Highest-rated beer in Maryland

Written by:
June 20, 2024
Alexey Andr Tkachenko // Shutterstock

Highest-rated beer in Maryland

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 Maryland 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. BMORE HAZY

- Rating: 4.12 (21 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.0%
- Brewery: Oliver Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#29. Flaked

- Rating: 4.30 (15 ratings)
- Type: Oatmeal Stout
- ABV: 10.7%
- Brewery: Sapwood Cellars
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#28. Nouveau Rouge

- Rating: 4.05 (111 ratings)
- Type: Flanders Red Ale
- ABV: 6.3%
- Brewery: Evolution Craft Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#27. The Red Eclipse

- Rating: 4.12 (37 ratings)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 10.0%
- Brewery: Heavy Seas Beer
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#26. Barrel-Aged Stock Ale

- Rating: 4.06 (139 ratings)
- Type: Old Ale
- ABV: 10.0%
- Brewery: Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#25. Rings of Light

- Rating: 4.39 (15 ratings)
- Type: American Pale Ale
- ABV: 4.8%
- Brewery: Sapwood Cellars
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#24. Greener Machine

- Rating: 4.24 (19 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 9.4%
- Brewery: Diamondback Beer
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#23. SOBO

- Rating: 4.18 (25 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.0%
- Brewery: Monument City Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#22. Natural Progression

- Rating: 4.36 (16 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.2%
- Brewery: Cushwa Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#21. NOBO

- Rating: 4.15 (35 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 6.5%
- Brewery: Monument City Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#20. Lot #3 IPA

- Rating: 4.06 (1,102 ratings)
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 6.8%
- Brewery: Evolution Craft Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#19. Face Chop

- Rating: 4.17 (34 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.2%
- Brewery: Cushwa Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#18. Schnee Boot

- Rating: 4.18 (50 ratings)
- Type: Eisbock
- ABV: 13.0%
- Brewery: Heavy Seas Beer
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#17. Hop Broth

- Rating: 4.21 (39 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.0%
- Brewery: Diamondback Beer
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#16. Lot #6 Double IPA

- Rating: 4.11 (784 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.5%
- Brewery: Evolution Craft Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#15. IPA With Passion Fruit

- Rating: 4.23 (38 ratings)
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 7.3%
- Brewery: Manor Hill Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#14. Blackbeard's Breakfast

- Rating: 4.13 (453 ratings)
- Type: Imperial Porter
- ABV: 10.0%
- Brewery: Heavy Seas Beer
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#13. J.R.E.A.M. - Coquito

- Rating: 4.38 (20 ratings)
- Type: Fruited Kettle Sour
- ABV: 4.8%
- Brewery: Burley Oak Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#12. Rise Up RIS

- Rating: 4.21 (80 ratings)
- Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV: 10.0%
- Brewery: Evolution Craft Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#11. Pulpsicle

- Rating: 4.32 (32 ratings)
- Type: American Pale Ale
- ABV: 6.4%
- Brewery: RAR Brewing (Real Ale Revival)
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#10. Snip Snap

- Rating: 4.39 (23 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.3%
- Brewery: Sapwood Cellars
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#9. Reaper

- Rating: 4.22 (90 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.0%
- Brewery: RAR Brewing (Real Ale Revival)
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#8. Hyde - Galaxy

- Rating: 4.28 (48 ratings)
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 6.6%
- Brewery: RAR Brewing (Real Ale Revival)
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#7. 100 - Vic Secret

- Rating: 4.42 (22 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.5%
- Brewery: Burley Oak Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#6. Head Stash

- Rating: 4.35 (32 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.5%
- Brewery: Burley Oak Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#5. Citralaxy

- Rating: 4.26 (81 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 7.5%
- Brewery: Burley Oak Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#4. 10 Layers

- Rating: 4.26 (93 ratings)
- Type: American Stout
- ABV: 7.2%
- Brewery: RAR Brewing (Real Ale Revival)
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#3. J.R.E.A.M. - Blueberry Cobbler

- Rating: 4.43 (29 ratings)
- Type: Fruited Kettle Sour
- ABV: 4.8%
- Brewery: Burley Oak Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#2. Hyde

- Rating: 4.30 (106 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 6.4%
- Brewery: RAR Brewing (Real Ale Revival)
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

#1. Double Duckpin

- Rating: 4.25 (620 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.5%
- Brewery: Union Craft Brewing Company
- 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.

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