These are the 25 best beers in the world according to beer lovers

oktoberfest woman beer
REUTERS/Michael Dalder

There are a whole lot of beers in the world, but only one can be the best.

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Beer Advocate has a list of the 250 top brews in the world, as rated by its users.

Beer advocate sorts the beers by pulling the overall score from millions of user reviews. Then, they normalize those scores based on how users rated other beers — you can read their full methodology here.

And these beer connoisseurs really know their stuff, often tracking down some of the world's most tough-to-find beers, trading each other for super rare bottles, and describing the taste, smell, and "mouth feel" of every single glass.

The resulting list leaves a mixture of hoppy and "dank," citrusy and crisp, and maple-y and rich beers. A few brewing companies even made the list more than once for their brews, including The Alchemist, 3 Floyds, Lawson's Finest Liquids, Toppling Goliath Brewing Company, Tree House Brewing Company, and Russian River Brewing Company.

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We combed the beers' reviews to find out what was special about each one for this list. Keep scrolling to see the 25 best beers according to beer lovers. Cheers!

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#25 Ann — Hill Farmstead Brewery

ann hill farmstead
Hill Farmstead/Twitter

Average user rating: 4.51

ABV: 6.5%

This light, wine barrel-aged Saison beer is brewed in Vermont and is said to have a delicate, citrusy, and dry taste, comparable to white wine. It's lightly carbonated and leaves a lacing around the glass as you drink. 

"It lives up to the hype, this is just everything I hoped it would be," one reviewer said.

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#23 (TIE) Triple Sunshine IPA — Lawson's Finest Liquids

lawson's triple sunshine ipa finest liquids
Lawson's Finest Liquids/Twitter

Average user rating: 4.52

ABV: 10.5%

Another Vermont beer, Triple Sunshine IPA is like a "tropical vacation in a glass," according to fans. The beer smells like mango, pineapple, and grapefruit and is full-bodied with a creamy finish.

There's also no hint of its high alcohol content, which is a dangerous upside.

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#23 (TIE) Parabola — Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

firestone parabola
Via YouTube

Average user rating: 4.52

ABV: 14%

Aged for eight months in bourbon barrels in California, it's no real surprised that this Russian Imperial Oatmeal Stout has complex flavors. Beer lovers have tasted hints of cherry, coffee, and molasses.

There's very little head and the coloring is nearly black, but the texture is smooth. This is definitely a great beer to sip.

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#21 (TIE) King Sue — Toppling Goliath Brewing Company

king sue toppling goliath
Toppling Goliath/King Sue

Average user rating: 4.53

ABV: 8%

King Sue is a cloudy orange beer that is quite citrusy. The double IPA is not overly bitter and has notes of pine and hops alongside the bright fruit notes, making it one of the most perfectly balanced beers.

"Probably my top beer ever," one reviewer said of this Iowa brew. "Highly hyped, but totally met my expectation."

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#21 (TIE) Zombie Dust — 3 Floyds Brewing Co.

zombie dust 3 floyds beer
3 Floyds Brewing Co/Instagram

Average user rating: 4.53

ABV: 6.2%

A pungent American Pale Ale, Zombie Dust is brewed in Indiana and smells like a burst of hops and citrus. The aroma really hits you first after pouring, followed by a crisp taste that has a hint of bitterness.

It's also very smooth too so before you know it, it'll be gone.

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#17 (TIE) Citra Double IPA — Kern River Brewing Company

Citra Double IPA Kern River Brewing Company
Kern River Brewing Company/Facebook

Average user rating: 4.54

ABV: 8%

One reviewer described this Californian Imperial Stout as "gum-scrubbing good," adding that the flavor was very hoppy with undertones of malt and honey.

Though everything is well balanced, the flavor is explosive. This is a very delicious beer worth tracking down. 

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#17 (TIE) Fundamental Observation — Bottle Logic Brewing

fundamental observation bottle logic brewing
Bottle Logic Brewing/Instagram

Average user rating: 4.54

ABV: 14.3%

The pitch black beer comes from Anaheim, California, and smells like marshmallows, vanilla, and oak. And while the aroma is decadent, the taste is even more full bodied with notes of fudge, chocolate, bourbon, and molasses.

Despite an alcohol content over 14%, the Fundamental Observation is easy to drink. One reviewer called this Imperial IPA "probably the best vanilla stout I've ever had."

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#17 (TIE) Focal Banger — The Alchemist

the alchemist focal banger
The Alchemist/Facebook

Average user rating: 4.54

ABV: 7%

Vermont brewery The Alchemist may be best known for its Heady Topper beer, but this American IPA has a fresh, citrus smell that just makes you want to take a sip.

It has a slightly bitter, resinous flavor, but is still crisp enough that you won't get tired of drinking it. Reviewers say this is one powerful beer.

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#17 (TIE) Sip Of Sunshine — Lawson's Finest Liquids

sip of sunshine lawson's finest liquids
Lawson's Finest Liquids/Facebook

Average user rating: 4.54

ABV: 8%

Another tropical American IPA, Sip of Sunshine tastes really fruity with flavors like peach, mango, and pineapple followed by a slight bitter aftertaste.

"This is the kind of IPA that ruins other IPAs," one beer lover wrote of the Vermont brew.

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#16 Abner — Hill Farmstead Brewery

hill farmstead abner
Hill Farmstead

Average user rating: 4.55

ABV: 8.2%

Abner is another beer on the list from Vermont's Hill Farmstead Brewery and is a moderately bitter Imperial IPA with herbal and strong citrus notes.

You'll also taste and smell a lot of hops, but it won't get too overpowering thanks to the beer's carbonation, which helps make Abner highly drinkable.

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#13 (TIE) Barrel-Aged Abraxas — Perennial Artisan Ales

Perennial Artisan Ales, Abraxas beer
Facebook/perennialbeer

Average user rating: 4.56

ABV: 11%

A great smelling (and tasting) Imperial Stout from St. Louis, Missouri, Abraxas is quite complex with notes of vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate, coffee, and roasted malts. 

It's spicy yet sweet, and pours a dark brown color with a caramel head. You may even get a hint of whiskey thanks to the barrel aging.

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#13 (TIE) Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) — Founders Brewing Company

Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) beer
Flickr/]3lizzard

Average user rating: 4.56

ABV: 11.2%

Founders KBS is an Imperial Stout that looks pitch black once poured. The Michigan brew smells almost like coffee with rich notes like espresso and bourbon.

Following the strong smell, KBS tastes like roasted coffee, sweet malt, and vanilla. The light carbonation helps balance out the full-tasting brew.

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#13 (TIE) Double Sunshine IPA — Lawson's Finest Liquids

double sunshine IPA lawson's finest liquids
Lawson's Finest Liquids/Twitter

Average user rating: 4.56

ABV: 8%

When you first pour Double Sunshine IPA, you might be struck by the bright orange hazy color. Then you'll smell the tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, and peach and you'll really be blown away.

The Vermont beer is slightly sweet and balanced out by more herbal and sour notes. "Damn near perfect if you ask me," said a Beer Advocate fan.

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#12 Dinner — Maine Beer Company

Maine Beer Co., Dinner, Beer
Instagram/@mainebeerco

Average user rating: 4.59

ABV: 8.2%

This Double IPA really focuses on the hop flavors and smells — The Maine Beer Company that's based in Freeport even made sure to "drop hop" the beer twice, adding six pounds of hops per barrel.

Even with all those hops, Dinner is still light tasting and has notes of fruit and pine. There's not even a hint of bitterness here!

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#10 (TIE) Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout — Goose Island Beer Co.

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout beer
Flickr/Bernt Rostad

Average user rating: 4.59

ABV: 13.4%

This coffee-tasting Imperial Stout is everything you would expect from Chicago's best craft beer: It has molasses and coffee aromas, roasted flavors with a touch of vanilla, and a deep, dark color.

And even though it's rich and has a high alcohol volume, Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout goes down smooth, according to reviewers.

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#10 (TIE) Julius — Tree House Brewing Company

tree house brewing co beer
Tree House Brewing Co

Average user rating: 4.59

ABV: 6.8%

This hazy orange American IPA is brewed in Monson, Massachusetts, and smells like mango and citrus with herbal and pine notes beneath. As soon as you open the can, you'll be overwhelmed.

The taste is just as good with "light carbonation and mellow bitter finish," according to reviewers.

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#8 (TIE) Pliny The Elder — Russian River Brewing Company

Russian River Pliny the Elder beer
Flickr/Adam Barhan

Average user rating: 4.6

ABV: 8%

This Californian Imperial IPA has a large white head that leaves tracing as you drink. In addition to hops, fans of the beer smell and taste notes of grapefruit and pine.

There's some bitterness to Pliny the Elder, but it's still well balanced and clean.

 

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#8 (TIE) Trappist Westvleteren 12 (XII) — Brouwerij Westvleteren

Trappist Westvleteren 12
Conservation Concepts/Flickr

Average user rating: 4.6

ABV: 10.2%

Made by the abbey of Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren in Belgium, this Quadruple beer is aged for six months in a dark basement before it's chilled and served at exactly 55 degrees.

The attention to detail pays off. Though the bottle may be plain, the Trappist Westvleteren 12 tastes like delicious spiced caramel. Keep your bottle as a souvenir.

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#7 Bourbon Barrel Aged Vanilla Bean Dark Lord — 3 Floyds Brewing Co.

3 floyds beer
3 Floyds Brewing Co/Instagram

Average user rating: 4.61

ABV: 15%

One reviewer called this Russian Imperial Stout "a bourbon, vanilla, marshmallow bomb." It smells like a dessert beer and tastes beyond sweet.

This creamy beer from Indiana packs a punch thanks to the 15% alcohol content. The word most people used to describe the Vanilla Bean Dark Lord? Impressive.

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#6 Founders CBS Imperial Stout — Founders Brewing Company

canadian breakfast stout
Bernt Rostad/Flickr

Average user rating: 4.62

ABV: 10.6%

Called the Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS), this Imperial Stout made in Michigan tastes like coffee, chocolate, and maple syrup. 

It's a thick beer though, so get ready to drink with a glass of water close by.

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#4 (TIE) Heady Topper — The Alchemist

heady topper
Carter Brown/Flickr

Average user rating: 4.66

ABV: 8%

This Imperial IPA from Vermont has a hoppy flavor with just a hint of pine and citrus. And while it comes in a can, don't be fooled — this beer tastes as sublime as its bottled brethren.

"Took a few days to get used to the taste, but this is by far the best beer I've ever had," said one reviewer. 

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#4 (TIE) Pliny The Younger — Russian River Brewing Company

Russian River Pliny the Younger
YouTube/Sonoma County Economic Development Board

Average user rating: 4.66

ABV: 11%

People wait hours just to taste this Imperial IPA from California. The smell is "intoxicating," according to reviewers, with notes like pineapple, citrus, and herbal.

It's tart, bitter, and crisp, all rolled into one. No wonder people go crazy for it.

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#2 (TIE) Mornin' Delight — Toppling Goliath Brewing Company

Toppling Goliath, Mornin' Delight beer
Twittee/@TGBrews

Average user rating: 4.67

ABV: 12%

This Imperial Stout hails from Iowa and is thick, dark, and delectable. With flavors like coffee, maple, and dark chocolate, the brew goes down very smoothly.

"Woke up and smelt the bottle this morning and the maple was still so strong," one reviewer wrote. "Never had anything like this, this is the real deal!"

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#2 (TIE) Good Morning — Tree House Brewing Company

Good Morning Tree House Brewing Company
YouTube

Average user rating: 4.67

ABV: 8.4%

Good Morning is a pitch black beer from Massachusetts with a creamy head that smells like chocolate, maple syrup, and coffee — basically, breakfast in a bottle.

Though it's heavy and creamy, the beer goes down nice and smooth with a slight coffee after taste. 

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#1 Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout — Toppling Goliath Brewing Company

Toppling Goliath Brewing KENTUCKY BRUNCH BRAND STOUT
Toppling Goliath Brewing Company/Twitter

Average user rating: 4.68

ABV: 12%

The best beer according to Beer Advocate reviewers is Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout from Iowa's Toppling Goliath Brewing Company. An Imperial Stout that's been barrel aged, it has vanilla, syrup, and coffee flavors with a slightly bitter aftertaste.

It's notoriously hard to find, so if you get your hands on a bottle, taste it immediately.

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