The Best Beer From Every State

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Skye Gould/Business Insider

From Alabama to Wyoming, craft breweries are making brews that blow the competition out of the water. Of course, everyone has his or her favorite homestate beer, and opinions differ depending on whom you ask.

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We asked our friends at craft beer authority RateBeer.com to help us come up with the best beer in every state.

Most beers on this list are imperial stouts and IPAs, but higher ABV (alcohol by volume) beers seem to be trending in general. Did your favorite beer make the list?

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ALABAMA: Straight to Ale hails from Huntsville. The brewery's Laika Russian Imperial Stout clocks in at 11.7% ABV and features notes of coffee and chocolate.

Straight to Ale, Beer
Facebook/straighttoale

Source: RateBeer

ALASKA: Berserker is a 12.7% ABV imperial stout from Anchorage's Midnight Sun Brewing Co. Flavors of red wine, whisky, and dark fruit seduce the drinker.

Midnight Sun Brewing Co., Beer
Facebook/theloftatmsb

Source: RateBeer

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ARIZONA: RateBeer named Gilbert's Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. the top new brewery in the world this year. The American Presidential Stout, at 11% ABV and made with smoked jalapeños, is the company's best brew.

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co., Beer, Growlers
Facebook/azwbc

Source: RateBeer

ARKANSAS: In Rogers, Ozark Beer Co.'s American Pale Ale is light-bodied and dry. Its low ABV (4%) makes it incredibly drinkable.

Ozark Beer Co., American Pale Ale, Beer
Facebook/OzarkBeerCompany

Source: RateBeer

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CALIFORNIA: Santa Rosa's Russian River Brewing is famous for its 11% imperial IPA Pliny the Younger. The brewery calls it a triple IPA because it's hopped three times.

Russian River Brewing, Beer
YouTube/Brian Zust

Source: RateBeer

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COLORADO: Great Divide Brewing Co. in Denver makes an imperial stout as mean as the name implies. Oak Aged Yeti is woody and boozy at 9.5% ABV.

Great Divide Brewing Co., Beer, Yeti
Facebook/greatdividebrew

Editor's choice: New Belgium, in Fort Collins, makes a traditional Flemish red ale called La Folie. It gets its sour apple notes from spontaneous fermentation in wooden barrels.

Source: RateBeer

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CONNECTICUT: Imperial Stout Trooper appeals to hoppy stout lovers and "Star Wars" fans alike. It's an 8.5% imperial stout out of Woodbridge's New England Brewing Co.

New England Brewing Co., Imperial Stout Trooper
Flickr/naiserie

Source: RateBeer

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DELAWARE: Dogfish Head Brewery, in Milton, is known for its IPAs, especially the 9% ABV 90 Minute IPA. Called "perhaps the best IPA in America" by Esquire magazine, it's a big and bitter beer.

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
Flickr/Bernt Rostad

Editor's choice: Once a year, Dogfish Head releases its cultish 120 Minute IPA — a beer hopped continuously for 120 minutes. On any given year, it can weigh in anywhere between 15% and 25% ABV.

Source: RateBeer

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FLORIDA: Tampa's Cigar City Brewing incorporates flavors of sunny Florida like kopi luwak coffee, vanilla, and cacao nibs in its 11% ABV Final Push imperial stout.

Cigar City Brewing, Beer
Instagram/@cigarcitybrewing

Source: RateBeer

GEORGIA: In Athens, Terrapin Beer Co.'s Oaked Wake-n-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout is like breakfast in a glass — albeit a 7.5% ABV breakfast. It's hearty, full-bodied, and filling.

Terrapin Beer Co., Beer
Instagram/@terrapinbeerco

Source: RateBeer

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HAWAII: Toasted coconut complements the dark maltiness of Maui Brewing Co.'s Imperial CoCoNut PorTeR — a bigger (7.9%) version of MBC's regular CoCoNut PorTeR.

Maui Brewing Co., Beer
Facebook/MauiBrewingCo

Source: RateBeer

IDAHO: Victor's Grand Teton Brewing Co. makes an 8% ABV Black Cauldron Imperial Stout that is as big and mysterious as the mountains for which the brewery was named.

Grand Teton Brewing Co., Beer
Facebook/grandtetonbrewingcompany

Source: RateBeer

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ILLINOIS: The Bourbon County Stout from Chicago's Goose Island Beer Co. goes down smooth with notes of oak and bold coffee, but at 14.2% it will knock you off your feet at the same time.

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Facebook/gooseislandbeer

Source: RateBeer

INDIANA: Hailing from Munster, Indiana, Three Floyds Brewing Co.'s Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout is a 15% whopper brewed with Intelligentsia coffee. It's one of the most sought-after beers in the world, released just once a year.

Three Floyds Beer, Dark Lord, Beer
Flickr/Anders Walldén

Source: RateBeer

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IOWA: Mornin' Delight is a 12% imperial stout from Decorah's Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. It's brewed with maple syrup, making it perfect for breakfast. "Just add pancakes," the brewery says.

Toppling Goliath, Mornin' Delight beer
Twittee/@TGBrews

Source: RateBeer

KANSAS: Lawrence's Free State Brewing Co. ages its Owd Macs Imperial Stout in old McCormack's whiskey barrels, hence the name. Dark and slightly sweet, it clocks in at 9.5%.

Free State Brewing, Beer, Bottles
Facebook/freestatebrewing

Source: RateBeer

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KENTUCKY: Against the Grain Brewery, based in Louisville, took its 35K sweet stout and doubled it, resulting in a big, comforting 13.1% beer.

Against the Grain Brewery, 70K beer
Facebook/atgbrewery

Source: RateBeer

LOUISIANA: Loup Garou, the Cajun French phrase for "werewolf," embodies this chocolatey, oakey beer. Arnaudeville's Bayou Teche Brewery brewed it to 7.5%, so while it's sessionable enough it still packs a punch.

Bayou Teche Brewery, Loup Garou, Beer
Facebook/bayoutechebrewing

Source: RateBeer

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MAINE: Located in Freeport, Maine Beer Co.'s Dinner says it all. This 8.2% imperial IPA is hearty and hoppy, and you may want to go to sleep afterward.

Maine Beer Co., Dinner, Beer
Instagram/@mainebeerco

Editor's choice: Just outside Portland, Allagash makes a yeasty, Belgian-style Tripel called Curieux that blends hints of vanilla with the woody notes it picks up from a two-month stay in Jim Beam barrels.

Source: RateBeer

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MARYLAND: Stillwater Artisanal Ales, in Baltimore, introduces Brettanomyces yeast into Westbrook Brewing Co.'s sour gose beer to create its tart, 4.3% Gose Gone Wild.

Stillwater Artisanal Ales, Gose Gone Wild, Beer
Facebook/stillwater.artisanal

Editor's choice: Stillwater also makes a Belgian-style witbier, Cellar Door, with white sage and a blend of hops that lend it a citrus-y scent.

Source: RateBeer

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MASSACHUSETTS: Few people have tried Samuel Adams Utopias, partly because only 15,000 bottles are released once a year, and partly because it retails for about $200. But the 27% barleywine, sold in what can be described only as a genie's lamp, as it grants your every wish, is worth it and then some.

Samuel Adams, Utopias, Beer
Flickr/brostad

Source: RateBeer

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MICHIGAN: Bell's Brewery's 10.5% Black Note Stout evokes all things black: dark chocolate, espresso, and sweet, dark fruits. The Galesburg brewery ages it in oak bourbon barrels.

Bell's Brewery, Stout, Beer
Facebook/BellsEccentricCafe

Editor's choice: Bell's Hopslam is a great IPA, especially for people who don't like IPAs (or think they don't like IPAs; Hopslam will totally change your mind).

Source: RateBeer

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MINNESOTA: Brooklyn Center's Surly Brewing Co. changes the label on its seasonal imperial stout, Darkness, every year to reflect the changing dark flavors. 9.6% ABV can't mask delicious black cherry, chocolate, and toffee notes.

Surly Brewing Co., Beer, Truck
Twitter/@surlybrewing

Source: RateBeer

MISSISSIPPI: Straight out of Kiln, Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co. has come up with an imperial rye IPA, Timber Beast, which is spicy, hoppy, and boozy at 9% ABV.

Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co., Timber Beast, Beer
Facebook/LazyMagnoliaBrewingCompany

Source: RateBeer

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MISSOURI: Abraxas, a word of mystical origin, perfectly describes this 11% imperial stout from St. Louis' Perennial Artisan Ales. Brewed with cocoa nibs and ancho chillies, it ages for nearly a year in rye whiskey barrels.

Perennial Artisan Ales, Beer, Abraxas, Barrels
Facebook/perennialbeer

Source: RateBeer

MONTANA: Missoula's Big Sky Brewing Co. has been making Ivan the Terrible Imperial Stout since '06. The roasty beer was born at 8.75% ABV, but these days is found at 10%.

Big Sky Brewing, Beer, Bottle 1
Facebook/BigSkyBrewingCompany

Source: RateBeer

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NEBRASKA: Black Betty (Reserve Series) is a multiple-award-winning Russian Imperial Stout from Nebraska Brewing Co. in Papillon. It's dry and complex at 9% ABV.

nebraska brewing company, beer
Facebook/NebraskaBrewingCompany

Source: RateBeer

NEVADA: With the revitalization of downtown Las Vegas comes new craft breweries like Tenaya Creek. The brewery may not be downtown, but its easy-to-drink 9.3% imperial stout will make you feel like you are.

Tenaya Creek Brewery, Beer, River
Facebook/TenayaCreekBrewery

Source: RateBeer

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NEW HAMPSHIRE: Unlike regular porters, which are ales, Baltic porters are brewed at lower temperatures like lagers. From Portsmouth, Smuttynose Brewing Co.'s version is raisin-y and rich at 8.7%.

Smuttynose Brewing Co., Baltic Porter, Beer
Facebook/Smuttynose

Source: RateBeer

NEW JERSEY: Ocean's Kane Brewing Co. joined the IPA train with Head High (6.5%), but where this beer one-ups the competition is in using four different hops that give it citrus and pine notes.

kane brewing co., beer
Facebook/KaneBrewing

Source: RateBeer

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NEW MEXICO: Elevated IPA is La Cumbre Brewing Co.'s flagship beer. The 7.2% India pale ale is clean and earthy, just like its Albuquerque birthplace.

La Cumbre Brewing, Elevated IPA, Beer
Facebook/La-Cumbre-Brewing-Co

Source: RateBeer

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NEW YORK: Long Island may be known for wine, but Southampton Publick House proves that it can do beer, even out east. The brewery's imperial Russian stout (10.5%) is full-bodied and a little bit sweet.

Southampton Publick House Imperial Russian Stout, Beer
Flickr/brostad

Editor's choice: Bronx brewery Gun Hill Brewing Co.'s Void of Light foreign stout (7.9%) is comforting and filling. Dark, rich, and roasted, it just won a gold medal at this year's Great American Beer Festival in Denver.

Source: RateBeer

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NORTH CAROLINA: Brewed with local honey and aged in oak barrels, Hickory's Old Hickory Brewery brings something unique to The Event Horizon, an 8.5% ABV imperial stout.

Olde Hickory Brewing, The Event Horizon
Facebook/OldeHickoryBrewery

Source: RateBeer

NORTH DAKOTA: The Wood Chipper IPA by Fargo Brewing Co. is velvety and bitter, the way an IPA should be. And as the name implies, it's woody, with notes of pine.

The Fargo Brewing Co., Beer
Facebook/fargobrewing

Source: RateBeer

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OHIO: Toasted caramel malt brings warm, soothing qualities to Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.'s Siberian Night Imperial Stout. The 9.7% beer from Akron won multiple awards from the Great American Beer Festival.

Thirsty Dog Brewing Co., Siberian Night, Beer
Facebook/thirstydogbeer

Source: RateBeer

OKLAHOMA: Prairie Artisan Ales hails from Krebs. It brewed its 13% imperial stout, Bible Belt, with Brooklyn's Evil Twin Brewing Co., and has hints of coffee, vanilla, and chilis.

Prairie Artisan Ales, Bible Belt, Beer
Facebook/Prairie-Artisan-Ales

Source: RateBeer

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OREGON: Matt (12.5%), named for two prominent Pacific Northwest brewers named Matt, is a slightly smoked and very boozy American strong ale from Portland's Hair of the Dog Brewing Co.

Hair of the Dog Brewing Co., Matt, Beer
Hair of the Dog Brewing Co.

Editor's choice: Rogue Ales, in Newport, makes a sweet chocolate stout (aptly named "Chocolate Stout") that is malty and highlights the richness of cocoa, rather than processed chocolate.

Source: RateBeer

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PENNSYLVANIA: The Phoenix Kriek by Selin's Grove Brewing Co. (in Selinsgrove, no less) isn't your typical kriek (cherry) sour beer, given that it's jammy and only slightly tart, not to mention the high 8% ABV.

Selin's Grove Brewing, Beer
Instagram/@vuaspeliador

Editor's choice: Hershey, Pennsylvania, isn't just known for its chocolate. Tröegs Brewing Co. brews an IPA, Nugget Nectar, that's so insanely hoppy that it transitions to a near nectar-like smoothness.

Source: RateBeer

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RHODE ISLAND: Westerly's Grey Sail Brewing Co. came up with Stargazer Imperial Stout by combining nine different malts and three different hops that, together, create a sweet, full-bodied, and potent 9.7% beer.

Grey Sail Brewing Co., Beer
Facebook/GreySail

Source: RateBeer

SOUTH CAROLINA: Mt. Pleasant's Westbrook Brewing Co. brewed Mexican Cake Imperial Stout to celebrate its first anniversary. Then they made a 10.5% ABV Jack Daniels barrel-aged version — a limited release that's nearly impossible to find. Buy it if you do.

Westbrook Mexican Cake Beer
Twitter/@WestbrookBeer

Source: RateBeer

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SOUTH DAKOTA: Named for the pile of dirt the Spearfish brewery sits on, Crow Peak Brewing Co.'s Pile-O-Dirt Porter (6.9%) is medium-bodied, and pleasingly bitter.

Crow Peak Brewing Co., Pile O Dirt Porter
Facebook/CrowPeakBrewing

Source: RateBeer

TENNESSEE: SUE is a smoked beer by Yazoo Brewing Co., a direct nod to Nashville's history of BBQ. The 9.1% beer takes on notes of the cherrywood it's smoked in.

Yazoo Brewing Co., Beer
Facebook/yazoobrewing

Source: RateBeer

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TEXAS: Atrial Rubicite is Jester King Brewery's first barrel-aged sour fruit beer. The Austin brewery used hundreds of pounds of raspberries to give this 5.8% beer its color and taste.

Jester King Brewery, Atrial Rubicite, Beer
Facebook/JesterKingBrewery

Source: RateBeer

UTAH: In SLC, Squatters Craft Beers barrels Fifth Element and lets nature take over the fermentation process, resulting in a Champagne-y, light-bodied 6.8 percenter reminiscent of summer stone fruit.

Squatters Craft Beers, Fifth Element
Facebook/squattersbeers

Source: RateBeer

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VERMONT: Most people outside the Waterbury area probably haven't had the privilege of trying Heady Topper, the multiple accolade-winning 8% double IPA by The Alchemist. It's widely considered the best beer in the world.

The Alchemist, Heady Topper, Beer
Facebook/alchemistbeer

Source: RateBeer

VIRGINIA: AleWerks Brewing Co.'s Bitter Valentine is a crisp and uber hoppy 9% imperial IPA. Now everyone in Williamsburg has something to celebrate on Valentine's Day.

AleWerks Bitter Valentine
Facebook/AleWerks

Source: RateBeer

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WASHINGTON: Seattle's Fremont Brewing Co. brings the warmth of bourbon to Kentucky Dark Star 9.5% imperial stout, which is barrel-aged for sweetness and booziness.

Fremont Brewing Co., Kentucky Dark Star, Beer
Facebook/Fremont-Brewing-Company

Source: RateBeer

WASHINGTON, DC: On the Wings of Armageddon from DC Brau Brewing Co. is a 9.2% ABV imperial IPA — a little fruity, a little bitter, and sharply hoppy.

DC Brau Brewing Co., On the Wings of Armageddon
Facebook/DC-Brau-Brewing-Company

Source: RateBeer

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WEST VIRGINIA: Fayetteville's Bridge Brew Works, like Smuttynose, makes an excellent Baltic porter. At 8.1%, Peregrine Porter is easy to drink and reminiscent of roasted plums.

Bridge Brew Works, Peregrine Porter
Facebook/BridgeBrewWorks

Source: RateBeer

WISCONSIN: New Glarus Brewing Co. is all about its home state, brewing its 4% Wisconsin Belgian Red with Wisconsin-farmed wheat and infusing it with local Door County cherries.

New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red
Facebook/newglarusbrewing

Source: RateBeer

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WYOMING: Snake River Brewing Co. has developed a perfectly balanced foreign-style stout. At 5.8% it won't knock you out, but the slight sweetness and richness are made to relax after a long day skiing in Jackson Hole.

Snake River, Zonker Stout
Facebook/snakeriverbrewing

Source: RateBeer

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