Thursday 24 December 2015

USA 2015: Top 40 Craft Beers - #10 to #1


USA 2015: Top 40 Craft Beers 

Earlier this year I had the tremendous privilege of trying some 387 unique craft beers while in the US. Some were simply magnificent, while others were just ordinary. My objective was to form a 'best beers' list that showcased the 'best of the best' from those 387 craft beers tasted.

As time wore on it eventually become my 'Top 40' list. It identifies all the craft beers that uniquely stood out. Each beer had an attraction that allowed you to become that beer. Each beer had their own characteristics that hypnotised you into drinking more. Each one of these craft beers had all the qualities that made them special.

It's these beers that I eventually fell in love with. Due to this, they have reached my Top 40 list. They have achieved something great that no other beer could accomplish. From New Jersey to Seattle, New York to Minnesota, below is my take on the top 40 beers that blew my mind.

This is the final installment, so sit back and enjoy my TOP 10 beers that includes my favourite #1 from the USA 2015 trip!


Peanut Butter Porter 5.5%
#10: Dangerous Man Brewing Peanut Butter Porter
Dangerous Man Brewing has come up with a Peanut Butter Porter that can only be described as outrageously wicked. I managed to find this beer at The Beer Dabbler Summer event located at CHS Field in St. Paul, Minnesota. Some 70+ breweries from across the US visited this venue to showcase their marvelous craft beer creations.  

And this Peanut Butter Porter creation was, for me, the best of the lot. Trust me, there were lots of great beers out there with many different styles to choose from but this managed to get the nod. 

Honestly, imagine cracking open a jar of peanut butter. You know that aroma you get? Well, that was this beer. Imagine now eating from the same peanut butter jar. You know the taste of peanut butter? Well, you get the same sensation from drinking this remarkably gifted beer. 

So gifted, the additional flavours of chocolate, some coffee notes and subtle roast notes lifted this beer to a new level. The audacity of a brewer to pull off a beer like this and still have it taste this good?! I have the utmost respect for Dangerous Man, which means this Peanut Butter Porter gets to #10 in my list. 
(My rating: 9/10)



Surly Blakkr
#9: Surly Brewing Blakkr
I was fortunate to actually have Surly Brewing Blakkr both on tap and in a can. This black-as-black Imperial IPA is a collaboration with both Real Ale Brewing and Three Floyds Brewing. It's monumentally good, and it typifies Surly Brewing's attitude and brewing style: big, bold, brazen and damn fucking awesome. 

So awesome, it reached my top 10 list. On tap this was just wonderfully crafted. It has a touch of 'bite', is hoppy and has a lighter body than you'd imagine. It's sensationally drinkable and extremely addictive, even on a hot Minnesotan day. It's rare that I can actually have an impressive black Imperial IPA, but this certainly seems to seal the deal. 

For me, what really stood out about this beer is that it appears so simple yet is so complex. It has no aggressive features, can be sipped or drank quickly and is light enough to have during the hottest of days or the coolest of nights. This collaboration brewed by Surly is impeccably crafted. It's really a top-notch black Imperial IPA that I'm sure you'll also enjoy. 
(My rating: 9/10)

  
Gothic American Stout
#8: Widmer Brothers Gothic American Stout
This Limited Edition Gothic American Stout by Widmer Brothers was crazily good. Granted, stout beer is a hit-and-miss style that a lot of people don't like. Not only that but this style is also be extremely subjective. For me, I'd rate it as one of the best stouts I have had in a very long time.   

Once again I was at Seattle's Yard House, the often frequented watering hole that gave so much pleasure. The Gothic American Stout is a classic style off tap that goes above and beyond anything imaginable. The subtle roast, chocolate and malt characteristics matched perfectly. It was light-medium bodied and had you wanting more. 

The reason why, I feel, this beer stood out from the stout crowd is its blended ingredients melded into one. Everything was perfectly balanced, it was easy to drink and the flavour profile was just phenomenal. Each sip just complimented the next in such a way that my fascination for this beer ran wild. Honestly, for a really well-balanced American Stout then look no further. I love this beer. 
(My rating: 9/10)




The Seer 5.9%

#7: Holy Mountain The Seer (Foudre aged hoppy Saison)
If you hadn't read the beer menu, this beer would have you thinking twice. The Seer, from Holy Mountain Brewing in Seattle, is described as an "aggressively hopped Saison" with "galaxy hops". I can honestly tell you that it really is an awesomely intriguing beer. 

Just imagine you've come up with a wicked plan for a beer. Well, multiply that by 5, throw in the Wicked Witch of the West, a pinch of Denny Crane and....et voilà! You now have your masterpiece from Holy Mountain Brewing. The Seer is sheer class.  

It is fermented with one of Holy Mountain's Saison cultures and, as they say, "aged 3 months in our foudre with Brett and then dry hopped". For the uninitiated, a foudre is a large cask for storing or maturing wine. 

Whatever and however they have brewed it, this is elegance at its best. I love the fact this beer is soft, hoppy, light, refreshing, a little tart and has the body of Elle Macpherson. I'll have to admit, this is a seriously good beer that is worth its weight in gold. A great effort by the gang at Holy Mountain. 
(My rating: 9/10)



Polygamy Porter 6%
#6: Wasatch Brewery Polygamy Porter
Why just stop at one? Well, you can't. Wasatch Brewery has a Polygamy Porter that is on Nitro and is amazingly good. Its light, creamy and chocolate-like subtleties makes this beer a joy to drink. 

And the drinkability of the Polygamy Porter is to be admired. A lot of people have issues with drinking beer of this nature, but what you'll find here is that all the ingredients are well-balanced and just blended ever so well in this Nitro fantasy. Yep, Nitro beer can have a tendency to expose faults in beers - but none were found in this beauty. 

It's funny but there really aren't any superlatives to express how good this beer is. Such a damn shame that I wasn't able to have this beer on tap. If I had, who knows if this would have knocked up a few notches in my top beer list? 

Regardless, this is a beer the perfect blend of malts, hops and yeast that enabled me to lick my lips after each sip. I have to admit that this came really close to the Left Hand Milk Stout, but there were qualities from this that just didn't quite match (spoiler alert!). Nonetheless, it's certainly a winner in my eyes. 
(My rating: 9.25/10)



Sommelier 8.7%
#5: Castle Danger Brewery Sommelier George Hunter Red Wine Barrel-Aged Stout
Castle Danger Brewery have come out with what can only be described as an extraordinarily complex beer. It also has the kick of an angry mule that had its testicles tickled by a naked, randy clown. 

The Sommilier George Hunter Red Wine Barrel-Aged Stout (say that 10 times quickly) is something to actually write home about. Castle Danger say that: "George Hunter was our founder and brewer's great-great-grandfather who brewed in Tower, Minnesota in the early 1900's". 

What makes this beer special? I'll let Castle Danger explain the beer: "Napa Valley Red Wine Barrel-aged George Hunter Stout, aged for 8 months. Flavors & aromas of molasses, licorice, maple, coffee & cream enhanced with red wine & oak". Now if that isn't complex to you, I'll run naked on Bondi Beach every week for a year! 

The aroma is of a dark, red wine with flavours that really go deep down into the heart of the beer. You can definitely sense this was in a wine barrel, that's for sure. It had a complex array of texture, lots of unique characteristics and it was something you could drink again. It was an experience worth repeating. I really liked this amazing beer. (Note: After having this beer we did ask the actual percentage - we were at Castle Danger end of August, 2015 - and they said it was close to 12%? I'd love someone to correct me on that, please?) 
(My rating: 9.25/10)




Shake Porter 5.9%
#4: Boulder Beer Shake Chocolate Porter
This beer was like winning the last golden ticket in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Direct from Boulder Beer, this Shake Chocolate Porter was absolutely outstanding. It's not often I fall off my chair when I'm sober but this beer did it. Boulder Beer Shake Chocolate Porter has to be the best chocolate porter in the world

I managed to park the peepers on this one while rambling through the beer menu at Old Chicago. Boy, was this a beer I was lucky to have. Lots of chocolate, and lots, lots more of chocolate. Simply breathtaking!

But this was a different chocolate beer, at least to my interpretation. It was very close to what I'd call a dark chocolate flavour. The usual beers out there have things like cocoa nibs and whatnot, but this was very much different. I am still astonished at how awesomely chocolate this beer was. If you haven't yet tried it, get off your ass and go down to your local liquor store. Get your hands on it (the beer, that is) and try it. You will not be disappointed. 
(My rating: 9.5/10)




Apricot Sour 5%
#3: Holy Mountain Apricot Table Sour
Located in Seattle, Holy Mountain Brewing delivered the perfect Summer beer: Apricot Table Sour. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that I would love, let along enjoy, a sour beer. I've tried many sours brewed by both home brewers and professionals, none of which even come close to this baby. Holy Mountain Apricot Table Sour is an astonishingly refreshing beer. It's quite tart, has malt character yet is smooth, well carbonated and has a fruit taste (apricot) that is perfectly balanced. 

Holy Mountain describe this beer as "the first in a series of table sours, our apricot table was aged in oak barrels with a wild culture for 3 months, then racked onto apricots in a oak puncheon with brett where it aged 3 additional months. A refreshing, easy drinking sour". 

Do I need to say any more? I absolutely loved this beer when I first tried it and cannot wait for the next time when I hit Seattle to get to Holy Mountain. It's the expectation of further sour beers to try that really blows my mind. I'll admit that it was just about the perfect beer on the perfect day with perfect friends. This was truly a world class beer. 
(My rating: 9.5/10)



(Left) Pyrokinesis 9.6%
#2: Holy Mountain Pyrokinesis Double IPA
Simply put: the best Double IPA in the United States of America. I searched high and low, far and wide, and I finally found my prize. Stand proud, Holy Mountain Brewing. This truly is one of the best beers in the country. Everything about the Pyrokinesis was phenomenal.  

Its golden-orange hue, citrus hop aroma, exemplary malt to hop balance and body shapes this stunning Double IPA into depths of the brewing universe no one has dared to tread. It has a blend of Amarillo and Simcoe hops with some Columbus which allows this beer to shine brighter than our very own Sun. 

There are not enough words in the Oxford English dictionary to describe how awesomely fantastic this Double IPA is. All my life I wanted to get my hands on the best Double IPA the world has ever seen. Did I taste it here in Seattle at Holy Mountain? I reckon I've come close.  
(My rating: 9.75/10)



Left Hand Milk Stout 6%
#1: Left Hand Brewing Milk Stout Nitro
Sexy. Inspiring. Beautiful. Intuitive. Desirable. These are five words you wouldn't necessarily say about a craft beer, but I am. Left Hand Brewing have crafted one of the most magnificent beers in recent history. The Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro was certainly the most inspiring discovery throughout my travel in the US: 

How good is this beer? If Jennifer Love-Hewitt and Jennifer Carpenter asked me to have a threesome together, I'd politely decline and ask for another Milk Stout Nitro, Okay, maybe I went a bit overboard on passing up a threesome with the two Jennifer's but this beer is that good. . 

Actually, thinking about that now makes me have to sit down and cross my legs. So let's go back to talking about beer, shall we? 

The smoothness, the texture, flavour, the subtle chocolate and even a touch of roast propels this work of art into the stratosphere. It is all encompassing, all empowering and all conquering. It is without a doubt one of the rare opportunities you get in life: to actually love a beer so much you could drink it anywhere and anytime. 

This beer inspires you to greatness, and Left Hand Brewing certainly have proved this by brewing a sensational beer. I strongly recommend you give this beer a whirl. 
(My rating: 10/10)


Thanks for reading my top beer list. Questions or comments?

Email me at: dannbrew@gmail.com

May you all have a very cool Xmas, a happy new year and I hope 2016 is nice to you all.

Cheers and craft beers to you all.
dann

Monday 16 November 2015

USA 2015: Top 40 Craft Beers - #20 to #11


USA 2015: Top 40 Craft Beers 

Earlier this year I had the tremendous privilege of trying some 387 unique craft beers while in the US. Some were simply magnificent, while others were just ordinary. My objective was to form a 'best beers' list that showcased the 'best of the best' from those 387 craft beers tasted.

As time wore on it eventually become my 'Top 40' list. It identifies all the craft beers that uniquely stood out. Each beer had an attraction that allowed you to become that beer. Each beer had their own characteristics that hypnotised you into drinking more. Each one of these craft beers had all the qualities that made them special.

It's these beers that I eventually fell in love with. Due to this, they have reached my Top 40 list. They have achieved something great that no other beer could accomplish. From New Jersey to Seattle, New York to Minnesota, below is my take on the top 40 beers that blew my mind.

So sit back and enjoy.

Helles 14%
#20: Brauerel Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus Helles
It is pure serendipity. In the depths of the fridge lay a beer nobody seemed to want. It was all by itself, just like Macaulay Culkin's character in Home Alone.  Since I'm the craft beer "nut", I had to try it. It was one of those lucky finds you get every once in a while. And what a find it was. 

The Samichlaus Bier Helles has its origins in Austria. It's "brewed only once a year on December 6" and "aged for a full 10 months before bottling". The bottle I happen to come across was from 2010, some five years previous. I can assure you that this beer blew me away like dry leaves on a windy day. 


Surprisingly, it was quite complex with the addition of a subtle sweetness. Combine that with its very acceptable drinkability, it was pretty awesome. Thankfully, I couldn't detect any oxidisation nor any other flaw that would suggest this beer was spoiled in any way. Its smoothness and malt-driven nature seemed to have improved over time. Gee, if I could improve with age I'd want to be reincarnated as this beer! 

This Helles must be drank with caution, though. At 14% alcohol by volume it creeps up on you like a hungry tiger in tall grass stalking its prey. Treat it like a fine wine: sip it nicely and over a period of time. I'd definitely recommend enjoying this beer on a comfortable recliner, though. This is just in case you fall asleep while drinking it, like I did. Whoopsie daisy! Still, what an amazing experience this turned out to be. (My rating: 8.5/10)



Hop Venom 10%
#19: Boneyard Beer Company Hop Venom Imperial IPA
Sweet zombie Jesus! Boneyard Beer Company brewed up this monster of a beer which should clearly have the nation talking! It comes pretty close to what a true Imperial IPA should be. Hop Venom is so powerful and so beautiful that like watching Ronda Rousey play chess in the nude.

This phenomenal Imperial IPA was thanks to Seattle's Yard House. It was one of several bars that I frequented on a regular basis. This one stood out like dog's balls. It's aroma was nice, it had a solid medium-low body and was quite well-balanced. Although I'd argue this was definitely a sipping beer, ultimately the choice is yours. Either way it was winner.

In actual fact, the real winner in all this was me. The Yard House had some 100+ craft beers on tap from around the US, and a few of them were simply magnificent. The hours spent there were worth every penny. Although I was yet to find the perfect Imperial IPA in the US, this was certainly an improvement and a continuous challenge I was happy to indulge in. Top marks.  (My rating: 8.5/10)



Mosaic Pale (EPA) 5%
#18: Holy Mountain Mosaic Pale (EPA)
Call it fate, but after a long day's walk around Seattle my mind started to wander, saying: what beer should I have? It suddenly dawned on me. I needed a crisp, clean yet hoppy ale that would be as refreshing as icy-cold water running through an Alaskan mountainside.

And with such astute judgement, I headed off to Holy Mountain Brewery alongside Alaskan Way. They're quite notorious in changing their beer menu every few days, and so it was no surprise to me that I had the pleasure of lavishing down a Mosaic Pale (EPA). 

It's brewed with Pilsner, Wheat and 2-Row malted barley with the heavy-handedness of Mosaic hops late in the boil. This may sound strange but it had similarities to that of the Stone & Wood Pacific Ale, an Australian classic. Both beers are extraordinarily easy to drink, are remarkably well-balanced, have generous hop aroma and are simply out of this world. 

The Mosaic Pale's quirkiness, too, was also out of this world. I recall trying a Mosaic IPA some years ago (when Mosaic was the hot hop in the market) and had a similar experience. To me, the combination of both fruit and citrus aroma is always curious and somewhat off-centre. Still, it's a beer that drags you back for more and more. That's something no one can argue about. Top marks from Holy Mountain. (My rating: 8.5/10)


#17: Black Raven Brewing Coco Coconut Porter
Coconut Porter 5.6%
The drool-factor I place on a Coconut Porter was made evident while watching an episode of Drinking Made EasyForget world poverty. Forget the global financial crisis. Forget about tax increases. Forget sky-rocketing house prices in Sydney. My aim in life was to try a Coconut Porter!

And that aim finally came to fruition in July of this year while at The SixgillSeattle. Thanks to Black Raven Brewing, this lush, almost hypnotic-like Coconut Porter makes you consider selling your mother's soul to the Devil just for sip of it. The extreme drinkability of this beer combined with its subtle nut and coffee tones makes it a worthy entry in any top beer list. 

Just another dark beer, you say? Certainly not! Although it does have a nonchalant appearance, there were several reasons why this got high on my list. Its subtlety, its softness and it's ability to keep you coming back means it's overall impression kept me guessing. The first two or three sips, it was quite okay but the more you drank the more you fell in love. Like a fine lady you have the hots for, you keep on going for more.  (My rating: 8.5/10)


Sour. Salty. Delicious. 4%
#16: Westbrook Brewing Gose (Sout. Salty. Delicious.)
Okay, own up. Who'd want to drink a beer that is sour and salty? How about if I add coriander to the mix? I'd wager $100 that the average punter on the street wouldn't touch it with a bloody bargepole. Heck, even I was having second thoughts on drinking it! 

But drink it I did, and I'll be the first to admit that it actually works. It just bloody-well works! Westbrook Brewing have come up with a Gose that is nothing short of magnificent. There aren't enough superlatives in the universe to describe how amazingly good this beer is. 

There is sourness, there is saltiness, and you also get the subtle note of coriander. What I found interesting is that hiding such flavours in a low alcohol beer can be very difficult. Not for Westbrook Brewing, though. It's a termendous credit to themselves for this sensational beer and for achieving the unthinkable: combining sour, salt and coriander to a light, refreshing beer. It was genuinely a marvellous effort. (My rating: 8.75/10) 



Surly Cacao Bender
#15: Surly Cacao Bender American Brown Ale
It took a while, but I had the pleasure of visiting the new Surly Brewing beer hall and restaurant back in September. Just like Bavarian beer halls (minus the girls with big boobies carrying litres of German lagers), this was an enormous place for eating and drinking with lots of friends. 

And all of my friends certainly ate and drank! After managing to get my hands on the beer menu, I just had to try the Cacao Bender. It's a "Bender made with cacao nibs, vanilla beans and coffee". That description alone was enough to make me drool like a 3-year-old in a high chair. 

The Bender is good, but what they did to it with this Cacao Bender is phenomenal. It's got perfect body, flavour, texture, balance and the overall impression will simply astound you. The cacao nibs, the vanilla, the coffee. it's all there. The beer is a credit to Surly and their creativity. Sure, It's nothing short of superb. (My rating: 8.5/10)


Smoked Porter 6.5%
#14: Alaskan Brewing Smoked Porter
Amazing. Simply amazing. I have to give credit to Alaskan Brewing for their fantastic Limited Edition Smoked Porter. The delicate tapestry of ingredients has somehow been woven into this sublime masterpiece. With "five types of malt" and "two varieties of hops" this has all the hallmarks of a 'beer for the ages' that every single craft beer geek will love.  

Mind you, it wasn't like that for me when I started brewing. I had never understood smoked beers, just like I could never understood certain women when dating. Some complexities are best left alone, me thinks. Still, the inquisitive nature in me as a home brewer gets the better of me. Smoked beers, just like a woman you fancy, need to be respected and understood in its full context.

My first smoked beer was back in 2012 from Dalgety Brewing. It was somewhat of an interesting tale, actually. I opened the bottle up and took a whiff, all the while slipping some expletives. I then poured the beer into my glass and then took a sip. Even more expletives leaped forward. What on planet Earth was I drinking? I had very much mixed emotions, just like watching your mother-in-law drive off a cliff in your newly-purchased $100,000 Mercedes Benz.

Suffice to say that drinking a smoked beer is an experience you'll never forget. I fell in love with this Alaskan Smoked Porter and understood its complexities and ambiance. Its divine nature tempted you to places never thought possible. But that is its allure. It was a world away from the normality of craft beer. It simply gets my huge nod of approval. (My rating: 8.75/10) 


#13: Coney Island Brewing IPA
I was introduced to the Coney Island IPA at the ultra cool Jiggs McAllisters in New "Joyzee". Ken and Heidi were giving me the grand tour, and this beer just popped out of nowhere. Off tap, this beer is pretty freakin' awesome. I was even lucky enough to have a freshly delivered batch straight from the brewery itself.

The fact I love things 'straight from the brewery' makes this even more special. But what surprised me was its similarity to one of our own Australian craft beers: Akasha Brewing Hopsmith IPA. Both beers aren't too dissimilar. The Coney Island IPA is an extraordinarily smooth drinking, thirst-quenching beer that makes you come back for more.

It has fine citrus aroma, a light-medium body with a very malty background. All this while showcasing its amazingly awesome hops and sensationally well-balanced ingredients. They have managed to master this IPA with such aplomb that it ranks highly. Other IPA beers don't have this fantastic combination, of which makes this a dead-set winner in my eyes. I could drink this beer all day long, and I think I did! (My rating: 8.75/10) 


The Oracle DIPA 10%
#12: Bell's Brewery The Oracle Double IPA
When I think of Oracle, I think of annoying Database Administrators. Thank goodness this isn't the Oracle I'm referring to. What I am referring to is The Oracle Double IPA by Bell's Brewery. The beast of beasts. The King of all things living. The epitome of Double IPA and what it stands for. 

And what this Double IPA stands for is style, leadership and coolness. It has more style than Pierce Brosnan, more leadership than Richard Branson and has more cool than Steve McQueen. It had intense hop aroma, flavour, was light to light-medium bodied and was perfectly balanced. Mind you, at 10% it could knock you out more quickly than a Holly Holm bout with Ronda Rousey!

That knockout feeling came from a multiple of sources. This Double IPA lured you into its lair, seduced you with its aroma, caressed you with its flavour and touch you with it's body and balance. The overall experience was nothing short of fantastic. Could there be something out there that was better, though? Possibly, but this beer shouldn't be underestimated. What a beer! (My rating: 8.75/10) 



Darkness Barrel Aged 10.3%
#11: Surly Brewing Darkness Russian Imperial Stout
Fuck a duck! If you were to look up the word 'awesomeness' in the dictionary, you'd find a picture of this beer: Surly Brewing Darkness Russian Imperial Stout. This was available exclusively at the Surly tap takeover at Lone Oak Grill in Eagan, Minnesota.

That exclusivity really did mean I felt special, said in a Bruce McAvaney way. A fellow craft beer enthusiast even stated that Darkness in this form was a rarity. Who am I to argue with a Minnesotan that loves Surly? Its rich flavours of "chocolate, cherries, raisins, coffee and toffee" came through strong. The barrel-aging process had blended this beer to utter perfection. 

And if perfection can be defined in a beer, this has it in spades. I was blown away by everything about it; texture, body, alcohol content, richness, smoothness. The beer made me feel I had just been invited on an all expenses paid week-long trip to the Playboy mansion. This beer made you drool before, during and after consumption. This was a remarkable beer that amazed every person that had the pleasure in drinking it. (My rating: 8.9/10) 


Sunday 8 November 2015

USA 2015: Top 40 Craft Beers - #30 to #21


USA 2015: Top 40 Craft Beers 

Earlier this year I had the tremendous privilege of trying some 387 unique craft beers while in the US. Some were simply magnificent, while others were just ordinary. My objective was to form a 'best beers' list that showcased the 'best of the best' from those 387 craft beers tasted.

As time wore on it eventually become my 'Top 40' list. It identifies all the craft beers that uniquely stood out. Each beer had an attraction that allowed you to become that beer. Each beer had their own characteristics that hypnotised you into drinking more. Each one of these craft beers had all the qualities that made them special.

It's these beers that I eventually fell in love with. Due to this, they have reached my Top 40 list. They have achieved something great that no other beer could accomplish. From New Jersey to Seattle, New York to Minnesota, below is my take on the top 40 beers that blew my mind.

So sit back and enjoy.

PS: Photos of the New Belgium and Summit beers were taken off Google's image search, and I acknowledge these are not my pictures. I managed to take my own, but those weren't to what I required and expected.


Frambozen Raspberry Brown 6.5% 
#30New Belgium Frambozen Raspberry Brown
This amazingly crafted Frambozen Raspberry Brown Ale from New Belgium ticks all of my boxes. It's described as having "aroma of fresh raspberries, followed by the ripe seductiveness of a fruity brown ale with depth and delicate malt notes". 

It's certainly seductive, and definitely has depth of malt notes. I had this beer while celebrating a mate's birthday at Lone Oak Grill in Eagan, Minnesota. It clearly stood out from the rest. It was very well-balanced and a joy to drink. 

The fruit notes were subtle yet tasty, while the malt notes were solid without being cloying. I couldn't actually fault this beer in any way. My only thoughts were "Could I have a 6-pack of this beer?" I'd come close but probably wouldn't have all six. Apart from that, I bloody-well liked this beer immensely. (My rating: 8/10)


Summit Saga 6.2%
#29Summit Saga IPA
Do you love IPAs? If so, make sure you get your hands on Summit Brewing's Saga IPA. It's "named after the Norse goddess Sága, drinking companion of the God Odin". Don't you love beer Gods? I certainly do! What a treat this beer was to drink during my 9 week US adventure. 

This was my 'go to' beer throughout. Particularly when I hit Starks with my good friends Dawn and Jenny. I liked this beer so much that I became a fan of Summit Saga. Its attributes perfectly summed up my trip: easy-going, enjoyable and full of excitement. 

That excitement came from the hops: Centennial, Amarillo, Citra and Rakau. Added to that, the balance was pretty much spot on. Granted, Summit did use Crystal malt but it was used very wisely. A rare combination that sees this beer surpass many others trying to do the same thing. I found it to be a damn fine beer. (My rating: 8/10)


Watermelon Ale 5.1%
#28Thomas Hooker Brewery Watermelon Ale
Never have I heard or seen a beer successfully brewed with watermelon, until now. Thomas Hooker Brewery's Watermelon Ale must be considered as a classic. It's able to shock and surprise you all at the same time, just like Lady Gaga. 

It's described as "strangely refreshing", and it certainly does achieve that. A light beer using Wheat, Carapils and Canadian 2-Row, with noble and American hops; Saaz and Cascade. 

With top-draw ingredients and watermelon essence, what you have is an amazingly tasty, full-strength beer. You definitely detect the taste of watermelon, and thankfully it wasn't an overpowering experience. 

What you got in this beer was perfectly balanced; a blend of light malt, a combination of noble and US hops plus the added bonus of watermelon to entice your drinking experience. The fact it made my list is an achievement itself. Full marks on a great creation. (My rating: 8/10)

Shoals Pale Ale 5.3%
#27: Smuttynose Brewing Shoals Pale Ale 
This is one of the better pale ales on the market. Smuttynose Brewing seems to have brewed a cracker. Shoals Pale Ale is an interpretation of "a classic English ale", which is "copper-colored, medium-bodied and pleasantly hopped". 

The use of Cascade and Galena hops, with a variety of malts makes this a pleasantly exciting beer to drink. You could quite easily find yourself sinking a few of these on a hot day. In fact, any day is a good day for this lovely beer.  

I'm not sure I could even fault this beer, apart from saying that there were many other beers better. Still, it held its own and was a surprisingly good pale ale surpassing many others. (My rating: 8/10)


Gluten-Free IPA 6.7%
#26Widmer Brothers Omission IPA (Gluten-Free) 
While at Rudy's Redeye Grill in Minnesota, I had come across a gluten-free beer on the menu. My expectation was typical of most gluten-free beers; somewhat odd, a slightly metallic-like aftertaste and a sense of significantly different qualities to that of normal barley-brewed beer. 

How bloody wrong I was! Widmer Brothers' separate brand, Omission Beer, brew gluten-free beer with such aplomb that you'll never know it's gluten-free at all. Their Omission IPA is testament to the enzyme called Brewers Clarex, which "breaks apart and detoxifies the gluten protein chains". 

Normal gluten-free beer is brewed with sorghum or even buckwheat. But this new process somehow propels this beer into the stratosphere. I reached new heights experiencing this beer and was so glad my curiosity won the day. A phenomenal gluten-free effort by Omission Beer. (My rating: 8.25/10)


Sticky Toffee Pudding 5%
#25Well's Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale
Bloody hell! This has to be the weirdest sensation I've ever experienced. Well's Sticky Toffee Puddling Ale is a combination of a traditional ale and pudding, two things that the British love. 

And boy, do I love it as well. What an amazing feeling to have this beer. It sort of reminded me of Founders Breakfast Stout, but this beer had lots of toffee and caramel-like textures and flavours. Simply enthralling. 

I'll freely admit that this was not a beer I had thought I'd like. Thankfully, I'm so lucky to have tried and experienced it, and liked it. My recommendation would be to try this with some ice-cream. I reckon that'd be an even more awesome experience. I totally loved this beer. (My rating: 8.5/10)

#24Mac & Jack's Brewing African Amber
I will preface this portion of the blog and say that there is a love/hate relationship with this beer. Having tried this beer at the best sushi restaurant in the world (in my opinion), how could I not rate this amber ale? 

I Love Sushi at Lake Union, Seattle become my newest love-affair. If Jennifer Love-Hewitt were to ask me out, I'd give her the elbow simply to eat some of this extraordinarily awesome sushi. And with that, Mac & Jack's African Amber was in a very unique position. 

I loved it because of its aroma, malt-flavour, cloudy appearance and it's ability to mind-boggle my palate with such awesomeness I'd have fainted with anticipation had I not drank it. The African Amber was more balanced than a tightrope walker over a windy Niagara Falls. 

Well, was it the restaurant or the beer itself that I loved? It was a tough call, but after weighing up the pros and cons I allowed myself to understand one thing: it's simply an awesome amber ale that was served with world-class sushi. Need I say more? Didn't think so. (My rating: 8.5/10)


Peach Lambic 3.5%
#23: Brouwerij De Troch Chapeau Peche Beer Lambic 
This Lambic Peach beer from Brouwerij De Troch was like breathing the freshest of air from the most scenic mountain top in the Swiss Alps. Its lager-like qualities and fruit-layered goodness is similar to witnessing Jennifer Carpenter stripping naked in front of you. It is beauty at its best. 

But with beauty comes pressure. How good really is it? This sublime masterpiece of craftsmanship was only equalled to that of Breezy Point Cabins on Lake Superior. The majestic beauty that was Lake Superior and the hypnotic nature of the lambic peach beer made the world seem like your oyster. It was truly something to behold. 

Everything around me seemed perfect. The company, the scenery, the openness of what northern Minnesota had to offer. It was simply heaven on Earth. I can't fault this beer at all. What a joy it was to drink. (My rating: 8.5/10)

Scarlet's Night 5.8%
#22Demented Brewing Scarlet's Night American Red Ale
This certainly has to be my favourite from Demented Brewing  The American Red Ale, Scarlet's Night, is superbly crafted, delightfully malty yet hoppy at the same time. A beautiful bodied, well-balanced ale that'd make you smile. 

It not only made me smile but it was a clear winner from the range of beers brewed. For me, it had qualities that no other beer showed. Both malt and hops were like a happily married couple, freshly off their honeymoon from the Maldives. 

The Roasted malt and Munich malt combination, along with Crystal malt gave this beer a robust malt-driven body. Add to that their special blend of hops and you have a remarkable beer that just cried out to be drank. I really enjoyed this wonderful beer. (My rating: 8.5/10)

Surly Eight 12%
#21Surly Brewing Eight 
Once again Surly Brewing has made my top 40 list. Eight is an oat wine style ale aged in Rye whiskey barrels. It has enough alcohol content to "blow your head clean off", just like Harry Callahan's .44 Magnum in Dirty Harry. 

So, did I feel lucky....punk? I sure did. It had numerous points of pleasure and a plethora of goodness. "Brewed with Golden Promise and Aromatic malt Oats, and Milk sugar fermented in stainless steel then aged in High West Rye Whiskey barrels, this golden hued Oat-Wine style summons notes of spicy vanilla marshmallow and aromas of honey and whiskey". 

A mouthful, huh? I'm pretty sure I got all of what was described, and then some. I found this beer to be something close to greatness. Although I may not know exactly what greatness is, this sure as hell came close. Drink carefully, however. Remember what happened at the end of Dirty Harry? That punk's luck ran out!  (My rating: 8.5/10)