The 50 Best Beers in Illinois

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Bourbon, vanilla, charred oak, cocoa, and dark caramel arrive with immense concentration, but patient aging and careful blending keep the beer coherent. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Share a fresh bottle, then cellar another upright to follow how the oak and alcohol integrate. Pair it with pecan pie, blue cheese, or flourless chocolate cake; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Orange peel, grapefruit, pine, and fresh-cut herbs ride over a lean pale-malt core, giving this everyday can the aroma of an IPA without unnecessary weight. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Drink it as fresh as possible and use it to calibrate the rest of a hop-forward Illinois flight. Pair it with thin-crust pizza, grilled chicken, or sharp cheddar; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Citrus, pine, and tropical hop character meet a firm but clean malt base, finishing dry enough to make its substantial bitterness feel purposeful. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Choose the freshest package and compare it directly with Daisy Cutter’s lighter pale-ale frame. Pair it with Italian beef, spicy wings, or aged cheddar; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Cracker-like malt, floral hops, firm bitterness, and long cold conditioning create a precise pilsner whose quiet details become clearer with every sip. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Pour it into a narrow clean glass and let the dense foam and delicate hop aroma lead. Pair it with bratwurst, schnitzel, or soft pretzels; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Fudge, espresso, vanilla, bourbon, and toasted oak fill a velvety oatmeal-stout body, with roast and barrel tannin checking the sweetness. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Split the can at cellar temperature and give it time in the glass before judging its balance. Pair it with brownies, smoked brisket, or Stilton; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Fresh bread, herbal noble hops, and a clipped mineral finish make this pale lager both technically exact and genuinely refreshing. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Taste it beside Dovetail Pils to compare two of Illinois’s strongest interpretations of traditional lager brewing. Pair it with pierogi, grilled sausage, or fried fish; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Lemon, pepper, rustic grain, and expressive farmhouse fermentation converge in a highly attenuated beer with lively carbonation and a sharp, refreshing finish. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Use a tulip glass and allow the beer to warm slightly so its fermentation character can expand. Pair it with roast chicken, goat cheese, or mussels; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Mango, orange, and pineapple aromas fill a soft, rounded body while a measured bitter edge keeps the juicy impression from becoming sweet. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Check the canned-on date and drink it young while its saturated hop aroma is most vivid. Pair it with spicy tacos, fried chicken, or mango salsa; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Tropical fruit, citrus, sticky pine, and resin charge through a substantial malt base, delivering the intensity promised by the famously loud can. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Drink it very fresh and split the pint if you want the hop saturation without palate fatigue. Pair it with curry, blue cheese, or barbecue ribs; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Peach, orange, and tropical hops spread through a plush grain bill, trading Anti-Hero’s sharp pine and bitterness for rounded fruit and haze. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Taste it beside Anti-Hero to make Revolution’s two distinct IPA philosophies immediately clear. Pair it with carnitas, spicy noodles, or grilled chicken; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Blueberry, mango, citrus, and light dankness show Mosaic’s broad range over a clean base that keeps attention firmly on the hops. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Buy it fresh and use it as a focused sensory lesson in one of modern brewing’s defining varieties. Pair it with fish tacos, pepper jack, or grilled pork; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Toffee, raisin, caramel, vanilla, and bourbon oak build a dense English-style barleywine whose richness is structured by warmth and tannin. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Share a small pour slowly and consider aging another can as the dried-fruit and barrel notes continue integrating. Pair it with bread pudding, aged Gouda, or roasted nuts; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Citrus peel, peach, pine, and earthy hop depth rise from a dry, sturdy base, producing a more expansive and contemplative IPA than Daisy Cutter. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Drink it fresh but not ice-cold, allowing its layered hop aroma to open over several minutes. Pair it with pepperoni pizza, roast pork, or sharp cheese; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Lemon peel, white pepper, soft oak, and bright acidity create a dry sparkling saison with far more delicacy than the brewery’s famous imperial stout. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Serve it cool in stemware and let the high carbonation refresh the palate throughout a meal. Pair it with oysters, chèvre, or roast chicken; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Caramel and toasted malt meet grapefruit, pine, and resin, creating a deep red ale that bridges classic amber richness and modern IPA energy. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Illinois tasting.

Choose it when you want hop intensity supported by a darker, more expressive malt profile. Pair it with barbecue pork, burgers, or aged cheddar; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.