If you love beer, this is a glorious time. Some of the best beer ever made is being made now, and because our world is becoming a global community, you have a chance—wherever you live—to experience more of that diversity than ever before. Beer can travel, information can travel, you can travel, and a dedicated beer lover can encounter more styles and flavors than previous generations could imagine, let alone have a chance to taste.
(Kinsley Dey)
Which led us to ask: with all this opportunity, which beers should all beer lovers be sure to try? We asked thirty beer professionals to name their “must-taste” beers: both the beers that are so unusual, outstanding or strange that they stand out, and the reliable, day-to-day gems that are too easily taken for granted.
What emerged was a “life list” of beers you owe it to yourself to experience, not because they’re award winners (although many are), or because they are the perfect expressions of their styles (although many are), or because they are incredibly obscure (although there are bragging rights involved in even laying your hands on some of these brands). If you are a person who loves beer in all its flavorful, eccentric, history-packed variety, then here is a list of beers that will stretch your palate.
Not every recommendation came with a note, but we’ve included some of the comments to give you an idea why the individual thought the beer stood out.
USA
Liberty Ale, Anchor Brewing Co., San Francisco, CA (For thirst-quenching hop appeal.)
Alaskan Smoked Porter, Alaskan Brewing Co., Juneau, AK (Great with smoked salmon—Alaskan.)
Belk’s ESB, Anderson Valley Brewing Co., Boonville, CA (Drink it and learn to speak Boontling.)
Avery India Pale Ale, Avery Brewing Co., Boulder, CO
Hop Rod Rye, Bear Republic Brewing Co., Healdsburg, CA
Monster Barleywine, Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, NY
Blonde Doppelbock, Capital Brewery, Middleton, WI (Masterful German-style brewing.)
Bohemian Pilsener, Cleveland Chophouse, Cleveland, OH
Traditional Lager, D.G. Yuengling & Son, Pottsville, PA (From the country’s oldest brewery.)
Hampshire Special Ale, D.L. Geary Brewing Co., Portland, ME (“…available while the weather sucks.”)
Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR
90-Minute IPA, Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton, DE (New American IPA; amphetamine-like hop levels.)
World Wide Stout, Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton, DE
Perseus Porter, Elysian Brewing, Seattle, WA
Imperial Eclipse Stout, Flossmoor Station Brewing, Flossmoor, IL
Crooked River ESB, Frederick Brewing Co., Frederick, MD
Imperial Porter, Full Sail Brewing Co., Hood River, OR
Eliott Ness, Great Lakes Brewing Co., Cleveland, OH
Gritty’s Best Bitter, Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Co., Portland, ME (I’m a sucker for unfiltered, hand-pulled and well-hopped New England ales.)
Adam, Hair of the Dog Brewing Co., Portland, OR
Bells Two-Hearted Ale, Kalamazoo Brewing Co., Kalamazoo, MI
Live Oak Pilz, Live Oak Brewing Co., Austin, TX (The finest U.S.-brewed pilsner? Perhaps.)
Indica India Pale Ale, Lost Coast Brewery & Café, Eureka, CA
Steelhead Extra Pale Ale, Mad River Brewing Co., Blue Lake, CA
Duck’s Breath Bitter, McNeill’s Pub & Brewery, Brattleboro, VT
Moylan’s Double IPA, Moylan’s Brewery & Restaurant, Novato, CA
La Folie, New Belgium Brewing Co., Ft. Collins, CO (Only from the brewery, and worth the trip.)
Wisconsin Belgian Red, New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, WI (A stunning flavor of cherries—this is the beer for anyone who thinks they don’t like fruit beer.)
Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, North Coast Brewing Co., Ft. Bragg, CA (Good during a Russian winter.)
Red Seal Ale, North Coast Brewing Co., Ft. Bragg, CA
Tuppers’ Hop Pocket Ale, Old Dominion Brewing Co., Ashburn, VA
Stovepipe Porter, Otter Creek Brewing, Middlebury VT
XXXXX Stout, Pike Brewing Co., Seattle, WA
Cuvee de Tomme, Pizza Port Brewing Co., Solana Beach, CA
Old Crustacean Barleywine, Rogue Ales, Newport, OR (Rogue, pushing the envelope again.)
Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, Chico, CA (It really is the benchmark.)
Arrogant Bastard Ale, Stone Brewing Co., San Marcos, CA
Tabernash Weiss, Tabernash Brewing Co., Longmont, CO
Hoppy Hour IPA, The Mash House Restaurant & Brewery, Fayetteville, NC
Hop Devil Ale, Victory Brewing Co., Downington, PA (I like my hops.)
Raspberry Imperial Stout, Weyerbacher Brewing Co., Easton, PA
