Highest-rated beer in Washington
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 Washington 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.
#30. Splinters
- Type: Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
- ABV: 10.80%
- Brewery: Black Raven Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#29. Barren Wood
- Type: English Barleywine
- ABV: 11.00%
- Brewery: Skookum Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#28. Exoculo
- Type: Saison
- ABV: 6.78%
- Brewery: Floodland Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#27. Solitary Confinement (2019-)
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.00%
- Brewery: Skookum Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#26. Falcon & the Falconer
- Type: English Barleywine
- ABV: 12.00%
- Brewery: Skookum Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#25. Neither / Nor
- Type: Saison
- ABV: 5.30%
- Brewery: Floodland Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#24. APB: Another Peach Beer
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 7.50%
- Brewery: Logsdon Farmhouse Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#23. Van
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 6.91%
- Brewery: Floodland Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#22. Wetwired
- Type: American Pale Ale
- ABV: 6.50%
- Brewery: Holy Mountain Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#21. Honey Punch
- Type: Saison
- ABV: 6.70%
- Brewery: Floodland Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#20. Grandfather Raven
- Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV: 9.50%
- Brewery: Black Raven Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#19. Bottomcutter
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.20%
- Brewery: Bale Breaker Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#18. Three Ryes Men
- Type: English Barleywine
- ABV: 13.70%
- Brewery: Reuben's Brews
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#17. Jaywalker Imperial Stout
- Type: Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV: 11.40%
- Brewery: Walking Man Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#16. ZuurPruim
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 7.20%
- Brewery: Logsdon Farmhouse Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#15. La Mort Bourbon
- Type: Belgian Dark Strong Ale
- ABV: 11.20%
- Brewery: Black Raven Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#14. Oak Aged Bretta
- Type: Saison
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Logsdon Farmhouse Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#13. Blimey That's Bitter!
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 10.50%
- Brewery: Reuben's Brews
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#12. Old Birdbrain
- Type: American Barleywine
- ABV: 11.50%
- Brewery: Black Raven Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#11. Darkenfloxx
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 9.10%
- Brewery: Cloudburst Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#10. Seizoen Bretta
- Type: Saison
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Logsdon Farmhouse Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#9. Transmigration of Light
- Type: Wild Ale
- ABV: 5.80%
- Brewery: Floodland Brewing
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#8. Gose Gone Wild
- Type: Gose
- ABV: 4.30%
- Brewery: Stillwater Artisanal Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#7. Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star
- Type: Oatmeal Stout
- ABV: 14.10%
- Brewery: Fremont Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#6. B-Bomb (Bourbon Abominable Winter Ale)
- Type: American Strong Ale
- ABV: 14.00%
- Brewery: Fremont Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#5. Peche 'n Brett
- Type: Saison
- ABV: 10.00%
- Brewery: Logsdon Farmhouse Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#4. Coconut B-Bomb
- Type: American Strong Ale
- ABV: 13.00%
- Brewery: Fremont Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#3. Midnight Still
- Type: American Imperial Stout
- ABV: 12.50%
- Brewery: Holy Mountain Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#2. The Rusty Nail
- Type: Oatmeal Stout
- ABV: 13.30%
- Brewery: Fremont Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
#1. Coffee Cinnamon B-Bomb
- Type: American Strong Ale
- ABV: 13.00%
- Brewery: Fremont 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.