This October, VinePair is celebrating our second annual American Beer Month. From beer style basics to unexpected trends (pickle beer, anyone?), to historical deep dives and new developments in package design, expect an exploration of all that’s happening in breweries and taprooms across the United States all month long.
From super juicy hazies to ultra hoppy west coasts, IPA seems to be the only type of beer people are drinking these days. But is the popular style really the most beloved across the country?
To discover the best beers in the United States, we consulted Beer Advocate’s top rated beers from brewers in each state and D.C. And while yes, some sort of IPA ranks highest for 19 states, there’s actually another style that takes the cake, topping the list for 22 states: Stout. (Arguably more surprising? Three of the country’s top brews feature coconut.)
So which is the most popular on your home turf? Read on to find out the highest-rated beer in every state.
Click here to see a full size version of the map!
State | Beer |
Alabama | El Gordo Good People Brewing Company Stout – Russian Imperial | 13.90% |
Alaska | Blessed Anchorage Brewing Company Stout – American Imperial | 14.00% |
Arizona | White Russian Imperial Stout Sun Up Brewing Co. Stout – American Imperial | 9.20% |
Arkansas | BDCS Ozark Beer Co. Stout – American Imperial | 10.20% |
California | Pliny The Younger Russian River Brewing Company IPA – Imperial | 10.25% |
Colorado | Medianoche – Coconut WeldWerks Brewing Co. Stout – American Imperial | 14.10% |
Connecticut | Fuzzy Baby Ducks New England Brewing Co. IPA – New England | 6.20% |
Delaware | Bourbon Barrel-Aged World Wide Stout Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Stout – American Imperial | 18.30% |
District of Columbia | On The Wings Of Armageddon DC Brau Brewing Co. IPA – Imperial | 9.20% |
Florida | Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout – Double Barrel Aged Cigar City Brewing Stout – American Imperial | 11.00% |
Georgia | Mexican Siberius Maximus The Wrecking Bar Brewpub Stout – Russian Imperial | 11.00% |
Hawaii | Imperial Coconut Porter Maui Brewing Co. Porter – Imperial | 9.40% |
Idaho | Double Vision Doppelbock Grand Teton Brewing Co. Bock – Doppelbock | 8.00% |
Illinois | Bourbon County Brand Stout Goose Island Beer Co. Stout – American Imperial | 14.70% |
Indiana | Marshmallow Handjee 3 Floyds Brewing Co. Stout – Russian Imperial | 15.00% |
Iowa | Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout Toppling Goliath Brewing Company Stout – American Imperial | 12.00% |
Kansas | Old Backus Barleywine Free State Brewing Co. Barleywine – American | 10.50% |
Kentucky | 70K Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse Stout – Sweet / Milk | 13.00% |
Louisiana | Ghost In The Machine – Double Dry-Hopped Parish Brewing Company IPA – New England | 8.50% |
Maine | Dinner Maine Beer Company IPA – Imperial | 8.20% |
Maryland | Double Duckpin Union Craft Brewing Company IPA – Imperial | 8.50% |
Massachusetts | King Julius Tree House Brewing Company IPA – New England | 8.30% |
Michigan | CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout) Founders Brewing Company Stout – American Imperial | 11.30% |
Minnesota | Abrasive Ale Surly Brewing Company IPA – Imperial | 9.20% |
Mississippi | Crowd Control Southern Prohibition Brewing IPA – New England | 8.00% |
Missouri | Barrel-Aged Abraxas Perennial Artisan Ales Stout – American Imperial | 11.00% |
Montana | Ivan The Terrible Imperial Stout – Barrel-Aged Big Sky Brewing Company Stout – Russian Imperial | 11.60% |
Nebraska | Melange A Trois – Reserve Series Aged In French Oak Chardonnay Barrels Nebraska Brewing Company Production Brewery & Tap Room Strong Ale – Belgian Pale | 11.30% |
Nevada | Disco Ninja Revision Brewing Company IPA – New England | 7.00% |
New Hampshire | Hopulization Stoneface Brewing Co. IPA – Imperial | 8.90% |
New Jersey | Sunday Brunch Kane Brewing Company Porter – Imperial | 9.20% |
New Mexico | Project Dank La Cumbre Brewing Co. IPA – American | 7.50% |
New York | Double Dry Hopped Double Mosaic Dream Other Half Brewing Company IPA – New England | 8.50% |
North Carolina | Citraquench’l Heist Brewery IPA – New England | 7.10% |
North Dakota | Freak Parade Drekker Brewing Company IPA – New England | 8.20% |
Ohio | Appervation Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery Stout – American Imperial | 15.00% |
Oklahoma | Bourbon Paradise Prairie Artisan Ales Stout – American Imperial | 13.70% |
Oregon | Nectarine Premiere de Garde Brewing Farmhouse Ale – Saison | 7.10% |
Pennsylvania | Le Roar Grrrz Bullfrog Brewery Lambic – Gueuze |
Rhode Island | The Chosen One Tilted Barn Brewery IPA – New England | 8.50% |
South Carolina | Mexican Cake – Maple Bourbon Barrel-Aged Westbrook Brewing Co. Stout – American Imperial | 10.20% |
South Dakota | SoDank IPA Lost Cabin Beer Co. IPA – American | 6.80% |
Tennessee | Astronaut Status Wiseacre Brewing Stout – American Imperial | 12.20% |
Texas | Atrial Rubicite Jester King Brewery Wild Ale | 5.80% |
Utah | Big Bad Baptista Epic Brewing Company Stout – American Imperial | 11.70% |
Vermont | Heady Topper The Alchemist IPA – New England | 8.00% |
Virginia | Resolute – Coconut Brothers Craft Brewing Stout – American Imperial | 13.50% |
Washington | Coffee Cinnamon B-Bomb Fremont Brewing Company Strong Ale – American | 13.00% |
West Virginia | Halleck Pale Ale Chestnut Brew Works Pale Ale – American | 6.00% |
Wisconsin | Black Gold Central Waters Brewing Co. Stout – American Imperial | 11.00% |
Wyoming | 2×4 DIPA Melvin Brewing / Thai Me Up IPA – Imperial | 9.90% |