The Best Beer at Whole Foods (A Craft Beer List From an Enthusiast!)

Whole Foods is the go-to store for organic and other quality food items. With its wide selection of craft beers, it might also be your new beer go-to!

Most Whole Foods locations offer a wide selection of craft beers, including a great selection of seasonals. While the availability will vary by time of year and location, some of the best craft beers available at Whole Foods include Creature Comforts Tropicália, Prairie Artisan Ales Standard, Einstök White Ale, and Russian River Pliny The Elder.

You’ll want to check online before heading out if you’re heading to your local Whole Foods location to make sure your favorite brew is available, but keep reading to dig more into the best beers you’re likely to find at this grocery store!

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The best beers to look for at Whole Foods

With the wide range of beers available at Whole Foods, it can be a daunting task to pick one. Sure you can always go with your tried-and-true favorite. However, variety is the spice of life–or so they say. And there is usually some great character in the local craft beers.

Since craft brewers don’t brew with the macro beer drinker in mind, their tastes can be a bit more experimental. For this reason, there will be craft beers you love and others that you’ll hate. Below are some of the best Whole Foods has to offer.

To help you on your search for your new favorite, here are several of the best craft beers at Whole Foods:

Creature Comforts Tropicália
Newburgh Brewing Cream Ale
Fort Point Beer KSA
Prairie Artisan Ales Standard
Russian River Pliny The Elder
Odell Brewing Sippin’ Pretty
Westlake Brewing Rainout Haze
Einstök White Ale
Coppertail Unholy Trippel
Bell’s Brewery Porter
Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout

Keep in mind that these beers are only available in certain locations. Be sure to check online whether they are available at your local Whole Foods.

Creature Comforts Tropicália

Style: IPA
Brand: Creature Comforts Brewing Company
From: Athens, Georgia
ABV: 6.6%
Taste: Tropicália is a fruit centric IPA. Some of those fruit flavors include mango, grapefruit, and lemon. This tasty beer presents citrus and hops in balance. It finishes smooth and crisp.
Why you should try it: With a score of 97 on BeerAdvocate, Tropicália is well-loved. This beer may change the mind of even the staunchest IPA haters. It offers a refreshing fruity drink without being too sweet.

Newburgh Brewing Cream Ale

Style: Cream Ale
Brand: Newburgh Brewing Company
From: Newburgh, New York
ABV: 4.2%
Taste: Newburgh Brewing’s Cream Ale is brewed without corn or rice like many others of this style. As a result, it has a refreshing malt-dominated character. There are also notes of grassy hops as well as a hint of lemon.
Why you should try it: This take on a cream ale does everything it should for the style. It is crisp, refreshing, and endlessly drinkable. It is a great beer to choose for a relaxing afternoon under the sun.

Fort Point Beer KSA

Style: Kölsch
Brand: Fort Point Beer Company
From: San Francisco, California
ABV: 4.6%
Taste: The brewers at Fort Point took German malts and American bittering hops and combined them to make this beer. It is crisp and light while still being complex. The primary flavors are doughy malt, light fruit sweetness, and some hints of spice.
Why you should try it: The combination of ingredients creates a unique beer that surprisingly fits perfectly among traditional Kölsch beers. Pick up a 12-pack of KSA if you’re looking for a smooth beer with some subtle complexity.

Prairie Artisan Ales Standard

Style: Farmhouse Ale
Brand: Prairie Artisan Ales
From: Krebs, Oklahoma
ABV: 5.6%
Taste: Made with Motueka hops, this ale has notes of citrus and pineapple. Those flavors are combined with spices such as clove and pepper. There are also some sweet malt flavors that mix in.
Why you should try it: This beer is a great choice for those looking for something with some quality complexity. It is fairly straightforward in its approach but then deepens into a delicious farmhouse ale.

Russian River Pliny The Elder

Style: Double IPA
Brand: Russian River Brewing
From: Santa Rosa, California
ABV: 8%
Taste: This famous IPA is made with four different hops: CTZ, Simcoe, Amarillo, and Centennial. Together, they create a beer that has great hop notes such as citrus, pine, and floral. This hop profile is complemented by gentle malt sweetness.
Why you should try it: What makes this beer so amazing is its masterful balance. Too many strong beers go too far one way or another. Pliny the Elder has a strong hop profile without becoming too much. This world-class beer is worth a try for any beer lover.

Odell Brewing Sippin’ Pretty

Style: Fruited Sour Ale
Brand: Odell Brewing Company
From: Fort Collins, Colorado
ABV: 4.5%
Taste: This beer from Odell Brewing is fruit-forward. More specifically, it has notes of elderberry, açai, and guava. It is fairly sour and tart throughout. There is also a hint of saltiness in the background. The finish is crisp and clean.
Why you should try it: Sours like this one are certainly not for everyone. That said, if sours are your thing, this is a great example. Pick up some Sippin’ Pretty if you want to try a fruity sour ale.

Westlake Brewing Rainout Haze

Style: New England India Pale Ale
Brand: Westlake Brewing
From: Dallas, Texas
ABV: 6.6%
Taste: This hazy NEIPA is brewed with Citra, Idaho 7, and Azacca hops. These hops provide a nice citrusy flavor profile. It is supported by further pine hop flavors and some fruity notes.
Why you should try it: This Texas-based beer is a great choice for a refreshing beer on a hot day. It is flavorful, crisp, and easily drinkable.

Einstök White Ale

Style: Witbier
Brand: Einstök Beer Company
From: Akureyri, Iceland
ABV: 5.2%
Taste: This beer has all of the notes of a great witbier. Its primary flavor notes are orange, coriander, and wheat. Another great aspect is the smooth mouthfeel.
Why you should try it: With the Icelandic water used in its brewing, this beer will take you out on the longboat. It is a great refreshing beer for either the cold of winter or the heat of summer.

Coppertail Unholy Trippel

Style: Tripel
Brand: Coppertail Brewing Company
From: Tampa, Florida
ABV: 9%
Taste: This beer combines American West coast hops with Belgian yeast for great results. It is grainy, hoppy, and finishes dry. The primary flavors are citrus, pine, and some fruit sweetness.
Why you should try it: While delicious, this beer isn’t a traditional Tripel. It is Coppertail’s adaptation of a Tripel. Grab an Unholy Trippel if you’re looking for a nice flavorful beer with decent ABV.

Bell’s Brewery Porter

Style: Robust Porter
Brand: Bell’s Brewery
From: Kalamazoo, Michigan
ABV: 5.6%
Taste: The primary flavor notes of this porter are chocolate, roasted coffee, and some hints of smoke. It has some hoppiness to support these flavors though it is not the main focus.
Why you should try it: Bell’s Brewery Porter is a tasty brew that acts as a lighter stout. It does well as an easily sessionable beer that still has some complexity.

Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout

Style: Imperial Stout
Brand: Central Waters Brewing Company
From: Amherst, Wisconsin
ABV: 10.8%
Taste: This Imperial Stout is a shining example of the style. Its primary flavors are dark fruits, chocolate, roasted coffee, and bourbon. The barrel aging provides a great woody flavor to the beer.
Why you should try it: Central Waters Brewing has made a great Imperial Stout in this beer. It isn’t as heavy as your 15% ABV stouts, but it still has a delicious character. Pick up this Bourbon Barrel Stout if you want a great introduction to BBA Stouts.