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There's no denying that a good beer lifts you up with a bit of a buzz, heightening your experience of the world around you. Some are crisp and refreshing, perfect for a summer day while others are bolder with notes of vanilla coffee, serving as the perfect nightcap. There are many beers to select from and when you've tasted several, you learn your preferences.
Some people love the hoppy taste of IPA so much, they could dive right into a barrel of it. Others prefer a softer, gentler flavor that reminds them of the tropics. The list below doesn't just identify the top beers, but also their average ratings, type, the company that brews it, and the alcohol by volume (ABV).
To compile this list of the best beers, 247 Tempo reviewed data provided by the Beer Advocate, which itemized a couple of hundred beers. They are sorted by weighted rank (not shown). (Don't have a lot of money to spend on beer? Next read Discover 10 Cheap Beer Brands That Are Actually Good.)
30. Fou' Foune
- Average Rating: 4.65
- Company: Brasserie Cantillon
- Beer Type: Fruit Lambic
- ABV: 5.50%
This is a fruity beer with notes of apricots (which are sourced sustainably).
29. Beer: Barrel: Time (Van Winkle 2023)
- Average Rating: 4.75
- Company: Side Project Brewing
- Beer Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 13.00%
This stout beer is fermented in 10-year-old Van Winkle barrels.
28. Julius
- Average Rating: 4.65
- Company: Tree House Brewing Company
- Beer Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 6.80%
This beer is tropical, with fruity notes that include citrus, passion fruit, mango, and peach. It's a bright, refreshing beer.
27. Monster Tones
- Average Rating: 4.72
- Company: Modern Times Beer
- Beer Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 13.00%
This stout is aged in bourbon barrels and combines Modern Tones and Monster's Park.
26. Chemtrailmix – Rye Barrel
- Average Rating: 4.68
- Company: 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
- Beer Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV: 15.00%
This beer has a distinctive taste because it's aged in rye barrels along with pink peppercorns and cinnamon.
25. Clover
- Average Rating: 4.69
- Company: Hill Farmstead Brewery
- Beer Type: Saison
- ABV: 6.50%
This beer blends Art and Ann and has a refined taste. It's an effervescent beer not easily forgotten.
24. Oude Fermier
- Average Rating: 4.71
- Company: Side Project Brewing
- Beer Type: Saison
- ABV: 7.00%
This beer is created via extended aging in Saison du Fermier barrels. You can pick up on rounded oak nuances in this complex yet gentle beer.
23. A Deal With the Devil – Double Oak-Aged
- Average Rating: 4.69
- Company: Anchorage Brewing Company
- Beer Type: American Barleywine
- ABV: 17.00%
This beer is aged in either Woodford Reserve double oak barrels or Heaven Hill bourbon barrels, depending on the blend.
22. Double Barrel V.S.O.J.
- Average Rating: 4.73
- Company: Revolution Brewing
- Beer Type: English Barleywine
- ABV: 16.80%
This barleywine combines barrel-aged English barleywines that are then transported to Templeton rye barrels for a second period of aging.
21. V.S.O.J.
- Average Rating: 4.69
- Company: Revolution Brewing
- Beer Type: English Barleywine
- ABV: 14.0%
This is a periodic release from Revolution Brewing and stands for "Very Old Special (Straight) Jacket." The flavor is sweet, refined, and indulgent.
20. Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout
- Average Rating: 4.67
- Company: Goose Island Beer Co.
- Beer Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 13.20%
There have been multiple releases of this stout since 2010. The flavors incorporate coffee, caramel, and rich chocolate.
19. Very Hazy
- Average Rating: 4.68
- Company: Tree House Brewing Company
- Beer Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.60%
This IPA is like an elevated version of Haze, a double IPA. You get potent notes of grapefruit and a softer tropical flavor that rushes through.
18. Fundamental Observation
- Average Rating: 4.68
- Company: Bottle Logic Brewing
- Beer Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 13.00%
This imperial stout is aged in bourbon barrels, but not before being combined with Madagascar vanilla beans.
17. Barrel-Aged Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake Stout
- Average Rating: 4.7
- Company: Angry Chair Brewing
- Beer Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.00%
This imperial stout is aged in bourbon barrels along with Madagascar vanilla, cacao nibs, and coconut.
16. Coconut Vibes – Barrel Aged
- Average Rating: 4.77
- Company: Shared Brewing
- Beer Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 15.00%
This stout is brewed with coconut and then aged in barrels, including the Weller 12 and Rittenhouse rye barrels. These barrels are infused with raw, toasted coconut.
15. Pliny the Younger
- Average Rating: 4.69
- Company: Russian River Brewing Company
- Beer Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 10.25%
This beer was named after Pliny the Elder, which is a double IPA. It's hoppy and full-bodied and made only occasionally.
14. Zenne Y Frontera
- Average Rating: 4.71
- Company: Brouweij 3 Fonteinen
- Beer Type: Lambic
- ABV: 7.00%
This lambic is aged in 40-year-old casks before it's bottled. It's designed to link the differing worlds of wine and beer.
13. King JJJuliusss
- Average Rating: 4.71
- Company: Tree House Brewing Company
- Beer Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.40%
This is a dry-hopped beer with a blast of citrus that includes grapefruit, orange, and mango. You can also pick up on a little bit of pineapple.
12. King Julius
- Average Rating: 4.7
- Company: Tree House Brewing Company
- Beer Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.20%
This IPA is ultra-flavorful and hoppy, taking you on a ride. The flavors you pick up on include mango smoothie, tropical fruits, and even orange creamsicle.
11. Mornin' Delight
- Average Rating: 4.7
- Company: Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
- Beer Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 12.80%
This is the ideal nightcap that satisfies your desire for a delicious coffee with a bit of a kick.
10. M.J.K.
- Average Rating: 4.82
- Company: Side Project Brewing
- Beer Type: English Barleywine
- ABV: 20.00%
This barleywine is English-inspired and has three blends. They are aged in Willett Family Estate barrels.
9. A Deal With the Devil – Triple Oak-Aged
- Average Rating: 4.75
- Company: Anchorage Brewing Company
- Beer Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.00%
This stout has several blends and the most recent release is aged 25 months with three full transfers to fresh barrels during the aging period.
8. Heady Topper
- Average Rating: 4.71
- Company: The Alchemist
- Beer Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
This is a good choice for those who love hoppy beer. The flavor lingers.
7. Blessed
- Average Rating: 4.74
- Company: Anchorage Brewing Company
- Beer Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 15.50%
This stout is aged in Woodford Reserve double-oaked bourbon barrels as well as Willet bourbon barrels and Heaven Hill barrels. Toasted, raw coconut and Madagascar vanilla beans impact the flavor.
6. Hunahpu's Imperial Stout – Double Barrel Aged
- Average Rating: 4.72
- Company: Cigar City Brewing
- Beer Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.00%
This stout is aged in rum barrels and has influences from apple brandy, Madagascar vanilla beans, cacao nibs, cinnamon, and chiles.
5. Abraxas – Barrel-Aged
- Average Rating: 4.73
- Company: Perennial Artisan Ales
- Beer Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 12.80%
This stout incorporates several flavors because it's brewed with cinnamon, vanilla beans, chili peppers, and cacao nibs.
4. Marshmallow Handjee
- Average Rating: 4.73
- Company: 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
- Beer Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV: 15.00%
This is a Russian imperial stout that's aged in different types of bourbon barrels along with vanilla beans.
3. O.W.K.
- Average Rating: 4.86
- Company: Side Project Brewing
- Beer Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 15.00%
The most recent release of this stout is aged in three different barrels and includes Ugandan vanilla beans.
2. Vanilla Bean Assassin
- Average Rating: 4.81
- Company: Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
- Beer Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 12.80%
This stout is aged in whiskey barrels along with vanilla beans.
1. Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout
- Average Rating: 4.83
- Company: Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
- Beer Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 12.00%
This stout makes it to the 1. spot. It has a delightful flavor comprised of espresso, maple syrup, chocolate chip pancakes, and a shot of bourbon. (Do you prefer light beers instead? Avoid All Light Beer Brands, Except These 7.)