We won’t pretend the best beer (like, the actual world’s best beer) is available in your local Kroger. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find some seriously good brews to add to your cart along with your weekly supply of cereal, vegan hot dogs, and sour candy (you sound fun, btw). We’ve tasted a ton of the best beer brands from the grocery store, and now we’ve distilled those rankings down to the ultimate list. This is a list of the best of the best beers, from the best light beer to the best sour beer and even the best pumpkin ale, which you’ll soon be able to find year round thanks to that seasonal creep.
So, what’s the best beer to buy at the grocery store? It depends what you’re looking for, but I bet you’ll find something to tickle your fancy on this list of the best canned beer and bottled beer you can easily source without following any breweries on Insta.
- O’Doul’s Premium Golden Non-Alcoholic Brew
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If you want a non-alcoholic beer that just plain tastes like beer, then you can’t do any better than O’Doul’s. It’s light. It’s crisp. It’s totally crushable. It’ll go great with a hot dog, but it’s good enough to sip on its own. Of course, if you’re interested in a non-alcoholic version of an IPA or a fruity beer, we have some opinions on those, too, in our full non-alcoholic beer ranking.
Read the full best non-alcoholic beer ranking
- Elysian The Great Pumpkin Imperial
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This pumpkin beer isn’t playing around. It comes in at 8.4%! Wow! It tastes like real, Jack-o’-lantern-grade pumpkin along with those classic pumpkin spice spices like nutmeg. It’s perfect for sipping around a fire or alongside a slice of pie.
Read the full best pumpkin beer ranking
- Omission Ultimate Wheat Ale
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With just 2.3 grams of carbs per serving, this shockingly low-carb beer (for comparison, Dogfish Head has 24 grams of carbs) is totally at home in the summer with its zesty tang and bright flavors—but it will also perk up your winters. Even though it’s a wheat beer, it won’t weigh you down. Give it a try even if you aren’t watching your carb intake.
Read the full best low-carb beer ranking
- Kona Light
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There’s so much going on in this light beer. It has tons of tropical fruit flavors like pineapple—even though there’s no actual fruit in the mix. It’s all thanks to the hops! It’s such a good light beer that you’ll find yourself choosing it instead of a non-light beer. On top of the great flavor, the packaging is also very pleasing and the bottle is so nice to hold. It’s the perfect buddy to have with you at the grill.
Read the full best light beer ranking
- Dogfish Head 60-Minute
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This IPA is refreshing. It’s citrusy. It’s bitter. But it’s also balanced with sweet malty notes to make it far too drinkable for its own good. It’s an absolute stunner of an IPA that you can sip on its own or pair with food. Somehow, Dogfish Head has gone wide with their distribution and managed to keep their quality craft brew roots. Let the others in on your secret, DH.
Read the full best IPA ranking
- Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen
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The best Oktoberfest beer is also one of the original Oktoberfest beers. It’s extremely malty with a slightly tangy finish, which makes it great with food (food likes acidity). Pair this with a giant soft pretzel and some beer cheese or a juicy bratwurst.
Read the full best Oktoberfest beer ranking
- North Coast Old Rasputin
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You saw right, the best stout is not Guinness. That’s because Old Rasputin is so much more complex. It’s moody, like a noir film. It’s bitter with notes of leather and unsweetened cocoa and coffee. Grab one of these, stare out the window at a rainy day, and enjoy.
Read the full best stout beer ranking
- Brooklyn Bel Air
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Sour beers are often way too sour. And you shouldn’t need someone to dare you to drink a beer to want to drink it. This sour beer has just the right amount of tartness. It’s refreshing, it’s tropical, it’s totally chill. And the can design can’t be beat.
Read the full best sour beer ranking
- Allagash White
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There’s a reason why Allagash is so ubiquitous—it’s great. Some of the wheat beers we tasted were super banana-y. Others were super citrusy. This one walks the line, incorporating notes of this and touches of that, revealing a beautifully balanced brew. Whether you’re a diehard wheat beer fan or just looking to take a break from IPAs, this is the best wheat beer.
Read the full best wheat beer ranking
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!