Raise a glass to Indiana’s best-rated beers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — 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 Indiana using ratings from BeerAdvocate. A maximum of five beers per brewery were included.

Read on to plan your next local beer tour!

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#16. Meme De La Creme

– Rating: 4.34 (18 ratings)
– Type: Milkshake IPA
– ABV: 9.40%
– Brewery: Windmill Brewing
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

#15. Zero Discipline

– Rating: 4.27 (41 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 8.00%
– Brewery: 18th Street Brewery – Gary Taproom
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

#14. Hunter Double Milk Stout

– Rating: 4.21 (355 ratings)
– Type: Sweet / Milk Stout
– ABV: 8.00%
– Brewery: 18th Street Brewery – Gary Taproom
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

#13. Crimson

– Rating: 4.23 (426 ratings)
– Type: Flanders Red Ale
– ABV: 10.00%
– Brewery: Upland Brewing Company
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

#12. Blackberry

– Rating: 4.23 (457 ratings)
– Type: Wild Ale
– ABV: 6.00%
– Brewery: Upland Brewing Company
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

#11. Under Crown

– Rating: 4.24 (212 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 8.00%
– Brewery: 18th Street Brewery – Gary Taproom
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

#10. 10-Speed Mosaic Wheat

– Rating: 4.27 (77 ratings)
– Type: American Pale Wheat Beer
– ABV: 5.20%
– Brewery: Bloomington Brewing Company
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

#9. Deadline

– Rating: 4.3 (91 ratings)
– Type: American Imperial Stout
– ABV: 14.80%
– Brewery: Taxman Brewing Co.
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

#8. Hunter Vanilla

– Rating: 4.28 (450 ratings)
– Type: Sweet / Milk Stout
– ABV: 8.50%
– Brewery: 18th Street Brewery – Gary Taproom
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

#7. Deal With The Devil

– Rating: 4.31 (420 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 8.50%
– Brewery: 18th Street Brewery – Gary Taproom
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

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#6. Dreadnaught

– Rating: 4.4 (6,299 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 9.40%
– Brewery: 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

#5. Pawpaw

– Rating: 4.44 (144 ratings)
– Type: Wild Ale
– ABV: 7.30%
– Brewery: Upland Brewing Company
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

#4. Permanent Funeral

– Rating: 4.49 (3,251 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 10.50%
– Brewery: 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

#3. Zombie Dust

– Rating: 4.57 (11,460 ratings)
– Type: American Pale Ale
– ABV: 6.50%
– Brewery: 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

#2. Chemtrailmix – Rye Barrel

– Rating: 4.68 (272 ratings)
– Type: Russian Imperial Stout
– ABV: 15.00%
– Brewery: 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
– Read more on BeerAdvocate

#1. Marshmallow Handjee

– Rating: 4.73 (1,819 ratings)
– Type: Russian Imperial Stout
– ABV: 15.00%
– Brewery: 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
– 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.