
Highest rated beer in California
If you drink beer—any beer—you've likely heard of the craft beer revolution, and you likely fall into one of two camps: IPA warrior or lager loyalist. The great thing about a beer-related revolution is that there is no wrong side. Whatever your preference, cheers to you.
The burgeoning brewery business is indeed a revolution by many counts. According to the Brewers Association, the number of breweries in the United States grew 390% from 2010 to 2020—all while beer consumption, on average, was declining.
Like all revolutions, this, too, began as a desire for change—as an overthrow of the old and the monopolistic. In 2010, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Molson Coors (formerly MillerCoors), two of the largest beer companies in the world, comprised roughly 77% of total beer sales in the U.S. In 2020, that share was 60%, with smaller brewers claiming a larger share toward the end of the decade.
With a taste of the innovations and variety coming out of craft breweries, consumers are demanding a higher quality product, and are willing to pay more for it. Over the last decade, beer prices have increased by 33%.
If you've ever been curious about which beers are most popular in your home state, we have the answer. Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated beer in California using ratings from BeerAdvocate. A maximum of 5 beers per brewery were included.
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#30. Reaction State
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.80%
- Brewery: Bottle Logic Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#29. Saison Bernice
- Type: Saison
- ABV: 6.50%
- Brewery: Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#28. Speedway Stout - Vietnamese Coffee
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 12.00%
- Brewery: AleSmith Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#27. Foggier Window
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.10%
- Brewery: Monkish Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#26. Ground State
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 13.40%
- Brewery: Bottle Logic Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
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#25. Modem Tones - Bourbon Barrel-Aged - Vanilla
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 14.40%
- Brewery: Modern Times Beer
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#24. Grey Monday
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 19.90%
- Brewery: The Bruery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#23. §ucaba
- Type: English Barleywine
- ABV: 12.50%
- Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#22. Great
- Type: American Barleywine
- ABV: 14.00%
- Brewery: Alpine Beer Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#21. Speedway Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 13.30%
- Brewery: AleSmith Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
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#20. Parabajava
- Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV: 14.00%
- Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#19. Adios Ghost
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 10.20%
- Brewery: Monkish Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#18. Fundamental Forces
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 16.20%
- Brewery: Bottle Logic Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#17. Chocolate Rain
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 19.60%
- Brewery: The Bruery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#16. Black Tuesday
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 19.50%
- Brewery: The Bruery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
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#15. Keene Idea
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.88%
- Brewery: Alpine Beer Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#14. Beatification
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 6.00%
- Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#13. Supplication
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 7.75%
- Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#12. Black Tuesday - Reserve
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 20.50%
- Brewery: The Bruery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#11. West Ashley
- Type: Saison
- ABV: 7.30%
- Brewery: Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
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#10. Citra
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Kern River Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#9. Cable Car Kriek
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 7.00%
- Brewery: The Lost Abbey
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#8. Cable Car
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 7.00%
- Brewery: The Lost Abbey
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#7. Parabola
- Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV: 13.00%
- Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#6. Duck Duck Gooze
- Type: Gueuze
- ABV: 7.00%
- Brewery: The Lost Abbey
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
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#5. Pliny The Elder
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#4. Speedway Stout - Vietnamese Coffee - Bourbon-Barrel Aged
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 14.20%
- Brewery: AleSmith Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#3. Westly
- Type: Saison
- ABV: 8.50%
- Brewery: Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#2. Fundamental Observation
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 13.00%
- Brewery: Bottle Logic Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#1. Pliny The Younger
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 10.25%
- Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
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