Skip to main content

Are You Drinking the Best Beer in America?

Bell's Brewery/Facebook

Every year, hundreds of craft beer contests and surveys are held around the world. From homebrewing to international, awards are given out at every level, recognizing the best beers in a given place and time.

One of the biggest (and most heavily-weighted) of these beer surveys is put out by Zymurgy magazine, the publication produced by the American Homebrewers Association. Now in its sixteenth year, the annual study asks the 46,000-members in the association to choose their five favorite commercially-available beers. For the second year in a row, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale earned the top spot.

Russian River Brewing Company Pliny the Elder
Russian River Brewing Company

The previous favorite, Russian River Brewings’s Pliny the Elder (which was the winner from 2009 to 2016), came in at No. 2. There are other easily-recognizable names in the top 10, including The Alchemist’s Heady Topper (third) and Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale (tied for fifth). Bell’s also took fourth for Hopslam. Founders Brewing snagged two fifth-place finishes for Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) and Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS), a ninth-place finish for Breakfast Stout, and 10th place for All Day IPA, tying with WeldWerks‘ Juicy Bits.

Recommended Videos

“As brewers, the members of American Homebrewers Association can discern the subtle differences between a good beer and an outstanding beer.,” said Gary Glass, director of the American Homebrewers Association. “Zymurgy’s Best Beers in America survey showcases which commercial beers are truly the best of the best out there, and all the breweries who made the list should be proud.”

Best Beers in America

bells brewery bee pour map
Bell's Brewery/Facebook

1. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale*
2. Russian River Pliny the Elder*
3. The Alchemist Heady Topper*
4. Bell’s Hopslam*
T5. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale*
T5. Founders CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout)
T5. Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)
8. Three Floyds Zombie Dust*
9. Founders Breakfast Stout
T10. WeldWerks Juicy Bits*
T10. Founders All Day IPA

Best Breweries in America

founders brewing co cbs
Founder Brewing Co./Facebook / Founders Brewing Co.

1. Bell’s Brewery, Inc. (Galesburg, Michigan)*
2. Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
3. Russian River Brewing Co. (Santa Rosa, California)*
4. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Chico, California, and Mills River, North Carolina)*
5. Firestone Walker Brewing Company (Paso Robles, California)*
T6. Deschutes Brewery (Bend, Oregon)*
T6. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)*
8. Stone Brewing (Escondido, California)*
9. The Alchemist (Stowe, Vermont)*
10. Three Floyds Brewing Company (Munster, Indiana)*

Top-Ranked Beer Portfolios

stone brewing
Stone Brewing/Facebook

On the portfolio end of things, anyone who has sipped a craft beer in the last decade should not be surprised by this list.

1. Stone Brewing (33 beers)*
2. Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (29 beers)*
T3. New Belgium Brewing (24 beers)*
T3. Founders Brewing Co. (24 beers)
5. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (23 beers)*
T6. Avery Brewing Co. (22 beers)
T6. Hill Farmstead Brewery (22 beers)*
T7. Boulevard Brewing Co. (20 beers)*
T7. Trillium Brewing Co. (20 beers)*
T9. Bell’s Brewery (19 beers)*
T9. Deschutes Brewery (19 beers)*
T9. Odell Brewing (19 beers)*
T9. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (19 beers)*
T9. The Bruery (19 beers)*
T9. Three Floyds Brewing (19 beers)

For more information, the complete list can be found at the American Homebrewers Association website.

T indicates tie; *indicates small and independent craft brewers.

Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…
NA beer is surging still
Near beer continues on its impressive growth trajectory
Deschutes NA beer.

The craft beer movement shifts quite a bit. One constant over the last couple of years has been the growth of non-alcoholic beers. No longer do we live in an era of one or two mediocre options at the grocery store. Today, there are options 'a plenty, and a growing number drink a lot like their conventional cousins.

According to reports, the NA beer sector grew a whopping 9% in 2024. This comes in light of the fact that the traditional beer sector is shrinking, albeit to a very small degree. One once was a pretty trivial niche market is expected to account for 2% of the world beer supply soon.

Read more
Oskar Blues dresses up its beer in denim for the summer
A timeless look for some classic ales
Dale's Denim Pale.

Colorado brewery Oskar Blues is bringing back a limited-time favorite with the return of the Denim Dale's line. The release features a couple of flagship beers treated to cans inspired by your favorite pair of jeans. The light summer beers are available now through Labor Day Weekend.

"Last year’s denim beer case was a statement of rebellious independence – and people got it. This year, we wanted to take it even further,” says Aaron Baker, Oskar Blues brand director. “So we wrapped the can itself in denim. It’s a celebration of individuality, utility, and American grit – all things denim and Dale’s share at their core. Whether you’re cracking one open at a dive bar or tossing it in your cooler for a weekend outside, this is a beer that wears its character on its sleeve – or in this case, its can.”

Read more
Think beer can’t age like wine? Think again
The best styles of beer to cellar over time
Moody Tongue beer pours.

You've probably heard it before: Beer is for near-immediate consumption. While freshness is paramount for certain beers — fresh hop IPAs, for example — some styles not only age well but can improve over time. But which styles and what sets them up well to go the distance?

We reached out to Moody Tongue for some answers. The Michelin-starred Chicago restaurant specializes in beer and food and has plenty of experience on the subject. Jared Rouben is head brewmaster there, and we called on him to debunk the myth that beer can't age.

Read more