Pliny the Elder comes out the Top Gangsta!
There are plenty of folks who claim they are beer authorities and opinions are like, ummm...brains, everyone has one (at least physically). The American Homebrewers Association (AHA)--arguably the most respected non-profit organization founded in 1978 that proudly represents homebrewers and established brewers throughout the U.S.--recently gave us their interpretation of what the best suds are via their popular Zymurgy magazine.
Well, honestly, there is no right answer when it comes to the best beer because it's what your palate has grown accustomed to, but I am certainly not mad at the ales (and a couple of lagers) that garnered top rankings. In fact, there are only four I haven’t had yet, so I am on a mission, but my homey at the Twitter address @Dawgontap made a great observation: There is not one out of the Southeast! What's up with that?
Anyway, Santa Rosa, California’s Russian River Brewery came out on top with their India Pale Ale, Pliny the Elder, for the third straight year (dizzzamn!), and Dogfish Head out of Delaware received the most votes collectively for a number of their world-renowned ales. Stone, Sierra Nevada and Samuel Adams got hella love too! Evidently, hops rule!
All in all, make it a point to sip as many of these selections as you can if you can find them. Microbreweries are what make the beer world go ‘round so support them, expand your beer knowledge and enjoy!
The American Homebrewers Association’s Top 50 Beers in the U.S.
1. Russian River Pliny the Elder
The official description of Pliny on its Russian River Brewery website says:
"Pliny the Elder was a Roman naturalist, scholar, historian, traveler, officer, and writer. Although not considered his most important work, Pliny and his contemporaries created the botanical name for hops, "Lupus salictarius", meaning wolf among scrubs. Hops at that time grew wild among willows, much like a wolf in the forest. Later the current botanical name, Humulus lupulus, was adopted. Pliny died in 79 AD while observing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. He was immortalized by his nephew, Pliny the Younger, who continued his uncle's legacy by documenting much of what he observed during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.”
8.0% ABV
2. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
3 (tie). Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
3 (tie). Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout
5. Bell’s Hopslam
6. Stone Arrogant Bastard
7. Sierra Nevada Celebration
8 (tie). Sierra Nevada Torpedo
8 (tie). Stone Ruination
10. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
11. Stone Sublimely Self Righteous
12. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine
13. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
14 (tie). Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
14 (tie). Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale
16 (tie). Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
16 (tie). New Glarus Belgian Red
18. North Coast Old Rasputin
19. Bell’s Expedition Stout
20 (tie). Deschutes The Abyss
20 (tie). Left Hand Milk Stout
20 (tie). Odell IPA
20 (tie). Samuel Adams Noble Pils
20 (tie). Surly Furious
20 (tie). Troegs Nugget Nectar
26 (tie). Rogue Dead Guy Ale
26 (tie). Samuel Adams Boston Lager
28. Anchor Steam
29 (tie). Bear Republic Racer 5
29 (tie). Ommegang Three Philosophers
29 (tie). Oskar Blues Ten Fidy
29 (tie). Three Floyds Alpha King
29 (tie). Three Floyds Dark Lord
34 (tie). Avery Maharaja
34 (tie). Dogfish Head Indian Brown
34 (tie). Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
34 (tie). Three Floyds Gumballhead
38 (tie). Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA
38 (tie). Lost Abbey Angel’s Share
38 (tie). New Belgium La Folie
38 (tie). New Belgium Ranger
38 (tie). Oskar Blues Old Chub
43 (tie). Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
43 (tie). Great Divide Yeti
43 (tie). New Belgium 1554
43 (tie). Russian River Blind Pig
43 (tie). Ska Modus Hoperandi
48 (tie). Alesmith Speedway Stout
48 (tie). Dark Horse Crooked Tree
48 (tie). Green Flash West Coast IPA
48 (tie). Summit EPA
48 (tie). Victory Prima Pils
