The American Homebrewers Association has recently released their list of the top 50 American beers in their bi-monthly publication, Zymurgy. The association asked readers to submit their top 20 favorite beers. The sole condition was that the beers must be available comercially in the United States. This year, 1,306 beers were submitted from 433 breweries with Dogfish Head being the top-ranked brewery.
Winning the top spot for the third year in a row was Russian River's Pliny the Elder, a double IPA (Indian Pale Ale). Finishing second for the second straight year was Bell's Two Hearted Ale, also an IPA. Russian River's distribution is limited to the West coast with the exception of Pennsylvania. The company's distribution list is available on their website. See the full list of winners below.
1. Russian River Pliny the Elder
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
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Comments
November 5, 2012
Sam Adams? Twice? Are you kidding me? Also, I see no Abita or Yazoo thus, this list is invalid.
November 5, 2012
Three Michigan beers in the top five! The way it should be (although I am a little disappointed that Short's Brewing didn't make the list).
November 23, 2012
This post is embarrassing you should probably take it down.... Nugget nectar tying with boston lager? Sierra nevada above dogfish head? This is shite
February 17, 2013
Pliny at the top and no allagash on the list? I call BS
February 25, 2013
great stuff
February 26, 2013
While its all opinion based... I agree with this list about 80% ... You're missing a few lighter beers... this is a heavy IPA based list.