These Iowa & Minnesota Cities & Events Are Up for Top Beer Honors

It's easy to overlook the craft beer scene in the Upper Midwest because we are severely lacking the number of breweries you can find in some much bigger places around America.

California alone has nearly 1,000 establishments (957), which is more than double the number of breweries in South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota combined (401).

But that isn't keeping the Tri-Sate area from showing up strong for consideration in some of the top beer awards.

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USA TODAY is asking its readers to vote for some of the top beer places and events in the U.S. on 10Best.com.

In the Best Beer Festival category, Moorhead, Minnesota's Rare Beer Picnic is one of 20 finalists. The Seventh annual event was held last weekend (July 15) with 19 breweries on hand at WH Davy Memorial Park.

Elsewhere in the North Star State, Minneapolis is one of 20 finalists in the Best Beer City category.

In the nomination, 10 Best mentions the more than 40 breweries in Minneapolis, singling out Fulton, Surly, Modist, and Fair State Brewing as the best of the best.

As for the less populated parts of the country, Decorah, Iowa is one of the 20 finalists in the Best Small Town Beer Scene category.

In Decorah, there's one brewery that's bringing people in from all over. Toppling Goliath Brewing Company got its start in 2009 and has more than 40 beers on regular rotation. They are now available in 30 different states.

The other place nominated in the Hawkeye State is El Bait Shop in Des Moines in the Best Beer Bar category. What sets this place apart? How about a  massive selection of 251 beers on tap!

You can vote once per day until voting ends on Monday, July 24 at 11:00 AM CT.

The top 10 winners, determined by your vote, will be announced on Friday, August 4.