The 50 Best Beers in Kentucky

BAR NOTES

Oak, vanilla, caramel, and toffee shape a smooth strong ale whose bourbon character supports rather than buries the base beer. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Serve in a small tulip after the hop-led beers and let it warm for several minutes. Pair it with barbecued beef 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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Smoke, dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and bourbon arrive in dense layers with a long warming finish. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Share a cellar-temperature bottle and save it for the final third of the flight. Pair it with smoked brisket or 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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Tangerine, peach, lemon zest, pine, and resin ride over a firm bready malt backbone. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Check the can date, pour it fresh, and taste it before sweeter barrel-aged beer. Pair it with hot 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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Vanilla bean rounds caramel, toasted nuts, cocoa, and gentle roast without turning the beer into dessert. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Let it rise a few degrees above refrigerator temperature so the malt can open. Pair it with pulled pork 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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Blood orange, lemon, light grain, and sparkling acidity make this one of the state’s most refreshing warm-weather cans. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Serve it cold as an early-flight reset before moving into stronger hop and barrel beers. Pair it with fish tacos or citrus salad; 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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El Dorado and Citra deliver stone fruit, tropical fruit, and orange over a soft rounded body. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Pour it fresh beside Linchpin to compare two generations of Mile Wide haze. Pair it with spicy pizza or carnitas; 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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Munich malt brings dark bread, caramel, and toast while noble hops keep the finish clean. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Serve cool in a mug and allow the malt aroma a moment to emerge. Pair it with bratwurst or roast 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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Sticky citrus, tropical fruit, grapefruit peel, and resin sit on a sturdy Vienna-and-Munich malt base. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Drink it very fresh and keep the pour ahead of stout and bourbon-barrel beer. Pair it with buffalo wings 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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Bourbon vanilla, sweet corn, oak, caramel, and a light creamy body make the barrel feel unusually easygoing. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Serve cool in a stemmed glass and compare it directly with the flagship barrel ale. Pair it with vanilla cake or mild 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 malt, light corn sweetness, and a clean snappy finish make this an uncomplicated but polished lager. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Serve it cold with a lime wedge on the side, tasting it first without garnish. Pair it with tacos or grilled corn; 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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Cacao nibs amplify coffee, dark chocolate, and roasted malt in a sturdy but drinkable porter. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Use a nonic pint and let the beer warm slightly before judging the cocoa finish. Pair it with chocolate cookies 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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Pale grain, light honey, a faint fruit note, and gentle bitterness finish crisp and uncomplicated. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Serve it cold as the reset between stronger or more aromatic pours. Pair it with fried chicken or potato chips; 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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Soft pear, cracker malt, floral hops, and a dry finish split the difference between ale fruit and lager precision. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Serve cold in a narrow glass and keep it early in the tasting order. Pair it with fried fish or soft 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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Ripe banana, clove, soft wheat, and a full yeasty body deliver the classic Bavarian profile. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Rouse the yeast gently, use a tall wheat glass, and avoid an icy serving temperature. Pair it with soft pretzels 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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Rye spice, caramel, dried fruit, oak, and bourbon form a dry, warming amber ale with real structure. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Pour a small measure and let it rest beside Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. Pair it with roast duck or aged Gouda; 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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Pear, white pepper, honeyed malt, and gentle fermentation spice land between delicate and warming. It earns this position by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Kentucky brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Use a tulip and let it warm slightly before the stronger dark beers. Pair it with roast chicken or washed-rind cheese; use a clean glass, protect the package from heat and light, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.