Breweries with the most highly ranked beers in Michigan

After an explosion of growth in the craft beer industry, the market is undergoing a shift, causing beer lovers to stay alert to keep track of their favorites.

The last decade saw an explosion of craft breweries that operate on a smaller scale and offer a wider, and sometimes more experimental, selection of beer. In 2024, there were a total of 9,496 craft breweries in the U.S., a 104% increase from 2015.

However, that growth is tapering off. According to the Brewers Association, 2024 was the industry's worst year for brewpub, microbrewery, and taproom closings, with 519 drawing their last pint.

Changing consumer preferences may be contributing to this trend. While beer and cider still have the largest market share of alcoholic drinks, consumers are reducing their alcohol consumption. Gallup found that between 2023 and 2025, the percentage of people who consumed alcohol within the last 24 hours dropped eight percentage points to 28%, while the percentage who hadn't had an alcoholic drink in over a week increased eight percentage points to 40%.

Brewers are also facing another enemy: Climate change. Rising temperatures and drought have caused shifts in the growing season and decreased production in noble hops, an essential beer ingredient. Researchers predict that by 2050, climate change could cause an up to 18.4% decrease in hop yields.

Still, all is not doom and gloom. Although the craft beer industry is facing challenges, new brewpubs, microbreweries, and taprooms keep opening—428 opened in 2024—and brewers keep flexing their creative muscles to develop new beer flavors with the best ingredients they have.

Stacker compiled a list of the breweries with the most beers ranked in the top 100 in Michigan using data from BeerAdvocate as of August 2025. Any ties were broken by the highest-ranking beer.

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BeerAdvocate

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#22. Roak Brewing Co.

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #97. Blow Your Face Out (Imperial IPA)

BeerAdvocate

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#21. Ellison Brewery & Spirits

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #95. You Can Get With That...JUICE (New England IPA)

BeerAdvocate

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#20. Griffin Claw Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #88. Flying Buffalo - Bourbon Barrel-Aged (Russian Imperial Stout)

BeerAdvocate

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#19. Saugatuck Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #71. Imperial Neapolitan Milk Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged (Sweet / Milk Stout)

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#18. The Livery

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #55. Bourbon Barrel Aged Trippel Weizenbock (Weizenbock)

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BeerAdvocate

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#17. Greenbush Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #54. Delusion (American Imperial Stout)

BeerAdvocate

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#16. Arclight Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 1
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #28. Soursmith Black Raspberry (Wild Ale)

BeerAdvocate

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#15. Speciation Artisan Ales

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 2
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #94. Magic Trait - Blackberries & Black Currants (Wild Ale)
--- #90. Hopeful Monster (Wild Ale)

BeerAdvocate

9 / 22

#14. HOMES Brewery

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 2
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #92. Crumple (New England IPA)
--- #73. Same Same Different (New England IPA)

BeerAdvocate

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#13. Brewery Vivant

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 2
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #82. Wizard Burial Ground (Quadrupel (Quad))
--- #69. Love Shadow (American Imperial Stout)

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BeerAdvocate

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#12. Pigeon Hill Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 2
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #79. Cinna-Mom on French Toast (American Imperial Stout)
--- #42. Cinna-Gram on French Toast (American Imperial Stout)

BeerAdvocate

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#11. Perrin Brewing Co.

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 2
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #61. Malted Milk Ball Imperial Porter (Imperial Porter)
--- #9. No Rules (Imperial Porter)

View Apart // Shutterstock

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#10. Short's Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 3
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #96. Psychedelic Cat Grass (American IPA)
--- #80. Hopstache (American IPA)
--- #59. Carrot Cake (American Strong Ale)

BeerAdvocate

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#9. Dark Horse Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 3
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #66. Plead The 5th - BourbRum Double Barrel Aged (Russian Imperial Stout)
--- #36. Plead The 5th Imperial Stout (Russian Imperial Stout)
--- #5. Plead The 5th - Bourbon Barrel-Aged (Russian Imperial Stout)

BeerAdvocate

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#8. New Holland Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 4
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #63. Dragon's Milk Reserve - S'mores - Bourbon Barrel-Aged (American Imperial Stout)
--- #56. Dragon's Milk Reserve - Triple Mash (American Imperial Stout)
--- #53. Dragon's Milk Reserve - Coconut Rum Barrel (American Imperial Stout)

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BeerAdvocate

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#7. Witch's Hat Brewing Co.

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 4
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #64. Night Fury - Bourbon Barrel-Aged Chocolate Covered Espresso (American Imperial Stout)
--- #48. Night Fury - Bourbon Barrel-Aged Vanilla Bean Reserve (American Imperial Stout)
--- #35. Night Fury - Bourbon Barrel-Aged Traxxx (American Imperial Stout)

BeerAdvocate

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#6. Odd Side Ales

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 5
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #27. Hazel's Nuts (American Imperial Stout)
--- #23. Hipster Brunch Stout (American Imperial Stout)
--- #12. Rye Hipster Brunch Stout (American Imperial Stout)

BeerAdvocate

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#5. Old Nation Brewing Co.

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 6
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #52. Double Dry Hopped M-43 (New England IPA)
--- #25. Boss Tweed (New England IPA)
--- #19. M-43 (New England IPA)

BeerAdvocate

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#4. Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 8
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #16. Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barley Wine (English Barleywine)
--- #15. Solstice Stout (American Imperial Stout)
--- #3. Fourth Dementia - Bourbon Barrel-Aged (Old Ale)

BeerAdvocate

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#3. Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 9
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #11. Hopslam Ale (Imperial IPA)
--- #10. Expedition Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged (Russian Imperial Stout)
--- #4. Black Note Stout (American Imperial Stout)

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BeerAdvocate

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#2. Transient Artisan Ales

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 15
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #29. Bring the Ruckley (American Imperial Stout)
--- #13. Kentuckley (American Imperial Stout)
--- #7. Canuckley (American Imperial Stout)

BeerAdvocate

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#1. Founders Brewing Company

- Number of top beers in Michigan: 26
- Highest ranked beers in Michigan:
--- #6. Breakfast Stout (Oatmeal Stout)
--- #2. KBS (American Imperial Stout)
--- #1. CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout) (American Imperial Stout)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.