If you were to ask an expert on the topic, they’d likely tell you that a “high-ABV” beer is one that sits at or above 7.5 percent alcohol by volume (with many falling in the 10 percent plus range). This is because, even though you might be drinking higher alcohol IPAs all year long, most beers sit around 5 percent alcohol. They’d also tell you that myriad different beer styles fit this criterion.
While you’re not likely to find a lot of pilsners and lagers that fall under this category, you’ll find countless imperial porters, imperial stouts, double and triple IPAs, barleywines, Scotch ales, and various other heavier, darker, maltier styles. You could fill your fridge with a variety of high-ABV beers guaranteed to appeal to every beer drinker’s palate. That is unless they don’t enjoy high-alcohol beers. In that case, they can just grab that Bud Light hiding way in the back.
High-ABV beers are perfect for winter because of a variety of reasons. First and foremost is the alcohol content itself. Higher alcohol means these winter bangers are likely to be more warming (or at least feel more warming going down by speeding up our heart rate and widening our blood vessels).
They’re also guaranteed to have more body, sugars, starches, and overall substance than some of their lower-ABV counterparts. This means they’ll pair better with heavier winter foods and good times with friends and family after a long day of snowshoeing, skiing, or standing outside grilling in freezing temperatures.
Since we wanted to mix it up to appeal to all palates, below you’ll find ten of our favorite higher-ABV beers. Double IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, Scotch ales, and imperial stouts, these beers are guaranteed to warm you up inside and out. Keep scrolling to see them all.
Lagunitas Maximus Colossal IPA
There are few more aptly named high-ABV beers than Lagunitas Maximus Colossal IPA. This 9 percent ABV double IPA starts with a malt backbone of Munich and English Crystal malts as well as malted wheat. It gets its bold, bright, floral, tropical fruit, citrus peel, and berry flavors from the addition of Cascade and Simcoe hops. It’s a high-ABV, hoppy beer for all the beer fans who refuse to stop drinking IPAs during the frigid winter months.
- Origin: California
- ABV: 9%
- Price Range: $11.99-12.99 for a six-pack
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
When it comes to high-ABV beers, no list would be complete without the OG barrel-aged stout from the masterminds at Chicago’s Goose Island. The most recent Goose Island Bourbon County Stout is a rich, cocoa, coffee, vanilla, cherry, and warming bourbon-filled banger that was matured in a combination of Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace, and Wild Turkey barrels.
- Origin: Illinois
- ABV: 14.1% & 14.6%
- Price Range: $14+ for a 16.9-ounce bottle
Bell’s Hopslam
One of the most eagerly-awaited winter IPAs, Bell’s Hopslam is usually only available (although this year it was launched a little earlier) from January through April. It’s a 10 percent double IPA brewed with six different hops during the kettle phase before being dry-hopped with more Simcoe hops. It gets a little extra sweetness from the addition of honey. This results in a hoppy beer with notes of candied orange peel, honey, lemon, and earthy, piney hops at the very end.
- Origin: Michigan
- ABV: 10%
- Price Range: $15.99-17.99 for a six-pack
Silver City The Magnificent Scotch Ale
You should expect a lot from a beer called Silver City The Magnificent Scotch Ale. And, when you crack open one of these bad boys, you will. Brewed with Northwest Pale, Munich, Black Caramel, and Peated malts, this 9.2 percent Scotch ale gets its hop aroma and flavor from the use of Nugget and Cascade hops. This results in a rich, bold, sweet, malty beer with just a hint of peaty smoke that will make you feel like you’re enjoying it on an Inner Hebrides island standing in a field of Highland cows.
- Origin: Washington
- ABV: 9.2%
- Price Range: $10.99-12.99 for a six-pack
Prairie BOMB!
This beer is not only called BOMB!, but it’s also actually the bomb (do people still say that?). This bold, slightly spicy imperial stout is aged on coffee, cacao nibs, vanilla beans, and even chili peppers. This aptly named beer is an explosion of flavors including dark chocolate, vanilla beans, caramel, and a final warming kick of peppers. Warming, sweet, and spicy. Perfect for winter.
- Origin: Oklahoma
- ABV: 12%
- Price Range: $10.99-13.99 for a 12-ounce bottle
Surly Abrasive Double IPA
With a name like Abrasive Double IPA, you can bet this is a hoppy, bitter banger of a beer. Originally brewed in 2008 as a way to wave goodbye to growler sales, this 9.2 percent ABV double IPA is brewed with 2-row and Acidulated malts as well as golden naked oats and flaked oats. It gets its hoppy, fruity, citrus-filled flavor from the addition of Warrior and Citra hops.
- Origin: Minnesota
- ABV: 9.2%
- Price Range: $15.99-18.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans
Troegs Double Blizzard
Another beer that only comes out in the winter and is eagerly awaited by hop fans is Troegs Double Blizzard. This hazy, 8.3 percent ABV double IPA is kettle-hopped with Centennial, El Dorado, and Chinook hops at a lower temperature. It’s then dry-hopped with even more Chinook and Galaxy hops. This creates a caramelized pineapple, lemon, lime, tangerine, and bright, dank pine-filled wintry IPA.
- Origin: Pennsylvania
- ABV: 8.3%
- Price Range: $13.99-15.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
When it comes to higher-ABV, warming, decadent winter beers, it’s hard to top the indulgent, sweet, warming flavor of Brooklyn’s classic Black Chocolate Stout. Originally brewed as Brooklyn brew master Garrett Oliver’s resume beer, this bold Russian imperial stout is loaded with dark chocolate, freshly brewed coffee, roasted malt, chocolate fudge, vanilla, and caramel flavors. It’s rich, warming, and is as close to a dessert beer as an imperial stout can possibly beer.
- Origin: New York
- ABV: 10%
- Price Range: $12.99-14.99 for a six-pack
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
We all know that bigfoot (also known as the sasquatch) is a mythical creature that is known to live in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. And while there’s nothing mythical or mysterious about this barleywine, it’s filled with Chinook, Cascade, and Centennial hops. It’s known for its complex flavor profile of caramel malts, dried fruits, vanilla, and warming wintry spices. Buy it and age it in your basement or cellar. Come back to it in a year or two to find a beer with even more complex, nuanced flavors and aromas.
- Origin: California
- ABV: 9.6%
- Price Range: $12.99-14.99 for a six-pack
Oskar Blues Old Chub
The name might sound silly to you, but there’s nothing silly about what’s inside a can of Oskar Blues Old Chub. First brewed back in 2005, this 8 percent ABV Scottish strong ale is brewed with specialty grains, malted barley, and beechwood-smoked malt. It’s known for its mix of sweet caramel, robust coffee, dark chocolate, rich malts, and gentle smoke. It’s a warming, smoky, sweet beer for the cold (and often frigid) winter days that still lay ahead of us before the eventual thaw of spring.
- Origin: Colorado
- ABV: 8%
- Price Range: $11.99-12.99 for a six-pack
Disclosure: Clicking on these links and making a purchase may earn us a small referral fee, at no extra cost to you. Learn more here.
