There are two things that make life great, women and beer. And when you combine the two, they form one hell of a combination. Just make sure to find the right balance, because you wouldn’t want to have too much of one over the other.
The best part about beer is that it always ends up tasting great, no matter when or where you go.
When you are a young adult and you being exploring the world of beer, you end up drinking the cheapest thing you can fill in the keg and it tastes amazing. Then you go to college and discover that cheap beer is about as watered down as it can come so you begin moving into the foreign beers.
After college, and when you get a little dough in your pocket, you start to truly explore beer and you begin drinking craft beer. That’s when you realize that every state has it’s own flavor and style.
Just because beer is sold all across the USA, does not mean it has to be the same thing.
That’s where we come in.
We did a taste test of every single beer we could get our thirsty paws on, from every state, and named a best beer from each state, all 50 of them.
(Note: The overall ranking is between 1-10, with 10 being the highest possible rating. We aren’t going to share our rating method but we will let you know that it involves quality, appearance, flavor, palate [feel of the beer inside the mouth], and aroma.)
West Coast
Alaska – A Deal With The Devil
- Brewery: Anchorage Brewing Company
- Located: Anchorage, AK
- Beer Type: American Barleywine
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 17.3%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.8
California – Citra Double IPA
- Brewery: Kern River Brewing Company
- Located: Kernville, CA
- Beer Type: Imperial IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 8%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.9
Hawaii – Coconut Hiwa Porter
- Brewery: Maui Brewing Co.
- Located: Kihei, HI
- Beer Type: American Porter
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 6%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.1
Oregon – Mother of All Storms
- Brewery: Pelican Pub & Brewery
- Located: Pacific City, OR
- Beer Type: English Barleywine
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 14%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.65
Washington – Bourbon Abominable Winter Ale
- Brewery: Fremont Brewing Company
- Located: Seattle, WA
- Beer Type: American Strong Ale
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 14%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.4
Mountain States
Arizona – Hop Knot
- Brewery: Four Peaks Brewing Company – 8th Street Brewery
- Located: Tempe, AZ
- Beer Type: American IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 6.7%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 8.8
Colorado – Uncle Jacob’s Stout
- Brewery: Avery Brewing Company
- Located: Boulder, CO
- Beer Type: Double/Imperial Stout
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 17.1%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.89
Idaho – Double Vision Doppelbock
- Brewery: Grand Teton Brewing Co.
- Located: Victor, ID
- Beer Type: Doppelbock
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 8%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.1
Montana – Big Sky IPA
- Brewery: Big Sky Brewing Company
- Located: Missoula, MT
- Beer Type: American IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 6.2%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 8.85
New Mexico – Elevated IPA
- Brewery: La Cumbre Brewing Co.
- Located: Albuquerque, NM
- Beer Type: American IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 7.2%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.3
Nevada – War Dog Double IPA
- Brewery: Big Dog’s Draft House
- Located: Las Vegas, NV
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 8.6%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 8.6
Utah – Big Bad Baptist
- Brewery: Epic Brewing Company
- Located: Salt Lake City, UT
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial Stout
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 11.8%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.8
Wyoming – Zonker Stout
- Brewery: Snake River Brewing Company
- Located: Jackson, WY
- Beer Type: Export Stout
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 6%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.4
Midwest
Arkansas – BDCS
- Brewery: Ozark Beer Co.
- Located: Rogers, Arkansas
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial Stout
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 10.2%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.96
Iowa – PseudoSue
- Brewery: Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
- Located: Decorah, IA
- Beer Type: American Pale Ale
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 5.8%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.98
Kansas – No.6 Oatmeal Stout
- Brewery: Gella’s Diner & Lb. Brewing Co.
- Located: Hays, KS
- Beer Type: Oatmeal Stout
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 6%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.2
Minnesota – Darkness High West Rye Whiskey (Barrel Aged – 2015)
- Brewery: Surly Brewing Company
- Located: Brooklyn Center, MN
- Beer Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 12%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.85
Missouri – Framboise Du Fermier
- Brewery: Side Project Brewing
- Located: Maplewood, MO
- Beer Type: Saison/Farmhouse Ale
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 8%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.7
Nebraska – Melange A Trois (Reserve Series – Aged, French Oak Chardonnay Barrels)
- Brewery: Nebraska Brewing Company
- Located: Papillion, NE
- Beer Type: Belgian Pale Ale
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 11.3%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.1
North Dakota – Iron Horse
- Brewery: Fargo Brewing Company
- Located: Fargo, ND
- Beer Type: Pale Ale
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 4.8%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 8.5
Oklahoma – Prairie Bomb!
- Brewery: Krebs Brewing Company
- Located: Krebs, OK
- Beer Type: Imperial Stout
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 13%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 99
South Dakota – Pile O’ Dirt Porter
- Brewery: Crow Peak Brewing
- Located: Spearfish, SD
- Beer Type: American Porter
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 6%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 8.6
Texas – Live Oak HefeWeizen
- Brewery: Live Oak Brewing Company
- Located: Del Valle, TX
- Beer Type: Hefeweizen
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 5.2%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.86
The South
Alabama – Snake Handler Double IPA
- Brewery: Good People Brewing Company
- Located: Birmingham, AL
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 10%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.1
Florida – Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout
- Brewery: Cigar City Brewing
- Located: Tampa, FL
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial Stout
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 11%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 10.0
Georgia – See The Stars
- Brewery: Creature Comforts
- Located: Athens, GA
- Beer Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 10.9%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.65
Kentucky – London Balling
- Brewery: Against the Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
- Located: Louisville, KY
- Beer Type: English Barleywine
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 12.5%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.3
Louisiana – Ghost in The Machine
- Brewery: Parish Brewing Company
- Located: Broussard, LA
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 8%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.8
Mississippi – Timber Beast
- Brewery: Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company
- Located: Kiln, MS
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 9%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.1
Tennessee – Classic Saison
- Brewery: Blackberry Farm Brewery
- Located: Walland, TN
- Beer Type: Saison/Farmhouse Ale
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 6%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 8.8
Great Lakes States
Illinois – Bourbon County Brand Stout
- Brewery: Goose Island Beer Co.
- Located: Chicago, IL
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial Stout
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 13.8%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.75
Indiana – Zombie Dust
- Brewery: 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
- Located: Munster, IN
- Beer Type: American Pale Ale
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 6.2%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.9
Michigan – Founders Breakfast Stout
- Brewery: Founders Brewing Company
- Located: Grand Rapids, MI
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial Stout
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 8.3%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.95
Ohio – Columbus Bodhi Double IPA
- Brewery: Columbus Brewing Company
- Located: Columbus, OH
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 8.5%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.75
Wisconsin – Serendipity
- Brewery: New Glarus Brewing Company
- Located: New Glarus, WI
- Beer Type: Fruit Beer
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 4%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.6
East Coast
Delaware – Palo Santo Marron
- Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
- Located: Milton, DE
- Beer Type: American Brown Ale
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 12%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.4
Maryland – Double Duckpin
- Brewery: Union Craft Brewing Company
- Located: Baltimore, MD
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 8.5%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.2
North Carolina – Freak of Nature Double IPA
- Brewery: Wicked Weed Brewing
- Located: Asheville, NC
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 8%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.7
South Carolina – Mexican Cake
- Brewery: Westbrook Brewing Co.
- Located: Mount Pleasant, SC
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial Stout
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 10.5%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.65
Virginia – Trickery
- Brewery: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
- Located: Richmond, VA
- Beer Type: Milk/Sweet Stout
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 13.5%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.9
West Virginia – Peregrine Porter
- Brewery: Bridge Brew Works LLC
- Located: Fayetteville, WV
- Beer Type: Baltic Porter
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 7.2%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 8.8
Northeast
Connecticut – G-Bot Double IPA
- Brewery: New England Brewing Co.
- Located: Woodbridge, CT
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 8.8%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.3
Maine – Lunch
- Brewery: Maine Beer Company
- Located: Freeport, ME
- Beer Type: IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 7%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.7
Massachusetts – Julius
- Brewery: Tree House Brewing Company
- Located: Monson, MA
- Beer Type: American IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 6.8%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.8
New Jersey – Sunday Brunch
- Brewery: Kane Brewing Company
- Located: Ocean, NJ
- Beer Type: American Porter
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 9.2%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 10.0
New York – Cuvee De Castleton
- Brewery: Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
- Located: Elmsford, NY
- Beer Type: American Wild Ale
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 9%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.5
Pennsylvania – Troegs Nugget Nectar
- Brewery: Troegs Brewing Company
- Located: Hershey, PA
- Beer Type: American Amber/Red Ale
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 7.5%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.8
Rhode Island – Captain’s Daughter
- Brewery: Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island
- Located: Westerly, RI
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 8.5%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.3
Vermont – Heady Topper
- Brewery: The Alchemist
- Located: Waterbury, VT
- Beer Type: American Double/Imperial IPA
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 8%
- Overall Rating (1-10): 9.8