Highest-rated beer in Pennsylvania
Highest-rated beer in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania 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.
#23. DirtWolf
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.70%
- Brewery: Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#22. Better One or Two
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Dancing Gnome
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#21. Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 13.90%
- Brewery: Winding Path Brewing Co / Wyndridge Farm Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#20. Ralphius - Vanilla
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 14.40%
- Brewery: Free Will Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#19. Infinite Highway
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Dancing Gnome
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#18. Nugget Nectar
- Type: Imperial Red Ale
- ABV: 7.50%
- Brewery: Tröegs Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#17. Le Roar Grrrz Apricot
- Type: Fruit Lambic
- ABV: 7.00%
- Brewery: Bullfrog Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#16. Alien Church
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 7.00%
- Brewery: Tired Hands Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#15. Sunday Morning Stout
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 12.70%
- Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#14. Ralphius
- Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV: 14.40%
- Brewery: Free Will Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#13. Eviscerated Pathway Of Beauty
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.60%
- Brewery: Tired Hands Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#12. Cowbell
- Type: Sweet / Milk Stout
- ABV: 8.50%
- Brewery: Voodoo Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#11. Sunny Side Up - Little Amps! (Double Coffee)
- Type: Oatmeal Stout
- ABV: 9.50%
- Brewery: Al's of Hampden / Pizza Boy Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#10. Recertified
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Brew Gentlemen
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#9. Double Milkshake IPA - EXTRA Vanilla
- Type: Milkshake IPA
- ABV: 9.20%
- Brewery: Tired Hands Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#8. Extra Extra Knuckle
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.60%
- Brewery: Tired Hands Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#7. Only Void - Single-Origin Ethiopian Coffee
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 10.00%
- Brewery: Tired Hands Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#6. Le Roar Grrrz Kriek
- Type: Fruit Lambic
- ABV: 7.20%
- Brewery: Bullfrog Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#5. Mammoth
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.50%
- Brewery: Brew Gentlemen
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#4. FOSHOMO
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.20%
- Brewery: Brew Gentlemen
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#3. DoubleMex
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 9.90%
- Brewery: Brew Gentlemen
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#2. Albatross
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Brew Gentlemen
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#1. Le Roar Grrrz
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 7.20%
- Brewery: Bullfrog Brewery
- 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.