Highest-rated beer in Utah
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 Utah 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.
#18. Desert Select Tripel
- Type: Tripel
- ABV: 8.59%
- Brewery: Moab Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#17. Mama's Milk Imperial Milk Stout
- Type: Sweet / Milk Stout
- ABV: 8.50%
- Brewery: Vernal Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#16. 20th Anniversary Imperial Red Ale
- Type: Imperial Red Ale
- ABV: 9.50%
- Brewery: Red Rock Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#15. Slick City Citrus
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 7.20%
- Brewery: Shades Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#14. Marvella Belgian Tripel
- Type: Tripel
- ABV: 11.00%
- Brewery: Red Rock Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#13. Burnt Mountain Brown
- Type: American Brown Ale
- ABV: 4.00%
- Brewery: Zion Canyon Brew Pub
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#12. Hop Nosh IPA
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 7.30%
- Brewery: Uinta Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#11. Limited Edition Series: Barrel-Aged Baltic Porter In Rye Barrels
- Type: Baltic Porter
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Saltfire Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#10. Ferda
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.20%
- Brewery: Templin Family Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#9. Tastes Like Citrus
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 7.00%
- Brewery: 2 Row Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#8. Feelin' Hazy
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.50%
- Brewery: 2 Row Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#7. Sea Legs Baltic Porter
- Type: Baltic Porter
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Uinta Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#6. Red Rock Paardebloem
- Type: Belgian Pale Strong Ale
- ABV: 8.80%
- Brewery: Red Rock Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#5. Big Bad Baptist - Sextuple Barrel
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.50%
- Brewery: Epic Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#4. Big Bad Baptist Reserve
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.60%
- Brewery: Epic Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#3. Big Bad Baptist - Double Barrel
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 12.20%
- Brewery: Epic Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#2. Big Bad Baptist
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.80%
- Brewery: Epic Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#1. Big Bad Baptista
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.70%
- Brewery: Epic 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.