Highest-rated beer in Ohio
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 Ohio 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.
#29. B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher – Extended Barrel-Aged
– Rating: 4.34 (87 ratings)
– Type: Russian Imperial Stout
– ABV: 9.40%
– Brewery: Hoppin’ Frog Brewery
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#28. T.O.R.I.S. The Tyrant
– Rating: 4.31 (260 ratings)
– Type: Russian Imperial Stout
– ABV: 13.80%
– Brewery: Hoppin’ Frog Brewery
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#27. Citra High
– Rating: 4.31 (278 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 9.50%
– Brewery: MadTree Brewing
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#26. Steel Dawn
– Rating: 4.36 (64 ratings)
– Type: American Imperial Stout
– ABV: 10.00%
– Brewery: Columbus Brewing Company
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#25. White Rajah
– Rating: 4.3 (2,384 ratings)
– Type: American IPA
– ABV: 6.80%
– Brewery: The Brew Kettle Taproom & Smokehouse / Production Works
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
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#24. Barrel-Aged Q.O.R.I.S. the Quasher
– Rating: 4.43 (31 ratings)
– Type: Russian Imperial Stout
– ABV: 15.70%
– Brewery: Hoppin’ Frog Brewery
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#23. El Lupulo Libre
– Rating: 4.32 (278 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 8.80%
– Brewery: The Brew Kettle Taproom & Smokehouse / Production Works
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#22. T.O.R.I.S. The Tyrant – Barrel-Aged
– Rating: 4.36 (80 ratings)
– Type: Russian Imperial Stout
– ABV: 13.80%
– Brewery: Hoppin’ Frog Brewery
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#21. Cranium
– Rating: 4.36 (86 ratings)
– Type: American Imperial Stout
– ABV: 11.50%
– Brewery: Triple Digit Brewing Company
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#20. Barrel-Aged D.O.R.I.S. The Destroyer
– Rating: 4.33 (467 ratings)
– Type: American Imperial Stout
– ABV: 12.70%
– Brewery: Hoppin’ Frog Brewery
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#19. Everybody Wants Some *Citra*
– Rating: 4.36 (148 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 8.00%
– Brewery: Hoof Hearted Brewing
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#18. Hop Stalker Fresh Hop IPA
– Rating: 4.34 (590 ratings)
– Type: American IPA
– ABV: 7.50%
– Brewery: Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#17. Tweaked Out Hippy Sippy
– Rating: 4.52 (25 ratings)
– Type: Russian Imperial Stout
– ABV: 10.00%
– Brewery: Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#16. Konkey Dong
– Rating: 4.36 (363 ratings)
– Type: New England IPA
– ABV: 8.00%
– Brewery: Hoof Hearted Brewing
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#15. Blackout Stout – Barrel-Aged
– Rating: 4.35 (1,902 ratings)
– Type: Russian Imperial Stout
– ABV: 12.50%
– Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Co.
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#14. Wulver
– Rating: 4.36 (1,688 ratings)
– Type: Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
– ABV: 12.00%
– Brewery: Thirsty Dog Brewing Company
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#13. Roller Blabe DIPA
– Rating: 4.37 (383 ratings)
– Type: New England IPA
– ABV: 8.00%
– Brewery: Hoof Hearted Brewing
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#12. Key Bump
– Rating: 4.4 (147 ratings)
– Type: New England IPA
– ABV: 10.50%
– Brewery: Hoof Hearted Brewing
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#11. IBUsive
– Rating: 4.39 (327 ratings)
– Type: American IPA
– ABV: 7.50%
– Brewery: Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#10. Creeper
– Rating: 4.39 (453 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 10.00%
– Brewery: Columbus Brewing Company
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
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#9. Dark Apparition – Double Barrel-Aged
– Rating: 4.52 (53 ratings)
– Type: Russian Imperial Stout
– ABV: 13.00%
– Brewery: Jackie O’s Brewpub
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#8. Bourbon Barrel Black Maple
– Rating: 4.45 (1,152 ratings)
– Type: Imperial Porter
– ABV: 13.10%
– Brewery: Jackie O’s Brewpub
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#7. Hop JuJu
– Rating: 4.45 (2,409 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 9.00%
– Brewery: Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#6. Super Juicy Hop JuJu
– Rating: 4.5 (116 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 9.00%
– Brewery: Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#5. Bodhi
– Rating: 4.46 (1,811 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 8.30%
– Brewery: Columbus Brewing Company
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#4. Bourbon Barrel Champion Ground
– Rating: 4.47 (710 ratings)
– Type: American Imperial Stout
– ABV: 11.80%
– Brewery: Jackie O’s Brewpub
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#3. Dragonsaddle
– Rating: 4.48 (383 ratings)
– Type: New England IPA
– ABV: 11.50%
– Brewery: Hoof Hearted Brewing
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#2. Bourbon Barrel Oro Negro
– Rating: 4.48 (641 ratings)
– Type: American Imperial Stout
– ABV: 12.10%
– Brewery: Jackie O’s Brewpub
– Read more on BeerAdvocate
#1. Appervation
– Rating: 4.52 (347 ratings)
– Type: American Imperial Stout
– ABV: 15.00%
– Brewery: Jackie O’s Brewpub
– 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.
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