25 Best Missouri Beers to Drink in 2026

THE MISSOURI BEER BOARD · UPDATED 2026

Missouri beer runs from century-deep lager culture to world-class wild ale and barrel-aged stout. Kansas City supplies the big craft landmarks, St. Louis brings German tradition and obsessive cellars, and smaller breweries fill in the state with brown ale, wheat beer, fruit and hops.

This ranked 25 balances influence, execution and the bottles or cans that best explain why Missouri remains one of America’s deepest beer states.

25 Best Missouri Beers to Drink in 2026

Start with the first ten for the state’s essential beer story, then continue through pub ale, modern IPA, German lager, fruit beer and seasonal releases.

Tank 7
#1 in this roundup
Beer profile

Tank 7

Brewed by Boulevard Brewing Co.

StyleFarmhouse Ale
ABV8.5%
Missouri moveMissouri’s modern craft landmark
Brewed inKansas City, Missouri

grapefruit, peppery yeast, dry malt and a bright effervescent finish

BAR NOTES

Tank 7 became Boulevard’s defining specialty beer because it combines farmhouse complexity with immediate drinkability. Citrus, pepper and expressive yeast ride a dry body that hides substantial strength.

Use a tulip and pour carefully to protect the carbonation. Roast chicken, funky cheese or spicy sausage gives the beer enough flavor to work against without masking its yeast character.

Abraxas
#2 in this roundup
Beer profile

Abraxas

Brewed by Perennial Artisan Ales

StyleMexican Chocolate Imperial Stout
ABV11.5%
Missouri moveMissouri stout at maximum intensity
Brewed inSt. Louis, Missouri

dark chocolate, cinnamon, ancho chile, vanilla and a long warming finish

BAR NOTES

Abraxas helped establish St. Louis as a destination for modern imperial stout. Cinnamon, chile, cacao and vanilla create a layered profile that stays recognizably beer beneath the additions.

Serve a small pour near cellar temperature with chocolate cake, mole or blue cheese. Time in the glass softens the alcohol and lets the spice move from aroma into balance.

Fuzzy
#3 in this roundup
Beer profile

Fuzzy

Brewed by Side Project Brewing

StylePeach Missouri Wild Ale
ABV8.0%
Missouri moveoak-aged Missouri wild ale with local peaches
Brewed inMaplewood, Missouri

white peach, lemon, oak, gentle funk and a dry sparkling finish

BAR NOTES

Fuzzy is Side Project’s peach-driven expression of Missouri wild ale, matured in French oak before extended fruit conditioning. Real peach reads as aroma and acidity rather than syrup.

Pour it cool into stemware and let the bottle sediment settle. Soft cheese, roast pork or a simple fruit tart leaves room for the oak, citrus and restrained funk.

Bourbon Barrel Quad
#4 in this roundup
Beer profile

Bourbon Barrel Quad

Brewed by Boulevard Brewing Co.

StyleBourbon Barrel-Aged Quadrupel
ABV12.2%
Missouri moveBelgian dark ale through a Missouri whiskey lens
Brewed inKansas City, Missouri

toffee, cherry, vanilla, dark fruit and a warming bourbon finish

BAR NOTES

Bourbon Barrel Quad layers Boulevard’s Belgian-leaning brewing history with extended oak aging and cherries. Toffee, dark fruit and vanilla arrive before a firm bourbon warmth.

Split the bottle and serve it in small glasses with aged Gouda, roast duck or bread pudding. Slight warmth reveals cherry and oak that refrigerator-cold service can bury.

Sump Coffee Stout
#5 in this roundup
Beer profile

Sump Coffee Stout

Brewed by Perennial Artisan Ales

StyleImperial Coffee Stout
ABV11.5%
Missouri moveserious coffee selected for serious stout
Brewed inSt. Louis, Missouri

espresso, dark chocolate, roast, caramel and a dense warming finish

BAR NOTES

Sump treats coffee as a featured ingredient rather than a background flavor, pairing carefully selected beans with an imperial stout built to carry roast, chocolate and aromatics.

Use a small snifter and allow fifteen minutes of warming. Chocolate dessert, smoked meat or aged cheddar has enough intensity to meet the coffee and alcohol without disappearing.

Derivation
#6 in this roundup
Beer profile

Derivation

Brewed by Side Project Brewing

StyleBarrel-Aged Imperial Stout
ABV15.0%
Missouri movea blend-by-blend barrel cellar showcase
Brewed inMaplewood, Missouri

fudge, vanilla, bourbon, dark fruit and an enormous structured finish

BAR NOTES

Derivation is a continuing Side Project series rather than one fixed recipe, using different stout bases, barrels and additions to explore the limits of Missouri barrel-aged beer.

Treat any blend as a slow shared pour. Serve near cellar temperature with plain dark chocolate or nothing at all, because elaborate pairings can compete with the barrel detail.

Maman
#7 in this roundup
Beer profile

Maman

Brewed by Perennial Artisan Ales

StyleBarrel-Aged Imperial Stout
ABV11.4%
Missouri movelong-aged stout with elegant restraint
Brewed inSt. Louis, Missouri

dark chocolate, toasted nuts, vanilla, oak and a lingering spirit warmth

BAR NOTES

Maman shows the quieter side of elite barrel-aged stout, relying on long spirit-barrel maturation rather than a crowded flavor list. Chocolate, nuts and oak unfold gradually.

Open it for a small group and use stemmed glasses. Aged cheese, toasted nuts or restrained chocolate dessert supports the barrel character without adding unnecessary sweetness.

Whiskey Barrel Stout
#8 in this roundup
Beer profile

Whiskey Barrel Stout

Brewed by Boulevard Brewing Co.

StyleBarrel-Aged Imperial Stout
ABV11.8%
Missouri moveBoulevard’s dependable barrel-aged dark beer
Brewed inKansas City, Missouri

roast, cocoa, vanilla, whiskey oak and a smooth warming finish

BAR NOTES

Whiskey Barrel Stout delivers Boulevard’s barrel program in a compact bottle, combining dark malt, cocoa and roast with vanilla and spirit character from the wood.

Serve it slightly warm with brisket, brownies or sharp cheese. The stout becomes rounder as it breathes, while the roast prevents the barrel sweetness from taking control.

Saison du Fermier
#9 in this roundup
Beer profile

Saison du Fermier

Brewed by Side Project Brewing

StyleMissouri Farmhouse Ale
ABV7.0%
Missouri moveSide Project’s foundational farmhouse beer
Brewed inMaplewood, Missouri

lemon, hay, pepper, oak and a dry gently funky finish

BAR NOTES

Saison du Fermier gives Side Project’s barrel work a lighter farmhouse frame. Citrus, grain, pepper and restrained funk show how much complexity can live in a dry pale beer.

Pour it into stemware with roast chicken, washed-rind cheese or grilled vegetables. The high carbonation clears rich food while oak and yeast reward slower tasting.

Zwickel
#10 in this roundup
Beer profile

Zwickel

Brewed by Urban Chestnut Brewing Company

StyleBavarian-Style Lager
ABV5.1%
Missouri moveunfiltered lager at St. Louis scale
Brewed inSt. Louis, Missouri

fresh bread, soft yeast, herbal hops and a smooth clean finish

BAR NOTES

Zwickel is Urban Chestnut’s clearest argument that traditional lager can anchor a modern brewery. Unfiltered texture adds softness while bread-like malt and restrained hops keep the pint composed.

Serve it cold with bratwurst, pretzels or roast chicken. A sturdy foam cap lifts the herbal aroma, and a few warmer minutes expose more malt without sacrificing refreshment.

Dunkel
#11 in this roundup
Beer profile

Dunkel

Brewed by KC Bier Co.

StyleMunich-Style Dunkel
ABV5.0%
Missouri movedecocted malt with Bavarian discipline
Brewed inKansas City, Missouri

toasted bread, caramel, nuts and a crisp low-bitterness finish

BAR NOTES

KC Bier’s Dunkel brings decoction-driven malt depth to Kansas City without making the beer sweet or heavy. Bread crust, caramel and light nuttiness finish with lager precision.

Drink it from a mug with sausage, roast pork or mushroom dishes. Cool service keeps the finish crisp, while modest warming makes the toasted grain much more expressive.

Pale Ale
#12 in this roundup
Beer profile

Pale Ale

Brewed by Schlafly Beer

StyleEnglish-Style Pale Ale
ABV4.4%
Missouri movethe flagship that helped restart St. Louis craft beer
Brewed inSt. Louis, Missouri

caramel malt, earthy hops, light fruit and a balanced session finish

BAR NOTES

Schlafly Pale Ale carries historical weight as the flagship of St. Louis’s original independent craft brewery. English malt and hops make it balanced, modest and unusually durable.

Serve it with pizza, roast chicken or cheddar. A temperature slightly above ice-cold reveals the malt and fruit notes that make this more than a generic amber pint.

City Wide
#13 in this roundup
Beer profile

City Wide

Brewed by 4 Hands Brewing Co.

StyleAmerican Pale Ale
ABV5.5%
Missouri movea community-minded St. Louis pale ale
Brewed inSt. Louis, Missouri

citrus, melon, tropical hops and a clean crisp finish

BAR NOTES

City Wide combines bright American hops with a clean pale-ale frame and a longstanding local giving program. Citrus and melon arrive without the weight of a full-strength IPA.

Drink it fresh with tacos, burgers or fried chicken. The clean finish and moderate strength make it useful for a long meal instead of a one-glass tasting exercise.

American Brown Ale
#14 in this roundup
Beer profile

American Brown Ale

Brewed by The Civil Life Brewing Company

StyleAmerican Brown Ale
ABV4.8%
Missouri movea modern St. Louis pub classic
Brewed inSt. Louis, Missouri

toast, cocoa, caramel, earthy hops and a dry sessionable finish

BAR NOTES

Civil Life’s American Brown Ale proves brown beer can be flavorful without becoming heavy. Toast, cocoa and caramel meet enough hop structure to finish dry and invite another pint.

Pair it with a burger, roasted mushrooms or nutty cheese. Letting the glass warm slightly brings forward the toasted malt while the modest strength stays comfortable.

Space Camper Cosmic IPA
#15 in this roundup
Beer profile

Space Camper Cosmic IPA

Brewed by Boulevard Brewing Co.

StyleAmerican IPA
ABV5.9%
Missouri moveBoulevard’s modern hop flagship
Brewed inKansas City, Missouri

citrus, stone fruit, tropical hops and a clean juicy finish

BAR NOTES

Space Camper moved Boulevard’s hop program into a fruitier modern register. El Dorado and Galaxy create citrus, stone-fruit and tropical aroma over a clean, accessible base.

Keep it refrigerated and drink it fresh with spicy chicken, tacos or sharp cheese. The moderate strength lets the hop character stay lively rather than turning sticky.

Unfiltered Wheat Beer
#16 in this roundup
Beer profile

Unfiltered Wheat Beer

Brewed by Boulevard Brewing Co.

StyleAmerican Wheat Beer
ABV4.4%
Missouri moveKansas City’s everyday craft staple
Brewed inKansas City, Missouri

soft wheat, lemon, light grain and a crisp cloudy finish

BAR NOTES

Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat helped put Kansas City craft beer into ordinary refrigerators. The cloudy wheat base is soft, lightly citrusy and built for repeat pours rather than analysis.

Serve it cold with barbecue, salads or grilled fish. A lemon garnish is traditional locally, though tasting the first few sips without one shows the grain more clearly.

Schnickelfritz
#17 in this roundup
Beer profile

Schnickelfritz

Brewed by Urban Chestnut Brewing Company

StyleBavarian Weissbier
ABV5.0%
Missouri moveclassic wheat yeast with St. Louis polish
Brewed inSt. Louis, Missouri

banana, clove, soft wheat and a lively refreshing finish

BAR NOTES

Schnickelfritz follows the Bavarian wheat-beer playbook closely, using expressive yeast for banana and clove over a soft grain base. It is traditional without feeling museum-like.

Pour most of the bottle, swirl the final ounce gently and finish the pour to lift the yeast. Brunch, sausage or roast chicken all suit its fruit and spice.

Madagascar
#18 in this roundup
Beer profile

Madagascar

Brewed by 4 Hands Brewing Co.

StyleImperial Milk Stout with Vanilla
ABV9.0%
Missouri movevanilla-forward stout with real structure
Brewed inSt. Louis, Missouri

vanilla bean, chocolate, roast and a rich creamy finish

BAR NOTES

Madagascar uses vanilla as a central aroma rather than a sugary shortcut. A sturdy imperial milk-stout base supplies chocolate, roast and enough body to hold the bean character.

Use a small glass and serve it cool with brownies, toasted nuts or blue cheese. As the beer warms, vanilla grows while the roast keeps sweetness in check.

Chocolate Milk Stout
#19 in this roundup
Beer profile

Chocolate Milk Stout

Brewed by 4 Hands Brewing Co.

StyleChocolate Milk Stout
ABV5.5%
Missouri movedessert flavor at everyday strength
Brewed inSt. Louis, Missouri

milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel and a smooth lightly roasty finish

BAR NOTES

Chocolate Milk Stout delivers dessert cues without imperial-stout alcohol. Cocoa and lactose round the body, while roast and carbonation prevent the beer from drinking like syrup.

Pair it with cookies, barbecue or sharp cheddar. Serving it slightly warmer than refrigerator temperature makes the chocolate clearer and the sweetness feel less blunt.

Schwarzbier
#20 in this roundup
Beer profile

Schwarzbier

Brewed by KC Bier Co.

StyleGerman-Style Black Lager
ABV5.3%
Missouri movedark color with lager snap
Brewed inKansas City, Missouri

cocoa, toast, light roast and a clean dry lager finish

BAR NOTES

KC Bier’s Schwarzbier offers dark-malt flavor without stout weight. Cocoa, toast and restrained roast sit inside a clean lager fermentation that keeps every sip unusually tidy.

Serve it with smoked sausage, roast chicken or mushroom pizza. The dry finish handles rich food while the dark malt provides enough flavor for cooler weather.

Pumpkin Ale
#21 in this roundup
Beer profile

Pumpkin Ale

Brewed by Schlafly Beer

StylePumpkin Ale
ABV8.0%
Missouri movea Midwestern fall seasonal with real weight
Brewed inSt. Louis, Missouri

pumpkin, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and a rich warming finish

BAR NOTES

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale is one of Missouri’s most anticipated seasonal releases, using a strong amber base to carry pumpkin and baking spice without tasting like thin flavored lager.

Pour it cool with roast pork, pumpkin bread or aged cheddar. A smaller glass respects the strength, and gradual warming integrates cinnamon, clove and malt.

Raspberry Hefeweizen
#22 in this roundup
Beer profile

Raspberry Hefeweizen

Brewed by Schlafly Beer

StyleRaspberry Wheat Ale
ABV4.1%
Missouri movefruit beer that stays light on its feet
Brewed inSt. Louis, Missouri

raspberry, soft wheat, gentle tartness and a crisp pink finish

BAR NOTES

Raspberry Hefeweizen pairs vivid berry aroma with a modest wheat-beer base. The fruit feels direct and refreshing, while restrained strength keeps the pint useful in hot weather.

Serve it cold with salad, goat cheese or grilled chicken. The berry works best beside salt and light acidity rather than an aggressively sweet dessert.

Irish Ale
#23 in this roundup
Beer profile

Irish Ale

Brewed by Boulevard Brewing Co.

StyleIrish-Style Red Ale
ABV5.8%
Missouri movea seasonal malt-first Kansas City pour
Brewed inKansas City, Missouri

caramel, toasted bread, light fruit and a clean gently bitter finish

BAR NOTES

Boulevard Irish Ale gives malt the lead, building caramel and toasted bread over a clean fermentation. Restrained bitterness keeps the seasonal red ale from becoming cloying.

Pair it with corned beef, roast chicken or cheddar. Cool rather than icy service exposes the toasted grain and makes the moderate sweetness feel more balanced.

Christmas Ale
#24 in this roundup
Beer profile

Christmas Ale

Brewed by Schlafly Beer

StyleSpiced Winter Ale
ABV8.0%
Missouri moveholiday spice on a strong amber base
Brewed inSt. Louis, Missouri

orange peel, ginger, clove, caramel and a warming festive finish

BAR NOTES

Schlafly Christmas Ale layers orange peel, ginger and clove onto a strong malt base, giving the spices enough structure to taste integrated rather than sprinkled on top.

Serve it in a smaller glass with roast ham, gingerbread or sharp cheese. A few minutes of warming brings the citrus forward and softens the alcohol.

Bleu
#25 in this roundup
Beer profile

Bleu

Brewed by Side Project Brewing

StyleBlueberry Missouri Wild Ale
ABV6.0%
Missouri moveoak-aged wild ale saturated with blueberry
Brewed inMaplewood, Missouri

blueberry skin, lemon acidity, oak and a dry vinous finish

BAR NOTES

Bleu sends Side Project’s Missouri wild-ale base through extended blueberry conditioning, producing fruit intensity that feels closer to wine than sweetened kettle sour.

Pour it cool into stemware with chèvre, duck or a simple tart. The dry finish and oak keep the berry focused, while gentle warming reveals more skin and tannin.

KEEP THE FLIGHT GOING

Keep exploring the beer heartland

Missouri sits between German lager tradition, American craft history and some of the country’s most ambitious barrel cellars. These nearby lists and brewing guides keep that trail moving.

Karl S
BEHIND THE BAR

Written by Karl S

Lead marketer, brewer, dad, and husband. Pretty much an all-round awesome guy. Self proclaimed coffee addict who's been home brewing beer (among other things) for 25+ yrs. Also an aspiring pro-brewer and micro-brewery owner!

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