Highest-rated beer in Connecticut
If you drink beer—any beer—you're probably familiar with the craft beer explosion that began in the late 2010s, 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 brewery business is indeed a revolution by many counts. According to the Brewers Association, the number of breweries in the United States grew by 567% from 2003 to 2023—all while beer consumption, on average, was declining. For the first time since 1999, beer shipments fell below 200 million barrels in 2023, making it the lowest amount of beer consumed in the U.S. in a generation.
Like all revolutions, this began as a desire for change—as an overthrow of the old and the monopolistic. When combined, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Molson Coors (formerly MillerCoors), two of the largest beer companies in the world, comprised roughly 72% of total beer sales in the U.S. around 2013. A decade later, that share dropped to 65.7% in 2023, with smaller brewers claiming a larger share.
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, between May 2014 and May 2024, beer prices have risen 21% overall.
But how can you determine the best craft beers in an increasingly crowded market? If you're curious about the most popular beers in your home state, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated beers in Connecticut using ratings from BeerAdvocate. A maximum of five beers per brewery were included.
Read on to plan your next local beer tour!
Note: Photos of each beer are included where available from BeerAdvocate; otherwise, stock images are shown.
#26. Ferrous
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 9.00%
- Brewery: New Park Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#25. Lambic Series: Hexotic
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 5.80%
- Brewery: Two Roads Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#24. Crucial Mass
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Counter Weight Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#23. #NOFILTER
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 7.00%
- Brewery: Thomas Hooker Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#22. Awkward Hug
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 7.00%
- Brewery: Kent Falls Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#21. Even More Nobility
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 15.00%
- Brewery: Short Throw Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#20. Exilis
- Type: Berliner Weisse
- ABV: 3.80%
- Brewery: OEC Brewing (Ordinem Ecentrici Coctores)
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#19. Double Scoop
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.40%
- Brewery: Back East Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#18. Dogs & Boats
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 9.10%
- Brewery: Beer'd Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#17. Headband
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: New Park Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#16. Hobbit Juice
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 9.20%
- Brewery: Beer'd Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#15. Low Brow Nobility
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 12.00%
- Brewery: Short Throw Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#14. Cloudscape
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 6.50%
- Brewery: New Park Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#13. Witch Meadow
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 10.00%
- Brewery: Fox Farm Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#12. Virid - Southern Hemisphere
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 7.20%
- Brewery: Fox Farm Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#11. BURST
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 7.00%
- Brewery: Fox Farm Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#10. Alta
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 6.80%
- Brewery: Fox Farm Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#9. Double Burst
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.30%
- Brewery: Fox Farm Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#8. Cúvee de Gorgoroth
- Type: English Barleywine
- ABV: 16.66%
- Brewery: OEC Brewing (Ordinem Ecentrici Coctores)
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#7. What It Do?
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.00%
- Brewery: Short Throw Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#6. Double Cloud
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: New Park Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#5. Double Fuzzy Baby Ducks
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.20%
- Brewery: New England Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#4. G-Bot
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.50%
- Brewery: New England Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#3. Coriolis
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.20%
- Brewery: New England Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#2. Fuzzy Baby Ducks
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 6.20%
- Brewery: New England Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#1. Locust Reign
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.20%
- Brewery: New England Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.