The Highest-Rated Stout In Every State (2026) [MAP]

VinePair has published its 2026 map of the highest-rated stout in each U.S. state, using rankings from BeerAdvocate to identify the leading beer in each place. The outlet’s tally found that imperial stouts topped 26 states, while imperial pastry stouts led in 16, though the results depend on rating thresholds and the availability of reviews.

The report says it reviewed BeerAdvocate’s state-level top-rated beer data and generally included only beers with more than 100 ratings. Four states — Hawaii, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota — had no stout meeting that threshold. For those states, VinePair selected the stout with the highest number of reviews instead. Mississippi had no stouts in the ranking, according to the report.

The list features a wide range of styles and strengths. Examples include California’s Fundamental Observation from Bottle Logic Brewing, an imperial pastry stout listed at 14% ABV, and Iowa’s Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout from Toppling Goliath Brewing Company, also classified as an imperial pastry stout, at 12% ABV. The entries range from lower-strength beers such as Kansas’ Buffalo Sweat at 5% ABV to Delaware’s World Wide Stout – Utopias Barrel-Aged at 17.3% ABV.

VinePair reports that 21 of the state-leading stouts have an alcohol content of 12% ABV or higher. Imperial pastry stouts were the most common subcategory within the imperial group, taking the top spot in 16 states; American imperial stouts ranked first in 11. The report also cautions that its cutoff came from each state’s BeerAdvocate Top-Rated Beer page, and a beer’s rating on its individual profile page may be lower.

Imperial Stouts Lead the State Rankings

The map offers a snapshot of which highly rated stouts stand out in BeerAdvocate’s state-by-state listings, and shows a strong presence for high-strength, imperial-style beers. That pattern matters to readers comparing regional beer preferences, but it should not be read as a direct measure of what all drinkers in each state prefer: the rankings reflect a particular database and its users, not a representative survey of beer consumers.

The alcohol figures also help explain the character of many entries. With 21 listed beers at 12% ABV or above, several state leaders are substantially stronger than typical session beers. The map can help readers identify breweries and styles to explore, while the varying rating counts and selection method are important when comparing one state’s result with another.

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How VinePair Built the Map

VinePair describes the article as a review of BeerAdvocate’s database, using each state’s Top-Rated Beer page to identify the leading stout. The methodology applied a more-than-100-ratings cutoff when a stout reached that level. Where none did, the report chose the stout with the highest number of reviews rather than excluding the state.

The source’s editorial note says the cutoff was based on the state pages, not individual beer profiles, whose ratings may differ. The report also lists Hawaii, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota as states without a stout reaching the usual review threshold, while separately stating that Mississippi had no stouts in its ranking. These caveats are part of how the map should be interpreted.

Rating Counts Limit Comparisons

The source does not provide the exact rating totals or scores for every beer in the supplied list, so readers cannot assess how close the state rankings were or how much participation varied. It also does not specify when the BeerAdvocate data were collected, whether all state pages were captured at the same time, or how ratings may have changed since collection.

The map’s entries are presented as the highest-rated results under VinePair’s stated method, not as independently verified judgments of quality. In four states, the selection relied on the beer with the most reviews because no stout passed the threshold; Mississippi had no ranked stout. Those differences mean the entries do not all rest on the same review-count basis.

BeerAdvocate Rankings May Change

The 2026 report is a snapshot rather than a permanent ranking. BeerAdvocate ratings and review totals can change as users add evaluations, and the source does not announce a date for a future update. Readers checking the list later should compare it with the relevant state page and individual beer profile, keeping in mind VinePair’s note that the two pages can show different ratings.

For now, the map’s main takeaway is the range of state leaders and the prominence of imperial styles. Any later comparison would be clearer if it included the data collection date, state-level scores and review counts, plus the treatment of states that fall below the stated threshold.

Key Questions

What does the 2026 stout map rank?

It lists the highest-rated stout in each state based on BeerAdvocate data reviewed by VinePair.

Which stout style topped the most states?

VinePair says imperial stouts took the top spot in 26 states. Imperial pastry stouts led in 16 states, and American imperial stouts in 11.

How did the report handle states with too few reviews?

For Hawaii, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, no stout passed the usual more-than-100-ratings threshold. VinePair used the stout with the most reviews in each instead.

Does the map represent all beer drinkers in each state?

No. It reflects BeerAdvocate rankings, not a representative survey of state residents or all beer consumers.

Why might a beer’s score differ across BeerAdvocate pages?

VinePair says its cutoff was based on state Top-Rated Beer pages, while an individual beer profile may show a lower rating.

Source: vinepair.com