
Highest-rated beer in North Carolina
Highest-rated beer in North Carolina
After more than a decade of massive growth, the beer industry is experiencing a slowdown. According to the Brewers Association, in 2024, nationwide closings of brewpubs and taprooms outpaced openings for the first time in 14 years, and overall beer production volume decreased by 1.2%.
Changing consumer preferences factor into this decline. The convenience of ready-to-drink cocktails has increased spirits sales, but many people are simply opting to drink less. A January 2025 survey from NCSolutions found that almost half of Americans plan to cut back on their drinking in 2025.
To achieve this goal, some people are shifting to non-alcoholic drinks, including NA beers. This has created demand for higher-quality NA beers, including non-alcoholic IPAs and stouts. Other consumers are opting for moderation, looking for session beers and light beers that are still full of flavor.
That said, hop-forward beers are still popular—for example, hazy IPAs were the most popular entrant in the 2025 World Beer Cup. Fruit beers are also having a moment, with cherry and raspberry leading the pack in a 2024 report from Research and Markets, while drinkers looking for sweeter options can find brewers experimenting with candy-infused beers. Many beer makers are revisiting regional flavors on traditional styles, such as Czech pilsners, Mexican lagers, and Vienna lagers. At the same time, craft brewers continue to push the envelope to find new ways to excite beer lovers, often using unusual ingredients like sage, peppercorn, watermelon, and garlic.
Among all these different options, certain beers still appeal to hopheads more than others. Stacker compiled a list of the best beers from North Carolina using data from BeerAdvocate and sorted them according to their weighted ranking. Beers without images were excluded. Only beers that made BeerAdvocate's top 100 list by state were included.
#30. Night Jump
- Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV: 13.0%
- Brewery: Aviator Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#29. Up All Night - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
- Type: Imperial Porter
- ABV: 10.0%
- Brewery: Triple C Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#28. Seasoned Skillet
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 15.0%
- Brewery: Burial Beer Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#27. The Miller's Toll
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 9.1%
- Brewery: Raleigh Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#26. Kitten Biscuit
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 9.0%
- Brewery: Wilmington Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#25. Querido Y Perdido
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.0%
- Brewery: Casita Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#24. Griddle
- Type: Sweet / Milk Stout
- ABV: 10.0%
- Brewery: Burial Beer Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#23. Skillet Donut Stout
- Type: Oatmeal Stout
- ABV: 8.0%
- Brewery: Burial Beer Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#22. Houtenhamer (2024)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 15.0%
- Brewery: Burial Beer Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#21. Jade IPA
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 7.4%
- Brewery: Foothills Brewing Company - Downtown Brewpub
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#20. Collaboration Without Representation
- Type: Sweet / Milk Stout
- ABV: 12.8%
- Brewery: Deep River Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#19. Drunken Vigils Breakfast Stout
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 13.8%
- Brewery: Southern Pines Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#18. Rhythm Rug
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 5.9%
- Brewery: Fonta Flora Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#17. Hop, Drop 'n Roll
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 7.2%
- Brewery: NoDa Brewing Co. - North End
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#16. Lindley Park
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 10.0%
- Brewery: Olde Hickory Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#15. Appalachian Walker
- Type: English Barleywine
- ABV: 12.04%
- Brewery: Olde Hickory Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#14. Olde Rabbit's Foot
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 10.13%
- Brewery: Foothills Brewing Company - Downtown Brewpub
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#13. Dark Age
- Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV: 13.9%
- Brewery: Wicked Weed Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#12. Blurred Up
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.4%
- Brewery: Heist Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#11. ÜberQuench'l
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.2%
- Brewery: Heist Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#10. Framboos Morte
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 7.7%
- Brewery: Wicked Weed Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#9. Golden Angel
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 7.0%
- Brewery: Wicked Weed Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#8. Blurred Is The Word
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 6.8%
- Brewery: Heist Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#7. Maceo
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 8.6%
- Brewery: Green Man Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#6. Angel Of Darkness
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 11.0%
- Brewery: Wicked Weed Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#5. Sexual Chocolate - Barrel-Aged
- Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV: 9.6%
- Brewery: Foothills Brewing Company - Downtown Brewpub
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#4. The Event Horizon
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 12.25%
- Brewery: Olde Hickory Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#3. Red Angel
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 7.0%
- Brewery: Wicked Weed Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#2. Snozzberry
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 5.5%
- Brewery: Green Man Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#1. CitraQuench'l
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 7.1%
- Brewery: Heist Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.