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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.
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| Chocolate Ale 9.1% |
#40: Boulevard Brewing Chocolate Ale
As I sit with my good friends Dawn and Cathy at The Sixgill in Seattle, I had the opportunity to try Boulevard Brewing's Chocolate Ale. It was a limited addition craft beer that had been developed by master chocolate creator, Christopher Elbow, in conjunction with Bourlevard's brewmaster, Steven Pauwels.
Its delicate combination of artistic license and brewing mastery is something to marvel. The beer shines through as unique and individualistic, with the finest of chocolates added to tantalise the taster. However, it just falls short of being absolutely fantastic
For me, this chocolate-forward beer overwhelms the palate with a slightly overbearing sweetness. Although this is a fantastic style of beer, it has to be said that it felt like I was drinking a sweetened alcoholic Mars Bar. It had too much chocolate, lots of sweet malt character and appeared to be unbalanced. Apart from those criticisms, it was a great opportunity to try this limited release Chocolate Ale. (My rating: 7/10)
#39: Avery Brewing Maharaja Imperial IPA
My dream has always been to taste the ultimate Imperial IPA. As I travelled through the United States, my goal was to get my hands on Avery Brewing's Imperial IPA, Maharaja. I had heard that this beer was fantastic and stood out from the rest.
With only two days left on my trip remaining, my goal of trying this beer was looking bleak. Amazingly, on one of our last pub crawls something amazing happened.
While Dawn, Jenny and I were at Stanley's Northeast Bar Room in Minneapolis, Minnesota the bartender alerted me to the Maharaja being on tap. Soon afterwards I was holding the most talked about Imperial IPA in the United States. Such a shame it didn't press any of my 'buttons'.
For me, it preceded it's reputation. It didn't have a strong hop aroma, was a little to heavy-bodied and it came across sweet-like with too much caramel malt. Overall, it just seemed a little too unbalanced for my liking. I had expected a lot more, but was somewhat disappointed. Despite this, what an amazing experience. (My rating: 7/10)
#38: Ballast Point Wahoo Wheat
Our local haunt while in Seattle was the ever-awesome Yard House. An extensive array of craft beer from all around the US meant that this was mouth-watering, lip-licking territory.
And guess what cropped up in my hot little hands? A sublime beer from Ballast Point called Wahoo Wheat. Brewed with Thai green chilli & ginger with Lime, this is definitely a shock to the system! This beer had all the hallmarks of a Belgian Wit, with the added bonus of kicking you in the kahunas.
The heat from the Thai green chilli was somewhat overpowering the light and 'fluffy' nature of this beer. Admittedly, I did go back for it again and again. Problem was that I sipped on it too long, and that was simply down to the 'heat factor'.
The subtle note of lime was definitely evident, and although this beer (as a one off) was brilliant it is a shame they couldn't back off the heat. It's certainly a refreshing beer, but that kick from the chilli sent off too many alarm bells for my liking. (My rating: 7/10)
#37: Surly Fiery Hell
Well, it had to happen eventually. The first of many Surly beers that made it into my top 40 craft beers list here in the US. This Surly Fiery Hell came about while attending the Surly tap takeover at Lone Oak Grill in Eagan, Minnesota.
Based on the original Surly Munich Helles, this was brewed with the addition of Puya chiles and red oak. Imagine a lager that is light and smooth, then add heat and oak chips. Certainly a very interesting combination when done correctly.
I think it was done correctly. It wasn't too dissimilar to that of Ballast Point's (refer to #38, above) but this was definitely more subdued. Don't get me wrong, it still packed a mighty punch but this punch was like you had the Yellow Pages separating you and the punch.
This Fiery Hell caught my eye and palate, which allowed me to consider having another. It was a solid effort from the boys at Surly. I enjoyed it very much indeed. (My rating: 7.25/10)
#36: 21st Amendment Hop Crisis Imperial IPA
Shut the front door! Wow, this is a really big Imperial IPA from 21st Amendment Brewery. The Hop Crisis is a mammoth 9.7% Imperial IPA that hits you harder than Mike Tyson. This is such a huge beer that it's served in a 330ml can. One is enough to get the party started!
As Imperial IPAs go, this is actually quite good. And because it's from a can I didn't even bother putting it in a glass. I mean, if they brew it in a can it's good enough to drink out of, right?
Although it's a good, solid Imperial IPA there were some aspects that left me disappointed. I noticed it wasn't too heavy on the aroma and much lighter in body compared to that of the Maharaja. Although these were good qualities compared to that of the Maharaja, it still lacked what I think means Imperial IPA: hop aroma. Still, I did prefer it to the Maharaja.
Hop Crisis was hoppy and bitter but I found this, too, somewhat unbalanced. Still, I think it was a definite improvement in the Imperial IPA stakes. A great effort by 21st Amendment Brewery. (My rating: 7.5/10)
#35: Sea Dog Brewing Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale
While hanging with good friends Ken and Heidi in a pool in New Jersey, a random beer from out of nowhere appeared. This Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale from Sea Dog Brewing is example of how fruit can add excellence to a beer.
I've tried lots of fruit beers over the years and have found myself often wincing at the sickly-sweet taste. Thankfully, there is none of the 'sweet' taste in this beer. It's quite well-balanced, considering the light-bodied nature of this nice brew.
Thankfully, this was a beer first with just enough Blueberry taste to keep you interested. I really liked this beer, and it was made more impressive as I had this in the height of Summer in New Jersey. To my surprise I was actually wanting another one. A beautifully crafted wheat ale with added Blueberry. What else can one ask for? (My rating: 7.5/10)
#34: White Birch Brewing Our Humble Porter
Playing 'bags' is something new for me. What wasn't new is hanging with good friends Dawn, Jenny, Kellie and Jon in Minnesota. As our games began I managed to try a Porter that caught my attention. White Birch Brewing's Our Humble Porter is great example of a Porter that excites the mind and palate.
It leans itself toward more to the Robust Porter category and has lots of character. This medium-light bodied beer has got soft chocolate notes, a touch of roast and a good base malt behind it. Even on a warm Summer's day in Minnesota this proved to be a solid beer.
The only fault garnered was that appeared to be very one-dimensional. Strange to say, I know but it just seemed 'flat'. Maybe my expectations were tarnished from previous great Porters? It just felt like something was missing from this beer, one which just didn't sit quite right. Still, I'd happily drink this again. (My rating: 7.5/10)
#33: Lakefront Brewery Fuel Cafe Stout brewed with Coffee
Oddly enough, I'm still playing 'bags' at this point. It just so happens this beer was part of a number of beers obtained for our day out. Lakefront Brewery came up with this phenomenal beer: Fuel Cafe Stout brewed with Coffee.
I'll freely admit that I'm not a coffee drinker, but I love my Coffee Stouts. Strange, but true. Regardless, it was a beer I was very much looking forward to drinking.
When I opened this beast, it smacked me in the face with its huge coffee aroma. The flavour, too, was a massive coffee hit, almost espresso-like. It was strong, medium-bodied and had all the hallmarks of a great beer. As the names suggests, coffee is all you'll get from this stout. A great beer. (My rating: 7.75/10)
#32: Surly Overrated West Coast style IPA
Another Surly, this time it's Overrated. No, not the beer but the beer name. Surly's Overrated West Coast style IPA is quite a nice drop. Surprisingly, this was actually the first unique beer of my US trip.
Don't be fooled by its name. It is not overrated, rather quite underrated. Typical to style; dry, hoppy and light-bodied, this beer is really nice. I'm a big fan of West Coast style IPAs and this fits the bill perfectly.
One of its good points is that you can enjoy this beer all day. It doesn't have the 'it'll knock you out after one' mantra. Granted, I did actually by a 4-pack of this from the local liquor store, of which each one went down quite nicely. A great beer from the boys at Surly. (My rating: 7.75/10)
#31: Demented Brewing Double Dementia Double IPA
It pays to know people in certain places. That certainly was true when Ken, Heidi and I were roaming around New Jersey. Heidi had somehow managed to get us into a special unofficial opening of Demented Brewing.
A newly opened brewery, it hadn't even officially opened. Only a special event for family and close friends were welcome. Thanks to Heidi's magic, we headed up to Demented and tried their beers, took a brewery tour and bought some gear. As it turns out I was their first international customer! How cool is that?!
I managed to go through their whole beer menu (obviously) and came away feeling very awesome. For me, two beers stood out. One of them in particular should get a special mention: Double Dementia Double IPA.
It was quite nicely balanced, not 'hot' and didn't even taste like it was 8.5%. Although the use of Crystal malt was somewhat overstated in this beer, it was the only blemish on an otherwise fine Double IPA. The boys at Demented did a fantastic job. Thanks for allowing Ken, Heidi and myself at your special launch before official opening day. It was much appreciated. (My rating: 7.75/10)
As I sit with my good friends Dawn and Cathy at The Sixgill in Seattle, I had the opportunity to try Boulevard Brewing's Chocolate Ale. It was a limited addition craft beer that had been developed by master chocolate creator, Christopher Elbow, in conjunction with Bourlevard's brewmaster, Steven Pauwels.
Its delicate combination of artistic license and brewing mastery is something to marvel. The beer shines through as unique and individualistic, with the finest of chocolates added to tantalise the taster. However, it just falls short of being absolutely fantastic
For me, this chocolate-forward beer overwhelms the palate with a slightly overbearing sweetness. Although this is a fantastic style of beer, it has to be said that it felt like I was drinking a sweetened alcoholic Mars Bar. It had too much chocolate, lots of sweet malt character and appeared to be unbalanced. Apart from those criticisms, it was a great opportunity to try this limited release Chocolate Ale. (My rating: 7/10)
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| Maharaja IIPA 10.5% |
My dream has always been to taste the ultimate Imperial IPA. As I travelled through the United States, my goal was to get my hands on Avery Brewing's Imperial IPA, Maharaja. I had heard that this beer was fantastic and stood out from the rest.
With only two days left on my trip remaining, my goal of trying this beer was looking bleak. Amazingly, on one of our last pub crawls something amazing happened.
While Dawn, Jenny and I were at Stanley's Northeast Bar Room in Minneapolis, Minnesota the bartender alerted me to the Maharaja being on tap. Soon afterwards I was holding the most talked about Imperial IPA in the United States. Such a shame it didn't press any of my 'buttons'.
For me, it preceded it's reputation. It didn't have a strong hop aroma, was a little to heavy-bodied and it came across sweet-like with too much caramel malt. Overall, it just seemed a little too unbalanced for my liking. I had expected a lot more, but was somewhat disappointed. Despite this, what an amazing experience. (My rating: 7/10)
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| Thai Chilli Lime Wheat 4.5% |
Our local haunt while in Seattle was the ever-awesome Yard House. An extensive array of craft beer from all around the US meant that this was mouth-watering, lip-licking territory.
And guess what cropped up in my hot little hands? A sublime beer from Ballast Point called Wahoo Wheat. Brewed with Thai green chilli & ginger with Lime, this is definitely a shock to the system! This beer had all the hallmarks of a Belgian Wit, with the added bonus of kicking you in the kahunas.
The heat from the Thai green chilli was somewhat overpowering the light and 'fluffy' nature of this beer. Admittedly, I did go back for it again and again. Problem was that I sipped on it too long, and that was simply down to the 'heat factor'.
The subtle note of lime was definitely evident, and although this beer (as a one off) was brilliant it is a shame they couldn't back off the heat. It's certainly a refreshing beer, but that kick from the chilli sent off too many alarm bells for my liking. (My rating: 7/10)
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| Surly Fiery Hell 5.1% |
Well, it had to happen eventually. The first of many Surly beers that made it into my top 40 craft beers list here in the US. This Surly Fiery Hell came about while attending the Surly tap takeover at Lone Oak Grill in Eagan, Minnesota.
Based on the original Surly Munich Helles, this was brewed with the addition of Puya chiles and red oak. Imagine a lager that is light and smooth, then add heat and oak chips. Certainly a very interesting combination when done correctly.
I think it was done correctly. It wasn't too dissimilar to that of Ballast Point's (refer to #38, above) but this was definitely more subdued. Don't get me wrong, it still packed a mighty punch but this punch was like you had the Yellow Pages separating you and the punch.
This Fiery Hell caught my eye and palate, which allowed me to consider having another. It was a solid effort from the boys at Surly. I enjoyed it very much indeed. (My rating: 7.25/10)
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| Hop Crisis Imperial IPA 9.7% |
Shut the front door! Wow, this is a really big Imperial IPA from 21st Amendment Brewery. The Hop Crisis is a mammoth 9.7% Imperial IPA that hits you harder than Mike Tyson. This is such a huge beer that it's served in a 330ml can. One is enough to get the party started!
As Imperial IPAs go, this is actually quite good. And because it's from a can I didn't even bother putting it in a glass. I mean, if they brew it in a can it's good enough to drink out of, right?
Although it's a good, solid Imperial IPA there were some aspects that left me disappointed. I noticed it wasn't too heavy on the aroma and much lighter in body compared to that of the Maharaja. Although these were good qualities compared to that of the Maharaja, it still lacked what I think means Imperial IPA: hop aroma. Still, I did prefer it to the Maharaja.
Hop Crisis was hoppy and bitter but I found this, too, somewhat unbalanced. Still, I think it was a definite improvement in the Imperial IPA stakes. A great effort by 21st Amendment Brewery. (My rating: 7.5/10)
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| Wild Blueberry Wheat 4.6% |
While hanging with good friends Ken and Heidi in a pool in New Jersey, a random beer from out of nowhere appeared. This Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale from Sea Dog Brewing is example of how fruit can add excellence to a beer.
I've tried lots of fruit beers over the years and have found myself often wincing at the sickly-sweet taste. Thankfully, there is none of the 'sweet' taste in this beer. It's quite well-balanced, considering the light-bodied nature of this nice brew.
Thankfully, this was a beer first with just enough Blueberry taste to keep you interested. I really liked this beer, and it was made more impressive as I had this in the height of Summer in New Jersey. To my surprise I was actually wanting another one. A beautifully crafted wheat ale with added Blueberry. What else can one ask for? (My rating: 7.5/10)
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| Our Humble Porter 6% |
Playing 'bags' is something new for me. What wasn't new is hanging with good friends Dawn, Jenny, Kellie and Jon in Minnesota. As our games began I managed to try a Porter that caught my attention. White Birch Brewing's Our Humble Porter is great example of a Porter that excites the mind and palate.
It leans itself toward more to the Robust Porter category and has lots of character. This medium-light bodied beer has got soft chocolate notes, a touch of roast and a good base malt behind it. Even on a warm Summer's day in Minnesota this proved to be a solid beer.
The only fault garnered was that appeared to be very one-dimensional. Strange to say, I know but it just seemed 'flat'. Maybe my expectations were tarnished from previous great Porters? It just felt like something was missing from this beer, one which just didn't sit quite right. Still, I'd happily drink this again. (My rating: 7.5/10)
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| Fuel Cafe Stout 6.4% |
Oddly enough, I'm still playing 'bags' at this point. It just so happens this beer was part of a number of beers obtained for our day out. Lakefront Brewery came up with this phenomenal beer: Fuel Cafe Stout brewed with Coffee.
I'll freely admit that I'm not a coffee drinker, but I love my Coffee Stouts. Strange, but true. Regardless, it was a beer I was very much looking forward to drinking.
When I opened this beast, it smacked me in the face with its huge coffee aroma. The flavour, too, was a massive coffee hit, almost espresso-like. It was strong, medium-bodied and had all the hallmarks of a great beer. As the names suggests, coffee is all you'll get from this stout. A great beer. (My rating: 7.75/10)
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| Surly Overrated |
Another Surly, this time it's Overrated. No, not the beer but the beer name. Surly's Overrated West Coast style IPA is quite a nice drop. Surprisingly, this was actually the first unique beer of my US trip.
Don't be fooled by its name. It is not overrated, rather quite underrated. Typical to style; dry, hoppy and light-bodied, this beer is really nice. I'm a big fan of West Coast style IPAs and this fits the bill perfectly.
One of its good points is that you can enjoy this beer all day. It doesn't have the 'it'll knock you out after one' mantra. Granted, I did actually by a 4-pack of this from the local liquor store, of which each one went down quite nicely. A great beer from the boys at Surly. (My rating: 7.75/10)
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| Double Dementia 8.5% |
It pays to know people in certain places. That certainly was true when Ken, Heidi and I were roaming around New Jersey. Heidi had somehow managed to get us into a special unofficial opening of Demented Brewing.
A newly opened brewery, it hadn't even officially opened. Only a special event for family and close friends were welcome. Thanks to Heidi's magic, we headed up to Demented and tried their beers, took a brewery tour and bought some gear. As it turns out I was their first international customer! How cool is that?!
I managed to go through their whole beer menu (obviously) and came away feeling very awesome. For me, two beers stood out. One of them in particular should get a special mention: Double Dementia Double IPA.
It was quite nicely balanced, not 'hot' and didn't even taste like it was 8.5%. Although the use of Crystal malt was somewhat overstated in this beer, it was the only blemish on an otherwise fine Double IPA. The boys at Demented did a fantastic job. Thanks for allowing Ken, Heidi and myself at your special launch before official opening day. It was much appreciated. (My rating: 7.75/10)
