UPDATES: See photos of patrons celebrating at downtown breweries

What does win mean for Grand Rapids?

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Give yourself a pat on the back, Beer City. You did it again.

Grand Rapids has won the online Beer City USA poll for the second year in a row — and this time as an outright winner.

Charlie Papazian, founder of the annual Beer City USA poll, announced the results on Monday, May 13.

Out of the 50,000 votes cast in the poll (assuming some rounding here), Grand Rapids accounted for 27,005 votes, a significant jump over last year’s total of 17,849 when Grand Rapids tied with Asheville for the beer title.

Papazian wrote that Grand Rapids "took a grand and rapid (pun intended) early lead" in the voting. The city relied on a coordinated marketing effort this year.

Kalamazoo came in second with 11,150 votes. The city was not in the poll in 2012.

Asheville came in third with 10,075 votes. Ann Arbor nabbed 847 votes.

The announcement coincides with American Craft Beer Week, running May 13 to 19.

Related Stories:

• After a year in the limelight, beer industry mobilizes for round 2

• 5 reasons Grand Rapids is a serious contender for craft beer title

Email Garret Ellison or follow him on Twitter.