 Nathan Berrong works at CNN's satellite desk and writes Eatocracy's beer column, "Berrong on Beer." He Tweets at @nathanberrong and logs beers at Untappd. 2012 has been yet another milestone year in the world of American craft beer. There are currently more breweries in operation in the United States than ever before, even surpassing the alcohol boom of the late 1800s. Outdated beer laws are beginning to change and will benefit both brewers and consumers, and a debate began between the little guys and the big boys about what exactly defines craft beer. Oh yeah - there were also some incredible beers made in the last 12 months. Since being turned onto the world of craft beer, I rarely order a Guinness, but I swear the one I had in Dublin atop the Guinness brewery is one of the best beers I've had to date. I should also point out that I was enjoying it with my new bride and it happened to be St. Patrick's Day. When I'm drinking a beer or eating a meal, these outside factors matter to me. The rarity of a beer factors into my perception of it, as well. Often times, much like a rare car, it might not be the collector's fastest or sleekest, but it could very well be the favorite based on its lack of availability. Take the Belgian beer, Westvleteren 12 (pictured), for example. Many beer geeks swear it's the best beer on the planet, but it probably doesn't hurt that it's also considered one of the rarest. The only place this beer is sold legally is the actual brewery, which happens to be a monastery, and the procedure to buy the beer isn’t exactly easy. The brewery is one of only eight authentic Trappist breweries in the world and is the only one that is not distributed outside its respective monastery for retail sales. The Westvleteren monastery, however, is currently in need of repairs and to raise money the beer was distributed and sold in the United States for one time only on 12/12/12. The beer sold out quickly and unless you were in line early at your local beer store and ponied up $85 (for a six pack), you'll have to rely on a trip to Belgium to buy one or spend hundreds of dollars via eBay. The beer is extremely rare, yes, but it's also fantastic and for a Quadrupel it's extremely dry, which sets it apart from the many others that try to replicate it. It's one of my picks for the top beers of 2012. Choosing a "best of" list is difficult and regardless of the quality of choices, someone is going to cry foul when they don't see their favorite listed. This list is not based on any formula for determining the best beers or even based on things like tasting notes or reviews. It’s just my personal list and the beers that stood out to me in the past year. With that, I give you my top 12 beers of 2012. - Westvleteren Trappist 12 - 21st Amendment Marooned on Hog Island Stout brewed with oysters in collaboration with Hog Island Oyster Company - Firestone Walker Union Jack Double dry-hopped IPA made using over four pounds of hops per barrel - Odell Woodcut No.6 Oak Aged Ale using Mosiac hops - Sierra Nevada Narwhal Russian Imperial Stout crafted with 6 different malt varieties - Lagunitas Daytime extremely flavorful IPA, clocking in at a mere 4.5% ABV - Jester King Boxer’s Revenge Organic Wild Ale aged in whiskey and wine barrels - Alchemist Heady Topper Imperial IPA hop bomb with 120 IBUs - Cascade Noyaux Wild Ale with raspberries and apricot nuts added, aged in oak barrels - Ballast Point Victory at Sea Imperial Porter brewed with vanilla and Caffe Calabria coffee - Wedge Vadim Bora Russian Imperial Stout brewed with raspberries - Avery Odio Equum Wild Ale aged for 12 months in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. And now it's your turn. What were your favorite beers of 2012? Let me know in the comments and cheers to good health, peace, and a bunch of great beer in 2013! |
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My five favorite are:La Fin Du Monde,La Fin Du Monde, Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale,Schneider Wiesse Tap 6 Aventinus,Victory Prima Pils. Seriously folks I am glad to be part of the craft beer revolution.Anything from Founders and Great Lakes is great.Great Lakes just started to distribute in New Jersey.LFDM is a dangerous addiction and far to easy to
drink
1. Sierra Neveada Pale Ale
2. Guinness
3. Anchor Steam
4. O'Dell – 90 Schilling
5. Great Divide – Denver Pale Ale
6. Flying Dog – Old Scratch (liquid freakin' gold)
7. Full Sail Amber
8. Sweetwater – 420 Extra Pale Ale
9. Samuel Smith – Oatmeal Stout
10. Arrogant Bastard
Well, for the "purists" in the crowd, I'll offer my thoughts. Is a beer better because you want to drink a 12 pack (sessionable) or can be satisfied with just one. I choose the latter. A lot of hops or malt won't overpower the "beer taste" because they are what make the beer taste. A belgian quad may not be sessionable, but there is nothing in it that is a "trick flavor" unless you consider the addition of sugar and yeast a trick. So rather than damning others for not liking what you like, tip your hat to them and enjoy what you will. I have no issue with folks drinking a PBR, Sam Adams, Sam Smith or anything else. I will say that I am a lover of most things barrel aged so there are so trick flavors that drift out of the pores of the wood. Find me a Lost Abbey Angels Share or an Port Older Viscosity and I couldn't be happier. There are so so many others though with or without a barrel. Oh, and for those who loved their Guinness in Dublin, make it down to the southwest of Ireland and find Beamish on tap. IMO, far superior. Try it at An Teach Beag in Clonakilty and compare it with Guinness and Murphy's side by side.
I'm not a fan of IPAs. Beer shouldn't taste like dirt or smell like my grandmother's perfume. Every IPA I've tried tastes muddy. Having said that, I prefer Chimay Blue and New Glarus Brewery's Spotted Cow. And I'm excited about the increased import of Belgian beers.
Ah, Read all the comments and took notes. Now all I have to do is to try all of these... lol
I didn't see any from Dark Horse in Marshall Mi. Plead the fifth and Scotty Karate are great. Michigan has some very good micro brewers: Dark Horse, Founders, and several others.
It is so cute to see Americans discuss beer, as though you actually know what you are talking about..."Great taste...No, Less Filling"...your tastes are so unsophisticated, you are like little children with your chicken nuggets,,,
Kindly identify your country of origin so we can disgrace it for all its shortcomings.
Based on the post time, probably some jackoff from the UK or elsewhere in the socialist nightmare aka the EU.
Apparently you've never been to the Paciffic Northwest, home of the best IPAs in the world.
1. Sockeye Brewing Co. Boise ID Dagger Falls IPA
2. Nikasi Eugene, OR Total Domination IPA
3. 10 Barrel Brewing Bend, OR Apocalypse IPA
4. Laughing Dog Brewing Sandpoint, ID Rocketdog IPA
5. Rogue Brewing Newport, OR Brutal Bitter IPA
Actually I believe the USA has the most breweries of any country nowadays, and keeps adding to that number every year.
Apparently, you've been in a cave for the past 20 years.
Smuttynose IPA – always my favorite
My Favorite Beer – A Free One
Second Favorite Beer – A Cold One
Third Favorite Beer – Shared while enjoying time with Family and Friends.
If it is really good I get all three in one!
Well you won't find this outside of Wisconsin, and I'm not going to claim it's the best beer in the world, but one of my favorites is a beer called "Vanishing Vanilla Stout" by Stone Cellar Brewery. I really enjoy a good dark beer, especially stouts, and I've had several so-called Vanilla stouts in my day, but none like this. The Vanilla comes through so clear and flavorful giving the beer almost a creamy taste and texture, but not so much that it completely masks or overshadows the caramel and chocolate notes of the stout itself. If you live anywhere near the Fox Cities in Wisconsin, you need to try this beer, one of the best stouts I've ever had
can't believe nobody's mentioned Downtown Brown and Eightball Stout from Eureka,CA Lost Coast Brewery
In a 10 place tie for first (The Pacific Northwest has the best breweries in the world. Accept it, don't deny.)
Fremont Brewing Company – Universale Pale Ale
Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company – Powerhouse IPA
Hale's Ales – Supergoose IPA
Hilliard's Beer – Pils
Icicle Brewing Company – Kolsch
American Brewing Company – Power Play IPA
Schooner Exact Brewing Company – 3 Grid IPA
Chuckanut Brewing Company – Kolsch
Emerald City Beer – Dottie's Lager
Pike's Brewing Company – Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale
Twelve Bar Brews – Pentatonic Pale Ale
If you live in Washington or on your way up, check out the WABL website for the listing of the best Washington has to offer!
OK, I posted 11... What can I say, I love my states' beer.
i will have to agree with you. i live in ohio, my daughter in seatle and she sends me some of the most amazing beers
iron horse brewery " irish death" is one of my favorites.
Santo – Saint Arnold
Here's my list of 10 faves:
Stone's Imperial Russian Stout w/ Vanilla Beans [Escondido, CA]
Russian River's Pliny the Elder DIPA [Santa Rosa, CA]
Devil's Backbone 8-Point IPA [Nellysford, VA]
Rogue Mocha Porter [Newport, OR]
Dogfish Head Bitches Brew American Double/Imperial Stout [Milton, DE]
21st Amendment Brew Free or Die [San Francisco, CA]
Bell's Double Cream Stout [Kalamazoo, MI]
Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout [Petaluma, CA]
Terrapin Moo-Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout [Athens, GA]
Hardywood Park Bourbon DIPA [Richmond, VA]
I was lucky enough to find some of Richmond, VA's finest for the holidays: Hardywood Bourbon Barrel Gingerbread Stout. It's almost impossible to find here upon it's late NOV release. Most stores don't bother putting it on the shelves and keep it behind the register. Most stores also have a one bottle per person policy. We had to go to 4 different stores to get some!
My favorite beer is the 10th one.
Today when I sit down to watch a bowl game I'm going to have a Ninkasi. All are good.
I have 2 different ones cooling. Not sure if I'll have the seasonal, "Sleigh'r" (Dark Double Alt Ale) or a year 'round regular "Total Domination IPA".
Such wonderful choices.
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel
St Bernardus ABT 12
Rochefort Trappists 10
Founder's Breakfast Stout
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
Abita Purple Haze
and if i'm at the bar, I love a Dark Snakebite (Cider poured through Guiness)
gimme a thirdy pack of BUCSH LIGHT over any of this hippie juiec andaqy
Hipsters are discussing drinks as the economy falls apart and the United States falls into ruin and death.
Perhaps it's God's Will that we suffer, it's becoming apparent that we deserve our fiery fate.
Mad because your favorites, Hamm's Ice and Olde English 800, didn't make the list?
Just shut up, god-boy.
Pledge
The economy is getting better.
Now if we could just get the GOP to agree that the Tax cuts were a big mistake and go back to at least sightly increasing the taxes on the very rich it might just get better.
Of course the problem is pride. If they agree to raise taxes on anyone they are admitting their tax cut policy was a mistake.
World Wide Stout from Dogfish Head above 15% ABV
120 Min. IPA from Dogfish Head
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Foothills Sexual Chocolate
Big Boss Black Porter
Mephistopolies from Avery
The Beast from Avery
The Alchemist Heady Topper (DIPA)
Maine Beer Co Lunch (DIPA)
Founders Backwoods B@st@rd (Barrel aged scotch ale)
Heretic Evil Cousin (DIPA)
Pretty Things Jack D'or (Saison)
Firestone Walker Union Jack (IPA)
Pretty Things Meadowlark (IPA)
I'm an IPA guy, so sue me... :-)
Coors Banquet. How is it this wonderful beer only has 1.5% of the US beer market?
Wookey Jack from Firestone Walker
Hopslam
Dark Horse Plead the 5th
Kinda hard to place some of these beers – maybe a bit obscure but a good collection none-the-less.
On the more mass-produced craft beer side (oxymoron?) I've been most impressed with New Belgium's Tart Lychee and Sam Adam's Cinderbock. Sour beers are some of my favorites to try and the tart lychee was so good I kept on drinking it for 2 weeks straight. LIkewise I've stocked my pantry with some bottles of cinderbock for when I want something heavy and tastey.
Not sure if they're exclusive to 2012, new to me, or if they'll continue to make them in 2013 but they're two that most anyone should be able.
... "able to find". Got cut off there for some reason.
Alaskan Amber at Mother Plucker's wing bar.
The best beer by far is the one that you make yourself!
Touch of Paradise – Pineapple Wheat
Bad Relationship – Honey Double IPA
Back in Black – Barrel Aged Vanilla Bourbon Imperial Russian Stout
Blood of the Valkyre – Cherry Melomel Mead
I could not agree more. I've got a Kegerator full of beer. In 2012, here's some of what I brewed.
An IPA, dry hopped with Citra Hops, A porter with hints of chocolate, a Schwarzbier, A Czezh Pilsner, too many to name. Of the commercial beers, I've been to Ballast Point in San Diego, great beer. Stone is not just good beer, but a great destination to go to as well (try the food there). So much beer, so little time.
Sweet delicious Natural Light, nectar of the gods.
Stone IPA
Deviant Dale's IPA
Boulevard Wheat
PBR
Check out Beer Drinkers United on Facebook for their favorites. It's a die hard international craft beer group for beer snobs.
FYI...They also do beer trades!
Peticolas Great Scot!
Revolver Blood & Honey
DEBC Wealth & Taste
How about St Bernardus? They made Westvleteran for decades until the abbey was forced to brew it themselves to preserve their Trappist status, and when they did revert back they started using the easier to obtain Westmalle yeast rather than the yeast that was previously used to make Westvleteren – which St Bernardus still uses to make Abt 12 – so will the real Westvleteren stand up! Side by side St Bernardus is only slightly different and some would argue better than Westvleteren – it is certainly more obtainable and cheaper. So for those that have never tried Westy don't beat yourselves up, have a St Bernardus and be content in knowing you are probably tasting something more historically acurrate and subjectively better than your freind that paid over $100 for that six pack off ebay. http://www.zymurology.com
Viewing beer lists at work. Have to put in mine:
Red Oak – Amber & Hummingbird
Bison – Honey Basil
Souther Tier – 2x IPA
Weeping Radish
Palwel Kwak
Gose
Hops Slam
Stone
Victory – Golden Monkey
Bells – Oberon
Tripel
Hennepin
Aecht
Staropramen
Itachio Nest
Omagon
Vitas
Whew – thirsty now! Enjoy.
Scaldis Noel is always a year end favorite.
Brewdog Tokyo
St. Bernardus Abt 12 (almost identical to Westvleteren 12)
Sam Adams Double Bock
Kasteel Donker
Ommegang Abbey
Ommegang Three Philosophers
Chimay Blue
Thomas Hardy's Ale
Well, St. Bernardus was called Saint-Sixtus until 1992. Saint-Sixtus beeing the abbey that produce the westvleteren. The Saint-bernardus/Saint-Situs is however not brewed by the monks nor in the Saint-Sixtus abbey and the taste is quite different in my opinion.
Sun King Grapefruit Jungle
People's Moundbuilder IPA
Three Floyd's Gumballhead
Three Floyd's Alpha Klaus
Harpoon's Leviathan
Bell's Two Hearted
Tritan Brewery Railsplitter
Brugge's Triple d Ripple
Ol' Rasputan's Russian Imperial Stout
Sorry, only listed 9 to begin with...
Dogfish head 90 minute IPA
Three Floyd's Moloko Stout
Great Crescent Brewery Coconut Porter
3 Flloyd's Zombie Dust is one of the best beers I've ever had.
Rahr and Sons Ugly Pug
Saint Arnold Bishops Barrel
Revolver Blood and Honey
Sam Adams Wee Heavy
Not much of a beer guy but I will have to try some of those and several commenters suggested because they sound really great.
The Bruery Black Tuesday
Russian River Pliny the Younger
Cantillon Kriek
Old Rasputin XV
Craftsman Ochre
But agreed with most of your list
I wish we could get Russian River brews here. Unless you live in Philly, the entire east coast is shut out of the Russian River market
Jersey Tomato beer is best to wash down sweet Jersey corn! – JERSEYTOMATO 2012 "Jersey Strong"
All are f@ggot beers!
I mean maggot beers. I have a lisp.
Right On!! The only True Manly Man on this site!!! Budweiser Rules!!!
Hill Farmstead Edward – Greensboro, VT
Captain Lawrence Kolsch – Elmsford, NY
Sly Fox O'Reilly's Stout – Pottsville, PA
ok so to start it off.....
Samuel Smith Taddy Caster Porter
Rouge Dead Guy Ale...this stuff is just damn awesome
(from Maine)Grittys Halloween Ale...very good stuff
A personal favorite is Old Speckled Hen......(I know alot of these are not special batches but hell alot of folks dont get to drink that stuff)
Boddingtons Pub Ale
Chimay Triple
(and my personal budwiser) Newcastle Brown Ale
Bamberg smoked beer is excellent. If you like smoked ham, sausages and the like why not drink smoked beer!
Why are these all 'extreme' beers.? What happened to just well made ales and lagers? Beer now is like California wine 15 years ago. Today people say 'anything but chardonnay.' Soon it will be 'anything but IPA. ' Frankly, I'll take an Anchor 'Steam' or Duvel. If you wanna get obscure Sinebrychoff Porter from Finland. It is dark and mysterious and absolutely devoid of tricks or gimmicks.
Agreed. I don't think 9% alcohol or a bushel of hops makes a good pint of beer. To me, those are good for about half a glass, just to revel in their excess... but too over the top to truly enjoy regularly. Something more drinkable is more my personal style. A nice English Pale Ale ("session beer") ... or a crisp, floral pilsner. I brew my own when I can find the time.
Well said Kayaker! Doesn't get any better than a good ol Session beer.
I have enjoyed Session Black Lager from Full Sail of Hood River Oregon. They also make a Czech-style Red Lager (known as "Fest"). Of course they also make the lighter Premium Lager.
I drink more of them in the Summer than I do in the Winter. After a hot day that Stubby hits the spot.
In the winter I enjoy a beer with a bit more "substance". That is where the Ales, Porters, etc come in.
I don't drink to excess so sipping a thick one fits me well at a pub.
A couple of thoughts on this thread. As I mentioned in another post, it's all about choices. Extreme beers were the logical next step. But that was really 4-5 years ago. Since then we've gone through session and then sour phases. There are still a ton of well balanced, sessionable (though not necesarrily fitting the hard-to-pin-down definition of a session beer) being brewed and made available in pretty much all markets. And so what if one of the bigger beers can only be enjoyed every once in awhile in small quantities? What's wrong with that? There's not much that can be written about well balanced pale ales that either hasn't already been written to death or that we don't already know. Just because some recent trends don't mesh with what you look for in a beer doesn't mean you should trash what's going on in the craft beer industry. Embrace it.
YUENGLING!
Hill Farmstead's Abner and Lawson's Hopzilla!
Two amazing IPAs that might just be on par with Heady Topper!
Hill Farmstead's Abner and Lawson's Hopzilla.....
incredible IPAs! I'd argue that they both might be right up there with Heady Topper.
As the guy said in the movie this person knows as much about beer as he does about fornicating. Take it from the master–here's the best of the best:
Old Milwaukee
Busch
Hamms
Rolling Rock
Schlitz
Blatz
Red Stripe (International Flavor!)
Pabst
Bud Light
Red Dog
You need a slap in the face... lol... those beers are crap.. we're talking about good nice craft beers... and Hill Farmstead IPA is the best I've ever had.... :)
I really hope that's sarcasm.
You forgot Keystone and Rheingold
These beers all have one thing in common.....they're like sex in a canoe-f***ing close to water.
I dont always drink beer,but when I do,its Sierra Nevada pale ale....still my favorite
Stay thirsty, my friend...
So many good beers several have mention a few from Deschutes brewery of Bend, Oregon. I really haven't had a bad one from them. My favorite is a seasonal – Red Chair Ale.
During the summer I had quite a few – Session Black Lagers from Full Sail.
Enjoyed – Dead Guy Ale from Rogue
Last fall I picked up a – Fall Noble Scott from MacTarnahan's – reminded me of those days before the craft beer explosion and I got my beer at Horse Brass Pub.
Smuttynose Robust Porter
"Many beer geeks swear it's the best beer on the planet, but it probably doesn't hurt that it's also considered one of the rarest."
Good lord. The rarest and one of the most expensive beers on the planet is the best? And the Lagunitas Daytime? Puny in so many ways (nose, mouth feel, taste, and finish), to say the least.
Big disappointment in the lack of NW beers on this 31 flavors list. (the sour doesn't count) Sorry, but beer brewing should NOT be managed by clever flavorings.
The best beer in the universe is STAG!
The Westvleteren 12 was the best beer I've ever had. I was fortunate to be able to get some on 12/12/12!
The best beer is the one you made....nuff said
I'm with you brother. Although I made a batch last year that got infected with something, and it got PRETTY funky.
Ich...it happens, though when its good.....it's great! Best part, there is nothing else like it! I love alot of pro craft beers....I cant get that same feeling with a good glass of my own porter or top fermented ale. Get (beer) head buddy, brew on!
Truth
Decimation, a hopped up wheat-wine style ale from Triple Digit Brewing. Black Beagle, a black IPA from Listermann Brewing Co. Both brewed at the Listermann Brewing Co. and available currently in the tap room on Dana Ave. in Cincinnati, OH. Drink. Local. Beer.
Schlafly +Sam Adams will do just fine!! Happy New Year, Everyone! – @Marita.
It does not really fit in, but it is a beer. I loved Sam Adams Utopias. Daughter and son in law bought me a bottle ($200+) for my birthday. It is all beer, but tastes more like a Sherry Brandy.
I like lagers. My favorite is Devil's Backbone Vienna Lager.
I love Innis & Gunn, all flavors, but I am also a huge fan of 1554 by New Belgium Brewing. Being a UGA grad, I would be negligent if I didn't mention Terrapin Beer Co. and their Wake 'N' Bake.
All from Belgium – home of the best biere in the world
- Tongerlo
- LeDragon (Mons seasonal)
- Ciney
- Chimay (all of them)
- Leffe Brune
Leffe Brune is wonderful...just discovered it this year. So much more flavor than their blonde ale.
Who ever heard of some of the "favors" of beer they come up with. You would think you were in Baskin -Robbins!
Make mine a Big Flats. Good beer, great taste, great price.
All you guys are lucky. At least you can enjoy personal favorites within the micro brew community. A few years back, my doctor diagnosed me w/celiac disease...or, as I affectionately call it, "take all the fun out of life disease". I have searched high and low for a decent gluten free beer, with no success. Finally, out of Oregon comes "Omission"...they make a very, very nice IPA and lager. Kudo's to those folks
Try Sorgham Beers. They have an interesting taste and are gluten free.
Weinstephaner brewed since the year 1030–Nuff said
German brewed according to the laws of Reinheitsgebot
Seit 1040
For me, this has been the year of 2 terrific IPA's:
1) Schlafly Tasmanian IPA – heavily chilled and poured into a frosted mug, though I know a tulip glass is the way to go. It has an awesomely pungent aroma, citrus overtones, a great hoppy flavor with a clean finish. Pours a beautiful sunflower golden color with a slight cloudiness.
2) Odell Myrcenary IPA – pretty amazing as well, especially at 9.3% ABV. Similar to the Schlafly, a bit heavier, with milder hops than the Schlafly, but they're still there and obvious. This beer pours a nice golden, slightly brown and murky color.
Pretty awesome stuff considering a year ago I wasn't an IPA guy. But since acquiring a taste for them prior to this spring, I've sampled and sampled every one I can get my hands on. I'm hooked! :P
Hear, hear for TIPA! Great new Schlafly brew. A nod to their excellent 21st birthday beverage, Single Malt Scottish Ale, the still outstanding American IPA, Irish-Style Nitro Stout, Winter ESB, and Imperial Barleywine Ale!
Grimm Brothers Little Red Cap..... Mmmm
I'm a purist. I want my beer to taste like beer. On your list are drinks with the following flavors: cabernet sauvignon , whiskey, raspberries, vanilla, coffee, apricot nuts, and oysters. I am not sure we should even call them beers. On top of that, much of the rest of your list is dominated by heavily hopped drinks. Where is the beer on the list? I want balance and subtlety in my drink. The strong flavors that you seem to enjoy so much simply hide the beer character. Anyway, that is enough preaching.
Here are some beers that I enjoyed in 2012:
The Landlord from England (a nice best bitter)
Mirror Pond Pale Ale from Deschuttes in Oregon
Twilight, also from Deschuttes
Fuller's ESB
Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout
Pilsner Urquel
Two Hearted Ale from Bell's in Michigan
Time to re-think what a beer can be. Like you I don't particularly care for some of the extreme directions brewers go, but every now and again they make something that is other worldly that blows me away. Unlike you I don't seek out balance, I love my hops and I love standout flavor. The beer revolution has not been postponed because people want the same old same old. You had a few good ones on your list, but Pilsner Urquell? I know there's some history there but that is a lousy beer.
I am going to argue with you in a good-natured way.
I recognize that there are many types of beers in the world. For instance, I have enjoyed many of the flavored ales from Belgium. In addition, I am a home-brewer and have experimented with many different styles. In the end, simple, clean, and balanced are both harder to create and more rewarding. These more extravagant styles do well in contests. They are great to brew because you can hide mistakes under the heavy hops, etc. They wow people with unusual flavors.
But the true test occurs after the first sip. Do people finish the bottle? Do they want another? Can it be served with anything else, or does it overwhelm? The beers on Berrong's list are like women with bleached hair, heavy make-up, flashy clothes, and a chest full of silicone. Sure, they catch your eye, or in the case of beer, tickle your tongue, but do you really want to spend a lot of time with them. The beers on my list are like women who don't need the make-up and clothes. They are beautiful just the way they are. They are not obvious, but subtle.
Finally, if I want something that taste like whiskey, I'll drink whiskey. If I want a cabernet, I'll pop a cork. I never want apricot nuts. These flavored beers remind me of California Coolers from the 1980s. They taste pretty good once or twice. They are a fun novelty. Some new customers will be attracted to the market. They will go away just like the coolers, bandanas around the neck, and parachute pants.
I wish we could continue this argument over a couple (or many) beers. If we ever get the chance, the first round is on me. And it will be Pilsner Urquel. You need to try it again.
Agree on several of you points, especially drinkability and whether or not I'd finish the bottle. Some of the biggers beers are in fact too rich to finish an entire bottle, most of these are 22oz bombers that pretty much have to be shared. Chris Lohring from Notch Session Brewing said it best, it's about choices. I think too that there is a difference between "best beer" and "favorite beer". My favorite beers are as you described, drinkable, flavorful and ones you go back to time and again. Smuttynose Finest Kind IPA is one of my favorite beers, but I think Alehouse Speedway Stout is a better beer. Even though I think it's better, I don't consider it one of my favorites. Crazy thinking maybe, but somehow it makes sense to me. The idea of discussing this over beer is a great one, but I've had my sfill of Pilsner Urquell. Too sweet, too malty, too smooth, but that's me. I know it's a popular beer held in high regard by many, just not me.
Points well made but I would still say there is plenty of room in the fridge for the subtle beers and the wild. Try any of the Boulevard Smokestack series and you will find incredible flavors that are not a gimmick and definitely not there to mask a mediocre brewing process. I am lucky to have gotten a handful of bottles of their Love Child no.1 which was never sold.. ale aged in barrels with cherries and a bit of brettanomyces to give it some funk.... absolutely world altering beer. I will agree that I have had plenty of overly hopped beers that just hide poor brewing technique and just as many that were heavily hopped and were exquisite. The best thing about beer is it isn't a win or lose argument. You like Pilsner Urquel.. I'd personally prefer a Radeberger if we're talking pilsners. In the end, we can sit at the same table, drinking different brews and each enjoy and discuss the subtleties or extravagance in our individual glasses. And that's win-win in my book!
New Glarus Brewing's Serendipity. Unbelievable.
Artic ipa from dark horse in Marshall Michigan. Nice and hoppy with a citrus after taste. Word on the street is that it will be in bottles in 2013. Backwoods bastard from bell's as well. Not typically a whiskey flavored beer guy but this was awesome. Obviously biased toward Michigan beer but if you see it you should buy it
Backwoods Bastard is from Founders, not Bells.
Blue Pants Brewery's Tuxedo Black IPA
Wisconsin is not just Blatz and Schlitz. Please come do some tasting at some of Wisconsin's microbreweries. Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout almost makes me cry. Their Satin Solstice Imperial Stout is also a lovely Christmas present. Lake Louie Warped Speed Scotch Ale is one of my favorites, but their Scotch Ale Reserve is out of this world for the limited time you can get your hands on it. Look to the Frozen Tundra my friends...we got some serious brewing going on.
As a North Carolinian who loves local beer, my list is completely biased.
These are my 2012 favorites:
1. Foothills (Winston Salem, NC) Sexual Chocolate Imperial Stout
2. Foothills Frostbite India Black
3. Highlands (Asheville, NC) Thunderstruck Coffee Porter
4. Highlands Oatmeal Porter
5. Red Oak (Whitsett, NC)
6. NoDa (Charlotte, NC) Coco Loco Porter
7. Olde Hickory Brewery (Hickory, NC) Black Raven IPA
North Carolina has a lot of top notch breweries. Wish I was at Barley's Taproom (Asheville) enjoying one right now!
Red Oak Battlefield is fantastic.
Throw in Duck Rabbit's "Hoppy Bunny" or the doppel bock and you've got quite the impressive NC list!
Pilsner Urquell
Anchor Steam
Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Sprecher Special Amber
Bohemia
Grolsch
Paulaner Hefeweizen
Nathan thanks for starting with the list. And thanks everyone who listed beers they like. There are a lot of folks out there working hard to make good beers, both traditional and creative. It's good to hear about ones that we may want to try.
Happy New Year to you all.
Next year – fresh session beers
Say more about fresh session beers for 2013. It seemed that 2011 was the year of the session beer. There were some good ones (Notch) and some really bad ones (full sail). I think the best bet for a session ale these days is a quality pils like Victory's Prima Pils or a moderately hopped pale ale (I like Sierra Nevada, Founders Dry Hopped PA, Smuttynose Shoal's PA and the list goes on and on). The whole argument of what constitutes a true session ale, though interesting, really wore me out. Is it a 4.5 or 4.75 ceiling? Oh, another great, true session is Anchor Small. I keep begging them to put that out in 6 packs.
Dragon's Milk stout, by New Holland Brewing
Cygnus X-1 porter, by Flat Earth Brewing Co.
Stoic Belgian-Styled Quad, by Deschutes Brewery
Black Boss baltic porter, by BOSS Browar Witnica S.A., Poland
Old Rasputin Imperial Russian Stout, by North Coast Brewing
Pauwel Kwak Belgian ale, by Brouwerij Bosteels, Belgium
I do love my Dragon's Milk as well!
Innis & Gunn Rum Cask. Beer aged in rum barrels. Available at Market Basket. Outstanding !
I have to respectfully disagree. That is one of the worst barrel aged beers I've ever tasted. Try Founders Backwoods B@sta@rd or Brooklyn Black Ops.
I am very surprised that no one has said SOUTHERN TIIER'S IMPERIAL PUMKING! By far the best beer I have ever had! It's as if they took a whole pumpkin pie and put it into this unbeilevable treat. Don't be fooled by other pumking ales THIS is the one to seek out.
Another favorite of mine from the Belgian side is DELIRIUM TREMENS! You can't really miss the bottle as it is white (coated in white to block out the sun's UV rays) and has pink elephants and green and purple dragons on it with a very distinct loopy buzz.
I'll pick my cherry tripel as number one, my baltic porter as second. 3rd would go to Golden Draak, 4th Innes & Gunn spiced rum barrel. Since everyone has different tastes the best beer is the one that you prefer.
PBR: The Hipster's choice.
Declaring something the "best" is quite subjective.
Shut up, doosh!
Anything from The Kettle House in Missoula Montana is excellent. Rogue, Deschutes, Hopworks in Portland are all good as well. there are many many to list
The thing I love about microbrewed / craft beer is it's LOCAL in nature. I love being able to get fresh beer that hasn't traveled more than 40 miles to get into my glass. Living in the Cleveland (OH) area, I want to give a shout out to Great Lakes Brewing, Buckeye Brewing, Market Garden Brewing, Nano Brew and Beer Kettle. Just a short ride down the road to Akron gets us to Thirsty Dog and Hopping Frog breweries. This is just a small handful of all the other great local options.
Bass Ale with Newcastle in second place.
Not in the U.S. my friend...
Ballast Point (San Diego) Big Eye IPA and Bootleggers (Fullerton, Ca) Rustic Rye IPA can hold their own against Dog Fish Heads 90 Minute IPA (labelled as the best IPA in the world). Now I would not spit out any one of these understand!
I totally agree – Big Eye is a wonderful IPA (I prefer it to Sculpin, actually). As far as the original list, I am surprised that Firestone Walker's Union Jack was on the list instead of their Double Jack. Paid $18/bottle in a bar and it was worth every cent!
3 Floyds Rye'd Da Lightning & Rye'd da Tiger.
Green Flash IPA
Racer 5 IPA
Rubicon IPA (Sacramento)
Anchor Steam (always)
Modelo Especial
Stone IPA
Stone Ruination IPA
Your list has no merit as Natty Daddy or Steel Reserve isn't among them.
so many special beers not mentioned! Just a few off the top of my head....(obviously biased towards dark beer)
domestic: brooklyn brewery black ops, goosehead bay bourbon county stout, alesmith speedway stout, and my summer fav: kona brewing company koko brown
foreign: Mikeller beer geek breakfast weasel edition
Great Lakes Christmas Ale (Cleveland, OH). It has a cult following and is so delicious!
There were a couple of colloborative beers that made the grade:
The Alchemist/Ninkasi/Stone More Brown than Black IPA
Stone / Bear Republic / Fat Head’s TBA
Stone Evil / Twin / Stillwater – The Perfect Crime
Ken Schmidt / Iron Fist / Stone Mint Chocolate Imperial Stout
And then there was the upstart local brewery/pub that opened up in a warehouse here in Palm Beach, Fl un June:
Due South (their Category 1 through 5 IPAs, Roasted Cocoa Stout, their flagstaff, Caramel Cream Ale, their India Black Lager, and, their Espresso Porter)
In fact Coffee/Espresso porters were popping up a lot this year.
And then there was Bear Republic making it to South Florida in the late summer.
And, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale
All around, ut was a great year for craft beers here in South Florida
,
"Arrogant bastard" beer- or as I call it- obama beer.
I need one now.
It's MILLER TIME :-)
Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale (Asheville, NC)
Hinterland Brewing Company "Luna Stout" from Green Bay, WI is very satisfying.
Two exceptional brews from Cigar City in Tampa are Vanilla Stout and Maduro Brown Ale.
You really should check out what Aviator Brewing Company is doing in Fuquay-Varina NC. My favorite is Hog Wild IPA. Based on your taste I think you might appreciate the Devils Tripel. They also have an extensive bourbon barrel aging program.
Founder's Kentucky Breakfast Stout is still my favorite.
I concur, I trade for it every year.
It's really good, but more than challenging to obtain
Crooked Stave Wild Wild Brett Batch One.
My two cents on rare vs good. Just because there's buzz around a beer because it's only available for one day or a few weeks doesn't mean it's the "best beer in the world". You level 12 beer wizards tend to blow things way out of proportion.
I recommend Baying Hound Aleworks' (Rockville, Maryland) Lord Wimsey Mild Pale Ale. For those in the DC area the brewery is open for tastings of its beers and also hosts fun seasonal events. There is info on their website, http://www.bayinghoundales.com Cool people and great beer!
definitely Shiner Cheer and Deschutes Black Butte porter both seasonal
I don’t think Black Butte Porter is a seasonal beer, I have been buying a 12 pack a week for over 3 years now.
Boot Hill Bitter by White Dog Brewery, the only English bitter made in ITaly
Best ones for me this year are for me the WV 12, Bush de Nuit, Achel Blonde, Rulles Grande 10 (on tap), straffe hendrik quadruple.
Living in Brussels is quite nice :)
One of the best ones and now sold in the U.S is Indio!! SMOOTH flavorful perfect...
I nominate La Fin du Monde from Unibroue brewery, Quebec. Since imported Belgian ales are quite expensive, La FIn du Monde, or anything from Unibroue ranks high on my list. $3/bottle is a lot better than $5-$6 a bottle for a Chimay Blue! And dangerously close to being just as good as the top-shelf Belgians.
Daryl
Totally agree, Daryl – go Canada! (my hub's half-Canadian, we spend every summer there)
I'm from Milwaukee and I oughta know, that Blatz beer tastes great, wherever you go!
It causes bad gas but it does taste good going down.
left hand milk stout, hands down, great dark beer!
Best beer in the world is the one I'm drinking now.
2d best is the one I'm having next.
I've had it with "craft" beers. Anyone that sells me a beer that tastes like chocolate, or grapefruit, or rasberry, or anything other than BEER flavor needs to be jailed for crimes against humanity.
Stick with Bud. Coors and Miller then.
I guess you're going to have to define "Beer flavor". Stouts, IPAs and Weissbiers all have very long histories, and they are as different as can be. They're all still beer though.
So what's your fave?
A lot of US beers in this TOP 12. I guess this is due to the writers origin and acquired taste for these beers. I would suggest a few German and/or Belgium beers (apart from the obligate WV12). Take for example a Chimay Triple or a Gouden Carolus Cuvee van de Keizer from Brewery 'Het Anker' in Mechelen. Now that's beer!
You sir, are correct! PROST!!!
There's definitely some great beers from all over the world that could have been included in this. I mostly try to keep the beer stories related to the American craft beer scene b/c of the overwhelming growth, experimentation, and community that we're experiencing. I mentioned the Westy 12 in this one b/c it was such a big deal for American beer lovers. Oh, and it has 12 in the title, was released on 12/12/12, 12 top beers for 2012, etc...couldn't help but mention it, ha. And like I noted above, it's also an incredible beer.
Thanks for reading.
-NB
Pity about the US constraint. Duvel Tripel Hop for 2012 with its strong but summer-appropriate citra hopping was the ticket for me. For the entire 4 days of summer that Antwerp received this year, it was a welcome companion.
now we're talking. also lke to throw in Pauwels Kwak...
Have to agree with the Gouden Carolus Cuvée. Domestically produced (yet owned by Duvel), Ommegang Three Philosophers is awfully good. St. Bernardus 12 is on par with a Westy (I will drink either with a grin).
"The setting, the time of day or year and the company I'm with all factor into it. Sometimes a mediocre beer can become a thing of beauty purely based on its surroundings."
Love how you've included "environmental" factors. Very true!
I would like to have seen a beer from Hoppin Frog ( Akron,OH) on this list. My favorite from them is Boris the Crusher-Oatmeal Stout.
Love the BA BORIS and DORIS! Awesome stouts!
Jester King's Boxer's Revenge is a worthy selection, and my favorite of theirs (although watch out for the El Cedro they just released...hoppy farmhouse ale aged on Spanish cedar spirals and soured with Brett...it's incredible). Ranger Creek – a really underrated brewery out of San Antonio – put out my other two faves this year... the DOS Double Oatmeal Pale Ale and the Brett Barrel Oscura Dark Farmhouse Ale.
I think my favorite this year would have to be Saint Arnold's Bishop Barrel Batch No. . Very solid stout, with lots of flavour.
Here in Maine, Allagash White remains the International Beer Festival gold meddler that it's been for years now. Plus two new stars just up on the horizon: Rising Tide with its Ursa Minor, a Weizenstout-Nitro and it's Zephyr IPA. And also a very exciting new Baxter Brewing Company, the first craft brewer in Maine doing cans, and their incredible success with Stowaway Ale, the IPA they just can't keep in the stores. Baxter's tagline is cool, too: We do what we can. We can what we do. Cheers – Craig at Churchill Events
.. my comment is more about drinking Guinness at the brewery in Dublin. I had the same experience drinking a Guinness Foriegn Recipe with my (not so new) bride and it was remarkable. The experience is like an odor that brings back a memory, any Guinness now floods my head with the view, the beer, the light and the company! A not to be missed experience – I thought that the tour was great as well, we spent hours in there.
I was fortunate enough to get the chance to try the very limited Pliny the Younger from Russian River Brewery. The above factors like limited availability (can only get it in February & almost exclusively at the brewery itself), and setting definitely played a role. I don't exactly live right by Santa Rosa, but damn was it worth the 2 hour trip. A Triple IPA for the hoppiest of hop-heads.
One year I plan to fly to Philly with some friends to try PTY. The elder is awesome too!
Totally worth it. Try to get there early on in the day cause they can run out of the 16 kegs they allot for each day as early as 3pm. Also you can fill a growler of the elder for like 20 growler included.
RRBC doesn't sell PTY in growlers anymore, they only sell by the glass. The 2012 realease never had a day that ran out of the allotted daily amount. Looking forward to the 2013 relase this year!
Easily, the best beer I had this year (or ever) is Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout.
I trade for this yearly also. Very good!