Current Highest Rated Feature High-Proof Brews
(The Beer Advocate ratings are used to create this ranking. Anything with a rating of Excellent (A-) or better makes this list.)

1. Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA $9.99/4-pack 12 oz. bottles

Origin: Delaware.

Style: American Double.

Alcohol Content: 9.0%.

Rating: Outstanding (A).

Brewery notes: "A big beer with a great malt backbone that stands up to the extreme hopping rate. Tasting Notes: Brandied fruitcake, raisiney, citrusy. Food Pairing recommendations: Pork chops, beef, grilled fish, frites, focaccia, split pea soup, Stilton cheese & escargot. Glassware recommendation: Snifter." Single 12 ounce bottle is available for $2.79.

2. Duvel $13.99/4-pack 330 ml. bottles

Origin: Belgium.

Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

Alcohol Content: 8.5%.

Rating: Outstanding (A).

Brewery notes: "Duvel has the complexity and depth of an ale, with the ease and refreshing nature of a Pilsner. Duvel is fermented 3 times - twice at the brewery and the final time in the bottle." Jason Alström (Beer Advocate co-founder) notes: "A top shelf brew, this one does it for me and then some. Pretty much sex in a bottle and the devil told me to drink it. Duvel is close to dry champagne but so much more. Between the bitterness and the sheer crispness, this beer is what I expect from the Belgian strong pale ale style." Also available in 22 ounce bottles for $8.99, and occasionally in a 1.5 Liter bottle.

3. Unibroue La Fin Du Monde $9.99/4-pack 12 oz. bottles

Origin: Quebec.

Style: Tripel.

Alcohol Content: 9.0%.

Rating: Outstanding (A).

First introduced in 1994, La Fin Du Monde ("The End of the World"), is blond and golden. The taste is descibed by the brewery as "Smooth, slightly tart with the balanced flavors of wild spices, malt and hops." The brewery notes go on: "Expect subtlety and strength, with a chorus of fruit, spice and hop notes. Pair with aged cheeses and succulent cuisine like scallops, filet mignon, duck confit and desserts."

4. Stone Brewing IPA $4.99/22 ounce bottle

Origin: California.

Style: American IPA.

Alcohol Content: 6.9%.

Rating: Outstanding (A).

Brewery notes: "Stone India Pale Ale is true to style with a huge hop aroma, flavor and bitterness throughout. Expect medium malt character with a heavy dose of over the top hops." Appearance: Rich golden amber. Hop aromas dominate and might turn away those who aren't "hop heads". Flavorwise, it's very bitter but with just enough malty character to balance. The 6-pack of 12 ounce bottles is available for $12.99.

5. Stone Brewing Ruination IPA $6.99/22 ounce bottle

Origin: California.

Style: American Double.

Alcohol Content: 7.7%.

Rating: Outstanding (A).

Brewery notes: "So called because of the 'ruinous' effect on your palate! This massive hop monster has a wonderfully delicious and intensely bitter flavor on a refreshing malt base." Stone calls this brew, "a liquid poem to the glory of the hop."

6. North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout $9.99/4-pack 12 oz. bottles

Origin: California.

Style: Russian Imperial Stout.

Alcohol Content: 9.0%.

Rating: Outstanding (A).

Brewery notes: "Color: Black. Old Rasputin a rich, intense brew with big complex flavors and a warming finish. 75 IBU's." Beer Advocate Todd Alström notes: "Black as night, with a brown chunky head that seems to crawl, rather than stick, to the pint glass. A very impressive cascading effect when poured. Highly roasted malt aromas and alcoholic to the nose. Smooth, potent and espresso like with a high burnt malt and hop bitterness that finishes on the sweet side to say the least. Not a beer for the faint of heart, but rather barley wine lovers and chocolate fanatics."

7. Victory Brewing Storm King Imperial Stout $10.99/6-pack 12 oz. bottles

Origin: Pennsylvania. Style: Russian Imperial Stout. Alcohol Content: 9.1%.
Rating: Outstanding (A). Victory Brewing has stormed into Frugal MacDoogal's in a big way. Victory Brewing is gets a very rare Beer Advocate overall A rating for all the brews it makes. Brewery notes: "With a huge, Pacific Northwest hop aroma and character upfront, Storm King subsides into massive, roast malt complexity. More flavor than mere words can adequately describe. Rich and substantial, it will warm your heart."

8. Chimay Grand Réserve Blue Label Trappist Ale $11.99/750 ml.

Origin: Belgium.

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale.

Alcohol Content: 9.0%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Chimay notes: "This is a beer whose fragrance of fresh yeast with a light, flowery rosy touch is especially pleasant. Its flavor, noticed when tasting it, only accentuates the pleasant sensations perceived in the aroma, while revealing a light but pleasant touch of roasted malt. This top fermented Trappist beer, refermented in the bottle, is not pasteurized." The pictured 330 ml. (11 ounce) bottle is $4.99.

9. Chimay Première Red Label Trappist Ale $9.99/750 ml.

Origin: Belgium.

Style: Dubbel.

Alcohol Content: 7.0%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Chimay notes: "it is noted for its coppery color which makes it particularly attractive. Topped with a creamy head, it gives off a light, fruity apricot aroma produced by the fermentation. The taste perceived in the mouth is a balance confirming the fruity nuances noticed in the fragrance. Its taste, which imparts a silky sensation to the tongue, is made refreshing by a light touch of bitterness. To the palate, the taster perceives a pleasant astringency which complements the flavor qualities of this beer very harmoniously. This top fermented Trappist beer, refermented in the bottle, is not pasteurized." The pictured 330 ml. (11 ounce) bottle is $4.49.

10. Chimay Cinq Cents Triple White Label Trappist Ale $10.99/750 ml.

Origin: Belgium.

Style: Tripel.

Alcohol Content: 8.0%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Chimay notes: "This beer with its typical golden color, its slightly hazy appearance and its fine head is especially characterised by its aroma which results from an agreeable combination of fresh hops and yeast. The beer's flavor, as sensed in the mouth, comes from the smell of hops: above all it is the fruity notes of muscat and raisins that give this beer a particularly attractive aroma. The aroma complements the touch of bitterness. There is no acidity, but an after-bitterness which melts in the mouth. This top fermented Trappist beer, refermented in the bottle, is not pasteurized." The pictured 330 ml. (11 ounce) bottle is available for $4.99.

11. Corsendonk Abbey Brown Ale $9.99/750 ml.

Origin: Belgium.

Style: Dubbel.

Alcohol Content: 7.5%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Corsendonk notes: "Corsendonk Pater is brewed with roasted malt, hence its deep dark reddish brown color. It is a mellow, dark, top-fermenter beer, refermented and matured in the bottle to obtain a lively, bubbly beer with a rich head." The pictured 12 ounce bottle is available for $4.29.

12. Great Divide Brewing Titan IPA $12.99/6-pack 12 oz. bottles

Origin: Colorado.

Style: American IPA.

Alcohol Content: 6.8%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Brewery notes: "We brew Titan IPA for hop disciples - independent beer drinkers seeking out robust, flavorful beers characterized by their abundance of hops flavor, aroma and bitterness. As a big, aggressively hopped India Pale Ale, Titan IPA fills this bill - beginning with piney hop aromas and citrus hop flavors, and finishing with a rich, malty sweetness that is carefully balanced with crisp hop bitterness. Titan IPA weighs in at a considerable 65 International Bittering Units (IBUs). "

13. Lion Stout $9.99/6-pack 330 ml. bottles

Origin: Sri Lanka.

Style: Foreign Stout.

Alcohol Content: 8.0%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Jason Alström, Beer Advocate, comments: "Full bodied with a moderate carbonation. Smooth and creamy without a doubt, coffee and unsweetened chocolate come to mind at the first taste. Fruity twang in the middle of black currants, this twang doubles with a roasted grain flavour that is perfectly balanced. Hints of charcoal and earth run middle to end as the alcohol as kicks in with a warming estery character. Finishes slightly sweet with vague remnants of roastedness. "

14. Stone Brewing Arrogant Bastard Ale $4.99/22 ounce bottle

Origin: California.

Style: American Strong Ale.

Alcohol Content: 7.2%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

First introduced in November, 1997, this is an aggressive beer. Hugely complex, deep reddish brown, frothy and stick, there's a lot going on between the hops and malt in this brew. Beer Advocate Todd Alström says, "Medium bodied, yet rich, full and complex. Smooth, especially as it warms. Big malty sweetness with caramel, chocolate and toasted/roasted flavours. Alcohol prickliness teases the palate then the brew kicks its ass with an assertive hop profile. It's raw, coarse, a bit prickly itself, mildly rind-like. Helps to balance the huge malt flavours. Finishes with a lingering sweetness, caramel, roasted coffee. A bit grain/dry too."

15. Delirium Tremens Ale $4.69/330 ml. bottle

Origin: Belgium.

Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

Alcohol Content: 9.0%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Pale yellow-gold hue. Spicy and lightly fruity aromas follow through on a moderately full-bodied palate with candied palate malt flavors and a dry finish where subtle hop flavors emerge.

16. Flying Dog Brewery Double Dog Pale Ale $8.99/4-pack 12 oz. bottles

Origin: Maryland.

Style: American Double.

Alcohol Content: 11.5%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Brewery notes: "Aggressively hopped ale with a provocative aroma and hints of raisins and citrus. The appearance is deep amber, unfiltered. Food pairings: Smoked meats, sharp cheddar, sausage. 85 IBUs."

17. Flying Dog Brewery Gonzo Imperial Porter $8.99/4-pack 12 oz. bottles

Origin: Maryland.

Style: Baltic Porter.

Alcohol Content: 7.8%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Brewery notes: "Strong Cascade hop aroma with a dark, rich malty body, intense roasted flavors, and a surprisingly unique hop kick. Pair with desserts, chocolate, dried sweet fruits, or main dishes like smoked meats or barbecue. The appearance is like dark chocolate, unfiltered. 85 IBUs."

18. Oskar Blues Old Chub Scottish Style Ale $9.99/6-pack 12 oz. cans

Origin: Colorado.

Style: Scottish Ale.

Alcohol Content: 8.0%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Brewery notes: " Old Chub is brewed with hearty amounts of seven different malts, including crystal and chocolate malts, and a smidge of US and UK hops. Old Chub also gets a dash of beechwood-smoked grains imported from Bamburg, Germany, home of the world's greatest smoked beers. Old Chub takes care of our deep affections for malt.The cola-colored beer (almost black) features a tan head, a creamy, skim-milk mouthfeel, and rich, semi-sweet flavors of caramel and chocolate throughout. The addition of smoked grains gives Old Chub a delicate kiss of smoke on the finish. Here is the beer equivalent of a lightly smoked single malt scotch, or your favorite dark chocolate." Amazing, you can get this quality ale in a can!

19. Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron $14.99/4-pack 12 oz. bottles

Origin: Delaware.

Style: American Brown Ale.

Alcohol Content: 12.0%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Brewery notes: "An unfiltered, unfettered, unprecedented brown ale aged in handmade wooden brewing vessels. The caramel and vanilla complexity unique to this beer comes from the exotic Paraguayan Palo Santo wood from which these tanks were crafted. Palo Santo means 'holy tree' and it's wood has been used in South American wine-making communities. This beer is a 12% abv, highly roasty, and malty brown ale aged on the Palo Santo wood."

20. Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale $3.49/330 ml. bottle

Origin: California.

Style: American Strong Ale.

Alcohol Content: 7.2%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Todd Alström, Beer Advocate review: "A dark brown beer with a creamy off-white head; good retention. Aroma was incredible with a complex floral, herbal, citrus and woody nose. At first taste: creamy and smooth in the mouthfeel. Then strong mint, followed by strong hoppy/pine-y herbal flavor and juicy citrus (grapefruit!!); big hop bite. Oak anchors the big malty sweet flavors and carries thru to the dry finish with strong notes of wood. The aging added a whole other depth of complexity and smoothness to the beer."

21. Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale $11.99/6-pack 12 oz. bottles

Origin: Delaware.

Style: American Brown Ale.

Alcohol Content: 7.2%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Brewery notes: "A cross between a Scotch Ale, an I.P.A., and an American Brown, this beer is well-hopped and malty at the same time. It is brewed with Aromatic barley and caramelized brown sugar. 50 IBU's. Tasting Notes: Notes of molasses, coffee, ginger, raisinettes, chocolate. Food Pairing recommendations: Balsamic vinaigrette salads, smoked meats, duck confit, braised ribs, venison, prosciutto, stews."

22. Unibroue Trois Pistoles Ale $9.99/4-pack 12 oz. bottles

Origin: Quebec.

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale.

Alcohol Content: 9.0%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Brewery description: "Trois Pistoles has a dark brown color topped with a rich foam mousse. Its slightly sweet taste is enhanced by accents of roasted malt, cocoa, ripe fruit and dark spices with a smooth finish like an old port." Beer Advocate Jason Alström says, "Another spectacular brew from one of the best breweries from Canada. Big enough to pair up with the most robust meals or just to sip the cold winter months away. Packed with complex flavors and deviously drinkable at 9% alcohol."

23. Tripel Karmeliet $11.99/750 ml. bottle

Origin: Belgium.

Style: Tripel.

Alcohol Content: 8.4%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Back in stock! Beer Advocate Jason Alström says, "Appearance: Slightly hazed pale amber with a thinnish white lace. Smell: Touch of honey like sweetness, soft vanilla and medicinal phenols that are a little herbal. Malt is evident and yeast gives an earthy character to the aroma. Notes: Quite the alcoholic brew, big boisterous and complex. Perhaps over the top but still a brew to reckon with. A good cheese pairing would be with a nice creamy Danish Blue and some rye crackers."

24. Great Divide Hercules Double IPA $6.99/22 ounce bottle

Origin: Colorado.

Style: American Double.

Alcohol Content: 9.1%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Brewery notes: "Hoppier, maltier and with more alcohol than a standard IPA, Hercules Double IPA definitely is not for the faint of heart. Hercules Double IPA is, however, an elixir fit for the gods. A brash but creamy wonder, Hercules pours a deep orange-coppery color, forming substantial lace in the glass. Hercules Double IPA delivers a huge amount of piney, floral, and citrusy hop aroma and flavor from start to finish. A hefty backbone of nutty, toffee-like malt character balances Hercules’ aggressive, punchy hop profile. 85 IBU's."

25. North Coast Old Stock Ale 2008 $12.99/4-pack 12 oz. bottles

Origin: California.

Style: Old Ale.

Alcohol Content: 12.5%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Brewery notes: "Like a fine port, Old Stock Ale is intended to be laid down. With an original gravity of over 1.100 and a generous hopping rate, Old Stock Ale is well-designed to round-out and mellow with age. It's brewed with classic Maris Otter malt and Fuggles and East Kent Goldings hops, all imported from England. 36 IBU's."

26. Brewery Ommegang Three Philosophers Belgian Style Blend $8.99/750 ml. bottle

Origin: New York.

Style: Quadrupel (Quad).

Alcohol Content: 9.8%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

From the Ommegang Brewery: "Three Philosophers is a unique and masterful blend of strong malty ale and authentic Belgian Kriek (cherry lambic). Our philosophers deduce that this powerful marriage of cherries, roasted malts, and dark chocolate will only achieve more wisdom and coherence as it broods in the dark recesses of your cellar. Pair with roasted meats, rich cheeses, desserts, or enjoy for after dinner sipping as with a fine port." The Philadelphia Enquirer wrote, "A rare international blend of dark and malty quadrupel from Ommegang, and cherry-infused lambic from Lindemans in Belgium. It is a masterful blend that is greater than the sum of its parts - a rich, ruby brew that weaves a port-like subtle fruit into a creamy elixir of chocolaty caramel effervescence."

27. Gulden Draak $4.99/330 ml. bottle

Origin: Belgium.

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale.

Alcohol Content: 10.5%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Brewery notes: "Gulden Draak is a dark heavy beer that undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle. It is a beer that is so rich, so glowing, so full of its very own characteristic flavor, that it reminds some who try it of chocolate and others of coffee." Todd Alström of Beer Advocate calls it, "a classic amongst Belgian beers", giving it an A+ rating. Also available in the 750 ml. bottle for $12.99.

28. La Chouffe Belgian Golden Ale $8.99/750 ml. bottle

Origin: Belgium.

Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

Alcohol Content: 8.0%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Brewery notes: "La Chouffe is an unfiltered blonde beer, which is re-fermented in the bottle as well as in the keg. It is pleasantly fruity, spiced with coriander, and with a light hop taste."

29. Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA $9.99/6-pack 12 oz. bottles

Origin: California.

Style: American IPA.

Alcohol Content: 7.2%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Brewery notes: "Sierra Nevada Torpedo Ale is a big American IPA; bold, assertive and full of flavor and aromas highlighting the complex citrus, pine and herbal character of whole-cone American hops. 70 IBU's." This is a new addition to Sierra Nevada's year-around lineup.

30. Boulevard Double Wide IPA $10.99/750 ml. bottle

Origin: Missouri.

Style: American IPA.

Alcohol Content: 8.5%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Brewery notes: "This beer has a hop forward aroma, redolent of peach and apricot. The assertive flavor bursts forth with citrus notes of blood orange and lemon, and a caramel malt backbone serves to balance the intensity of the hops. 55 IBU's."

31. Samuel Adams Imperial Stout $10.99/4-pack 12 oz. bottles

Origin: Massachusetts.

Style: American Double.

Alcohol Content: 9.2%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

Brewery notes: "The first thing you notice about this beer is its color. It is black as night and almost completely opaque. Next is the cappuccino colored head: the aroma is filled with notes of coffee, smoky chocolate and licorice. And the taste delivers on all of those aromas, you can pick out each one. Samuel Adams Imperial Stout was brewed with seven different varieties of malted barley, each delivering its own unique flavor for the beer. But this beer is not a 'malt bomb'. It is balanced by 50 BUs of East Kent Goldings hops that have a clean earthy aroma and pleasant bitterness. For a cheese pairing, try aged strong cheeses like Stilton blue cheese or aged Gouda. Cioppino or rare roast beef will also pair well as they will cut some of the sweetness of the beer. The dark roasted malt in the Imperial Stout brings out chocolate aromas and flavors making it a tasty pairing with coffee or chocolate desserts. But the classic pairing for stouts are a plate of raw oysters. The roasted bitterness of the stout is contrasted by the saltiness and subtle sweetness from the shellfish. Simply amazing."

32. Victory Brewing HopDevil Ale $8.99/6-pack 12 oz. bottles

Origin: Pennsylvania. Style: American IPA. Alcohol Content: 6.7%.
Rating: Excellent (A-). Victory Brewing has stormed into Frugal MacDoogal's in a big way. Victory Brewing is gets a very rare Beer Advocate overall A rating for all the brews it makes. Brewery notes: "Menacingly delicious, with the powerful, aromatic punch of whole flower American hops backed up by rich, German malts. HopDevil Ale offers a roller coaster ride of flavor, coasting to a smooth finish that satisfies fully."

33. Schlafly Tripel Ale $12.99/750 ml. bottle

Origin: Missouri.

Style: Tripel.

Alcohol Content: 10.0%.

Rating: Excellent (A-).

This is one of the bottle-conditioned brews from Schlafly. Brewery notes: "Hearty with a golden hue and rich, fruity character. While this ale is light in color, it is fuller bodied than many darker ales. These characteristics make it a great after-dinner drink and a perfect complement to aged cheese and fruity desserts."