its athletic locals and the No. 2 slot for its wide-open spaces.

No. 3 Seattle

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AFC voters loved only two things more than beer in this Pacific Northwest city: coffee (No. 1) and farmers' markets (No. 2). Both are in great form at downtown's Pike Place Market, where you can also check out the Pike Brewing Company—home of the Pike Kilt Lifter, which resembles a single-malt scotch. Another locals' favorite: the Elysian Brewing Company, where you can sip a Dragonstooth Stout.

No. 4 Providence

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Something about this Rhode Island city makes AFC voters want to sit down and enjoy themselves. It ranked first overall for its local specialties (such as pizza and burgers) and near the top for neighborhood joints. The biggest brewpub in town—and even the whole state—is the award-winning Trinity Brewhouse, which sells growlers to go.

No. 5 Portland, ME

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This New England city is proof that you don't need a raging bar scene to have a great beer city. AFC voters ranked the city No. 5 for relaxing vacations, and in the bottom 5 for nightlife. Beer lovers can linger over a brew at Gritty McDuff's, the first microbrewery and brewpub to open in town after Prohibition.

No. 6 Savannah

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These Georgians offer up refreshing drinks in general, according to AFC voters-their cocktail hour also ranks at No. 6. And if you feel a little tipsy, you can walk back to your hotel afterward—voters ranked Savannah No. 2 for being pedestrian-friendly and for nice neighborhoods. Moon River Brewery is the longtime brew leader in town, while The Distillery, on the site of a pre-Prohibition distiller, offers 100-plus craft brews from around the world.

No. 7 Boston

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Good ol' Sam Adams can take some credit for Boston's Top 10 beer showing, but perhaps so can fictional Cheers, and memories of Cliff and Norm sitting at the bar. Beer enthusiasts can take tours at the Sam Adams brewery or go to Southie and check out the beloved Harpoon Brewery. Otherwise, AFC voters liked soaking up the culture in Beantown, by checking out the historic sights and the classical music scene.

No. 8 Austin

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With its hoppin' bar scene, live music, and lots of college students, the Texas capital is a natural beer town. Happily, its beer lovers don't leave their bottles in the street: the city also ranked in the Top 10 for being tidy. Tour the German and Czech–style Live Oak Brewery in East Austin, or try the house brews at the Draught House Pub and Brewery.

No. 9 San Francisco

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As the foodie capital of America—and in the survey's top 5 for big-name restaurants and ethnic cuisine—San Francisco has also been ahead of the curve on beer for years. Anchor Brewery is the longtime microbrew champ, while 21st Amendment Brewery is winning awards for its (gasp!) canned beers, promoted as being eco-friendly and better for beer freshness. If anyone can make beer cans chic, it's San Franciscans-they ranked among the most stylish in the country.

No. 10 Nashville

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Tennessee may be traditionally whiskey country, but today's honky-tonks can't live on sour mash alone. AFC voters gave Nashville its due for its legendary live music, but they also embraced it for being affordable and friendly. The local Yazoo Brewing Company offers its own kind of deal: you can fill a 64-ounce "growler" for just $8.

To see the rest of America's Best Beer Cities, visit TravelandLeisure.com