The best beer from every state

Madeline Stone,Mary HanburyApr 7, 2017, 22:29 IST

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There's nothing like a crisp, cold glass of beer when you're ready to unwind after a long day, and every state has brews that stand out above the rest.

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.

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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.

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.

ARIZONA: Arizona Wilderness' Superstition Coffee Stout is steeped in local coffee beans and vanilla, which lend the beer its sweet aroma.

ARKANSAS: Diamond Bear Brewing's pale ale boasts a roasted caramel malt with a slight bitterness.

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.

COLORADO: Denver's Crooked Stave makes a ruby-red sour called Nightmare on Brett. It's aged in whiskey barrels with raspberries.

CONNECTICUT: Based in Bloomfield, Thomas Hooker Brewery makes a rich, filling doppelbock called Liberator. RateBeer users highlight its flavors of caramel and roasted malts.

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.

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.

GEORGIA: Athens' Creature Comforts makes a fruity, citrus-heavy IPA called Tropicália. RateBeer users note the beer's grapefruit and orange soda flavors.

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.

IDAHO: This doppelbock was first brewed by Grand Teton Brewing in Victor, Idaho, in 2009. It has hints of caramel and cocoa.

ILLINOIS: Goose Island's Bourbon Country Barleywine is aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels that carry hints of oak, tobacco, charcoal, and vanilla.

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.

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.

KANSAS: The Wooden Rooster made by Manhattan's Tallgrass Brewing Company is aged in rye whiskey barrels. Expect an oaky aftertaste.

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.

LOUISIANA: Irish Channel Stout is NOLA's newest seasonal ale. A classic American stout, this New Orleans favorite has flavors of chocolate and caramel.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

NEBRASKA: Nebraska Brewing Company's Melange A Trois is a heavy Belgian strong ale that tastes like Chardonnay.

NEVADA: The Citra Rye Pale Ale, created by Henderson's Joseph James Brewing Company, has a fruity taste of lychee, gooseberry, and passion fruit.

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.

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.

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.

NEW YORK: Ommegang Abbey Ale's licorice and chocolate taste may not be for everyone, but its richness makes it well worth a try.

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.

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.

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.

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.

PENNSYLVANIA: Don't be fooled by its hazy appearance — Tired Hands' Pineal IPA has a fresh and fruity taste.

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.

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.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Crow Peak's Pile-O-Dirt Porter is every bit as rich as it looks. Expect cocoa and coffee tastes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

WEST VIRGINIA: A unique blend of Cascade, Centennial, and Columbus hops give Morgantown Brewing Company's Zack Morgan's IPA a ripe citrus aroma.

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.

WYOMING: The IPA from Jackson, Wyoming's Melvin Brewing Company has a "fresh blast of citrus" and tropical fruits.

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