Welcome to the big leagues, Grand Rapids, and

good luck defending the "Beer City" title

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Experts at USA Today's Travel section are running another round of 10 Best Readers' Choice polls, and Michigan's entries - as chosen and narrowed to the top 20 nationally - are largely centered in West Michigan.

The news site has six beer-centric polls running through noon Feb. 29 and to date, Grand Rapids and Michigan's other competitors are holding up well against their national counterparts.

The 40-plus others that make up the West Michigan craft beer industry are fighting to retain the Best Beer Scene honor that was bestowed on Grand Rapids in 2014 by the paper and website.

The site gives credit for: "Michigan's second-largest city sports the state's strongest beer scene, thanks largely to the presence of the world-renowned Founders Brewing Co. Not to be outdone, there are several other brewing operations around town, most notably the Belgian-inspired Brewery Vivant. The city's official "Beer City Ale Trail" lists more than 40 breweries in the surrounding area, and the local calendar is constantly filled with beer festivals, events, and promotions. Throw in exceptional beer stores such as Siciliano's Market, and it's easy to see why Grand Rapids proudly stakes its claim as 'Beer City USA.'"

The city tops all comers in a battle that includes the pesky Asheville, N.C., Fort Collins, Colo., and Burlington, Vt. Those mid-sized cities haven't kept up with what was Furniture City as the Top 5 is rounded out by Chicago, Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia.

Brewery Vivant, based in Eastown inside a former funeral home, is running a strong second in the Best Brewpub slate against such heavyweights as Three Floyds, Deschutes and Russian River. Not to be outdone, Grand Rapids' Founders Brewing is also in the mix at No. 6 in early voting.

Founders also has a presence for the country's Best Beer Label as the oatmeal-slurping toddler featured on the Breakfast Stout bottle is also ranked sixth as of Tuesday, Feb. 2.

Hopcat, now an eight-bar chain that was birthed in Grand Rapids by Mark Sellers, is making another push for notoriety as the original watering hole has pulled the most votes to date in the Best Beer Bar poll. Hopcat recently was named 'Top Places to have a Beer in the World' by RateBeer.com.

USA Today notes its local, regional and global craft beers, 49 of which come on tap and 250 in bottles.

Also making the list was the Grand Trunk Pub in Detroit, a bar that is at No. 13 in the rankings, and noted for being "a grand railway station. Patrons can enjoy more than 20 draft beers and 50+ bottles amid vaulted ceilings, brass chandeliers, hardwood floors and exposed brick.

When it comes to Best Beer Festivals, Westland's North American Belgian Beer Fest, which is sponsored by the Trade Consulate General of Belgium, is at No. 9.

Michigan was shutout in the Best New Brewery race.

Votes, if you're so inclined, can be cast here.