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Beer Advocate's 100 best beers ever

HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,589
2,022
Seattle
Debatable. Some serious omissions IMO, but some good stuff on there too.

Things I've had in bold.

1. Pliny The Elder, Russian River Brewing (American Double/Imperial IPA; 8%)
2. Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout, Founders Brewing (American Double/Imperial Stout; 11.2%)
3. Trappistes Rochefort 10, Brasserie de Rochefort (Quadrupel; 11.3%)
4. HopSlam Ale, Bell’s Brewery (American Double/Imperial IPA; 10%)
5. Stone Imperial Russian Stout, Stone Brewing (Russian Imperial Stout; 10.5%)
6. St. Bernardus Abt 12, Brouwerij St. Bernardus (Quadrupel; 10.50%)
7. Founders Breakfast Stout, Founders Brewing (American Double/Imperial Stout; 8.3%)
8. Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier, Brauerei Weihenstephan (Hefeweizen; 5.4%)
9. Péché Mortel (Imperial Stout Au Cafe), Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel (American Double/Imperial Stout; 9.5%)
10. Celebrator Doppelbock, Brauerei Aying (Doppelbock; 6.7%)
11. Duvel, Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat (Belgian Strong Pale Ale; 8.5%)
12. Dreadnaught IPA, Three Floyds Brewing (American Double/Imperial IPA; 9.5%)
13. Nugget Nectar, Tröegs Brewing (American Amber/Red Ale; 7.5%)
14. La Fin Du Monde, Unibroue (Tripel; 9%)
15. Bourbon County Stout, Goose Island (American Double/Imperial Stout: 13%)
16. Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, North Coast Brewing (Russian Imperial Stout; 9%)
17. Two Hearted Ale, Bell’s Brewery (American IPA / 7.1%)
18. Ruination IPA, Stone Brewing (American Double/Imperial IPA; 7.7%)
19. Schneider Aventinus, Private Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn (Weizenbock / 8.2%)
20. Double Bastard Ale, Stone Brewing (American Strong Ale / 10.5%)
21. 90 Minute IPA, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (American Double/Imperial IPA; 9%)
22. Hop Rod Rye, Bear Republic Brewing (American IPA; 8%)
23. Trappistes Rochefort 8, Brasserie de Rochefort (Belgian Strong Dark Ale; 9.2%)
24. Chimay Grande Réserve (Blue), Bières de Chimay, a.k.a. Abbaye Notre Dame de Scourmont (Belgian Strong Dark Ale; 9%)
25. Stone IPA, Stone Brewing (American IPA; 6.9%)
26. Arrogant Bastard Ale, Stone Brewing (American Strong Ale; 7.2%)
27. Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Great Lakes Brewing (American Porter; 5.8%)
28. Chocolate Stout, Rogue Ales (American Stout; 6%)
29. Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, Great Divide Brewing (Russian Imperial Stout; 9.5%)
30. Ten FIDY, Oskar Blues Grill & Brewery (Russian Imperial Stout; 9.5%)
31. Storm King Stout, Victory Brewing (Russian Imperial Stout; 9.1%)
32. Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout, Rogue Ales (Oatmeal Stout; 6.1%)
33. Alpha King Pale Ale, Three Floyds Brewing (American Pale Ale; 6%)
34. Westmalle Trappist Tripel, Brouwerij Westmalle (Tripel; 9.5%)
35. Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout, Samuel Smith Old Brewery at Tadcaster (Russian Imperial Stout; 7%)
36. Yeti Imperial Stout, Great Divide Brewing (Russian Imperial Stout; 9.5%)
37. Hennepin (Farmhouse Saison), Brewery Ommegang (Saison/Farmhouse Ale; 7.7%)
38. Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout, Samuel Smith Old Brewery at Tadcaster (Oatmeal Stout; 5%)
39. Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, Brooklyn Brewery (Russian Imperial Stout; 10.1%)
40. Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale, Stone Brewing (American Strong Ale; 7.2%)
41. Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, Stone Brewing (American Strong Ale; 8.7%)
42. Trois Pistoles, Unibroue (Belgian Strong Dark Ale; 9%)
43. Bell’s Expedition Stout, Bell’s Brewery (Russian Imperial Stout; 10.5%)
44. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Sierra Nevada Brewing (American IPA; 6.8%)
45. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale, Sierra Nevada Brewing (American Barleywine; 9.6%)
46. Racer 5 India Pale Ale, Bear Republic Brewing (American IPA; 7%)
47. Orval Trappist Ale, Brasserie d’Orval (Belgian Pale Ale; 6.9%)
48. Hercules Double IPA, Great Divide Brewing (American Double/Imperial IPA; 10%)
49. Maharaja, Avery Brewing (American Double/Imperial IPA; 10.3%)
50. Maudite, Unibroue (Belgian Strong Dark Ale; 8%)
51. Sierra Nevada Harvest Wet Hop Ale, Sierra Nevada Brewing (American IPA; 6.7%)
52. Palo Santo Marron, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (American Brown Ale; 12%)
53. Hop Stoopid, Lagunitas Brewing (American Double/Imperial IPA; 8%)
54. Ommegang (Abbey Ale), Brewery Ommegang (Dubbel; 8.5%)
55. Anchor Porter, Anchor Brewing (American Porter; 5.6%)
56. HopDevil Ale, Victory Brewing (American IPA; 6.7%)
57. World Wide Stout, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (American Double/Imperial Stout; 18%)
58. Three Philosophers Belgian Style Blend, Brewery Ommegang (Quadrupel; 9.8%)
59. Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, Wells & Young’s Ltd (Milk/Sweet Stout; 5.2%)
60. Smuttynose IPA “Finest Kind”, Smuttynose Brewing (American IPA; 6.9%)
61. Stone Smoked Porter, Stone Brewing (American Porter; 5.9%)
62. Chimay Première (Red), Bières de Chimay, a.k.a. Abbaye Notre Dame de Scourmont (Dubbel; 7%)
63. Indian Brown Ale, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (American Brown Ale; 7.2%)
64. Chimay Tripel (White), Bières de Chimay, a.k.a. Abbaye Notre Dame de Scourmont (Tripel; 8%)
65. Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA, Sierra Nevada Brewing (American IPA; 7.2%)
66. Prima Pils, Victory Brewing (German Pilsener; 5.3%)
67. Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier Naturtrüb, Paulaner Salvator Thomasbraeu (Hefeweizen; 5.5%)
68. Hazelnut Brown Nectar, Rogue Ales (American Brown Ale; 6.2%)
69. Hop Wallop, Victory Brewing (American Double/Imperial IPA; 8.5%)
70. Gonzo Imperial Porter, Flying Dog Brewer (Baltic Porter; 7.80%)
71. Fuller’s ESB, Fuller Smith & Turner (Extra Special/Strong Bitter (ESB); 5.9%)
72. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada Brewing (American Pale Ale; 5.6%)
73. Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale, Samuel Smith Old Brewery at Tadcaster (English Brown Ale; 5%)
74. Delirium Tremens, Brouwerij Huyghe (Belgian Strong Pale Ale; 8.5%)
75. 60 Minute IPA, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (American IPA; 6%)
76. Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse, Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu (Hefeweizen; 5%)
77. Sierra Nevada Porter, Sierra Nevada Brewing (American Porter; 5.6%)
78. Anchor Liberty Ale, Anchor Brewing (American Pale Ale; 6%)
79. Samuel Adams Cream Stout, Boston Beer Company (Milk/Sweet Stout; 4.69%)
80. Dale’s Pale Ale, Oskar Blues Grill & Brewery (American Pale Ale; 6.5%)
81. Mocha Porter, Rogue Ales (American Porter; 5.3%)
82. Dead Guy Ale, Rogue Ales (Maibock/Helles Bock; 6.5%)
83. Salvator Doppel Bock, Paulaner Salvator Thomasbraeu (Doppelbock; 7.9%)
84. Spaten Optimator, Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu (Doppelbock; 7.2%)
85. 120 Minute IPA, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (American Double/Imperial IPA; 18%)
86. Hoegaarden Original White Ale, Brouwerij van Hoegaarden (Witbier; 4.9%)
87. Punkin Ale, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Pumpkin Ale; 7%)
88. Bell’s Oberon Ale, Bell’s Brewery (American Pale Wheat Ale; 5.8%)
89. Anchor Steam Beer, Anchor Brewing (California Common/Steam Beer; 4.9%)
90. Guinness Extra Stout (Original), Guinness/Diageo (Irish Dry Stout; 6%)
91. Samuel Adams Black Lager, Boston Beer Company (Schwarzbier; 4.9%)
92. Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Boston Beer Company (Vienna Lager; 4.75%)
93. ApriHop, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (American IPA; 7%)
94. Midas Touch Golden Elixir, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Herb/Spice Beer; 9%)
95. Golden Monkey, Victory Brewing (Tripel; 9.5%)
96. Samuel Adams Winter Lager, Boston Beer Company (Bock; 5.8%)
97. Raison D’etre, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Belgian Strong Dark Ale; 8%)
98. Pilsner Urquell, Plzensky Prazdroj (Czech Pilsener; 4.4%)
99. Samuel Adams Octoberfest, Boston Beer Company (Märzen/Oktoberfest; 5.4%)
100. Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager, Sierra Nevada Brewing (Czech Pilsener; 5%)


That Gonzo is as far down as it is is a travesty, and Hop Wallop blows goats. Why is it on there? Brooklyn Black Ops is a way better bourbon stout than Goose County, yet it's not on there. And no Deschutes products? The Abyss? Come on.

And don't get me started on fvcking Guinness.

Not bad though.
 
sanjuro

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
My delicate palate can only handle Pale Ales, and at least my two favorite, Racer 5 and Sierra, are on the list.
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,589
2,022
Seattle
SkaredShtles said:
Main problem with DFH is that it's WAY overpriced. At least out here...

Stouts... meh.
Click to expand...
The 90 is about $11 for a 4 pack, but I :cupidarrow: it.


Storm King is pretty awesome because it's actually kind of hoppy, but is still very much a stout. I just noticed that Victory's Golden Monkey is on there too. While I haven't had it, the list of things I'd rather drink than Hop Wallop or Hop Devil includes jet fuel and the fluid they were draining out of Kobe Bryant's knee during the playoffs a few years ago, and their collaboration with Stone and DFH, both of whom can usually do no wrong sucked too. (forget what that was called). I'm besotted with Storm King though.
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,589
2,022
Seattle
sanjuro said:
My delicate palate can only handle Pale Ales, and at least my two favorite, Racer 5 and Sierra, are on the list.
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You might like DFH 60 minute. It's less strong than the 90, but is still excellent. And it's a bunch cheaper.
 
I Are Baboon

I Are Baboon

Vagina man
Aug 6, 2001
32,740
10,673
MTB New England
HAB said:
Damn. You win, barely. :rant:



The obvious conclusion is that I need to drink more beer.
Click to expand...
I find your lack of Ommegang drinking to be quite troublesome. They're in your backyard ffs. I am assigning you the task of drinking some.

In my opinion, the #1 spot is well deserved. Holy cripes does that beer rule.
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,589
2,022
Seattle
I Are Baboon said:
I find your lack of Ommegang drinking to be quite troublesome. They're in your backyard ffs. I am assigning you the task of drinking some.
Click to expand...
Belgians don't tend to be my thing, but challenge accepted anyway. Anything in particular you think I should try?

I Are Baboon said:
In my opinion, the #1 spot is well deserved. Holy cripes does that beer rule.
Click to expand...
I really want to get my hands on some. Sadly my efforts to date have not been successful.
 
I Are Baboon

I Are Baboon

Vagina man
Aug 6, 2001
32,740
10,673
MTB New England
HAB said:
Belgians don't tend to be my thing, but challenge accepted anyway. Anything in particular you think I should try?



I really want to get my hands on some. Sadly my efforts to date have not been successful.
Click to expand...
Well if you don't like Belgians, you probably won't like Ommegang. The Hennepin (saison) is a French style, but most of rest of their stuff is very Belgian. Their Witte is a very good white ale.


I've been lucky with the Pliny. A friend of mine "knows someone" and I've had about a dozen bottles over the past 18 months.
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,589
2,022
Seattle
I Are Baboon said:
Well if you don't like Belgians, you probably won't like Ommegang. The Hennepin (saison) is a French style, but most of rest of their stuff is very Belgian. Their Witte is a very good white ale.
Click to expand...
That's why I've never bothered.

I Are Baboon said:
I've been lucky with the Pliny. A friend of mine "knows someone" and I've had about a dozen bottles over the past 18 months.
Click to expand...
:shakefist:
 
Arutha

Arutha

Monkey
Nov 26, 2002
113
0
Western PA
I certainly disagree but everyone's tastes are different. To me Pliny the Younger blows away the Elder but far less people would have had it. I have no idea how this list is generated but at least they got some things right. My personal preference would have St. Bernardus ABT12 at number 1.

Anyone have Southern Tier's 2xIPA yet? It is really good on draft.
 
I Are Baboon

I Are Baboon

Vagina man
Aug 6, 2001
32,740
10,673
MTB New England
Arutha said:
I certainly disagree but everyone's tastes are different. To me Pliny the Younger blows away the Elder but far less people would have had it. I have no idea how this list is generated but at least they got some things right. My personal preference would have St. Bernardus ABT12 at number 1.

Anyone have Southern Tier's 2xIPA yet? It is really good on draft.
Click to expand...
I've only sampled the Younger at a beer fest. Awesome beer. Problem is, it's only available on tap and not in the Northeast.

I've had several sixers of the 2xIPA but have not had it on draft. Good stuff. More double IPA's need to come in six packs. I prefer their Oak Aged UnEarthly. Hope that's available again soon.
 
dante

dante

Unabomber
Feb 13, 2004
8,807
9
looking for classic NE singletrack
TN said:
my list would be completely different.
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Completely agree. Read through it quickly, but I don't think that there was a single WI beer on there? That totally works for me, though. The masses can keep drinking their Guinness, their Boston Lager, and every SN beer that they seem to brew, I'll stick to my NG Dancing Man Wheat, my Central Waters BBBW, Ale Asylum Ballistic, and whatever Tyranena Bourbon-barrel special they've got at the brewery.

Trust me guys, stick to that list. The beer here is terrible.... :rofl:
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,589
2,022
Seattle
My stab at a top 25. Probably forgot a couple things, but it's about right.


1.Ale Smith Speedway Stout
2.Brooklyn Black Ops
3.Avery Mephistopheles
4.Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter
5.Deschutes The Abyss
6.Victory Storm King
7.Shipyard Imperial Porter
8.Stone RIS
9.Deschutes Black Butte XXI
10.Stone Double Bastard
11.DFH 90
12.Samuel Smith's India Ale
13. Old Rasputin RIS
14.Founder's Breakfast Stout
15.Deschutes Twilight Pale Ale
16.Stone Sublimely Self Righteous
17.Rogue Mocha Porter
18.Deschutes Mirror Pond
19.Ithaca Smoked Porter
20.Port Old Viscosity
21.Firestone Union Jack IPA
22.Shipyard IPA
23.Anchor Porter
24.Racer 5
25.Stone Ruination
 
Arutha

Arutha

Monkey
Nov 26, 2002
113
0
Western PA
Hey Hab,

Maybe try some New Belgium 1554 or Allagash's Black, those shouldn't be too far from your "stout" taste but with a little belgian twist. Oh and they aren't stouts, just trying to think of things you might not mind.

For a real belgian stout, De Dolle's Special Extra Export Stout is good.

Oh and if you can find it get De Struisse's Black Albert, it's an amazing stout, from Belgium, but it's up there with the best IMHO...
 
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BikeGeek

BikeGeek

BrewMonkey
Jul 2, 2001
4,577
277
Hershey, PA
BadDNA has me beat, I've only had 90 of them. There's a couple that have me scratching my head wondering how they made the list, but I guess tastes run different. Glad to see at least one of mine on there (#13). :)
 
BadDNA

BadDNA

hophead
Mar 31, 2006
4,263
237
Living the dream.
BikeGeek said:
BadDNA has me beat, I've only had 90 of them. There's a couple that have me scratching my head wondering how they made the list, but I guess tastes run different. Glad to see at least one of mine on there (#13). :)
Click to expand...
I love having a GREAT beer bar nearby: http://thedivebarworcester.com/
Having two is even better: http://armsbyabbey.com/
A third that isn't too far away is just the icing on the cake: http://www.horseshoepub.com/beer_list.html

I have to admit that a few of their choices bother me as well. Guinness? Boston Beer Company makes some good stuff but I'm really shocked to see so much Sam Adams on the list.
 
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Arutha

Arutha

Monkey
Nov 26, 2002
113
0
Western PA
I shouldn't have looked back at that list. Now it's p1ssing me off. LOL It states best of all time, not just last year....

Not a single Brasserie Dupont beer yet Hennepin made it... (not bashing Hennepin, it's good just not what I consider the best saison by about 5 places...)
No lambics or "wild" beers, such a shame.
And I agree with HAB on the Speedway Stout, one of the best RIS ever made and it's not on the list...
Bigfoot is the only Barleywine...
No Old Ales...
Nugget Nectar should be moved up

Ok I'll get off my soap box.

The only one I can't recall having is the Hazelnut brown from Rogue, I've seen it but just can't remember ever drinking it.


HAB, not sure if you could do this knowing how much you appear to like RIS but age some, most of them are MUCH better after about 3 years.... Luckily I have a friend that likes to set some aside because... most of us don't have the will power. :-)
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,589
2,022
Seattle
Arutha said:
HAB, not sure if you could do this knowing how much you appear to like RIS but age some, most of them are MUCH better after about 3 years.... Luckily I have a friend that likes to set some aside because... most of us don't have the will power. :-)
Click to expand...
I've got a couple bottles of '09 Abyss I've been keeping around for a bit.
 
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