Craft beers continue to grab market share of the overall beer market in America, as total U.S. beer volume sales declined 3% in 2022, according to the Brewers Association. Craft-brewer volume sales edged up 0.1%, and the small and independent brewers’ share of the U.S. beer market by volume now stands at 13.2%. Retail dollar sales of craft beer rose 5%, to $28.4 billion, accounting for 24.6% of the $115 billion U.S. beer market.
In 1985, there were only 110 breweries of any kind in the U.S. As of 2022, there were 9,709, some 9,552 of them classified as craft breweries – an all-time high – and they are well-represented in every state.
To compile a list of the best craft beer from every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the “Top 250 Rated Beers” on BeerAdvocate, as judged by its readers. The site asks reviewers to score beers on a scale of 1.00 to 5.00 in 0.25-point increments on five ratable attributes: appearance, aroma, taste, mouthfeel, and overall impressions. The site then calculates ratings by weighting attributes differently (most important is taste, weighted at 40%). The weighting accounts for the fact that in the ranking here, the highest placed beers don’t necessarily have the highest reader scores. Scores are current as of mid-May 2023.
Click here to see the best local craft beer from every state
As alcoholic beverages go, beer is the least powerful of potent potables. The average alcohol by volume for beer is around 4.5%. The craft beers on our list pack a greater wallop, with ABVs ranging from 4.8% to 17.3% – the latter in Utopias Barrel-Aged World Wide Stout, made by the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Delaware. (On the other hand, here are 25 things you might not know about non-alcoholic beer.)
Craft beers range from hoppy double IPAs to inky-black imperial stouts to English-style barleywines. American imperial stout is the preferred style in 19 states, followed by New England IPA with nine. This is indicative of the popularity of these beers as well as their experimental potential by their brewers. (See where some of these beers place on our list of the 30 best beers in America.)
Alabama: Hitchhiker
> Avg. score: 4.3/5 (126 votes)
> Beer style: American IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.4%
> Brewery: Good People Brewing Company
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Alaska: Blessed
> Avg. score: 4.7/5 (264 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 15.5%
> Brewery: Anchorage Brewing Company
Arizona: White Russian imperial stout
> Avg. score: 4.4/5 (108 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.2%
> Brewery: Sun Up Brewing Co.
Arkansas: BDCS
> Avg. score: 4.5/5 (554 votes)
> Beer style: Sweet/milk stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.2%
> Brewery: Ozark Beer Co.
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California: Pliny The Younger
> Avg. score: 4.7/5 (3,544 votes)
> Beer style: Imperial IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.3%
> Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company
Colorado: Leaner
> Avg. score: 4.6/5 (246 votes)
> Beer style: Saison
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.0%
> Brewery: Casey Brewing & Blending and Barrel Cellar
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Connecticut: Fuzzy Baby Ducks
> Avg. score: 4.5/5 (1,159 votes)
> Beer style: New England IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.2%
> Brewery: New England Brewing Co.
Delaware: Utopias Barrel-Aged World Wide Stout
> Avg. score: 4.4/5 (331 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 17.3%
> Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Florida: Hunahpu’s imperial stout – Double Barrel Aged
> Avg. score: 4.7/5 (1,663 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.0%
> Brewery: Cigar City Brewing
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Georgia: Mexican Siberius Maximus
> Avg. score: 4.5/5 (81 votes)
> Beer style: Russian imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.0%
> Brewery: Wrecking Bar Brewpub
Hawaii: Imperial Coconut Porter
> Avg. score: 4.2/5 (275 votes)
> Beer style: Imperial porter
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.4%
> Brewery: Maui Brewing Co.
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Idaho: Ada County
> Avg. score: 4.3/5 (31 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 15.0%
> Brewery: Woodland Empire Ale Craft
Illinois: Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout
> Avg. score: 4.7/5 (7,535 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.2%
> Brewery: Goose Island Beer Co.
Indiana: Marshmallow Handjee
> Avg. score: 4.8/5 (1,800 votes)
> Beer style: Russian imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 15.0%
> Brewery: 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
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Iowa: Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout
> Avg. score: 4.8/5 (913 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 12.0%
> Brewery: Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
Kansas: Old Backus Barleywine
> Avg. score: 4.2/5 (263 votes)
> Beer style: American barleywine
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.5%
> Brewery: Free State Brewing Co.
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Kentucky: Snake Cake
> Avg. score: 4.5/5 (42 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.0%
> Brewery: West Sixth Brewing Company
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Louisiana: Ghost In The Machine – Double Dry-Hopped
> Avg. score: 4.6/5 (406 votes)
> Beer style: New England IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.5%
> Brewery: Parish Brewing Company
Maine: Dinner
> Avg. score: 4.6/5 (2,749 votes)
> Beer style: Imperial IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.2%
> Brewery: Maine Beer Company
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Maryland: J.R.E.A.M. – Blueberry Cobbler
> Avg. score: 4.4/5 (27 votes)
> Beer style: Fruited kettle sour
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.8%
> Brewery: Burley Oak Brewing Co.
Massachusetts: King Julius
> Avg. score: 4.7/5 (1,581 votes)
> Beer style: New England IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.2%
> Brewery: Tree House Brewing Company
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Michigan: CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout)
> Avg. score: 4.6/5 (6,750 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.3%
> Brewery: Founders Brewing Company
Minnesota: Nillerzzzzz
> Avg. score: 4.6/5 (141 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 14.0%
> Brewery: Forager Brewing Company
Mississippi: Paradise Lost
> Avg. score: 4.3/5 (72 votes)
> Beer style: New England IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.1%
> Brewery: Southern Prohibition Brewing
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Missouri: Abraxas – Barrel-Aged
> Avg. score: 4.7/5 (1,664 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.0%
> Brewery: Perennial Artisan Ales
Montana: Ivan The Terrible imperial stout – Barrel-Aged
> Avg. score: 4.3/5 (900 votes)
> Beer style: Russian imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.6%
> Brewery: Big Sky Brewing Company
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Nebraska: Champurrado Stout
> Avg. score: 4.5/5 (32 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.0%
> Brewery: White Elm Brewing Company
Nevada: Coconut Pie Face
> Avg. score: 4.4/5 (29 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.7%
> Brewery: Revision Brewing Company
New Hampshire: Vinatta Russian imperial stout
> Avg. score: 4.4/5 (94 votes)
> Beer style: Russian imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 12.0%
> Brewery: Kelsen Brewing Company
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New Jersey: Sunday Brunch
> Avg. score: 4.6/5 (851 votes)
> Beer style: Imperial porter
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.2%
> Brewery: Kane Brewing Company
New Mexico: Project Dank
> Avg. score: 4.4/5 (914 votes)
> Beer style: American IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.5%
> Brewery: La Cumbre Brewing Co.
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New York: 4th Anniversary
> Avg. score: 4.6/5 (260 votes)
> Beer style: New England IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.0%
> Brewery: Other Half Brewing Company
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North Carolina: CitraQuench’l
> Avg. score: 7.1/5 (372 votes)
> Beer style: New England IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.1%
> Brewery: Heist Brewery
North Dakota: Chonk Sundae Sour (Mango and Marshmallow)
> Avg. score: 4.4/5 (28 votes)
> Beer style: Fruited kettle sour
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.2%
> Brewery: Drekker Brewing Company
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Ohio: Appervation
> Avg. score: 4.5/5 (339 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 15.0%
> Brewery: Jackie O’s Brewpub
Oklahoma: Bourbon Paradise
> Avg. score: 4.6/5 (935 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.7%
> Brewery: Prairie Artisan Ales
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Oregon: Nectarine Premiere
> Avg. score: 4.6/5 (408 votes)
> Beer style: Saison
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.1%
> Brewery: de Garde Brewing
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Pennsylvania: Albatross
> Avg. score: 4.5/5 (110 votes)
> Beer style: New England IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.0%
> Brewery: Brew Gentlemen
Rhode Island: The Chosen One
> Avg. score: 4.5/5 (171 votes)
> Beer style: New England IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.5%
> Brewery: Tilted Barn Brewery
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South Carolina: Mexican Coffee Cake
> Avg. score: 4.4/5 (330 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.5%
> Brewery: Westbrook Brewing Co.
South Dakota: SoDank IPA
> Avg. score: 4.1/5 (14 votes)
> Beer style: American IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.8%
> Brewery: Lost Cabin Beer Co.
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Tennessee: Astronaut Status
> Avg. score: 4.4/5 (215 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 12.2%
> Brewery: Wiseacre Brewing – Broad Ave OG
Texas: Atrial Rubicite
> Avg. score: 4.6/5 (2,012 votes)
> Beer style: Wild ale
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.8%
> Brewery: Jester King Brewery
Utah: Big Bad Baptista
> Avg. score: 4.4/5 (815 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.7%
> Brewery: Epic Brewing Company
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Vermont: Heady Topper
> Avg. score: 4.7/5 (15,197 votes)
> Beer style: Imperial IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.0%
> Brewery: The Alchemist
Virginia: Double Orange Starfish
> Avg. score: 4.5/5 (488 votes)
> Beer style: New England IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.3%
> Brewery: Aslin Beer Company
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Washington: Coffee Cinnamon B-Bomb
> Avg. score: 4.6/5 (1,128 votes)
> Beer style: American strong ale
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.0%
> Brewery: Fremont Brewing Company
West Virginia: Halleck Pale Ale
> Avg. score: 4.3/5 (58 votes)
> Beer style: American pale ale
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.0%
> Brewery: Chestnut Brew Works
Wisconsin: Black Gold
> Avg. score: 4.5/5 (869 votes)
> Beer style: American imperial stout
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.0%
> Brewery: Central Waters Brewing Co.
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Wyoming: 2×4 DIPA
> Avg. score: 4.3/5 (884 votes)
> Beer style: Imperial IPA
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.9%
> Brewery: Melvin Brewing/Thai Me Up
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