Best High Abv Beer: Where To Buy?

Beer lovers are always on the lookout for new brews to try, and with the ever-growing world of beer, the choices are endless. Whether you're a fan of mass-produced beers or small-crafted ones, there's something for everyone. But what about those who are specifically seeking out beers with a high alcohol content?

High ABV beers are often more expensive, but that doesn't mean there aren't affordable options available. From gas stations to grocery stores, and even online, there's a wide variety of places to find cheap beers with a high alcohol content. Beers like Minhas Axe Head Malt Liquor, Stack High Gravity Smooth Lager, Baltika 9, and Busch Ice are just a few examples of beers that offer a higher ABV without breaking the bank.

So, if you're looking to get more bang for your buck, these beers might be worth a try. However, it's important to remember to always drink responsibly and be mindful of the effects of high ABV beverages.

High-ABV beers in the US

Beers with a high alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage are widely available in the US. While many states have tight caps on the percentage of alcohol allowed in beer, several US craft beer makers continue to produce a diverse range of products, including beers that push the norms for alcohol content.

Where to Find High-ABV Beers in the US

High-ABV beers can be found in bars, restaurants, stores, and online in the United States. Here are some specific examples:

• The Bruery, Placentia, California: Produces a range of beers with ABVs ranging from 3.2% to 20%.
• Dogfish Head Brewing Company: Makers of a range of high-ABV beers, including the 120 Minute IPA (up to 20% ABV) and the World Wide Stout (18% ABV).
• Samuel Adams Brewery, Boston, Massachusetts: Its Utopias beer (28% or 29% ABV) is a well-known high-ABV beer that drinks more like a port than a beer.
• Avery Brewing Company: Produces Rumpkin, a popular seasonal beer with an ABV of around 16.5%.
• Barbarian Brewing: Makers of The Reserve Morrigan, an American Imperial Stout with a 15% ABV.
• Evil Twin Brewing: Produces the Imperial Biscotti Break, an 11.5% ABV imperial stout brewed with coffee, almond, and vanilla.
• Tröegs: A Pennsylvania-based brewery known for its seasonal releases, including the Double Blizzard IPA (8.3% ABV).
• Flying Dog: Makers of the Gonzo Imperial Porter (10% ABV), a comforting beer with notes of roasted malts, toasted vanilla beans, dark chocolate, coffee, and caramelized sugar.
• Alesmith: A brewery known for its Speedway Stout and IPAs. Its Wee Heavy beer (10% ABV) is a seasonal beer matured in ex-bourbon barrels, with hints of vanilla, toffee, chocolate, and whiskey.
• Bell's Brewery: Its Hopslam Ale is a popular high-ABV winter IPA (10% ABV) released in January and brewed with six different hop varieties.
• Sierra Nevada: Produces the Bigfoot Barleywine (around 10% ABV), a beer first brewed in 1983 with ale yeast, caramelized malts, and two-row malts.
• North Coast: Known for its Old Rasputin Russian imperial stout (9% ABV), a bold, robust beer with notes of roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and caramel.
• Cigar City: A Florida-based brewery known for its Jai Alai IPA. Its Cosmic Crown (9% ABV) is a fruity, lightly spiced Belgian-style strong ale made with Galaxy hops.
• Goose Island: Its Bourbon County Stout (14.3% ABV) is a barrel-aged beer matured in ex-bourbon barrels from Wild Turkey, Four Roses, Buffalo Trace, and Heaven Hill.
• Firestone Walker: Makers of the Parabola imperial stout (13.6% ABV), aged in former bourbon barrels with hints of dark chocolate, dried cherries, pipe tobacco, vanilla, and coffee.
• American Solera: Produces an imperial stout (13% ABV) brewed with chocolate, with a rich, dark brown colour and a sweet flavour profile.
• Burial Beer Co.: Its Griddle Imperial Espresso Stout is a rich, bold coffee-flavoured beer (ABV unknown).
• Equilibrium Brewery: Produces the Deviation Triple India Pale Ale, a super drinkable and smooth triple IPA (10.5% ABV).
• Surly Brewing Co.: Known for its Abrasive Double IPA (ABV unknown), a fruity, bold, and bitter beer.
• NoDa Brewing Company: Produces Captain Peanut Butter's Chocolate Revenge, a well-balanced imperial porter brewed with cocoa nibs and peanut butter (16.99% ABV).
• Brouwerij Van Steenberge: Makers of Gulden Draak, a dark red triple ale (11.2% ABV) with a spicy bite and a malty flavour.

A Note on Responsible Drinking

It is important to enjoy high-ABV beers responsibly and in moderation. These beers can have serious effects and may even be fatal if consumed in excess.

High-ABV beers in Europe

Beer lovers in Europe have a wide range of options when it comes to high-ABV brews, with some of the strongest beers in the world crafted on the continent. Here is a guide to some of the best high-ABV beers Europe has to offer:

Scotland

The Scottish brewery Brewdog is known for pushing the boundaries when it comes to alcohol content. Their Tactical Nuclear Penguin, an imperial stout, has an impressive 32% ABV. For something a little lighter, try their Ghost Deer, a Belgian strong pale ale that comes in at 28% ABV.

Germany

Germany's Schorschbräu brewery produces beers with exceptionally high alcohol content, with their Schorschbock release containing up to 57% ABV. For something a little less strong, try Doppelbock from Kloster Andechs, which has an ABV of around 10%. Schneider Aventinus Eisbock is another German beer that fits the bill, with an ABV above 10%.

Belgium

Belgian ales are renowned for their high ABV, and the country has a strong tradition of brewing strong Trappist ales. Rochefort 10 Trappist Ale has an ABV of 11.2%, while the St. Feuillien Cuvee de Noel and the Westmalle Tripel Trappist Ale both come in at a slightly lower 9.5%. For something even stronger, the Gouden Carolus Christmas ale has an ABV of 11.2%.

Sweden

While not as high in alcohol content as some of the other beers on this list, Sweden's Starkbier and Bock beers typically range from 8% to 15% ABV.

High-ABV IPAs

Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA

Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA by New Belgium Brewing Company is a well-known and widely available option. With an ABV of around 9%, it is considered a smooth and fruity beer, offering flavours of apricot, mango, and bitter pine. It is available in 12-packs of 12oz bottles or cans. You can find it at various retailers, including Total Wine & More.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine is a classic, having been first brewed in 1983. It has an ABV of 9.6%, and its flavour profile includes ale yeast, caramelized malts, two-row malts, and Cascade, Centennial, and Chinook hops, resulting in a snappy, hoppy taste. You can purchase a 6-pack of 12oz bottles or cans from the Sierra Nevada website or select retailers.

Bell's Hopslam Ale

Bell's Hopslam Ale is a highly sought-after winter IPA with an ABV of 10%. It is kettle-brewed with six different hop varieties and dry-hopped with Simcoe hops, resulting in a citrus, pine, and tropical fruit-filled brew. It is typically released in January, and you can find it at bellsbeer.com or select retailers.

Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA

The Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA is a strong IPA with an ABV ranging from 15% to 20%. It was first released in 2003 and has a bitter pine, citrus, apricot, and mango flavour profile. A 12oz bottle can be purchased for around $10, and it is worth noting that this beer tends to improve with age.

Stone RuinTen IPA

Stone RuinTen is a triple IPA with an ABV of 10.8%. It offers a balanced blend of grapefruit, passion fruit, peppery austerity, and floral notes. While it has a strong presence of bitterness, it also showcases hints of brown sugar and chocolate. You can find it at select retailers or on the Stone Brewing website.

Other Notable Mentions

• Zombie Ice by Three Floyds: An 8.5% ABV DIPA known for its smooth body.
• Sierra Nevada Big Little Thing: A strong IPA available during the winter months.
• Founders Devil Dancer: An annual release with an ABV of 12%, featuring a blend of tropical, earthy, and citrus flavours.
• Avery Maharaja: Part of Avery's Dictator Series, with an ABV ranging from 10% to 12%, offering complex notes of citrus, tropical fruit, pine, almond, and toffee.

These are just a few examples of the many High-ABV IPAs available on the market. When purchasing high-ABV beers, it is important to remember to consume them responsibly due to their higher alcohol content.

High-ABV stouts

Stouts are a versatile type of beer, ranging from low ABV Irish stouts to high ABV imperial stouts. Imperial stouts, which typically have an ABV of 8% or higher, are known for their bold, complex flavours and full-bodied character. They are often aged in barrels, which adds to their depth of flavour and increases their ABV.

Some well-known examples of high-ABV stouts include:

• Goose Island Bourbon County Stout (12.9% ABV) - This beer is aged in ex-bourbon barrels and has flavours of dried fruits, chocolate, vanilla beans, and bourbon whiskey.
• Prairie Artisan Ales Prairie Bomb! (13% ABV) - This beer has flavours of espresso, chocolate, vanilla beans, and ancho chilli, with a slight heat to balance the bold flavours.
• North Coast Old Rasputin (9% ABV) - A Russian imperial stout with notes of chocolate, roasted malts, coffee, and caramel. It is known for being well-balanced and highly drinkable.
• Firestone Walker Parabola (13.6% ABV) - This imperial stout is aged in former bourbon barrels and has hints of dark chocolate, dried cherries, pipe tobacco, vanilla beans, and freshly brewed coffee.
• Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break (11.5% ABV) - Brewed with coffee, almond, and vanilla, this stout has a robust, rich, and indulgent flavour reminiscent of a biscotti.

These high-ABV stouts are perfect for those who enjoy bold, complex flavours and the warming effect of a higher alcohol content. They are ideal for sipping by the fire or enjoying during the winter months.

High-ABV beers with light beer taste

If you're looking for high-ABV beers with a light taste, you might want to try a Belgian Golden Strong such as Duvel, or La Chouffe for a cheaper alternative. These beers have a higher ABV due to the use of raw sugar in the fermentation process, which also gives them a lighter taste. Other options in this style include St Bernardus and Trappist.

Another style to try is helles bock or maibock, which are stronger German lagers that still have a light taste.

If you're looking for something even stronger, you could try a malt liquor such as Steel Reserve, Mickey's, Olde English, or King Cobra. These beers have a higher ABV than typical light beers but may not have the same light taste.

Some specific high-ABV beers that are noted for their light taste include:

• Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine: This beer has an ABV of 14.99%, the highest of any light beer.
• Bell's Light Hearted Ale: A light craft beer with an ABV of 4.3%.
• Dogfish Head's Slightly Mighty: Another light craft beer, with an ABV of 4%.
• Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break: This imperial stout has an ABV of 11.5% and is brewed with coffee, almond, and vanilla for a robust and rich flavour.
• Tröegs Double Blizzard IPA: A limited-release double IPA with an ABV of 8.3%, brewed with El Dorado, Chinook, and Centennial hops.
• Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter: An imperial porter with an ABV of 10%, featuring flavours of roasted malts, toasted vanilla beans, dark chocolate, coffee, and caramelized sugar.
• Alesmith Wee Heavy: A Scotch Ale with an ABV of 10% that's matured in ex-bourbon barrels, giving it hints of vanilla, toffee, chocolate, and whiskey.

Frequently asked questions