The beer industry has been popular in the United States for several centuries. While there have been high and low points – prohibition forced all sales to halt – for the most part, a few large corporations have dominated the market. It wasn’t until the 1980s that craft beer appeared in the U.S., comprising only a small portion of the beer market – 0.1% of total sales. If you’re a craft beer lover, you were still missing out.
In 1985, there were only 110 breweries in the United States. Fast forward to today where craft beer grabs a big portion of the market share of the overall beer market in America. As of 2023, there were 9,683, an all-time high, which includes 2,071 microbreweries, 3,467 brewpubs, 3,900 taproom breweries, and 245 regional craft breweries. According to the Brewers Association, retail sales of craft brew now account for 24.7% of the $117 billion U.S. beer market.
To compile a list of a beer lover’s guide to the best local brews in 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.
Ratings were then calculated by weighting attributes differently (the most important is taste, weighted at 40%). Scores are current as of mid-May 2023. Craft beers range from hoppy double IPAs to imperial stouts to English-style barleywines. (If you prefer wheat beer, check out the only wheat beer brands you should be drinking.)
Here is a beer lover’s guide to the best local brews in every state:
Alabama: Hitchhiker

- Avg. score: 4.3/5 (126 votes)
- Beer style: American IPA
- Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.4%
- Brewery: Good People Brewing Company
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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 (Noda location temporarily closed due to fire damage)
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
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
Oregon: Nectarine Premiere

- Avg. score: 4.6/5 (408 votes)
- Beer style: Saison
- Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.1%
- Brewery: de Garde Brewing
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
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.
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
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
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.
Wyoming: 2×4 DIPA

- Avg. score: 4.3/5 (884 votes)
- Beer style: Imperial IPA
- Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.9%
- Brewery: Melvin Brewing