Wine and beer have been competing for the title of America’s favorite drink for many years. And depending on the survey you look at, the answer may vary. There is no doubt that both are very popular. Though, preferences vary across the country. Even among beer lovers, preferences vary, with craft beer continuing to rise in popularity.
To compile a list of the best craft beer in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the 2020 Best Beers in America survey, the 18th annual such survey, conducted by Zymurgy magazine. The poll’s respondents were readers of Zymurgy, a publication of Boulder, Colorado-based American Homebrewers Association.
More than a million people in the country brew their own beer at home. Many do it professionally. The number of breweries has been steadily going up for almost a decade and, today there are 7,450 craft brewers in the United States alone, according to the Brewers Association.
The beers on the list have all been commercially available in 2020, even though some have been a limited edition or are only brewed seasonally. Most, however, are available year-round. They vary from brews with a drinkable, low alcohol content of just over 4% to beers with such a high ABV they might as well be liquor.
Beer in general has been notorious as a diet breaker since many are high in carbs. Other alcoholic drinks have even more calories. Still, there are a few such drinks that would not require an hour run in order to burn the calories in the drinks — here are 28 low-calorie alcoholic drinks.
Click here to see best beer in every state and D.C.
Alabama
> Top beer: Snake Handler
> Style: Double IPA
> Brewery: Good People Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 100
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Alaska
> Top beer: Alaskan Smoked Porter
> Style: Smoked Porter
> Brewery: Alaskan Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 45
Arizona
> Top beer: Tower Station
> Style: India Pale Ale
> Brewery: Mother Road Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.3%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 70
Arkansas
> Top beer: Fallen Queen
> Style: Belgian Witbier
> Brewery: New Province Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 10
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California
> Top beer: Pliny the Elder
> Style: Double India Pale Ale
> Brewery: Russian River Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): High
Colorado
> Top beer: Odell IPA
> Style: American IPA
> Brewery: Odell Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 60
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Connecticut
> Top beer: Coolship Lager
> Style: Czech-style Blonde Lager
> Brewery: OEC Brewing
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.2%
> International bittering units (IBUs): N/A
Delaware
> Top beer: 120 Minute IPA
> Style: Imperial IPA
> Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 1499.8%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 120
Florida
> Top beer: Jai Alai
> Style: IPA
> Brewery: Cigar City Brewing
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 65
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Georgia
> Top beer: Tropicália
> Style: American IPA
> Brewery: Creature Comforts Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.6%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 65
Hawaii
> Top beer: Big Wave
> Style: Golden Ale
> Brewery: Kona Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.4%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 21
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Idaho
> Top beer: Helm of Awe
> Style: Robust Oatmeal Porter
> Brewery: Mad Swede Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 40
Illinois
> Top beer: Bourbon County Brand Stout
> Style: Imperial Stout
> Brewery: Goose Island Beer Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 14.7%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 60
Indiana
> Top beer: Zombie Dust
> Style: American Pale Ale
> Brewery: 3 Floyds Brewing
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 62
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Iowa
> Top beer: PseudoSue
> Style: Pale Ale
> Brewery: Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.8%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 45
Kansas
> Top beer: Oatmeal Stout
> Style: Oatmeal Stout
> Brewery: Free State Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.1%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 45
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Kentucky
> Top beer: Tropic Flare
> Style: New England IPA
> Brewery: Braxton Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.8%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 35
Louisiana
> Top beer: Ghost in the Machine
> Style: Double IPA
> Brewery: Parish Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 100
Maine
> Top beer: White
> Style: Belgian Wit
> Brewery: Allagash Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.2%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 13
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Maryland
> Top beer: Sweet Baby Jesus!
> Style: Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter
> Brewery: DuClaw Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.2%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 33
Massachusetts
> Top beer: Julius
> Style: American IPA
> Brewery: Tree House Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.8%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 72
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Michigan
> Top beer: Two Hearted Ale
> Style: American IPA
> Brewery: Bell’s Brewery, Inc.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 55
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Minnesota
> Top beer: Extra Pale Ale
> Style: EPA
> Brewery: Summit Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.1%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 49
Mississippi
> Top beer: Paradise Lost
> Style: Double IPA
> Brewery: Southern Prohibition Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.1%
> International bittering units (IBUs): N/A
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Missouri
> Top beer: Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale
> Style: Saison
> Brewery: Boulevard Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 38
Montana
> Top beer: Moose Drool
> Style: American Brown Ale
> Brewery: Big Sky Brewing
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 26
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Nebraska
> Top beer: Fairy Nectar
> Style: New England IPA
> Brewery: Kros Strain Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.2%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 62
Nevada
> Top beer: Revision IPA
> Style: American IPA
> Brewery: Revision Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 50
New Hampshire
> Top beer: Erastus
> Style: Abbey-style Tripel
> Brewery: Schilling Beer Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): N/A
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New Jersey
> Top beer: Head High
> Style: American IPA
> Brewery: Kane Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.6%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 80
New Mexico
> Top beer: Elevated IPA
> Style: American IPA
> Brewery: La Cumbre Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.2%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 100
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New York
> Top beer: Three Philosophers
> Style: Belgian Ale
> Brewery: Brewery Ommegang
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.7%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 21
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North Carolina
> Top beer: Surf Wax IPA
> Style: West Coast-style IPA
> Brewery: Burial Beer Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.8%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 68
North Dakota
> Top beer: Radegast Amber
> Style: Hazy Amber Ale
> Brewery: Prairie Brothers Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 37
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Ohio
> Top beer: Headhunter IPA
> Style: India Pale Ale
> Brewery: Fat Head’s Brewery
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 87
Oklahoma
> Top beer: Bomb!
> Style: Imperial Stout
> Brewery: Prairie Artisan Ales
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 65
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Oregon
> Top beer: Fresh Squeezed IPA
> Style: American IPA
> Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.4%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 60
Pennsylvania
> Top beer: Prima Pils
> Style: German-style Pilsner
> Brewery: Victory Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.3%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 43
Rhode Island
> Top beer: Captain’s Daughter
> Style: Double IPA
> Brewery: Grey Sail Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 69
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South Carolina
> Top beer: World Court
> Style: White Stout
> Brewery: Legal Remedy Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 28
South Dakota
> Top beer: German Pilsner
> Style: German Pilsner
> Brewery: Zymurcracy Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): !Unexpected End of Formula%
> International bittering units (IBUs):
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Tennessee
> Top beer: Homestyle
> Style: Oat IPA
> Brewery: Bearded Iris Brewing
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): N/A
Texas
> Top beer: Electric Jellyfish
> Style: India Pale Ale
> Brewery: Pinthouse Pizza
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): N/A
Utah
> Top beer: Big Bad Baptist
> Style: Imperial Stout
> Brewery: Epic Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 12.1%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 65
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Vermont
> Top beer: Heady Topper
> Style: Double IPA
> Brewery: The Alchemist
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 100
Virginia
> Top beer: Falcon Smash
> Style: American IPA
> Brewery: Triple Crossing Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): N/A
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Washington
> Top beer: Lush IPA
> Style: American IPA
> Brewery: Fremont Brewing
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 80
Washington, D.C.
> Top beer: Can’t You See the Sunshine
> Style: Fruited Sour
> Brewery: 3 Stars Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.8%
> International bittering units (IBUs): N/A
West Virginia
> Top beer: Devil Anse
> Style: India Pale Ale
> Brewery: Greenbrier Valley Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.9%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 71
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Wisconsin
> Top beer: Spotted Cow
> Style: Farmhouse Ale
> Brewery: New Glarus Brewing Co.
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.8%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 18
Wyoming
> Top beer: 2×4 DIPA
> Style: Double IPA
> Brewery: Melvin Brewing
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 100+
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