The 20 Best Beers in Delaware: A Ranked First State Guide

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Pine, citrus, and resinous hops meet a deep caramel-malt backbone, creating uncommon balance at imperial strength. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Start here for the beer that most clearly connects Delaware innovation with the rise of American craft IPA. Pair it with blue cheese, smoked ribs, or a double cheeseburger; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Lime peel, black lime, sea salt, and restrained acidity create a bright, thirst-quenching hybrid of Kölsch, gose, and Berliner weisse. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Choose it after a beach day or whenever tart refreshment matters more than weight, sweetness, or aggressive hopping. Pair it with raw oysters, fish tacos, or a citrusy grain salad; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Citra, Galaxy, and Mosaic hops push juicy citrus and tropical fruit through a creamy body with soft finishing bitterness. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Drink it fresh to understand why Dewey became a regional destination for hop-forward beer as well as fruit-heavy sours. Pair it with hot chicken, fish tacos, or pepperoni pizza; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Citrusy and piney hops arrive in a steady stream over clean malt, producing firm bitterness without sacrificing everyday drinkability. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Use it as the baseline Dogfish Head pour before moving into the stronger, stranger, or more ingredient-driven beers. Pair it with buffalo wings, sharp cheddar, or a grilled burger; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Six hop varieties layer grapefruit, bright citrus, and pine onto a clear, structured body with a firmly bitter finish. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Order it when you want an old-school coastal IPA whose sharp edges make seafood and fried food taste even better. Pair it with fried oysters, crab cakes, or a bacon cheeseburger; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Crackery malt made with Delaware-grown barley meets spicy noble-hop character and a clean, refreshing finish. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Pick it when you want the clearest local-ingredient story in the state packed into a genuinely useful everyday lager. Pair it with fried fish, corn dogs, or garden salad; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Citrus-forward hops and a crisp body preserve recognizable IPA aroma inside a 95-calorie, lower-carbohydrate frame. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Reach for it when a long afternoon calls for restraint but a flavorless light lager will not satisfy. Pair it with grilled shrimp, turkey burgers, or spicy tacos; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Galaxy, Citra, Mosaic, and Lotus hops build saturated tropical fruit over a plush, lactose-softened body. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Save it for the hop-heavy half of the flight when a full-bodied hazy IPA sounds better than crisp bitterness. Pair it with spicy barbecue, curry, or mango-glazed pork; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Cherry and blackberry turn a tart base into a velvety, aromatic fruit-pie pour with vivid color and dessert-like intensity. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Split the can when you want Dewey’s maximalist fruit side without letting one saturated sour dominate the entire tasting. Pair it with vanilla cheesecake, spicy noodles, or fresh berries; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Pineapple, mango, passionfruit, and citrus brighten a light body brewed with Kernza grain and granola. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Choose it for a modern music collaboration whose unusual grain bill still lands as an approachable, dry-finishing pale ale. Pair it with grilled chicken, street tacos, or a fruit-and-cheese plate; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Fresh orange, coriander, and soft wheat create a lively witbier with citrus perfume and gentle fermentation spice. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Pour it cold when you want a beach-friendly wheat beer that carries more local personality than a neutral summer ale. Pair it with steamed mussels, goat cheese, or roast chicken; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Massive hopping, concentrated malt, and warming alcohol create a dense sipping beer closer to barleywine than ordinary IPA. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Treat a small pour as the flight’s finale and give it time to warm rather than chasing normal IPA freshness cues. Pair it with blue cheese, bread pudding, or smoked brisket; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Pilsner malt and flaked maize make a light, crisp lager with clean grain, lively carbonation, and a dry finish. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Make it the uncomplicated cooler beer when refreshment and food compatibility matter more than aromatic intensity. Pair it with fish tacos, grilled corn, or chips and salsa; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Lemongrass, lime, and lemon peel brighten a crisp lager brewed with rice and sustainable fonio grain. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Reach for it when you want Dogfish Head experimentation in a clean, highly drinkable package rather than a high-gravity ale. Pair it with grilled fish, summer salad, or citrus-marinated chicken; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Dried blueberries and black tea add dark fruit and tannic detail to a deceptively light-bodied, warming Belgian-style ale. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Pour it in a stemmed glass and let the fermentation spice, fruit, and local tea-shop connection emerge slowly. Pair it with duck, creamy cheese, or berry tart; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Citrus and pine run through a lean body toward a clean, firmly bitter finish that contrasts Dewey’s softer hazy releases. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Choose it when you want modern aroma with classic West Coast structure and none of the sweetness of a smoothie sour. Pair it with a smash burger, buffalo wings, or grilled sausage; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Tropical hop character and light malt gain a suggestion of body from monk fruit without turning noticeably sweet. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Use it as a lower-alcohol alternative when the tasting needs another hop profile but not another heavy pour. Pair it with grilled shrimp, turkey sandwiches, or spicy salad; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Blueberry and peach puree bring ripe fruit aroma to a light sour base with gentle acidity and a refreshing finish. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Drink it cold when you want a fruit beer that stays lighter and more direct than the smoothie-sour end of the spectrum. Pair it with goat cheese, grilled pork, or peach cobbler; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg settle into toasted malt with enough dryness to avoid tasting like liquid pie. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Save it for early fall when warming spice fits the weather but imperial-stout weight would still feel premature. Pair it with roast turkey, aged cheddar, or pumpkin pie; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.

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Mosaic, Amarillo, and Centennial hops add citrus and floral lift to a light body with a balanced, clean finish. It earns this rank by adding a distinct style, ingredient story, or piece of brewing history to a deliberately compact Delaware tasting.

Finish here with a lower-strength coastal IPA built for a long afternoon rather than a dramatic final sip. Pair it with crab sandwiches, fried clams, or salty chips; serve it at the proper temperature and give the aroma enough time to open before judging the finish.