25 Best Beers in Arkansas: The Natural State’s Essential Pours
Arkansas beer is shaped by more than Little Rock. The state’s strongest breweries connect Delta wildlife, Ozark trails, local honey, Arkansas rice, and a serious Northwest Arkansas food culture to everything from crisp lager and pale ale to coffee stout and full-strength imperial IPA.
This ranked guide favors beers with a clear Arkansas identity, a current place in their brewery’s lineup, and enough stylistic range to build a complete tasting trip. Start with the essential flagships, then use each “Arkansas move” and the bar notes to find the right beer for the weather, food, and occasion.
The 25 Best Arkansas Beers
Love Honey Bock
Brewed by Lost Forty Brewing
Start here for a defining Arkansas beer that feels rich without becoming heavy
BAR NOTES
Arkansas honey rounds toasted bread and caramel malt with a floral lift and a clean, balanced finish. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Start here for a defining Arkansas beer that feels rich without becoming heavy. Pair it with smoked ham, roast chicken, or sharp cheddar; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Bluewing
Brewed by Flyway Brewing
Choose it for warm weather or as an approachable first step into Arkansas craft beer
BAR NOTES
Soft wheat, fresh blueberry aroma, and restrained sweetness land bright and easy rather than syrupy. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Choose it for warm weather or as an approachable first step into Arkansas craft beer. Pair it with brunch, goat cheese salad, or lemon cake; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Cream Stout
Brewed by Ozark Beer Company
Order it when you want stout depth in a balanced, highly drinkable frame
BAR NOTES
Dark chocolate, fresh coffee, and caramelized malt meet a silky texture and measured roast. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Order it when you want stout depth in a balanced, highly drinkable frame. Pair it with barbecue, chocolate cake, or aged Gouda; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Rockhound IPA
Brewed by Lost Forty Brewing
Reach for it when you want a direct American IPA with equal parts fruit and resin
BAR NOTES
Grapefruit, pineapple, citrus peel, and pine ride over a lean malt foundation with a dry finish. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Reach for it when you want a direct American IPA with equal parts fruit and resin. Pair it with fried catfish, hot wings, or a bacon burger; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
American Pale Ale
Brewed by Ozark Beer Company
Pick it when you want pale-ale character at an easygoing strength
BAR NOTES
Rye adds a dry grain edge beneath grapefruit, fresh grass, and a compact, refreshing bitterness. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Pick it when you want pale-ale character at an easygoing strength. Pair it with fried chicken, grilled trout, or a turkey sandwich; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Early Bird IPA
Brewed by Flyway Brewing
Make it the reliable IPA order when the table wants brightness without haze or excess sweetness
BAR NOTES
Citrus and tropical hop aroma lead into a clean malt base and a firm but orderly bitter close. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Make it the reliable IPA order when the table wants brightness without haze or excess sweetness. Pair it with pulled pork, pepperoni pizza, or fish tacos; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Ozark IPA
Brewed by Ozark Beer Company
Choose it for modern fruit character held inside a clear, structured IPA
BAR NOTES
Pineapple and mango aromatics give way to pine, citrus peel, and a steady dry bitterness. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Choose it for modern fruit character held inside a clear, structured IPA. Pair it with green chile burgers, barbecue chicken, or nachos; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
2nd Rodeo Light Beer
Brewed by Lost Forty Brewing
Pack it for the river, tailgate, or any long afternoon that calls for restraint
BAR NOTES
Local water and rice create a feather-light body with clean grain, brisk carbonation, and a snappy finish. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Pack it for the river, tailgate, or any long afternoon that calls for restraint. Pair it with hot dogs, fried pickles, or grilled shrimp; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Bad Squirrel
Brewed by Norfork Brewing Company
Save it for a cool evening when a compact pour and a long finish suit the pace
BAR NOTES
Copper malt, ripe fruit, Arkansas honey, and a bold nutty note build an unusual strong ale for slow sipping. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Save it for a cool evening when a compact pour and a long finish suit the pace. Pair it with country ham, pecan pie, or blue cheese; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Day Drinker
Brewed by Lost Forty Brewing
Order it when you want expressive fermentation character without the strength of a Belgian tripel
BAR NOTES
Orange zest and banana-like yeast aromatics sit over soft grain before a tidy, dry finish. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Order it when you want expressive fermentation character without the strength of a Belgian tripel. Pair it with mussels, roast chicken, or soft cheese; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Easy Tiger
Brewed by Lost Forty Brewing
Choose it when a light lager sounds right but you still want visible flavor and structure
BAR NOTES
Toasted malt, baked bread, and a light citrus accent finish crisp enough for another round. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Choose it when a light lager sounds right but you still want visible flavor and structure. Pair it with street tacos, queso, or grilled corn; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Onyx Coffee Stout
Brewed by Ozark Beer Company
Try it when you want a local collaboration whose added ingredient strengthens rather than masks the base beer
BAR NOTES
Onyx Coffee Lab roast aromatics deepen a smooth stout base with cocoa, caramel, and fresh-brewed coffee. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Try it when you want a local collaboration whose added ingredient strengthens rather than masks the base beer. Pair it with breakfast pastries, smoked brisket, or brownies; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Honeybird
Brewed by Flyway Brewing
Pour it for drinkers who want an approachable beer with a clear local ingredient story
BAR NOTES
Arkansas honey adds a gentle floral note to light grain, modest sweetness, and a clean blonde-ale finish. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Pour it for drinkers who want an approachable beer with a clear local ingredient story. Pair it with fried chicken, chèvre, or cornbread; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Ozark Lager
Brewed by Ozark Beer Company
Use it as the reset beer between bigger flavors or as the uncomplicated first round
BAR NOTES
Fresh bread, soft grain, restrained floral hops, and a crisp finish make a deceptively precise pint. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Use it as the reset beer between bigger flavors or as the uncomplicated first round. Pair it with bratwurst, pretzels, or roast chicken; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Rooster Illusion
Brewed by Lost Forty Brewing
Split a can or save it for late in the tasting when maximum hop aroma is the point
BAR NOTES
Pineapple, mango, orange, passionfruit, guava, and grapefruit fill a plush body with concealed strength. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Split a can or save it for late in the tasting when maximum hop aroma is the point. Pair it with spicy barbecue, curry, or mango-glazed pork; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Juicy Details
Brewed by Lost Forty Brewing
Choose it when you want Lost Forty's fruit-forward side at standard IPA strength
BAR NOTES
Mosaic, Citra, and Superdelic hops layer berries, mango, and vivid citrus into a soft, aromatic body. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Choose it when you want Lost Forty’s fruit-forward side at standard IPA strength. Pair it with hot chicken, al pastor tacos, or sharp cheddar; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Ninekiller
Brewed by Flyway Brewing
Treat it as a deliberate final-round IPA rather than an all-afternoon beer
BAR NOTES
Dense citrus and pine hop character meets a substantial malt frame and a warming, bitter finish. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Treat it as a deliberate final-round IPA rather than an all-afternoon beer. Pair it with smoked ribs, blue cheese, or a double cheeseburger; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
El Tío
Brewed by Ozark Beer Company
Reach for it with tacos or whenever the cooler needs a crowd-friendly Arkansas lager
BAR NOTES
Clean corn-like grain, light bread, and a brisk finish deliver maximum refreshment without tasting anonymous. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Reach for it with tacos or whenever the cooler needs a crowd-friendly Arkansas lager. Pair it with carnitas, chips and salsa, or grilled corn; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Mt. Crushmore
Brewed by Ozark Beer Company
Pack it when refreshment matters most but a flavorless light lager will not do
BAR NOTES
Crisp pale malt and lively carbonation meet a clean hop snap in a lean, fast-finishing lager. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Pack it when refreshment matters most but a flavorless light lager will not do. Pair it with fried catfish, sandwiches, or salty chips; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Amarillo by Morning
Brewed by Ozark Beer Company
Order it when you want to understand one classic American hop without an overloaded recipe
BAR NOTES
Amarillo hops bring orange, tropical fruit, and floral lift above a dry pale-malt base and purposeful bitterness. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Order it when you want to understand one classic American hop without an overloaded recipe. Pair it with grilled chicken, pizza, or pepper jack; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Bayside Hazy
Brewed by Ozark Beer Company
Pick it when the table wants a juicy IPA that stays composed and food-friendly
BAR NOTES
Galaxy dry hopping pushes pineapple and tropical fruit across a soft body with modest finishing bitterness. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Pick it when the table wants a juicy IPA that stays composed and food-friendly. Pair it with spicy pizza, fish tacos, or Thai curry; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Long Distance Runner
Brewed by Ozark Beer Company
Choose it when you want old-school West Coast structure instead of a soft hazy profile
BAR NOTES
Bright citrus and resinous pine run through a lean body before a crisp, lingering bitter finish. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Choose it when you want old-school West Coast structure instead of a soft hazy profile. Pair it with buffalo wings, grilled sausage, or a bacon burger; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Flyway Light
Brewed by Flyway Brewing
Make it the long-session choice for lake days, ball games, and crowded cookouts
BAR NOTES
Light grain, high carbonation, and a quick dry finish keep the profile simple, clean, and genuinely refreshing. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Make it the long-session choice for lake days, ball games, and crowded cookouts. Pair it with burgers, hot dogs, or fried pickles; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Flying Duck
Brewed by Flyway Brewing
Order it when you want amber malt character without the fruitiness or weight of a stronger ale
BAR NOTES
Toasted bread and light caramel meet smooth lager fermentation and a restrained hop finish. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Order it when you want amber malt character without the fruitiness or weight of a stronger ale. Pair it with smoked sausage, roast pork, or nutty cheese; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Imperial Dog
Brewed by Norfork Brewing Company
Save it for the end and share the pour when you want the list to finish at full volume
BAR NOTES
Tropical hop saturation fills a hazy, full-bodied imperial IPA whose warming strength arrives beneath the fruit. This beer earns its place by expressing the style clearly while adding enough local personality to matter in a statewide tasting.
Save it for the end and share the pour when you want the list to finish at full volume. Pair it with spicy ribs, blue cheese, or bread pudding; serve it fresh and let the first pour settle long enough for the aroma to open before judging the finish.
Pick your next Arkansas beer rabbit hole
Keep exploring nearby beer scenes, or turn the flavors you liked here into your next homebrew.
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