The Top 10 Highest-Average-Rated Beer Styles of 2023
Do we all love lagers? Or are hops still royally supreme? Could malt-dominant beers tickle our taste buds? What styles do we rate the highest? We're about to find out. For our third post in our series of Untappd Year in Review for 2023, we're taking a look at the top ten styles based on their highest average ratings.
But first, don't forget to read:
The Breweries With the Most Created Beers in 2023
The Countries With the Most Check-Ins Outside of the U.S.
Check out what styles rated highest this past year.
10. Mead - Cyser
A style of mead made with honey and apple juice or cider, cyser kicks off in the tenth spot on this list with an average rating of 4.09 in 2023. We can't say that we've truly tried any apple meads, so we'll just leave it to our list of the top-rated versions to show you why this style has received some high rankings this year.
14% ABV
N/A IBU
590 Ratings
14% ABV
N/A IBU
789 Ratings
13% ABV
N/A IBU
379 Ratings
T 8. Rye Wine
With an average rating of 4.11 on Untappd, rye wine falls into the ninth spot on this list in 2023. Think of these beers as similar to barleywines but with a base predominantly of rye instead of barley. Big, boozy, and often barrel-aged, rye wines have lots of complex, nuanced layers.
Try one of these all-time top-rated versions that are still in production:
14.9% ABV
N/A IBU
1,764 Ratings
12.3% ABV
N/A IBU
2,567 Ratings
12.5% ABV
N/A IBU
1,253 Ratings
T 8. Mead - Melomel
The second style of mead to make it into these rankings in 2023, melomel simply means mead made with fermented fruit, which can range from mulberries or blackcurrants to cherries or grapes to even lemons or blueberries. The possibilities are endless, which is probably why this style cracked the top ten for the first time with an average rating of 4.11 in 2023.
If you don't know where to start, seek out one of these top-rated versions:
14% ABV
N/A IBU
2,267 Ratings
14% ABV
N/A IBU
8,160 Ratings
13.5% ABV
N/A IBU
5,018 Ratings
7. Stout - Imperial/Double Oatmeal
Staying put in seventh place this year, the imperial oatmeal stout still improves its highest average rating nominally from 4.1 to 4.12 on Untappd.
Perhaps a lesser-brewed version of stout, oatmeal stouts tap into the magical alchemy of oats to make a creamier, dreamier version of a stout with a luxurious, velvety mouthfeel and a rich, chocolatey complexion.
If you're looking to try one of the top-rated versions on Untappd, indulge in these ones still in production:
13% ABV
N/A IBU
7,942 Ratings
12% ABV
70 IBU
24,651 Ratings
Apple Brandy Toast-E Coilz
Collaboration with Monkish Brewing Co., Cloudwater Brew Co., Other Half Brewing Co., Trillium Brewing Company
Stout - Imperial / Double Oatmeal
12% ABV
N/A IBU
1,323 Ratings
12.2% ABV
N/A IBU
2,131 Ratings
T 5. Stout - Imperial/Double
Slipping back two places from third to fifth, the imperial stout actually keeps the same 4.14 average rating as last year. Why do we love stouts? Un-stout-edly, we shout from the rooftops for the dark depths of these dank-defying beers because they touch our souls.
So, while we love stouts of all varieties—coffee, pastry, oatmeal, Irish dry, or even oyster—the richer, boozier imperial or double stout captures our hearts.
Bourbon barrel imperial stouts, in particular, were first popularized by Goose Island brewmaster Greg Hall when he had the genius idea to age Goose Island's one-thousandth batch of beer in a bourbon barrel in 1992.
But no matter the barrel or the adjuncts added, imperial stouts continue to impress with their innovation and creativity.
Today, there are countless permutations of these boozy stouts. Many are no longer in production, so to give you a good idea, here are a few of Untappd's All-Time Top-Rated Imperial Stouts still in production:
12% ABV
N/A IBU
3,535 Ratings
15.5% ABV
N/A IBU
9,167 Ratings
T 5. IPA - Quadruple
A newcomer to the list this year, the quadruple IPA slides into the top five with an average 4.14 rating on the app. A bit of a murky style, quadruple IPAs won't show up with any specific style definitions at the Great American Beer Festival or for the Beer Judge Certification Program. But brewers have their own interpretations, loosely grouping these high-octane hoppy ales north of 10% ABV. But don't quote us on this, everyone plays the game a little differently.
In general, though, with quadruple IPAs, you can expect an extreme amount of hops (anywhere from seven to over ten pounds per barrel) and a high ABV range. But balance is key with the quad, and finding that sweet spot is always the elusive quest.
For the most part, the sheer amount of hops going in quadruple IPAs pushes these beers on the expensive side of production. With that in mind, you don't see them out in the wild too often. If you do come across one (especially if it's a top-rated QIPA listed below), drop everything and drink it.
Untappd's All-Time Top-Rated Quadruple IPAs still in production include:
12% ABV
N/A IBU
1,053 Ratings
12% ABV
N/A IBU
4,328 Ratings
15% ABV
21 IBU
1,023 Ratings
T 2. Barleywine - English
Moving up three spots from fifth, English barleywines share a spot with two other styles for the second-highest-rated style of the year with a 4.15 rating (improving from 4.12 last year).
Although barleywines are beer and not wine, they do share some similarities: aging well over time and landing at higher ABVs. But barleywine gets a potent power from sugars extracted in massive grain bills compared to those from fermented juice with wine.
An extended boil allows the malt to dispel a complex level of sugars which gives these beers intricate layers of sweetness.
English barleywines focus on high-quality pale and caramel British malts—like Maris Otter and Golden Promise—bringing out deep, rich flavors of treacle, almost-burnt caramel, molasses, toffee, and darker fruit.
According to the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) definition of an English barleywine, the overall impression of this style should "showcase a malty richness and complex, intense flavors, [with] a chewy and rich body, with warming alcohol and a pleasant fruit or hoppy interest."
Hops play second fiddle here (unlike the American versions, which prioritize a slightly more aggressive bitterness).
Lastly, an English barleywine typically uses a British ale yeast to often create slightly fruity esters and ensure these beers hit somewhere between 8-12% ABV.
These are big, bold, brash beers that put malt on the throne she deserves.
All-time top-rated versions on the app that are still in production include:
16.8% ABV
N/A IBU
4,513 Ratings
9% ABV
N/A IBU
4,392 Ratings
T 2. Stout - Imperial/Double Pastry
Ranking fourth on this list in 2022, the imperial pastry stout moves up one spot, jumping from an average rating of 4.13 to 4.15 this year.
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, maple syrup, coconut truffles, oh my. Cacao nibs, marshmallow fluff, nuts galore, and even pies in the sky. When it comes to decadent imperial pastry stouts, the entire candy aisle, cake case, bakery shelf, and even cereal aisle are not off limits.
The key to a successful pastry stout is to make a beer that tastes like dessert, often tapping into those nostalgic vibes we've had with different after-dinner sensations—ice cream, brownies, cakes, pies, cookies, and any number of candy bars.
We're only scratching the surface here, giving you a little glimpse into how crazy brewers can get here, especially when you amp up the ABV and volume with an imperial version.
Indulge in these Untappd's All-Time Top-Rated Imperial Pastry Stouts that are still in production:
Barrel Aged Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake Stout
Stout - Imperial / Double Pastry
11% ABV
N/A IBU
6,443 Ratings
Assassin With Coconut, Pecan And Vanilla (2023)
Stout - Imperial / Double Pastry
13.5% ABV
N/A IBU
2,848 Ratings
14.1% ABV
N/A IBU
1,173 Ratings
T 2. Stout - Imperial/Double Coffee
Staying put in 2023, the imperial coffee stout still couldn't muster enough juice to beat out the highest-average-rated style below. In fact, the double coffee stout slipped a smidge, falling from a rating of 4.16 to 4.15 this year.
If you've ever wondered exactly how these afternoon bottles of Joe are made, Hop Culture wrote an entire primer on everything you need to know about coffee beers and even answered whether those coffee stouts will keep you up at night.
Yes, we'll have a double shot of double coffee stouts, please!
If you're looking to try one of the all-time highest-rated imperial coffee stouts on Untappd, check out these that are still in production:
12% ABV
N/A IBU
20,013 Ratings
Speedway Stout (Vietnamese Coffee Barrel Aged)
Stout - Imperial / Double Coffee
14.2% ABV
70 IBU
9,950 Ratings
13.9% ABV
N/A IBU
4,739 Ratings
1. IPA - Triple New England / Hazy
For the second year in a row, you all gave the triple hazy IPA the highest average rating of the year, moving from 4.19 in 2022 to 4.21 in 2023. We'd say we're shocked…but we're not! Triple the haze, ABV, and juiciness, these amped-up New England IPAs certainly earn their place as the top highest-average-rated style on Untappd in 2023.
Let's just get to what you all probably want to know. Here are some of the all-time top triple hazies on the app:
10% ABV
N/A IBU
3,532 Ratings
10% ABV
N/A IBU
2,410 Ratings
10% ABV
N/A IBU
5,428 Ratings
10% ABV
N/A IBU
3,135 Ratings
< Insert Hip Hop Reference Here >
Collaboration with Trillium Brewing Company
IPA - Triple New England / Hazy
10.1% ABV
N/A IBU
3,508 Ratings
Stay tuned for our next post as we dive into the top beers of 2023 based on the number of five-star ratings on Untappd.
Looking for more?
Our friends at Hop Culture rounded up the Best Beers of 2023.
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