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USA 2015: Top 40 Craft Beers |
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.
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| Frambozen Raspberry Brown 6.5% |
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)
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| Summit Saga 6.2% |
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)
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)
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| Watermelon Ale 5.1% |
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)
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| Shoals Pale Ale 5.3% |
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)
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| Gluten-Free IPA 6.7% |
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)
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| Sticky Toffee Pudding 5% |
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)
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)
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| Peach Lambic 3.5% |
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)
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| Scarlet's Night 5.8% |
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)
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| Surly Eight 12% |
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)
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