American Strong Beer covers Barleywine, Imperial Stout, Double and Triple IPA, Imperial Porter and barrel-aged entries — generally above 7 % ABV, with assertive malt or hop profiles. The hopIQ Score for American Strong Beer evaluates each beer against its sub-style reference and weights medals from style-judged competitions.
Currently leading the ranking: Real Heavy (Real Ale Brewing Company), Troegenator (Tröegs Independent Brewing) and Naughty Temple (Toppling Goliath Brewing Company).
How this ranking works
The hopIQ Score judges every beer against its style first: it rewards medals from competitions that judge within style categories and deducts points where a beer measurably deviates from its style reference. Community ratings add to that. Non-alcoholic excluded. No paid placement — order follows the data alone. Ranking spans 86 beers from 51 breweries.
Top 5 of 50
ABV
9.3%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 22
A toffee-accented malt character drives this malt-forward Scotch ale, rich brown in color and 9.3% ABV. It is built on Crystal malt and hops from England and fermented with the house English ale yeast, and the name comes from a crew of…A toffee-accented malt character drives this malt-forward Scotch ale, rich brown in color and 9.3% ABV. It is built on Crystal malt and hops from England and fermented with the house English ale yeast, and the name comes from a crew of metal fans: a Wee Heavy for headbangers. It has won gold at the Great American Beer Festival four times and silver at the 2026 World Beer Cup.
Troegenator#85 worldwide
ABV
8.2%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
deep amber 20
Smooth caramel, stone fruit and fresh toasted grains layer into a dark, malty and crisp doublebock. The recipe calls for so much grain that Tröegs custom-built its brewhouse around it. Chocolate, Munich and Pilsner malts meet German…Smooth caramel, stone fruit and fresh toasted grains layer into a dark, malty and crisp doublebock. The recipe calls for so much grain that Tröegs custom-built its brewhouse around it. Chocolate, Munich and Pilsner malts meet German Northern Brewer and Magnum hops, fermented with lager yeast to 8.2% ABV and a bronze color. Gold at the Great American Beer Festival in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014, plus World Beer Cup gold in 2010.
Naughty Temple#522 worldwide
ABV
13.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
deep amber 15
The barrel-aged ale shows an amber color, a warm caramel flavor and a whiskey aroma. The brewery lists 13.6% ABV, and Untappd carries vintages of the beer from 2013 to 2024, with the 2023 release at 13.6% and the 2024 release at 12.9%. It…The barrel-aged ale shows an amber color, a warm caramel flavor and a whiskey aroma. The brewery lists 13.6% ABV, and Untappd carries vintages of the beer from 2013 to 2024, with the 2023 release at 13.6% and the 2024 release at 12.9%. It won Gold at the U.S. Open Beer Championship in 2022. The main Untappd entry, added in 2011, lists 14.2%.
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ABV
14.0%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
amber 14
Toasted malt, bourbon and oak carry the deep flavor, with whispers of vanilla, toffee and caramel in the finish. It is based on Stormwatcher's Winterfest, the brewery's English-style barleywine, and ages a year in Kentucky bourbon barrels.…Toasted malt, bourbon and oak carry the deep flavor, with whispers of vanilla, toffee and caramel in the finish. It is based on Stormwatcher's Winterfest, the brewery's English-style barleywine, and ages a year in Kentucky bourbon barrels. At 14% ABV and 40 IBU it is released each November and December, best enjoyed with winds above 60 mph.
5
Captain of the Coast#884 worldwide
ABV
9.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
dark 22
Chocolate-covered cherries and toasted oak lead the flavor, with aromas of spice and vanilla and notes of apricot and dark marmalade. This Wee Heavy has a silky smooth mouthfeel, 9.5% ABV and 25 IBU, and won silver at the 2017 European…Chocolate-covered cherries and toasted oak lead the flavor, with aromas of spice and vanilla and notes of apricot and dark marmalade. This Wee Heavy has a silky smooth mouthfeel, 9.5% ABV and 25 IBU, and won silver at the 2017 European Beer Star in the wood and barrel aged strong beer category. Brewed by Pelican in Oregon.
Ranks 6–10
6
Meteora#974 worldwide
Meteora spent two years hidden in the barrel cellar. Its deep red hue hints of sweet molasses, brown sugar, pinwheel date cookies, light raisin and caramel-chocolate candies. It is listed at 11% ABV and took Bronze at the U.S. Open Beer…Meteora spent two years hidden in the barrel cellar. Its deep red hue hints of sweet molasses, brown sugar, pinwheel date cookies, light raisin and caramel-chocolate candies. It is listed at 11% ABV and took Bronze at the U.S. Open Beer Championship in 2024. Untappd also lists Brandy Barrel and Triple Barrel versions.
7
Flying Mouflan#999 worldwide
Resin, caramel and chocolate notes shape this barleywine ale. It first took flight as the brewery's Scratch #4 and is built on six malts, among them Bonlander Munich, dark Munich, C80 and Special B, plus cane sugar, with Chinook, CTZ and…Resin, caramel and chocolate notes shape this barleywine ale. It first took flight as the brewery's Scratch #4 and is built on six malts, among them Bonlander Munich, dark Munich, C80 and Special B, plus cane sugar, with Chinook, CTZ and Simcoe hops and house ale yeast. 9.5% ABV, meant to be enjoyed now or put away. Gold at the Great American Beer Festival in 2010. A Brewery Only release from Hershey, Pennsylvania.
8
Straight Jacket is Revolution's bourbon barrel-aged Barleywine, blended with care and drawn at 15% ABV. Caramel, stone fruit, brown sugar and vanilla come through with each swirl. It took a bronze medal in the Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong…Straight Jacket is Revolution's bourbon barrel-aged Barleywine, blended with care and drawn at 15% ABV. Caramel, stone fruit, brown sugar and vanilla come through with each swirl. It took a bronze medal in the Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer category at the 2018 Great American Beer Festival and returns each year as a limited release on draft and in cans.
9
Four Peaks' flagship and the beer most associated with Arizona craft brewing — a Scottish-style strong ale with pronounced caramel and roasted barley, earthy floral hop aroma from UK varieties, and a clean dry finish. Silver at the 2013…Four Peaks' flagship and the beer most associated with Arizona craft brewing — a Scottish-style strong ale with pronounced caramel and roasted barley, earthy floral hop aroma from UK varieties, and a clean dry finish. Silver at the 2013 GABF. Accounts for over half the brewery's total production.
10
A barleywine-style ale released each year from January to April, with the vintage printed on the bottle so it can be cellared. Two-row pale and caramelized malts build a heavy, bittersweet body with toffee, caramel, dark bread crust and…A barleywine-style ale released each year from January to April, with the vintage printed on the bottle so it can be cellared. Two-row pale and caramelized malts build a heavy, bittersweet body with toffee, caramel, dark bread crust and dried fruit such as raisin and plum. Cascade, Centennial and Chinook push against it with grapefruit, pine and resin, and the bitterness stays high and drying. With age the hops recede and notes of sherry and port move forward.
The taste landscape
Of the 50 top beers, 44 lean malt-forward and 2 lean hop-forward.