The beer scene really runs the gamut in the South . While some country have annoyingly restrictive legal philosophy that make brewery growth challenging ( looking at you , Georgia and Mississippi ) , other states have embraced the cash flow ( and , you know , scrumptious beer ) that craft breweries play to their local economies and roof of the mouth . In North Carolina , the brewery development environment is so well-disposed that large brewery like Sierra Nevada , Oskar Blues , and New Belgium have base their East Coast operations there . Regardless of aristocratical laws , the South does put out some passably kick - ass beer , some of which are coveted all over the country – and we ’ve assault up the best of the best .
Alabama
Back Forty Beer Company Trade Day Cuban
Coffee stout , 6.2%This dismission from one of the earliest breweries in Alabama was created to immortalize the US swop sanctions on Cuba being lifted last year . The stout is brewed with Cuban roasted coffee sourced by the local southerly Girl Coffee Roasting Company . The rancour of the coffee tempers the sweetness of the malt ( and vice versa ) , while the coffee tree ’s robustness complements the dark knock barleycorn . It ’s a gorgeous , amazingly full flavored stout for a stout that ’s so low in alcoholic drink , and finishes pleasurably dry .
Good People Brewing El Gordo
Russian purple stout , 13.9%Alabama - based beer writerDan Murphysays that this much - sought after beer from this Birmingham brewery is “ worth the hype . ” The flagship beer in the brewery ’s “ Bearded Reserve ” blood , this RIS has a complexity that is almost unheard of in a non - barrel senior stout . The intense chocolate , bourbon , vanilla , and dried fruit notes are equilibrate by the addition of West Coast hops , which creates a finish that is more dry than scented – with a overnice bitterness .
Florida
Cigar City Brewing Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout
Imperial stout , 11%Hunahpu ’s loss Clarence Day is one of the prime beer events in the South , selling out almost directly – all bottles of this stout go to attendees , so it ’s a tricky one to take . But making friends with someone who ’s been to Tampa and got a tidy allocation of Hunahpu bottle is definitely worthwhile : this Mayan - influenced beer combines vanilla , two case of chile peppers , vanilla , and hot chocolate nibs in everlasting equilibrium . It ’s even well with age , so seek to be patient for a feeding bottle to come up its room to you .
Civil Society Brewing Pulp
American straw , 6.3%On a list filled with majestic stout , wild and sour ales , and double IPAs , this hoppy straw beer from a newly opened brewery in Jupiter might seem out of post , but the mild , wheat - focused malt liquor banker’s bill creates just enough support for the bountiful and tropical Mosaic hops to glitter – without the brewage becoming just hop juice . If you see it , get it immediately – it does n’t last long .
J. Wakefield Brewing Miami Madness
Berliner white beer , 3.5%Thisberlinerweissexplodes with tropic fruit additions of mango , yellow cattley guava , and passionfruit , wee it a genuine penchant representation of the flavors of Miami . This low - ABV elan is pure for the South Florida heat and humidity as well , delivering a novel , cyprian - sassy , thirst - extinction beer that ’s a perfect beach sipper .
Rapp Brewing Company Gose
Gose , 4%Highly recommended by local beer lovers , this balanced version of the traditional German style is executed extremely well , commingle a refreshing wheat base with salinity and coriander seed , slightly turn with the exercise of lactic bacteria .
Georgia
Creature Comforts Tropicália
IPA , 6.5%Although this is the Athens ’ brewery flagship IPA , it can be amazingly unmanageable to get a cargo deck of – Creature Comforts ca n’t seem to brew enough of the stuff to sate the local market , and it ’s not difficult to interpret : the gamey IPA has tons of soft , fruity hop flavor that makes this one of the most crushable beers in the South .
Monday Night Bourbon barrel-aged Drafty Kilt
Scottish ale , 8.5%Part of the Atlanta brewery ’s “ Black Tie Series , ” this beer combines Bourbon dynasty with Scotch ale – to delicious , gravid American Beer Festival - amber medal winning outcome . The panache ’s typical malt liquor - forward visibility is raise by the cherrywood smoke malt include in the mix , which gives the Bourbon dynasty - of age beer a bit of a peaty finish , finishing the Bourbon dynasty flavors from the barrel and the hearty beer with just a touch of Scotland .
Kentucky
West Sixth Brewing Company IPA
American IPA , 7%West Sixth ’s flagship IPA has ruled the Lexington beer tantrum for years , and although it ’s gotten more and more contender as of former , it ’s still holding its own . Gibson says that this beer , brewed with Cascade , Centennial , Columbus , and Citra “ has a bit more of a malted milk - forward profile without lose any of the thorniness and fruit that hopheads crave . ”
Against the Grain Brewery & Smokehouse 35K
Milk River stout , 7%Louisville writerKevin Gibsonnotes that he ’d “ plausibly be publically restrict ” if he did n’t recommend 35 K by Against the Grain Brewery : it ’s just a Kentucky standout . “ It ’s a big , satisfying Milk River sturdy with all the cocoa and coffee tree you could want … it ’s really something , ” he pronounce . It ’s usable only in 22 oz bombers .
Louisiana
Chappapeela Farms Brewery Farmhouse Saison
Saison , 6.5%This rural brewery turn out truly farmhouse ales – peradventure because they ’re site on an actual working farm . apply by nature - occur yeasts , this carefully crafted , food - well-disposed saison can be found in gamy - end area restaurants and feeding bottle shops .
Parish Brewing Company Ghost in the Machine
Double IPA , 8%This double IPA undergoes slight batch variations , as the brewing team seeks to perfect the recipe – driving local IPA lovers into a frenzy of savouring , liken , and acquiring as many bottles as potential as quickly as they can . If you want to get your hired hand on fresh shade , you puzzle ta keep your pinna to the ground , yield attention , and make plans . If the Ghost somehow eludes your appreciation , however , you’re able to try Parish ’s recently revamp pale ale Envie , which has all the hop flavor – minus some of the bitterness and alcohol – and tends to be easier to find .
Mississippi
Crooked Letter Brewing Company Mystery Romp
Porter , 6.5%Chocolate and locally roasted coffee beans create this rich , suave mocha porter . The gratifying and acerb flavors equilibrise each other out for a beer that ’s for much more than afters .
Southern Prohibition Brewing Pow! Rye in the Kisser
Secale cereale beer , 6.4%Lemondrop hops set the pace for this surprisingly light , juicy rye beer , which combines hop citrus fruit with malt toast and spice . It ’s not excessively bitter from the hop or sharply spiced from the Secale cereale , but both aspect are present and balance nicely for a very tardily - drinking yet complex and flavorous spring seasonal .
North Carolina
Foothills Brewing Company Sexual Chocolate
Russian imperial stout , 9.75%Sexual Chocolate ( named for a fancied ring in the Eddie Murphy movieComing to America ) is perhaps Foothills ’ best screw beer , a cocoa nib infused Russian imperial stout brewed each February for Valentine ’s Day since the brewery ’s early days . Go to Sexual Chocolate for greenback of espresso , blackstrap molasses , dark dried fruit , vanilla extract , and ( of course ) chocolate .
Wicked Weed Funkatorium Amorous
American wild ale , 6.9%Wicked Weed ’s sour and dotty facility , the Funkatorium , puts out some the country ’s finest mixed- and fantastic - fermented beers by blending imagination and proficiency – along with their barrels of beer . Although it ’s hard to choose just one brew to recommend , Amorous empty the undercut because the ruby-red vino - cask - senior and to a great extent dry - hopped beer drinks beautifully fresh with the hop bank note scorch against the sour base – but it mellow beautifully with several month of cellar aging , too .
South Carolina
Holy City Brewing Pluff Mud Porter
American doorkeeper , 5.5%President of SC non-profit-making Midland Craft Beer SupportersNick McCormacsays that this porter is “ a GABF medal winnerfor a cause . ” He sum up that this classic take on the American Cole Albert Porter has notes of chocolate and knock , but with a medium consistency and lower ABV that make it a perfect twelvemonth - round beer .
Westbrook Brewing Company Mexican Cake
American imperial stout , 10.5%Westbrook ’s much - beloved Mexican Cake started out as a one - shot , brewed for the brewery ’s first anniversary , but proved so democratic that now it ’s brew and released every year in May . The spiced stout takes a page from traditional Mexican spicy chocolate , aging the beer with cocoa pen nib , vanilla extract beans , cinnamon sticks , and fresh habanero peppers .
Tennessee
Blackberry Farm Brewery Classic Saison
Saison , 6%Until a couple years ago , Blackberry Farm was a luxury inn , eating place , and farm . It ’s still all those thing , but they ’ve recently add a brewery to the mix , and it ’s been producing pocket-size passel rustic ales like its flagship Classic Saison . Beer make Three bloggerKendall Josephsays that it ’s “ an gross , rustic , effervescent delight , with the classic Belgian flavors you expect . ”
Yazoo Brewing Company Sue
regal fume porter , 9.2%“You commence ta be hard to be a beer name Sue , ” say Joseph , “ and this Imperial Smoked Porter can hold its own in a engagement . ” Sue ’s barley malt is smoked over cherrywood , and as Joseph notes , give up complex flavors of dark cocoa , roasted chocolate , dry cherries , and caramelized sugar .
Virginia
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Gingerbread Stout
Imperial Milk River stout , 9.2%Brewed with topically sourced baby ginger and honey , this dark , fat stout relies on the quality of its ingredients and expertise of its beer maker to redeem warm spicery – without go overboard . The malt pecker includes whole oat , which lend the silky mouthfeel , while the aforementioned honey and powdered ginger ( along with cinnamon and Madagascar bourbon vanilla ) equilibrise the roast flavors .
West Virginia
Bridge Brew Works Moxxee Coffee stout
American stout , 5.3%West Virginia beer bloggerCharles Brockwayrecommends this “ beauty of a beer that really reflect with a great meal – in place of a cup of coffee . ” He adds that the bright umber savor is nicely equilibrate with the beer ’s roast malts .
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The Washington Post/Getty Images
Good People Brewing Company
Flickr/stickergiant
Creature Comforts
West Sixth Brewing
Parish Brewing Company
Crooked Letter Brewing Company
Flickr/jpc.raleigh
Holy City Brewing
Flickr/bob walker
Courtesy of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Bridge Brew Works
