
In honor of National Beer Day, we've put together a list of the best beer from every state and Washington, DC. The list, which was compiled by craft-beer authority RateBeer.com, was based on lifetime reviews and each beer's overall performance ratings last year. This year, they excluded double IPAs and imperial stouts from the rankings.
Scroll down to see which beer took the top spot for your home state, whether it's a scotch ale from Michigan or a hoppy and hearty IPA from Maine.
View As: One Page Slides
ALABAMA: Straight To Ale's Unobtanium is an English-style old ale that's aged for six months in a bourbon barrel and released on a very limited basis.
Source: RateBeer.com
ALASKA: Alaskan Brewing Company, based in Juneau, releases a limited "vintage" of its smoked porter each year. The brewery recommends aging it in the bottle like a wine.
Source: RateBeer.com
ARIZONA: Arizona Wilderness' Superstition Coffee Stout is steeped in local coffee beans and vanilla, which lend the beer its sweet aroma.
Source: RateBeer.com
ARKANSAS: Diamond Bear Brewing's pale ale boasts a roasted caramel malt with a slight bitterness.
Source: RateBeer.com
CALIFORNIA: Firestone Walker's XX Anniversary Ale is a barrel-aged blend that was created as part of an annual competition among winemakers. The final result is a deep brown beer with flavors of toffee and caramel.
Source: RateBeer.com
COLORADO: Denver's Crooked Stave makes a ruby-red sour called Nightmare on Brett. It's aged in whiskey barrels with raspberries.
Source: RateBeer.com
CONNECTICUT: Based in Bloomfield, Thomas Hooker Brewery makes a rich, filling doppelbock called Liberator. RateBeer users highlight its flavors of caramel and roasted malts.
Source: RateBeer.com
DELAWARE: At 12% ABV, Dogfish Head's Palo Santo Marron is definitely on the boozy side. It's an American strong ale that was aged on wood that came from a Paraguayan Palo Santo tree.
Source: RateBeer.com
FLORIDA: This beer is the Oakland Park-based brewery Funky Buddha's imperial version of a maple bacon coffee porter. It was aged in bourbon barrels, giving it a smoky taste.
Source: RateBeer.com
GEORGIA: Athens' Creature Comforts makes a fruity, citrus-heavy IPA called Tropicália. RateBeer users note the beer's grapefruit and orange soda flavors.
Source: RateBeer.com
HAWAII: Maui Brewing Co.'s Coconut Hiwa Porter has notes of dark malt, chocolate, and coffee. You can sample it at the brewery's tasting room in Kihei.
Source: RateBeer.com
IDAHO: This doppelbock was first brewed by Grand Teton Brewing in Victor, Idaho, in 2009. It has hints of caramel and cocoa.
Source: RateBeer.com
ILLINOIS: Goose Island's Bourbon Country Barleywine is aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels that carry hints of oak, tobacco, charcoal, and vanilla.
Source: RateBeer.com
INDIANA: Brewers out of Munster, Indiana, from Three Floyds Brewing Company have taken citrus hops from the Yakima Valley in Washington State to create this medium-bodied, single-hop American pale ale. At 6.2% ABV, Three Floyds Zombie Dust is golden in hue and surprisingly hoppy for an APA.
Source: RateBeer.com
IOWA: Decorah, Iowa's Toppling Goliath makes a 5.8% ABV IBA called pseudoSue. The "addictive taste is clean and bright with just enough bite!" the brewer says.
Source: RateBeer.com
KANSAS: The Wooden Rooster made by Manhattan's Tallgrass Brewing Company is aged in rye whiskey barrels. Expect an oaky aftertaste.
Source: RateBeer.com
KENTUCKY: The 35K Stout is "not your typical 'Jelly of the Month club' beer," says creator Against the Grain Brewing Company. It still tastes like liquid chocolate.
Source: RateBeer.com
LOUISIANA: Irish Channel Stout is NOLA's newest seasonal ale. A classic American stout, this New Orleans favorite has flavors of chocolate and caramel.
Source: RateBeer.com
MAINE: Maine Beer Lunch, brewed by Maine Brewing Company, has citrus and pine flavors. It's the East Coast's version of a West Coast IPA.
Source: RateBeer.com
MARYLAND: Stillwater Artisanal's Gose Gone Wild includes large amounts of Citra and Amarillo hops. While it has a lower percentage of alcohol (4.3%), its crisp palate and subtly tart flavors make up for it.
Source: RateBeer.com
MASSACHUSETTS: Julius from Monson's Tree House Brewing Co. is "very easy to drink," according to RateBeer. This hoppy beer has hints of passion fruit, citrus, and mango.
Source: RateBeer.com
MICHIGAN: Grand Rapids-based brewery Founders has plenty of noteworthy beers, but RateBeer raves about its excellent scotch ale. Called the Backwoods Bastard, it has notes of bourbon, coconut and vanilla.
Source: RateBeer.com
MINNESOTA: The Axe Man made by Surly Brewing Company is "an explosion of tropical, citrus and dank hops," one RateBeer user said. It's full-bodied, but the citrus finish keeps it light.
Source: RateBeer.com
MISSISSIPPI: Served in an English pint glass, Southern Prohibition Brewery's SPB Jack the Sipper is a sweet and spicy bitter that is made with 100% English hops and malts.
Source: RateBeer.com
MISSOURI: Side Project Brewery's Fuzzy beer is an American wild ale that is aged in Missouri-grown white peaches. The result: a fresh taste with tropical notes.
Source: RateBeer.com
MONTANA: Olde Bluehair Barleywine gets better with age, according to its creator Big Sky Brewing Company. Expect to taste apricots, honey, and a hint of vanilla.
Source: RateBeer.com
NEBRASKA: Nebraska Brewing Company's Melange A Trois is a heavy Belgian strong ale that tastes like Chardonnay.
Source: RateBeer.com
NEVADA: The Citra Rye Pale Ale, created by Henderson's Joseph James Brewing Company, has a fruity taste of lychee, gooseberry, and passion fruit.
Source: RateBeer.com
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Unlike regular porters, Baltic porters are brewed at lower temperatures similar to lagers. From Portsmouth, Smuttynose Brewing's version is raisin-y and rich at 8.7% ABV.
Source: RateBeer.com
NEW JERSEY: Kane Brewing joined the IPA train with Head High (6.5%), but where this beer one-ups the competition is in using four different hops that give it citrus and pine notes.
Source: RateBeer.com
NEW MEXICO: Elevated IPA is La Cumbre's flagship beer, but it's also its best beer. "La cumbre" means "the summit" in Spanish. The 7.2% IPA is clean and earthy, just like its Albuquerque birthplace.
Source: RateBeer.com
NEW YORK: Ommegang Abbey Ale's licorice and chocolate taste may not be for everyone, but its richness makes it well worth a try.
Source: RateBeer.com
NORTH CAROLINA: One RateBeer user describes being "blown away by this beer." Wicked Weed's Medora Blackberry Raspberry Sour is a fuchsia-colored wild ale that has a refreshing aftertaste.
Source: RateBeer.com
NORTH DAKOTA: Out of the city of the same name, Fargo Brewing makes its Iron Horse pale ale with intense floral hop aromas and flavors of grapefruit. The 5% ABV beer is hoppy enough for hop lovers, but not too hoppy for the hop-averse.
Source: RateBeer.com
OHIO: Hoppin' Frog's Tower Tuesday: Infusion A Coffee Porter is a brand-new creation from the Akron brewery. It has a thick body and strong tastes of chocolate, vanilla, and even peanuts.
Source: RateBeer.com
OKLAHOMA: Foeder Cerise has an unusual mix of sour cherry and cinnamon, but it works. This wild ale creation has become a favorite at Tulsa's American Solera.
Source: RateBeer.com
OREGON: Aged in bourbon barrels for up to seven years, Adam From the Wood is a boozy beer from Portland's Hair of the Dog Brewing Company. It's only available via limited release.
Source: RateBeer.com
PENNSYLVANIA: Don't be fooled by its hazy appearance — Tired Hands' Pineal IPA has a fresh and fruity taste.
Source: RateBeer.com
RHODE ISLAND: The Dal's Shandy by Narragansett is as refreshing as they come. This light shandy has a strong lemony taste and a 5% ABV.
Source: RateBeer.com
SOUTH CAROLINA: The Westbrook Gose made by Westbrook Brewing is a German-style sour beer brewed with coriander and salt. It's super sour but very refreshing.
Source: RateBeer.com
SOUTH DAKOTA: Crow Peak's Pile-O-Dirt Porter is every bit as rich as it looks. Expect cocoa and coffee tastes.
Source: RateBeer.com
TENNESSEE: From Tennessee With Smoke is exactly what it says on the bottle: a no-frills, straight smoked farmhouse ale. It's a collaboration between Walland, Tennessee's Blackberry Farm and Evil Twin Brewing.
Source: RateBeer.com
TEXAS: Atrial Rubicite is Jester King Brewery's first barrel-aged sour fruit beer. The Austin-based brewery used hundreds of pounds of raspberries to give this 5.8% beer its color and taste.
Source: RateBeer.com
UTAH: To get the full effect of Uinta Brewing Company's Labyrinth Black Ale, make sure it's served cool but not frigid. This jet-black drink has tastes of licorice and chocolate.
Source: RateBeer.com
VERMONT: The so-called "Juicy" is Hill Farmstead's very own mimosa-flavored beer. It's light and refreshing but still has a kick at 7.4% ABV.
Source: RateBeer.com
VIRGINIA: Described by BeerAdvocate as "Christmas in a bottle," Hardywood's Gingerbread Stout will make you feel festive all year round. It tastes of gingerbread, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Source: RateBeer.com
WASHINGTON: Known as the "B-BOMB" to regulars at Seattle's Fremont Brewing Company, the Abominable is aged in bourbon barrels and has flavors of dark chocolate, wood, vanilla, and warm spices.
Source: RateBeer.com
WASHINGTON DC: Bluejacket's Forbidden Planet is a kolsch made with Galaxy hops from Australia, which give it an aroma of passion fruit, peach, and mango.
Source: RateBeer.com
WEST VIRGINIA: A unique blend of Cascade, Centennial, and Columbus hops give Morgantown Brewing Company's Zack Morgan's IPA a ripe citrus aroma.
Source: RateBeer.com
WISCONSIN: New Glarus Brewing Company's Serendipity was the unexpected result that brewmaster Dan Carey came up with following a season of difficult cherry harvest conditions in Wisconsin. The "Happy Accident Fruit Ale" is a blend of apples, cranberries, and cherries.
Source: RateBeer.com
WYOMING: The IPA from Jackson, Wyoming's Melvin Brewing Company has a "fresh blast of citrus" and tropical fruits.
Source: RateBeer.com
More from this author
Related Stories
Recommended Read
Ericsson's pact with Vodafone Idea is the next step towards a $27 billion goal
Climate change claims its first casualty in world's largest coral reef system
One of India’s oldest tyre makers and its workers are fighting over CCTV cameras
After alcohol, India has a rising cannabis addiction problem, warns AIIMS study
A new Indian government company will sell space technology to private players
Faced with ban threats, PUBG is trying to placate Indian parents and the government
Seven shocking truths about how India buys arms
Indian startup founders are giving up ownership too early – and that's a bad idea
Comments ()
SIGN IN WITH
FacebookGoogleEmail