Highest-rated beer in Michigan

Written by:
June 20, 2024
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Highest-rated beer in Michigan

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 Michigan 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.

#30. Double Dry Hopped M-43

- Rating: 4.36 (69 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 7.20%
- Brewery: Old Nation Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#29. Night Fury - Bourbon Barrel-Aged Traxxx

- Rating: 4.34 (211 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 13.80%
- Brewery: Witch's Hat Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#28. Cinna-Gram on French Toast

- Rating: 4.45 (46 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.00%
- Brewery: Pigeon Hill Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#27. Hazel's Nuts

- Rating: 4.36 (562 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.00%
- Brewery: Odd Side Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#26. Boss Tweed

- Rating: 4.36 (774 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 9.30%
- Brewery: Old Nation Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#25. Hipster Brunch Stout

- Rating: 4.36 (891 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.00%
- Brewery: Odd Side Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#24. Buckley Reserve #2

- Rating: 4.48 (40 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 15.00%
- Brewery: Transient Artisan Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#23. Buckley Reserve #1

- Rating: 4.51 (35 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 14.50%
- Brewery: Transient Artisan Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#22. Raspberry Eisbock

- Rating: 4.38 (1,341 ratings)
- Type: Eisbock
- ABV: 15.50%
- Brewery: Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#21. Black Note - Vanilla

- Rating: 4.42 (126 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.50%
- Brewery: Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#20. M-43

- Rating: 4.39 (1,309 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 6.80%
- Brewery: Old Nation Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#19. Soursmith Black Raspberry

- Rating: 4.46 (75 ratings)
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 5.10%
- Brewery: Arclight Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#18. Bring the Ruckley

- Rating: 4.49 (58 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 14.50%
- Brewery: Transient Artisan Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#17. KBS - Espresso

- Rating: 4.42 (775 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 12.00%
- Brewery: Founders Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#16. Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barley Wine

- Rating: 4.42 (793 ratings)
- Type: English Barleywine
- ABV: 14.50%
- Brewery: Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#15. Blueberry Eisbock

- Rating: 4.46 (161 ratings)
- Type: Eisbock
- ABV: 15.50%
- Brewery: Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#14. Rye Hipster Brunch Stout

- Rating: 4.46 (496 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.00%
- Brewery: Odd Side Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#13. Hopslam Ale

- Rating: 4.45 (14,028 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 10.00%
- Brewery: Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#12. Kentuckley

- Rating: 4.48 (256 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 14.50%
- Brewery: Transient Artisan Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#11. Expedition Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged

- Rating: 4.47 (807 ratings)
- Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV: 13.40%
- Brewery: Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#10. Solstice Stout

- Rating: 4.5 (160 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 16.00%
- Brewery: Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#9. KBS - Maple Mackinac Fudge

- Rating: 4.49 (941 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.00%
- Brewery: Founders Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#8. No Rules

- Rating: 4.49 (1,415 ratings)
- Type: Imperial Porter
- ABV: 15.00%
- Brewery: Perrin Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#7. Breakfast Stout

- Rating: 4.51 (17,955 ratings)
- Type: Oatmeal Stout
- ABV: 8.30%
- Brewery: Founders Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#6. Canuckley

- Rating: 4.54 (222 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 14.50%
- Brewery: Transient Artisan Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#5. Plead The 5th - Bourbon Barrel-Aged

- Rating: 4.52 (3,373 ratings)
- Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.00%
- Brewery: Dark Horse Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#4. Black Note Stout

- Rating: 4.54 (4,984 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.20%
- Brewery: Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#3. Fourth Dementia - Bourbon Barrel-Aged

- Rating: 4.55 (2,075 ratings)
- Type: Old Ale
- ABV: 13.50%
- Brewery: Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#2. KBS

- Rating: 4.6 (14,173 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 12.00%
- Brewery: Founders Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#1. CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout)

- Rating: 4.64 (6,789 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.70%
- Brewery: Founders Brewing Company
- 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.

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