From Homebrew Society email thing I get, so it should have some credence. My preference would be Pliny the Younger, surprised to see 90 Minute to some degree, never heard or had Bells but should likely do something about that, surprised Zombie Dust is new, and too many IPAs.



With, literally, thousands of commercial beers to choose from, it's difficult to really choose the best. Every year, though, the AHA and Zymurgy magazine take on the task.

This year's results are in, and of the 6,000 different brews submitted, here are the top ten (last year's position is in parenthesis):

1. Russian River Pliny the Elder (1)

2. Bell's Two Hearted Ale (2)

3. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA (3)

4. Stone Enjoy By IPA (8)

9. Founders Breakfast Stout (9)

6. The Alchemist Heady Topper (5)

7. Bell's Hopslam (4)

8. Three Floyds Zombie Dust (new)

9. Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA (7)

10. Firestone Walker Wookey Jack (new)



Two of last year's Top Ten that didn't make the list this year were Lagunitas Sucks, which was #6 last year and dropped to #45 this year, and Good Island Bourbon County Brand Stout, last year's #10 didn't even make the list top fifty this year.



Also interesting to note... Pliny the Elder has taken the top spot for the past seven years!

I've had both Bells and the Hopslam is fantastic. What's nice about the Two Hearted is its fairly easy to find for a great beer. I don't think Bells is available in New England. I get mine in PA. My favorite on this list has to be the Zombie Dust which to me is very close to Sip of Sunshine - I'm an IPA guy and those two beers are the very best I've ever tasted. Pliney is basically the Holy Grail as I've never even seen it never mind had one to drink.

The latest Enjoy By that is unfiltered is friggin outstanding.
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Of the ones I've tried in surprised to see the sculpin and 90 minute on the list. They are both good but I've had beers not on the list that I thought were much better.
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Me as well, but this is likely country wide and "commercial". Most stuff I get at Trillium I would prefer over most of that list, but it makes for good Winter beer discussion fodder. Carry on.

Most "Enjoy By's" are really good. Closest I can find Bells is in and around the Albany area. Nothing in New England.

Most "Enjoy By's" are really good. Closest I can find Bells is in and around the Albany area. Nothing in New England.

Hopslam is almost impossible to find in bottles or cans. I had it on tap at a pub in Philly.

Nothing wrong with that list. Certainly a pile of beers that aren't readily available could be on that list: sip, double sunshine, many hill farmstead, etc. Sculpin is excellent, but wouldn't be in my top 10. Recent enjoy by's I have had wouldn't make my list. The rest would definitely be contenders for my list. Actually, i haven't tried wookey jack, but love double jack and union jack.

aaaaaahhhhhhh, Hill Farmstead. I feel a sudden urge to drive to Worcester.

All great beers. Kind of weird mix of hard to get and readily available. If your going to include hard to gets like heady, you could make a much more impressive list with trillium, hill farmstead, treehouse, etc. and that's just New England, never mind the rest of the country. I like sculpin a lot, but it's not Susan or congress street or even be hoppy IMO.
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Might be some sort of population/distribution thing going on along with "folklore of the rarities" mixed in. It would be interesting to see some demographics on this one since it should be mostly beer minded folks in the survey.

Top 21 on Beer Advocate as a contrast, seems to be a New England bias to this list, I/m just sayin'

1 Good Morning Tree House Brewing Company

2 Mornin' Delight Toppling Goliath Brewing Company

3 Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout Toppling Goliath Brewing Company

4 Pliny The Younger Russian River Brewing Company

5 Heady Topper The Alchemist

6 Dinner Maine Beer Company

7 Founders CBS Imperial Stout Founders Brewing Company

8 Bourbon Barrel Aged Vanilla Bean Dark Lord 3 Floyds Brewing Co

9 Trappist Westvleteren 12 (XII) Brouwerij Westvleteren

10 Julius Tree House Brewing Company

11 King Julius Tree House Brewing Company

12 Pliny The Elder Russian River Brewing Company

13 Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout Goose Island Beer Co.

14 Barrel-Aged Abraxas Perennial Artisan Ales

15 Juice Machine Tree House Brewing Company

16 Fundamental Observation Bottle Logic Brewing

17 Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout (2015) Goose Island Beer Co.

18 Focal Banger The Alchemist

19 Sip Of Sunshine Lawson's Finest Liquids

20 Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)

21 Abner Hill Farmstead Brewery

Hopslam is almost impossible to find in bottles or cans. I had it on tap at a pub in Philly.

You should be able to find Pliny in Philadelphia.

https://foursquare.com/top-places/philadelphia/best-places-russian-river-beer
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You should be able to find Pliny in Philadelphia.

https://foursquare.com/top-places/philadelphia/best-places-russian-river-beer
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Thanks Fly - I actually went to a Philly pub because they advertised Pliny. When I go there they said they were sold out (likely story) but had Hopslam so it wasn't a total loss. This list is great as I make trips there periodically to visit my daughter.

I periodically visit Monk's.

Great mussels there
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Duck salad was awesome, as was the Blind Pig