Embracing the Golden Age of Craft Beer
Nevertheless, 2023 has been an amazing year for beer lovers. In fact, it’s safe to say that we’re currently experiencing the Golden Age of craft beer. With countless brewing companies popping up worldwide, the beer market has become increasingly diverse, offering drinkers a wide range of tastes and flavors to explore and enjoy.
Numbers Are Only Just The Beginning
While it’s quite a hefty task to narrow down the best of the best in a thriving and ever-expanding scene, we surely tried our best to do so. Remembering that the numbers are only the beginning when it comes to appraising the complex and delightful world of brews, we rounded up our picks for the top 20 beers of 2023.
1. Equilibrium Brewery – Photon Pale Ale
Firstly, this list starts off strong with Photon Pale Ale from the Equilibrium Brewery. Known for its perfect balance of malts and hops, this beer boasts a refreshing citrus flavor.
2. Tree House Brewing Company – Julius IPA
In the second place is Julius IPA from Tree House Brewing Company. This brew is considered a staple in the realm of IPAs for its robust tropical fruit notes and creamy mouthfeel.
3. AleSmith – Speedway Stout
Thirdly, from AleSmith comes the Speedway Stout. This beer is celebrated for its velvety texture and rich notes of coffee and chocolate, making it a big hit for dark beer lovers.
4. Maine Beer Company – Dinner Double IPA
Furthermore, Dinner Double IPA from Maine Beer Company is a powerhouse of flavor with its unique combination of tropical, stone fruit, and citrus flavors.
5. Bell’s Brewery – Two Hearted Ale
Next on our list is the world-renowned Two Hearted Ale from Bell’s Brewery. This IPA is both crisp and complex, with its pine and fruit notes perfectly balanced with a robust malt backbone.
6. Sante Adairius – Saison Bernice
Moreover, Saison Bernice from Sante Adairius is another admirable contestant, offering a delicate and balanced tartness that craft beer aficionados can’t resist.
7. Founders Brewing Company – KBS
Additionally, KBS from Founders Brewing Company is undeniably a crowd-pleaser. This barrel-aged stout presents a luxurious blend of coffee and chocolate notes, with a hint of vanilla.
8. Brooklyn Brewery – Black Chocolate Stout
Comparable to a dessert in a glass, Brooklyn Brewery’s Black Chocolate Stout is another noteworthy stout, offering luxuriously decadent chocolate notes.
9. Deschutes Brewery - Fresh Squeezed IPA
Additionally, Fresh Squeezed IPA from Deschutes Brewery is an aromatic beauty, possessing refreshing citrus and malt flavors, which are sure to satisfy any hop-lover’s palate.
10. Hill Farmstead Brewery – Edward Pale Ale
Hill Farmstead Brewery’s Edward Pale Ale has also earned a well-deserved spot on our list due to its exquisite balance of floral hops and citrus zest.
Narrowing Down The Excellence
Continuing on with our list, the excellence and high quality of craft beer available this year makes narrowing down the remaining 10 spots particularly challenging.
11. The Alchemist – Heady Topper
The Alchemist’s Heady Topper, with its powerful hop character and undertones of tropical fruit, rounds off our first half.
12. Russian River Brewing - Pliny the Elder
Also, an evergreen favorite, The Russian River’s Pliny the Elder, continues to impress with its seamless integration of hoppy bitterness and strong malt body.
13. Sierra Nevada – Torpedo Extra IPA
Sierra Nevada’s Torpedo Extra IPA, loved for its firm hop bitterness and refreshing piney aroma, also makes a strong appearance.
14. Dogfish Head – 90 Minute IPA
Dogfish Head’s legendary 90 Minute IPA, with its rich caramel notes and assertive hop profile, further stakes its claim as a craft beer giant.
15. Allagash – Tripel
Allagash’s Tripel, a traditional Belgian-style beer with a spicy yeast character and strong malt backbone, adds an old-world touch to our list.
16. North Coast - Old Rasputin
North Coast’s Old Rasputin, a rich and robust Russian Imperial Stout, showcases the wonders of well-crafted dark beers.
17. Cigar City – Jai Alai
Cigar City’s Jai Alai, an impressive player in the world of IPAs, presents a flavorful mix of tropical fruit, caramel, and citrus.
18. Prairie Artisan Ales – Bomb!
Prairie Artisan Ales’ Bomb! is a spicy and complex Imperial Stout, with its unique infusion of coffee, chocolate, and chili.
19. Firestone Walker – Parabola
Firestone Walker’s Parabola, an elegant and sophisticated Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout, adds another touch of luxury to our top 20.
20. Sour Shoes – Martin House
Finally, capping off our list is Sour Shoes from Martin House, a vibrant and exhilarating sour beer that has taken 2023 by storm.
The Final Thoughts
To sum it up, the year 2023 has been nothing short of a year-round festival for all the craft beer lovers out there. The sheer diversity in style, flavor, and approach that the modern beer industry has to offer is truly splendid. Whether you’re a fan of hoppy IPAs, dark stouts, or bright and tart sour beers, there’s something out there for everyone. So, let’s raise our glasses and cheer to the Golden Age of craft beer!
IPA is a classic that didn’t fail to make our list. With its balanced bitterness and refreshing citrus notes, it’s no wonder why it’s a go-to brew for many beer lovers.
14. Firestone Walker – 2019 Tax Day Imperial Stout
As unique as its name, 2019 Tax Day Imperial Stout from Firestone Walker Brewing offers a decadent blend of chocolate, coffee, and bourbon flavors – perfect for a special occasion.
15. Cigar City Brewing – Jai Alai IPA
Cigar City Brewing’s Jai Alai IPA is a tropical delight with its balanced blend of mango, peach, and citrus notes.
16. Three Floyds Brewing – Zombie Dust APA
The flagship beer of Three Floyds Brewing, Zombie Dust APA beautifully showcases the flavors of Amarillo hops with its refreshingly citrusy and piney notes.
17. Oskar Blues – Ten Fidy Imperial Stout
Oskar Blues’ Ten Fidy Imperial Stout is a hearty and decadent brew that boasts rich flavors of roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee.
18. Brouwerij Westvleteren – Westvleteren 12
Brouwerij Westvleteren’s Westvleteren 12 is a rare and coveted Trappist beer that is well worth the effort to track down. This strong dark ale possesses a complex blend of raisin, plum, and caramel flavors.
19. Cantillon – Fou’ Foune Lambic
The only sour beer on our list, this limited edition lambic from Cantillon is a masterpiece of tart cherry and apricot flavors with a well-balanced sweetness.
20. Tired Hands Brewing – Alien Church IPA
Last but certainly not least on our list is Alien Church IPA from Tired Hands Brewing. This hazy IPA boasts bright tropical and citrus notes with a silky smooth mouthfeel.
Comment:
As a beer lover, I couldn’t agree more that we are truly in the Golden Age of craft beer. With so many breweries and styles to choose from, it’s an exciting time to be a part of the craft beer scene. This list showcases some of the best beers of 2023 and highlights the diversity and complexity of flavors that can be found in each sip. Cheers to embracing the Golden Age of Craft Beer!
IPA is a perfect balance of bold hop flavors and bready malts, making it an exceptional beer for any occasion.
14. Firestone Walker Brewing – Parabola
From the Firestone Walker Brewing Company comes the Parabola, an award-winning barrel-aged imperial stout with intense notes of molasses, vanilla, and dark chocolate.
15. Cigar City Brewing – Jai Alai IPA
Cigar City Brewing’s Jai Alai IPA is a timeless favorite, delivering a delightful blend of pine and citrus flavors, with a hint of caramel sweetness in the background.
16. Allagash Brewing Company – White
The classic White from Allagash Brewing Company is a refreshing Belgian-style wheat beer with notes of ripe fruit and spices.
17. Three Floyds Brewing – Zombie Dust
Zombie Dust from Three Floyds Brewing is a well-rounded pale ale with a satisfying mix of citrus and pine flavors.
18. Toppling Goliath Brewing – Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout
This Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels from Toppling Goliath Brewing presents an indulgent combination of chocolate, coffee, and maple flavors.
19. Goose Island Beer Company – Bourbon County Brand Stout
Another barrel-aged beauty, Bourbon County Brand Stout from Goose Island Beer Company offers layers of flavors, including toffee, caramel, and coconut.
20. New Glarus Brewing Company – Spotted Cow
Last but certainly not least, New Glarus Brewing Company’s Spotted Cow is a beloved farmhouse ale with a creamy mouthfeel and subtle fruit notes, making it a perfect easy-drinking beer for any occasion.
In conclusion, the Golden Age of Craft Beer is truly something to embrace and celebrate as we continue to discover new and exceptional brews from various breweries around the world. Whether you’re a fan of IPAs, stouts, or farmhouse ales, there is something for every beer lover to enjoy in this thriving industry.
Craft beer has truly reached its golden age in 2023, with an array of brewing companies offering a diverse range of tastes and flavors to explore. This list of the top 20 beers of the year showcases the excellence and exceptional quality of craft beer, leaving beer lovers with a difficult but enjoyable task of narrowing down their favorites. From barrel-aged stouts to classic wheat beers, there is something for everyone to savor in this exciting and ever-expanding world of craft beer.
IPA also earns its spot on our list with its intense citrus and pine notes, perfectly balanced with a malty sweetness.
14. Firestone Walker Brewing Company – Mind Haze IPA
In addition, Mind Haze IPA from Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a citrus-forward hazy IPA with a refreshing and juicy flavor profile.
15. Oskar Blues Brewery – Ten FIDY Imperial Stout
Ten FIDY Imperial Stout from Oskar Blues Brewery is a bold and complex stout with notes of coffee, chocolate, and dark fruits.
16. Three Floyds Brewing – Zombie Dust Pale Ale
Zombie Dust Pale Ale from Three Floyds Brewing is a well-balanced and flavorful pale ale with hoppy and citrusy notes.
17. Lagunitas Brewing Company – Born Yesterday Pale Ale
Born Yesterday Pale Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company is a fresh and vibrant beer with citrus and tropical fruit flavors.
18. Brouwerij Westvleteren – Westvleteren 12
Considered one of the finest beers in the world, Westvleteren 12 from Brouwerij Westvleteren is a rich and complex Belgian quadrupel with notes of dark fruits, caramel, and spice.
19. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery – 90 Minute IPA
90 Minute IPA from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is an iconic beer known for its bold hopping and complex malt character.
20. Allagash Brewing Company – Allagash White
Last but certainly not least, Allagash White from Allagash Brewing Company is a beloved and award-winning Belgian wheat beer with notes of orange peel and coriander.
Craft beer has truly taken off in recent years, with an explosion of new breweries and a wide variety of unique and flavorful beers being offered. This list showcases just a few of the best examples of the Golden Age of craft beer, with each beer bringing something special and delicious to the table. With so many exceptional options available, there has never been a better time to be a beer lover. Cheers to the continued growth and evolution of the craft beer scene!