Going out for a Pint: Exploring the Relationship between Craft Brewery Locations and Neighborhood Walkability

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between neighborhood walkability and craft brewery locations. Craft breweries are emerging as Third Places across the United States as a part of a broader neolocalism movement. Walkable places can also reflect neolocalism, attracting people and amenities who share similar values. It is reasonable, then, to expect a relationship to exist between craft brewery locations and neighborhood walkability. Using the city of San Diego as a case study, craft breweries are mapped within San Diego neighborhoods. Walk Scores are used as a measure of walkability and correlation coefficients computed to test the existence of a relationship. Three correlations are computed with relation to Walk Scores: one each for microbrewery locations, brewpub locations, and all craft breweries (microbreweries and brewpubs combined). Results indicate that there is a positive correlation between neighborhood Walk Scores and brewpub locations, but not microbreweries or all craft breweries. Brewpubs, by definition, sell the majority of their beer on-site, which may necessitate location criteria such as walkability that are not as necessary for microbreweries. This research is, to date, the first that explores the relationship between craft breweries and walkability.