25 Best Nebraska Beers to Drink in 2026

THE NEBRASKA BEER BOARD · UPDATED 2026

Nebraska beer runs from disciplined lager and imperial stout to hazy IPA, vanilla, pickle, chile and fruit. Omaha supplies polished year-round brands, while Broken Bow brings Sandhills ingredients and storytelling.

This ranked 25 focuses on current packaged beers that best explain the state’s range and local personality.

25 Best Nebraska Beers to Drink in 2026

Start with Nebraska’s essential stout, blonde ale and lager, then follow the list through IPA, chile beer, fruit, pickle and seasonal releases.

Certified Evil Imperial Oatmeal Stout
#1 in this roundup
Beer profile

Certified Evil Imperial Oatmeal Stout

Brewed by Lucky Bucket Brewing

StyleImperial Oatmeal Stout
ABV9.2%
Nebraska moveNebraska’s cellar-ready dark-beer statement
Brewed inLa Vista, Nebraska

espresso, dark chocolate, toasted oats and warming roast

BAR NOTES

A dense imperial stout shaped by oats and roasted grain; its creamy body keeps the coffee and dark-chocolate intensity from turning harsh.

Serve around 50°F in a snifter with flourless chocolate cake, blue cheese or smoked brisket; careful cellaring can soften the alcohol and deepen dried-fruit notes.

Vanilla Bean Blonde
#2 in this roundup
Beer profile

Vanilla Bean Blonde

Brewed by Infusion Brewing Co.

StyleBlonde Ale
ABV4.8%
Nebraska moveOmaha’s signature vanilla-forward blonde
Brewed inOmaha, Nebraska

vanilla cream, soft grain, light honey and a smooth finish

BAR NOTES

Infusion’s calling card puts a recognizable dessert aroma into an otherwise light, clean blonde ale; vanilla leads, but the finish still reads as beer.

Pour it cold, then let it warm several minutes before judging the aroma; bread pudding, grilled peaches or salty popcorn create useful sweet-and-savory contrast.

Pre-Prohibition Lager
#3 in this roundup
Beer profile

Pre-Prohibition Lager

Brewed by Lucky Bucket Brewing

StylePre-Prohibition Lager
ABV4.5%
Nebraska movea fuller-flavored look at historic American lager
Brewed inLa Vista, Nebraska

toasty grain, mild caramel, herbal hops and a crisp finish

BAR NOTES

This flagship recalls the fuller lagers Americans drank before national brands standardized the style, using toasted malt for character without sacrificing crisp lager refreshment.

It is an easy bridge beyond light lager; pair it with brats, smash burgers or fried chicken, and use a tall pilsner glass to preserve carbonation.

Snow Beast Winter Ale
#4 in this roundup
Beer profile

Snow Beast Winter Ale

Brewed by Kinkaider Brewing Co.

StyleWinter Ale
ABV6.8%
Nebraska movea Sandhills winter beer with vanilla and spice
Brewed inBroken Bow, Nebraska

vanilla, cinnamon, caramel malt and gentle warming alcohol

BAR NOTES

Snow Beast turns a sturdy winter ale into a Nebraska cold-weather ritual, layering vanilla and cinnamon over dark malt without becoming syrupy.

Let the pour warm slightly in a rounded glass so its spice opens; gingerbread, pecan pie and roasted pork suit the sweet-spiced middle and warming finish.

Dragon Juice IPA
#5 in this roundup
Beer profile

Dragon Juice IPA

Brewed by Kinkaider Brewing Co.

StyleHazy IPA
ABV6.0%
Nebraska movemodern juicy IPA from the Nebraska Sandhills
Brewed inBroken Bow, Nebraska

orange, tropical fruit, soft pine and low perceived bitterness

BAR NOTES

Amarillo, El Dorado and Citra give Dragon Juice tropical and citrus aromatics while the brewery keeps its bitterness intentionally soft and modern.

Drink it fresh and store it cold because hazy IPA loses aroma quickly; spicy tacos, mango salsa or sharp cheddar match the fruit-forward hop profile.

Trip Hazy IPA
#6 in this roundup
Beer profile

Trip Hazy IPA

Brewed by Infusion Brewing Co.

StyleHazy IPA
ABV6.5%
Nebraska moveInfusion’s psychedelic tropical IPA
Brewed inOmaha, Nebraska

mango, citrus, stone fruit and a pillowy hop finish

BAR NOTES

Trip moves Infusion into contemporary hazy IPA, using an unfiltered body to carry ripe tropical fruit and citrus while keeping bitterness rounded.

Choose the freshest can and use a stemmed IPA glass; jerk chicken, fish tacos or spicy noodles prevent the beer’s soft sweetness from dominating.

Devil's Gap Jalapeño Ale
#7 in this roundup
Beer profile

Devil's Gap Jalapeño Ale

Brewed by Kinkaider Brewing Co.

StyleJalapeño Ale
ABV5.0%
Nebraska moveNebraska’s benchmark chile beer
Brewed inBroken Bow, Nebraska

fresh jalapeño, green pepper, light grain and measured heat

BAR NOTES

Devil’s Gap tastes like fresh jalapeño instead of generic hot sauce, bringing green-pepper aroma first and controlled warmth behind it.

Pair it with a burger, queso, creamy chowder or grilled corn; those foods tame the heat while echoing the pepper’s savory character.

American IPA
#8 in this roundup
Beer profile

American IPA

Brewed by Lucky Bucket Brewing

StyleAmerican IPA
ABV6.3%
Nebraska movea classic clear and firmly bitter American IPA
Brewed inLa Vista, Nebraska

grapefruit, pine, pale malt and a dry bitter finish

BAR NOTES

Lucky Bucket favors the clear, firmly bitter American IPA tradition, placing citrus and pine over enough malt to support the hops without blunting them.

Refrigerate it and buy recently packaged cans; pizza, grilled steak or aged cheddar can handle the bitterness, while a tulip glass concentrates aroma.

Pickle Slam
#9 in this roundup
Beer profile

Pickle Slam

Brewed by Infusion Brewing Co.

StylePickle Lager
ABV4.3%
Nebraska movea crisp lager recast as a savory cult beer
Brewed inOmaha, Nebraska

dill pickle, brine, pale grain and a tart crisp finish

BAR NOTES

Pickle Slam gives unmistakable briny dill a light lager frame, using crisp carbonation to keep the unusual flavor refreshing rather than exhausting.

Serve it very cold with fried pickles, a deli sandwich or backyard burger; it also works as a playful whiskey chaser without needing one.

Sun of the Beast
#10 in this roundup
Beer profile

Sun of the Beast

Brewed by Kinkaider Brewing Co.

StyleVanilla Cream Ale
ABV5.0%
Nebraska movea warm-weather counterpart to Snow Beast
Brewed inBroken Bow, Nebraska

vanilla, sweet grain, cream soda and a crisp finish

BAR NOTES

This summer release borrows vanilla from Kinkaider’s winter favorite but places it in a lighter cream-ale frame that stays easygoing.

A cold shaker pint is sufficient; pair it with salty pretzels, grilled chicken or berry shortcake, where vanilla can echo dessert without overwhelming it.

Wilderer Dunkel
#11 in this roundup
Beer profile

Wilderer Dunkel

Brewed by Infusion Brewing Co.

StyleMunich Dunkel
ABV5.5%
Nebraska moveGerman collaboration translated through Omaha
Brewed inOmaha, Nebraska

toasted bread, caramel, cocoa and a clean lager finish

BAR NOTES

Developed with German brewer Gerd Schoenberg, Wilderer emphasizes classic dunkel balance through layered Munich malt, bread crust and restrained cocoa.

Serve it cool in a mug with sausages, roast chicken or mushrooms; excessive cold hides the toasted depth that makes this collaboration worthwhile.

Festbier
#12 in this roundup
Beer profile

Festbier

Brewed by Lucky Bucket Brewing

StyleFestbier
ABV5.8%
Nebraska moveclean Nebraska lager for harvest-season drinking
Brewed inLa Vista, Nebraska

fresh bread, honeyed malt, floral hops and a dry finish

BAR NOTES

Lucky Bucket follows the paler modern festival style, carrying more malt depth than standard lager while remaining crisp enough for a long afternoon.

Use a pilsner glass or celebratory mug and pair it with bratwurst, pretzels, roast chicken or mustard-rich potato salad.

Belly Flop Strawberry Blonde
#13 in this roundup
Beer profile

Belly Flop Strawberry Blonde

Brewed by Lucky Bucket Brewing

StyleStrawberry Blonde Ale
ABV4.5%
Nebraska movea bright seasonal fruit beer for warm weather
Brewed inLa Vista, Nebraska

ripe strawberry, light grain, gentle sweetness and a clean finish

BAR NOTES

Belly Flop layers recognizable strawberry onto a modest blonde-ale base, keeping the fruit clear without burying the underlying grain.

Drink it fresh and cold with goat cheese, spinach salad or vanilla cake; a simple pint lets the strawberry aroma rise without concentrating sweetness.

El Squatcho
#14 in this roundup
Beer profile

El Squatcho

Brewed by Infusion Brewing Co.

StyleMexican-Style Lager
ABV4.3%
Nebraska movean Omaha lager built for heat and long afternoons
Brewed inOmaha, Nebraska

crisp grain, light corn, herbal hops and a snappy finish

BAR NOTES

El Squatcho is deliberately direct: pale, crisp and more characterful than an anonymous import, with mild malt and eager carbonation.

Serve it cold with lime if desired; tacos al pastor, grilled corn, nachos and spicy salsa benefit from the beer’s cooling dry finish.

Herd Law Honey Wheat
#15 in this roundup
Beer profile

Herd Law Honey Wheat

Brewed by Kinkaider Brewing Co.

StyleHoney Wheat Ale
ABV5.5%
Nebraska movefarm-linked wheat beer made with Nebraska honey
Brewed inBroken Bow, Nebraska

soft wheat, wildflower honey, light citrus and gentle malt

BAR NOTES

Herd Law connects Kinkaider’s farm setting to the glass through local honey, adding aroma and roundness while fermentation prevents sticky sweetness.

Pour it into a wheat glass with sushi, mild cheese or roast turkey; the light body also handles eggs and sharp brunch vinaigrettes.

Snozzberry Sour
#16 in this roundup
Beer profile

Snozzberry Sour

Brewed by Kinkaider Brewing Co.

StyleFruited Sour Ale
ABV5.0%
Nebraska moveKinkaider’s tart-and-sweet gateway sour
Brewed inBroken Bow, Nebraska

mixed berries, lemony tartness, soft wheat and sweetness

BAR NOTES

Snozzberry aims for candy-like fun while retaining enough acidity to refresh, sending vivid berry flavor into a clean tart snap.

A stemmed tumbler shows the color and keeps portions manageable; goat cheese, berry salad or roast pork all suit its sweet-tart balance.

Orangesicle
#17 in this roundup
Beer profile

Orangesicle

Brewed by Lucky Bucket Brewing

StyleOrange Cream Ale
ABV4.5%
Nebraska movea nostalgic citrus-and-cream seasonal ale
Brewed inLa Vista, Nebraska

sweet orange, vanilla cream, pale malt and a soft finish

BAR NOTES

Orangesicle translates the familiar frozen treat into light ale, pairing bright orange with vanilla while modest alcohol keeps the idea playful.

Serve it very cold with spicy wings, fruit salad or cheesecake; citrus cuts fat while vanilla makes salty snacks surprisingly effective partners.

Cow Bell Amber Ale
#18 in this roundup
Beer profile

Cow Bell Amber Ale

Brewed by Infusion Brewing Co.

StyleAmber Ale
ABV5.8%
Nebraska movea malt-forward Omaha amber with a clean finish
Brewed inOmaha, Nebraska

caramel malt, toast, light nuts and restrained bitterness

BAR NOTES

Cow Bell offers a break from fruit, spice and aggressive hopping, emphasizing toast and caramel while clean fermentation keeps the finish tidy.

This is dependable burger beer with pizza, roast pork or cheddar; let it warm a few degrees in a nonic pint to reveal toasted aroma.

Premium Lager
#19 in this roundup
Beer profile

Premium Lager

Brewed by Infusion Brewing Co.

StylePremium Lager
ABV4.8%
Nebraska moveInfusion’s uncomplicated all-occasion lager
Brewed inOmaha, Nebraska

cracker grain, faint floral hops and a bright finish

BAR NOTES

Premium Lager proves simplicity still demands precision, because light grain, controlled fermentation and lively carbonation leave nowhere for flaws to hide.

Serve it ice-cold, then notice more malt as it warms; hot dogs, fried fish or popcorn all welcome refreshment instead of competition.

Metz Lager
#20 in this roundup
Beer profile

Metz Lager

Brewed by Infusion Brewing Co.

StyleAmerican Lager
ABV4.8%
Nebraska movea modern revival of an old Omaha beer name
Brewed inOmaha, Nebraska

pale bread, gentle sweetness, herbal hops and a crisp finish

BAR NOTES

Metz reconnects modern Omaha with a brewing name reaching into the city’s nineteenth-century lager history through a light, familiar interpretation.

Pour it tall with a foam cap beside sausages, fried chicken or a Reuben; its clean finish resets the palate after rich bites.

Pumpkin Vanilla Bean
#21 in this roundup
Beer profile

Pumpkin Vanilla Bean

Brewed by Infusion Brewing Co.

StylePumpkin Blonde Ale
ABV4.8%
Nebraska moveInfusion’s flagship blonde dressed for autumn
Brewed inOmaha, Nebraska

pumpkin, vanilla, baking spice and soft golden malt

BAR NOTES

This seasonal extends Infusion’s signature blonde with squash and measured baking spice, with vanilla tying the additions into a light frame.

Pair it with roast turkey, squash soup or cinnamon doughnuts; avoid overly sweet desserts that can flatten the beer’s more delicate grain.

Holiday Cookie Vanilla Bean
#22 in this roundup
Beer profile

Holiday Cookie Vanilla Bean

Brewed by Infusion Brewing Co.

StyleSpiced Blonde Ale
ABV4.8%
Nebraska movea winter bakery spin on Omaha’s famous blonde
Brewed inOmaha, Nebraska

vanilla, butter cookie, warm spice and light malt

BAR NOTES

Holiday Cookie treats the base blonde like a baking canvas, layering buttery cookie aroma and gentle spice over familiar vanilla.

Serve it cool with shortbread, apple tart or roasted nuts; slight warming reveals spice, though excessive warmth makes sweetness seem heavier.

Spicy Pickle Slam
#23 in this roundup
Beer profile

Spicy Pickle Slam

Brewed by Infusion Brewing Co.

StyleSpicy Pickle Lager
ABV4.3%
Nebraska movepickle lager with an extra peppery kick
Brewed inOmaha, Nebraska

dill brine, green pepper, mild heat and crisp lager

BAR NOTES

Spicy Pickle Slam adds clean pepper burn to Infusion’s briny lager, while high carbonation and low alcohol keep the combination brisk.

Drink it very cold with fried chicken, burgers or ranch dip; salt, acid and heat also make it memorable beside a Bloody Mary.

Grapefruit Radler
#24 in this roundup
Beer profile

Grapefruit Radler

Brewed by Kinkaider Brewing Co.

StyleGrapefruit Radler
ABV3.5%
Nebraska movea low-alcohol Nebraska refresher inspired by cycling
Brewed inBroken Bow, Nebraska

fresh grapefruit, wheat, gentle tartness and sparkling citrus

BAR NOTES

Kinkaider blends wheat beer with grapefruit soda for genuine low-alcohol refreshment, using citrus bitterness to keep the fruit from tasting soft.

Put it in a cooler after a ride or yard work; pretzels, cured meats and turkey sandwiches complement its sweet-tart balance.

Dan the Wiser
#25 in this roundup
Beer profile

Dan the Wiser

Brewed by Kinkaider Brewing Co.

StyleAmerican Light Lager
ABV4.3%
Nebraska movean easygoing tribute to Kinkaider’s brewmaster
Brewed inBroken Bow, Nebraska

pale grain, light fruit, gentle hops and a dry finish

BAR NOTES

Named for Kinkaider’s legendary brewmaster, Dan the Wiser closes the list with mild fruit, light grain and deliberate simplicity.

Serve it cold with salads, seafood, omelets or smoked salmon; low bitterness keeps food at the center while the dry finish refreshes.

KEEP THE FLIGHT GOING

Keep your Great Plains beer flight going

Nebraska’s best beers sit at the crossroads of crisp lager, inventive flavor and Sandhills storytelling. These nearby state roundups and practical recipes keep the next pour 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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