The 50 Best Beers in Indiana

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Citra-driven orange, grapefruit, tropical fruit, and resin surge from a lean pale-ale base, finishing firmly bitter but never clumsy. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Drink the freshest can you can find and use it to calibrate every other hop-forward beer in the flight. Pair it with spicy pizza, sharp cheddar, or barbecue; 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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Molasses, coffee, dark fruit, cocoa, and immense roast fill a famously dense imperial stout built for slow pours and patient sharing. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Split the bottle at cellar temperature and give the beer time to reveal layers beyond its initial sweetness. Pair it with flourless chocolate cake, blue cheese, or smoked brisket; 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 malt supports grapefruit, pine, and orange-peel hops in a muscular pale ale that helped define 3 Floyds long before haze arrived. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Taste it beside Zombie Dust to compare the brewery’s maltier old-school flagship with its brighter Citra icon. Pair it with burgers, curry, 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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Smooth pale malt, faint fruit, restrained hops, and a clean crisp close make this deceptively simple ale a statewide refrigerator staple. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Serve it cold between bigger beers and judge it by balance, freshness, and how readily the glass empties. Pair it with fried chicken, hot dogs, or nachos; 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, citrus, floral hops, and soft white wheat create a bright, aromatic ale with more snap and bitterness than conventional wheat beer. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Drink it young and compare its hop-driven profile with Upland Wheat’s citrus-and-spice approach. Pair it with fish tacos, grilled chicken, or chèvre; 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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Floral Cascade, pine, grapefruit, and a solid caramel-malt base produce a balanced, unmistakably classic American IPA. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Choose a fresh can and use it as a bridge between Alpha King’s pale-ale structure and stronger double IPAs. Pair it with pizza, grilled 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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Citra pushes ripe orange, grapefruit, and tropical fruit through a stronger malt frame, retaining a surprisingly crisp finish for its strength. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Drink it very fresh after Zombie Dust so the added body, alcohol, and hop saturation are easy to compare. Pair it with blue cheese, spicy pizza, or 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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Baker’s chocolate, espresso, caramel, molasses, and earthy roast settle into a velvety body with a warming, bitter close. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Let it warm in a snifter and give the cocoa nibs and roasted malt several minutes to separate. Pair it with brownies, aged Gouda, or smoked beef; 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, cocoa, hazelnut, and toffee lead a smooth brown ale balanced by restrained bitterness and a clean fermentation profile. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Allow it to warm slightly and use it as the malt-focused counterpoint to Indiana’s many pale and hoppy flagships. Pair it with roast pork, mushrooms, or nutty 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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Tropical fruit, citrus, pine, and colossal hop aroma ride over a dry, clean base with a sharp but controlled bitter finish. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Drink it fresh and compare its leaner modern shape with Alpha King’s deeper caramel malt. Pair it with tacos, spicy wings, or pepper jack; 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, chocolate, cherry, raisin, and Belgian yeast spice build rich malt complexity before candi sugar helps the finish turn unexpectedly dry. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Use a tulip glass and let it warm enough for the dark-fruit fermentation character to fully emerge. Pair it with braised beef, washed-rind cheese, or bread pudding; 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, light corn sweetness, floral hops, and smooth bitterness recreate a historic regional pilsener with a clean, easy finish. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Drink it cold and appreciate the continuity between Terre Haute brewing history and modern Upland. Pair it with hot dogs, chili, 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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Citrus and pine hops strike first, followed by a light malt backbone and a firm, refreshingly dry finish. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Check freshness and taste it beside Alpha King to compare two influential Indiana pale ales. Pair it with grilled chicken, pizza, 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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Grapefruit, tangerine, tropical fruit, pine, and resin arrive with enormous force over a substantial malt base and lasting bitterness. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Share the pint very fresh and move to it late in a hop flight so its intensity does not flatten lighter beers. Pair it with curry, barbecue ribs, or blue 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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Grapefruit, pine, floral hops, and a restrained malt base deliver a clear West Coast IPA with a crisp, confidently bitter finish. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of brewing history to a balanced statewide Indiana tasting.

Drink it fresh near race weekend or anytime a classic, aromatic IPA sounds better than soft haze. Pair it with smash burgers, wings, or pepper jack; 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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Dark plum, raisin, brown sugar, toffee, and peppery Belgian fermentation create a strong ale whose sweetness closes with m