Welcome to our last new post (we think) of 2012. We thought it might be helpful to re-publish our Top 19×2 plus honorable mentions list from this past August for reference as you head out to shop for New Years Eve. It doesn’t contain, obviously, this year’s seasonal warmers, but still… if it helps, run with it!
First, onto NEW BIDNESS:
I was gifted with a 25 oz. (750ml) bottle of Sierra Nevada’s 30th Anniversary Stout “Fritz and Ken’s Ale.” It was originally purchased in early May of 2010 and stored upright in a relatively stable and cool spot. We opened it on Christmas Eve, and what a gift it was! Pouring black as night, with a head so solid we had to sip through it, we could have started with a spoon. The nose was interestingly floral and hoppy, a theme that continued into the overall experience here.
From first sip to last, this was a spectacular stout. Very big, but not cloying in the least, at various stages of airing and temperature, the beautifully rendered flavors of rich dark chocolate, molasses, and perhaps coffee – though there are times when my palate isn’t sure if I’m dealing with unsweetened chocolate or black coffee – bloomed and blended. Distinguishing it throughout, though, was the ever present influence to the nose and to the taste buds of hops, contributing a sweet and fragrant component, the darker influences still dominating the middle and end of the sip.
You could build a boat with the lacing, btw.
I have had other wonderful stouts, to be sure, some in bottle, some drafted, some out of bourbon barrels and, to be fair, there are probably a couple I might ALSO call the best stout I’ve ever had, but this was so wonderful on so many levels, this celebratory stout from Sierra Nevada (9.2%ABV), without question, merits the word BEST!
Now as to Dave and Harv’s picks?
CANNOT GO WRONG WITH ANY OF THEM!
This DOES NOT supplant our original TOP 20 LIST…they are still viewed as fabulous beers. Here are 19×2 more, not in order of preference, but alphabetically by brewery:
Harv’s Top 19
| Beer | Brewery |
|---|---|
| Maharaja Imperial IPA | Avery |
| Pub Ale 16 oz nitro can & draft | Boddingtons |
| Cherry Stout | Bells |
| Local 1 Belgian Ale | Brooklyn Brewing |
| Local 2 Belgian Ale | Brooklyn Brewing |
| Palo Santo Marron | Dogfish Head |
| KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) | Founders |
| Cerise | Founders |
| Barrel Aged Blackout Stout | Great Lakes Brewing |
| Edmund Fitzgerald Porter | Great Lakes Brewing |
| Mean Manalishi Double IPA | Hoppin’ Frog |
| Belgian Style Double IPA | Hoppin’ Frog |
| Milk Stout (Nitro and Otherwise) | Left Hand Brewery |
| Diabolical IPA | North PeakBrewing |
| Belgian Tripel | Rockmill Brewing |
| Imperial Series Wee Heavy | Sam Adams |
| Oak Smoke Doppelbock | Schlenkerla |
| Belgian Tripel | Ter Dolen |
| Nelson Imperial IPA | Widmer Brothers |
Dave’s Top 19
| Beer | Brewery |
|---|---|
| Pecan Harvest Ale | Abita Brewing |
| Raj IPA | Four Peaks Brewing |
| Barrel Roll #3 – Pugachev’s Cobra | Hangar 24 |
| Double IPA | Hangar 24 |
| Messiah Bold | He’Brew |
| Calabaza Blanca | Jolly Pumpkin |
| Wailua Wheat Beer | Kona Brewing |
| Snow Day Winter Ale | New Belgium |
| Snow Cap | Pyramid |
| Morimoto Black Obi Soba Ale | Rogue |
| Chocolate Bock | Sam Adams |
| Oak Smoke Doppelbock | Schlenkerla |
| Urbock 23° | Schloss Eggenberg |
| Smoked Porter | Stone Brewing |
| Arrogant Bastartd Ale (Oaked) | Stone Brewing |
| Cherry Chocolate Stout | Stone Brewing |
| Saison Du Buff | Stone, Dogfish Head, Victory |
| 17th Anniversary Barleywine | Uinta |
| Rotator IPA: O’Ryely IPA | Widmer Brothers |
Harv’s Honorable Mentions
| Beer | Brewery |
|---|---|
| 471 Small Batch IPA | Breckenridge |
| Backwoods Bastard | Founders |
| Peeper Ale | Maine Beer Company |
| 1554 Enlightened Black Ale | New Belgium |
| Ranger IPA | New Belgium |
| Vicious Wheat IPA | North PeakBrewing |
| #29 Ghidora Double IPA | Sierra Nevada Beer Camp |
| #16 Juniper Black Ale | Sierra Nevada Beer Camp |
| Hop Strike Black Rye IPA | Tommyknocker |
| Back in Black IPA | 21st Amendment |
| Hop Wallop IPA | Victory Brewing |
Dave’s Honorable Mentions
| Beer | Brewery |
|---|---|
| Alaskan Winter White | Alaskan Brewing Co. |
| Demo IPA | Magic Hat |
| Shiner Bohemian Black Lager | Shiner/Spoetzl |
| Tumbler (2011) | Sierra Nevada |
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Fantastic article!!! Thank you! Our coal region roots are deep and still alive and well! Sometime I hope to visit some of the many great sites mentioned in your article.
We believe these kind words were intended for the fine profile Dr. Westbrook did on the Wyoming Valley of Northeatern Pennsylvania, BEER CLINIC :: Beer in the Valley Pt.2. In light of the fact that, at this moment, we don’t know how to move this comment posted by Mr. Freudenberger, we’ll just strongly suggest you either follow the above link, or scroll up the home page to read this piece, chock full of watering holes, eateries and fine regional brews.