The Best Beer at Publix (A Craft Beer Shopping List From Enthusiasts!)

Stopping at a taproom or bottle shop for beer can be a great time to talk with other beer lovers, check out the local offerings, and even sample some new beers. But what if you just want to pick up a six-pack of good craft beer on your grocery run? What kind of beers can you find at Publix?

Publix offers a dependable selection of popular craft beers in addition to the mass market stand-bys, but the real advantage to picking up your beer there is the curated selection of local craft beers. Some of the best craft beers you may find at your local store include Dogfish Head 90 Minute, Cigar City Guayabera, and Samuel Adams Wicked Easy.

Keep reading for the best beers to look for the next time you’re getting groceries!

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The best beers to look for at Publix

Looking for a great beer at Publix? This list serves up 11 great beers to try for your next store visit or delivery. With loads of variety, you’ll surely find something that fits your fancy.

Here are some of the best beers available at Publix:

Dogfish Head 90 Minute
Warsteiner Pilsner
Harpoon UFO White
Lagunitas Maximus
Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing
New Belgium Fat Tire
Kona Big Wave
Cigar City Guayabera
Rogue Dead Guy Ale
Kentucky Bourbon Ale
Sam Adams Wicked Easy

Please, do keep in mind that availability will vary from store to store, and you should check if your local Publix has the beer you’re looking for.

Dogfish Head 90 Minute

Style: Imperial IPA
Brand: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
From: Milton, Delaware
ABV: 9%
Taste: A very malty backbone balances the heavy hop flavor. The malt does an exceptional job accentuating hops notes, and the syrupy taste lingers on the palate after the sip. It has a clean hop bitterness that isn’t too harsh. This beer is best served in a snifter to let the complex aromas breath.
Why you should try it: This is one of the most notable beers in this style, and an exceptional take on an imperial IPA. A “continuously hopped” creation from Dogfish Head that you need to try if you haven’t already.

Warsteiner Pilsner

Style: German Pilsner
Brand: Warsteiner Brauerei
From: Warstein, Germany
ABV: 4.8%
Taste: This beer has bready notes on the nose that translate well to the taste. It is very light and refreshing with soft floral notes and a subtle spicy hop bitterness from the German hops used.
Why you should try it: A very tasty import and a great beer of the style. Great for year-round occasions, and a nice change from the popular super hoppy beers.

Harpoon UFO White

Style: Wheat beer – Witbier
Brand: Harpoon Brewery
From: Boston, Massachusetts
ABV: 4.8%
Taste: This beer has a traditional witbier taste with notes of coriander and orange peel. It is unfiltered for a more true-to-style taste that further accentuates ingredients used. You’ll find potent wheat flavors and a subtle sweetness.
Why you should try it: This style of beer is very unique, and Harpoon UFO White does a great job at representing it. Can be garnished with an orange peel.

Lagunitas Maximus

Style: Imperial IPA
Brand: Lagunitas Brewing Company
From: Petaluma, California
ABV: 9%
Taste: Brewed with Munich malt and English crystal, this beer features a subtle bed of sweetness. It has a straightforward hop bitterness with that malt balance. Short berry sweetness hits before the citrus, piny and resinous Simcoe, Centennial and Cascade hop notes dominate the nose and taste. It is copper gold-clear on the pour with a healthy head and has the long and hoppy finish that is characteristic of the style.
Why you should try it: Lagunitas crafts wonderful IPAs and Maximus is no exception. This beer is a great Double or Imperial IPA and should be looked at as one of the modern classics.

Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing

Style: New England or Hazy IPA
Brand: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
From: Chico, California
ABV: 6.7%
Taste: Brewed with two-row pale and munich malt, oats, and wheat, this beer is an unfiltered hazy with notes of citrus and fruit. Citra and Simcoe hops take the stage throughout the aroma and taste. Prominent hop character with moderate bitterness. Medium thick mouthfeel, highly drinkable.
Why you should try it: As one of Sierra Nevada’s flagship beers, you should definitely try this hazy IPA. This beer has quickly become a staple of the style.

New Belgium Fat Tire

Style: Amber Ale
Brand: New Belgium Brewing Company
From: Fort Collins, Colorado
ABV: 5.2%
Taste: Brewed with pale, C-80, Munich and Victory malts, this beer harmonizes malt backbone with hop flavors. Willamette, Goldings, and Nugget hops complement the malts used. A roasty and delicious brew with much approachability. A clear-amber pour with an off white head and some lacing. Pleasant mouthfeel that matches appearance and aroma.
Why you should try it: Fat Tire was inspired by a biking trip through Europe where the brewer’s mountain bike had…well, fat tires. A unique beer that balances hop and malt exceptionally well. Easy-drinking with subtle fruity notes from the yeast used, this beer can be enjoyed by nearly anyone.

Kona Big Wave

Style: Golden Ale
Brand: Kona Brewing Company
From: Kailua Kona, Hawaii
ABV: 4.4%
Taste: Brewed with pale two-row premium and caramel 20 malts with Galaxy and Citra hops. A stupendously bright and mild hop aroma and taste with bountiful notes of citrus amongst subtle hop bitterness. Floral and fruity notes in taste and aroma. Incredible golden pour with dense white head and sparse lacing. Slightly carbonated for a pleasant mouthfeel. Pairs well with seafood and fresh salads.
Why you should try it: One of Kona Brewing’s flagship beers. It will make you feel like you’re on a beach watching your best friend ride a gnarly 40-foot wave in a fruitful Hawaiian winter.

Cigar City Guayabera

Style: American Pale Ale
Brand: Cigar City Brewing Company
From: Tampa, Florida
ABV: 5.5%
Taste: This beer is citra hop dominant with notes of citrus, lime, tangerine and fruits. It has a dry and crisp mouthfeel with sweet hop finish and a moderate bread flavor from the malts used. It pours copper-gold with a healthy white head and heavy lacing.
Why you should try it: A unique take on the American Pale Ale style with the exclusive use of Citra hops. Mild bready notes balance the lime-leaf and berry flavors of this balanced and complex beer. Best drank while wearing a guayabera.

Rogue Dead Guy Ale

Style: German Maibock
Brand: Rogue Ales
From: Newport, Oregon
ABV: 6.8%
Taste: Brewed with two-row, C15, and munich malts with Perle and Sterling hops, this beer has a rich and malty flavor with heavy notes of toffee. There are notes of toasted bread, grass, and lemon with honey sweetness on the nose and tongue. It is a cloudy and golden color with a very full and smooth mouthfeel.
Why you should try it: A wonderfully balanced ale with various flavors and a complex profile, this beer is a great treat if you’re into dissecting beer flavors and trying new things. It is revered nationally as a very good beer.

Kentucky Bourbon Ale

Style: Irish Red Ale
Brand: Alltech’s Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company
From: Lexington, Kentucky
ABV: 8.2%
Taste: Aged in bourbon barrels to produce a rich and potent brew. Powerful notes of toffee, carramel, oak, vanilla, and bourbon – of course – on the nose and tongue. Silky and thin mouthfeel. Copper-amber pour with a small, beige head.
Why you should try it: The Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale serves as inspiration for many in the style. It’s a good cornerstone for the style; if you like this one, you’ll love some other options available in the area.

Samuel Adams Wicked Easy

Style: Hazy American Lager
Brand: Samuel Adams
From: Boston, Massachusetts
ABV: 4.7%
Taste: Traditional lager taste with plenty of citrus flavor, this beer has a mild fruit flavor that is not overwhelming. It pours a pale, light golden-yellow with a soft white head and minimal lacing. The earthy notes make this a great lawn-mowing beer or one for the weekend.
Why you should try it: If you’re looking for something easy-drinking with a ton of flavor, this is your beer. Try it year-round or in the summer heat.