America's Biggest Beer-Drinking States

Source: The Beer Institute | Photo: Tim Graham | Getty Images Can you guess which US state holds the title of beer-drinking king?The Beer Institute, a Beer industry public policy group, compiles a report of annual statistics on beer consumption and production across the United States. The yearly report includes state-by-state per captia consumption figures, which calculates average consumption by comparing individuals of legal drinking age (aged 21 and over) to the amount of beer delivered within the state. The group estimates that there were over 7.16 billion gallons of beer consumed in the US in 2008, while the states with the lowest annual per capita consumption levels were Utah (20.5 gallons), New York (23.2 gallons), and New Jersey (23.5 gallons).So, what are America's biggest beer drinking states? Click ahead to find out!By Paul ToscanoPosted 16 March 2010

Photo: Olde Main Brewery Per Capita Consumption: 35.5 gallonsDrinking-Age Population: 2,151,719Delivery Totals: 2,462,310 barrels

Photo: Bernt Rostad Per Capita Consumption: 35.7 gallonsDrinking-Age Population: 628,780Delivery Totals: 723,426 barrels

Photo: Robert S. Donovan Per Capita Consumption: 35.9 gallonsDrinking-Age Population: 3,217,986Delivery Totals: 3,726,460 barrels

Photo: Bernt Rostad Per Capita Consumption: 36.8 gallonsDrinking-Age Population: 2,035,963Delivery Totals: 2,413,764 barrels

Photo: Mitch Tobias | Getty Images Per Capita Consumption: 37 gallonsDrinking-Age Population: 1,394,230Delivery Totals: 1,662,150 barrels

Photo: Michael Karshis Per Capital Consumption: 37.2 gallons Drinking-Age Population: 16,562,264 Delivery Totals: 19,850,556 barrels

Photo: Joe Wicks Per Capita Consumption: 37.2 gallonsDrinking-Age Population: 1,256,506Delivery Totals: 1,509,416 barrels

Photo: Paul Heaberlin Per Capita Consumption: 38.4 gallonsDrinking-Age Population: 4,071,811Delivery Totals: 5,042,825 barrels

Photo: Seth Anderson Per Capita Consumption: 38.5 gallons Drinking-Age Population: 3,102,770 Delivery Totals: 3,849,482 barrels

Photo: Neil Beckerman | Getty Images Per Capita Consumption: 38.6 gallonsDrinking-Age Population: 570,364Delivery Totals: 710,730 barrels

Photo: John Rensten | Riser | Getty Images Per Capita Consumption: 38.8 gallonsDrinking-Age Population: 381,854Delivery Totals: 477,598 barrels

Photo: Jamie Grill | Ionica | Getty Images Per Capita Consumption: 41.7 gallonsDrinking-Age Population: 463,429Delivery Totals: 622,877 barrels

Photo: Getty Images Per Capita Consumption: 41.9 gallonsDrinking-Age Population: 1,848,766Delivery Totals: 2,500,902 barrels

Photo: Chris Kevin Per Capita Consumption: 42.9 gallonsDrinking-Age Population: 968,065Delivery Totals: 1,340,781 barrels

Photo: Don LaVange Per Capita Consumption: 43.5 gallonsDrinking-Age Population: 707,991Delivery Totals: 993,496

© 2012 CNBC.com