Let’s Toast to the Sensational Suds of the Year!
Friends, fellow beer connoisseurs, and lovers of a fine pint, brace yourselves! We embarked on an epicurean adventure to bring you the scoop on this year’s crème de la crème of the beer world. Our dynamic team, featuring the palates of beer whisperers like Kate Bernot, Stan Hieronymus, and Patrick Dawson, rallied their taste buds for an intensive journey. We nosed, we sipped, and we argued our way through a staggering array of over 1,000 beers. Tasked with the daring mission to pluck the shining stars from this galaxy of brews, we emerged victorious, arm-in-arm, with this list of 20 extraordinary beers that capture the essence of top-tier beveraging in the past year.
Cue the drumroll, folks—here’s the roll of honor we’ve all been impatiently waiting for!
Color Me Intrigued: Arizona Wilderness Jitterbug Perfume
(Gilbert, Arizona)
Feast your eyes on the kaleidoscope in a bottle that is Jitterbug Perfume. The hue alone is a head-turner—a magenta marvel that sends a clarion call to natural-wine enthusiasts. And the taste? Our panel was unanimous in their adoration for its ballet of earthy beets, spirited citrus zest, and a whisper of oaky vanilla. This beer is no one-trick pony—it’s a symphony conducted by a maestro of mixed-culture brewing mastery.
Hopping Mad: Finback Headspace
(New York City)
Enter the heady Heights of Finback. It’s like capturing sunshine in a glass—Headspace is a zesty West Coast-style IPA bubbling with charisma. The hop wizards at Finback are onto something, showcasing their knack for harnessing flavor fusions of pink lemonade, peach, and pomegranate, framed by a whisper of dank. Skillfully balanced, this beer straddles the realms of creativity and restraint, leaving you energized and craving another sip.
Lager Loveliness: Templin Family Granary Kellerbier
(Salt Lake City)
Grab your glasses for a gulp of the gilded Templin Family Granary Kellerbier. An unfiltered lager that flirts with your palate, this is a beer that plays it coy with notes of floral hops and lemon zest. There’s a refreshing ripple of carbonation that partners with a bready malt backbone, leading to a crisp finish. This, my friends, is living proof that drinkability does not equate to dullness—the bold lager renaissance continues!
Barleywine Brilliance: New Image 9505
(Wheat Ridge, Colorado)
Barleywine buffs, rejoice! The New Image 9505 slinks into the scene with a smooth blending of Christmas spice, chocolate, and dark fruit. It’s lusciously layered, a warming embrace that feels indulgent yet agile. In Stan’s words, “99 is too low.” It’s complex, mature, and perfectly blended, making a statement that this is not just a beer—it’s a resonant voice in the chorus of fine libations.
Stout Sovereign: Weathered Souls Gud Mawnin’ Mon
(San Antonio)
A masterclass in stout execution, Gud Mawnin’ Mon stands triumphant in the arena of barrel-aged heavy hitters. Picture a liquid that’s a tapestry woven from threads of cacao nibs, coconut, vanilla, and a hint of chile dare from Jamaican Blue Mountain beans. Rich, velvety, and sophisticated, it’s akin to dessert in a glass—a festive indulgence sketched with care and attention.
Pilsner Perfection: BKS Pivo Project Bohemian-Style Pilsner
(Kansas City, Missouri)
Setting sail to the Czech Republic within a glass, the Pivo Project is a pilsner that hits the bullseye. Mouths water in anticipation of its spicy, grassy aroma and a sturdy hop character. Its bold malty sip carries the weight needed for a hearty nod to tradition while finishing unexpectedly dry, proving once again that you can excel at any style, anywhere—as long as you possess the brewer’s touch of gold.
A Saison to Remember: Keeping Together Thoughts Without a Thinker
(Santa Fe, New Mexico)
A softer side of brewing comes alive with Keeping Together Thoughts Without a Thinker. Enveloping your senses in a tapestry of black tea, citrus zing, and a pinch of saffron, this saison is akin to slipping on a cashmere sweater by a roaring fire. Brewmaster Averie Swanson expresses depth through delicate sips—where each flavor dances gracefully among notes of memory and serendipity.
IPL Icon: 12 West Radial Spines
(Gilbert, Arizona)
With hop-forward lagers gaining momentum, 12 West Radial Spines stands out for striking a harmonious chord between hop zing and drinkability. Arizona’s own captures a potpourri of flavor that stays polite, never overbearing, allowing insight into the subtleties of a well-constructed lager. Restrained, measured, and marvelously balanced, this is a testament to American brewers’ maturing palette.
Gin Sophistication: Southern Grist Gin Barrel–Aged Perpetual Composition
(Nashville, Tennessee)
Enter a new genre: the gracefully aged beer in gin barrels. The Southern Grist offering is softly embraced by the botanicals yet remains focused on its identity as a beer. With a velvet-smooth body kissing faint notes of juniper and berry, it raises the question: Why hasn’t this been done more? Complexity in a glass, pleasantly tart and refreshingly original.
A Helles with Heart: KCBC Welcome to the Underworld
(Brooklyn, New York)
Welcome to the Underworld proves that simplicity can be sublime. This helles lager doesn’t complicate matters—it just tastes darn good. KCBC has put together a brew that’s direct yet sophisticated, like the unadorned chord that resonates long after the guitar has been set down. Full yet feathery, bright yet gentle, it’s the kind of beer that reminds you the best things in life aren’t necessarily complex—they’re just well-crafted.
Imperial Stout Craftsmanship: False Idol Ralphie Runs Wild
(North Richland Hills, Texas)
Strap in for a voluptuous voyage with Ralphie Runs Wild. This stark imperial stout, cloaked in the pedigree of vanilla and whiskey, sweeps you off your feet with plush dark fruits and a tinge of cocoa. It’s thick yet measured, with a warmth that reassures you’re indeed “adulting.” A masterful execution—vanilla’s undercurrent remains the guest of honor without overstaying its welcome.
Vanilla Explorer: Bartlett Hall Powell Street Porter
(San Francisco)
Stumble upon Bartlett Hall in San Francisco, and you’re in for a treat—their Powell Street Porter is a symphony of roasted malt, espresso, and caramel. While you savor the medium-bodied liquid, take a moment to appreciate the balance—the malt and hops converge to craft an essence of indulgence, drawing a line between sipping grandeur and accessible merriment.
Luscious Lager: Wise Man Living a Double Life
(Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
Living a Double Life entices you with charm and subtlety. It’s like a doppelbock with a twist—potent yet agile, filled with the notes of stewed plums and toasted muffin, without tipping into overt sweetness. North Carolina might just evolve into the new mecca for malt mavens, and this syrupy yet crisp brew is leading the charge toward a robust future for dark lagers.
Delectable Delicacy: KC Bier Light
(Kansas City, Missouri)
KC Bier Light redefines light lagers with its German-style pilsner charm, surprising at every turn with floral hues and a clean snap of bitterness. Graceful and elegant, this beer beckons you to a delightful afternoon on the patio, where each sip is more rewarding than the last. It’s architectural in its design, inviting not just a taste but a lingering stay in the world of craft brews.
Non-Alcoholic Nirvana: Two Roads Non-Alcoholic Juicy IPA
(Stratford, Connecticut)
This shining beacon in the realm of non-alcoholic brews brings waves of grapefruit, tangerine, and guava to your nose. Managing to deliver a robust body and inviting hoppiness without the alcohol, it’s a leap forward in the NA beer scene. When a beer like this speaks, it’s time we all listen, especially if you’re in pursuit of a hangover-free dalliance with hops.
Hop Majesty: Ghost Town Nose Goblin
(Oakland, California)
Nose Goblin—don’t let the name fool you. This West Coast double IPA is a golden marvel, wooing judges with its kaleidoscope of citrus and passion fruit harmonies. It’s mighty yet approachable, lavish yet disciplined. A goblet of this brew is a love letter to the beauty of hops, crafted to perfection.
Black Lager Beaut: Incendiary Schwarzbier
(Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
Incendiary Schwarzbier elegantly balances roast malt richness with a crisp lager foundation. It’s a paradox in a pint—dark in visage but feather-light in feel, offering a deep dive into what schwarzbier should truly embody. Here’s to being silky, smooth, and just a touch decadent.
Barleywine Time: Benchtop Old Wooden Ship
(Norfolk, Virginia)
For those who appreciate a barleywine that’s had time to meditate in bourbon barrels, the Old Wooden Ship sets sail to a realm where malt and oak sing in unison. It envelops you in a delightful aroma that segues into a palate rich with toffee, dark fruit, and a hint of robust liquor. Here’s a vivacious vessel that’s sure to weather the test of time in your cellar.
As we pull back the curtain on these unparalleled gems of the brewing craft, you can see why this has been an assignment of pleasure. Head to our print edition to dive even deeper into the intricate notes and, yes, to snag a few secret recipes straight from the taps of maxims—including a peek at Radial Spines, which no discerning brew aficionado should miss out on.
So for now, let’s raise a toast—a cheers to the brewers, to the explorers of flavor, to you, our fellow beer zealots. May your pint glasses be ever full and your adventures in ale and lager be ever thrilling. Here’s to taste mastery and the relentless pursuit of the perfect pour. Until our next foamy foray, keep those pinkies out, and let those top beers roll right off the tongue.
