Zymurgy: Best Beers in America (2012)

[MisterTipsy]

Home brewers picked their top 20 beers and Zymurgy complied the list. It looks like home brewers really like their IPAs.

top 50 beers

1. Russian River Pliny the Elder
2. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
3. Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
4. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
5. Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale
6. Bell’s Hopslam
7. Sierra Nevada Celebration
8. Stone Ruination IPA
9. Sierra Nevada Torpedo
10. North Coast Old Rasputin
11. Firestone Walker Union Jack
12. Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye
13. Bear Republic Racer 5
14. Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale
15. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
16. Firestone Walker Double Jack
T17. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
T17. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
19. Stone IPA
20. New Belgium Fat Tire
21. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
22. Avery Maharaja
23. Founders Breakfast Stout
24. Left Hand Milk Stout
T25. Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA
T25. New Belgium Ranger
T25. Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale
28. Deschutes The Abyss
29. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
30. Surly Furious
T31. Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin
T31. Rogue Dead Guy
T31. Samuel Adams Boston Lager
4. Troegs Nugget Nectar
T35. Lagunitas IPA
T35. New Belgium La Folie
T37. Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
T37. Founders KBS
T37. Russian River Blind Pig IPA
41. Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale
42. Victory Prima Pils
43. Great Divide Yeti
T44. Alaskan Smoked Porter
T44. Anchor Steam
T44. Lagunitas Hop Stoopid
T44. Samuel Adams Noble Pils
T48. Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
T48. Oskar Blues Ten Fidy
T48. Russian River Pliny the Younger

top 20 breweries

1. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif.
2. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Del.
3. Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, Calif.
4. Russian River Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, Calif.
5. Bell’s Brewery, Kalamazoo, Mich.
6. New Belgium Brewing Co., Fort Collins, Colo.
7. Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, Calif.
8. Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Ore.
9. Lagunitas Brewing Co., Petaluma, Calif.
10. Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.
11. Boston Beer Co. (Samuel Adams), Boston, Mass.
12. Avery Brewing Co., Boulder, Colo.
13. Oskar Blues Brewing Co., Longmont, Colo.
14. Odell Brewing Co., Fort Collins, Colo.
15. Three Floyds Brewing Co., Munster, Ind.
T16. Great Divide Brewing Co., Denver, Colo.
T16. Rogue Ales, Newport, Ore.
18. New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, Wis.
19. Victory Brewing Co., Downington, Pa.
20. Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago, Ill.
21. Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont, Colo.
22. Surly Brewing Co., Minneapolis, Minn.
23. North Coast Brewing Co., Fort Bragg, Calif.
24. Bear Republic Brewing Co., Healdsburg, Calif.
25. Green Flash Brewing Co., San Diego, Calif.


http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pages/community/news/show?title=2012-best-beers-in-america

 

[atom]

needs more ipas in the list...

 

[krenshaw]

never understood people and their IPAs.. much easier for me to enjoy a good stout or brown w/o the excessive hop flavors.. don't get me wrong, i don't mind a good IPA once in a while, though never think those are the be all and end all that many people make them out to be.. seems more of an acquired taste like coffee or olives or country music

 

[MisterTipsy]

No Three Floyds beers made the list, but they are the 15th favorite brewery. Odd.

Not a single BMC beer made the list. Shocking!

 

[MisterTipsy]

New Glaurus is one of the favorite breweries, but they only distribute in Wisconsin. OK ?

They do make really good beers, though. A lot of them.

 

[weirdboy]

Yeah that list is a little heavy on the hops. Not that I don't like any of those beers, but it seems a bit biased towards the hop-forward beers.

 

[JefeTheVol]

Best Brewery in America? My kitchen isn't on the list. What BS! And why didnt my House IPA make it, either?

 

[MisterTipsy]

Ballast Point Sculpin IPA is the only one I haven't heard of.

I've tried about 500 beers, but only 50% of the list. 20% of the list isn't distributed to my state.

 

[Xpertskir]

Ive had every beer on the top 50 but 3. I have drank most of the beers from all of the ranked breweries in the top 25 and I cant say I am a fan of this list at all.

It is clearly heavily influenced by the distribution of the beers and the brewery. Two hearted at number 2 is straight up laughable.

 

[Raenon]

Plenty of IPA's, indicative of the current trends...
I like an occasional IPA, but I don't understand drinking them all the time- that'd be like eating nothing but spicy foods all the time. A spicy chili is wonderful now and then, but I also like to eat a good steak and potatoes too, and probably more frequently.

 

[rwinzing]

KBS-37 I have to disagree with that. Good list the major players are on there but I think Cigar City, Duck-Rabbit and some of the smaller breweries are left out. First list I did not see the Abyss either

 

[scottland]

Ballast Point Sculpin IPA is the only one I haven't heard of.

Never heard of? Man you need to get out to San Diego....

 

[Ghostly]

There's a lot of good stuff on that list. I've had about half. Definitely had to go way down the list before finding any east coast beer other than a Dogfish IPA, though. I'm a little surprised by how high they rank considering how hit-or-miss some of their beers are, but I guess they've really stepped up the marketing in the past couple years. That said, I'm off to their Birreria in a few hours...

 

[MisterTipsy]

KBS-37 I have to disagree with that. Good list the major players are on there but I think Cigar City, Duck-Rabbit and some of the smaller breweries are left out. First list I did not see the Abyss either

Abyss is #28

Cigar City makes really good beers, but do they distribute outside of FL?

 

[Raenon]

Regarding the regional breweries often being absent...
I'm also a little miffed that things like Yuengling never make the cut. It's the biggest American owned brewery these days, despite only distributing to around a third of the country, with sales that top Sam Adams (again, distributed nationally)
Yet it'll never be recognized as great, because their beers are simple, drinkable, session brews, and they sell cheap. Yuengling Traditional Lager is a great refreshment, and their porter and bock are also quite respectable. Even those who love it seem almost afraid to admit it to other beer snobs... and yet when they last expanded to a new state, there were folks lining up 24 hours in advance to pick up their cases.
Maybe it's the fact that they don't market to "craft beer drinkers" that screws up the polls.

 

[atom]

Abyss is #28

Cigar City makes really good beers, but do they distribute outside of FL?

yeah, i can get some of their stuff in PA.

 

[MisterTipsy]

Never heard of? Man you need to get out to San Diego....

For an IPA? Not bloody likely! I would like to try the Alesmith brews, though. I'll probably just wait for them to distribute to the midwest. :rockin:

I've been to SD a few times, but the last time was about 10 years ago.

 

[CKing]

Enjoyed all on the top 50 except for 4 that I counted.......a solid list, but definitely hop forward.

 

[scottland]

For an IPA? Not bloody likely! I would like to try the Alesmith brews, though.

I just meant in general, but ya, for IPAs, it's a beer drinkers haven. Alpine, Green Flash, Ballast Point, Port Brewing, Pizza Port, Alesmith, and Stone.

 

[motobrewer]

dumbest list ever.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Yawn. Reads like a BA list.

 

[krenshaw]

Regarding the regional breweries often being absent...
I'm also a little miffed that things like Yuengling never make the cut. It's the biggest American owned brewery these days, despite only distributing to around a third of the country, with sales that top Sam Adams (again, distributed nationally)
Yet it'll never be recognized as great, because their beers are simple, drinkable, session brews, and they sell cheap. Yuengling Traditional Lager is a great refreshment, and their porter and bock are also quite respectable. Even those who love it seem almost afraid to admit it to other beer snobs... and yet when they last expanded to a new state, there were folks lining up 24 hours in advance to pick up their cases.
Maybe it's the fact that they don't market to "craft beer drinkers" that screws up the polls.

i live about a hour from their homebase.. probably the best standard lager you can get in my book; cheap, refreshing, available in every single bar around here by just asking for a lager.. a good standby if you want something that just about anybody will like

 

[MisterTipsy]

Yawn. Reads like a BA list.

Here is the RateBeer.com top 50:

1	Westvleteren 12		4.47	2211  	Abt/Quadrupel	
2	Three Floyds Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout		4.39	280  	Imperial Stout	
3	AleSmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout		4.34	512  	Imperial Stout	
4	Russian River Pliny the Younger		4.33	601  	Imperial/Double IPA	
5	Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout		4.33	1392  	Imperial Stout	
6	Bells Black Note Stout		4.33	292  	Imperial Stout	
7	AleSmith Speedway Stout		4.32	1717  	Imperial Stout	
8	3 Fonteinen Framboos (Framboise)		4.32	105  	Lambic - Fruit	
9	Rochefort Trappistes 10		4.31	3278  	Abt/Quadrupel	
10	Bells Expedition Stout		4.29	2236  	Imperial Stout	
11	AleSmith Kopi Luwak Speedway Stout		4.29	91  	Imperial Stout	
12	Founders CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout)		4.28	459  	Imperial Stout	
13	Cigar City Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout		4.28	499  	Imperial Stout	
14	Cigar City Zhukov’s Final Push		4.28	129  	Imperial Stout	
15	Cigar City Pilot Series Passionfruit and Dragonfruit Berliner Weisse		4.28	44  	Berliner Weisse	
16	Three Floyds Vanilla Bean Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout 		4.28	196  	Imperial Stout	
17	Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)		4.25	1315  	Imperial Stout	
18	Westvleteren Extra 8		4.25	1436  	Belgian Strong Ale	
19	Russian River Pliny the Elder		4.25	1773  	Imperial/Double IPA	
20	Three Floyds Dreadnaught Imperial IPA		4.24	1706  	Imperial/Double IPA	
21	Cigar City Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout - Bourbon Barrel Aged		4.23	123  	Imperial Stout	
22	Surly Darkness		4.22	698  	Imperial Stout	
23	Cigar City Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout - Brandy Barrel Aged 		4.22	105  	Imperial Stout	
24	Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel		4.21	1043  	Imperial Stout	
25	Bells Hopslam		4.21	2031  	Imperial/Double IPA	
26	Goose Island Bourbon County Stout		4.21	1679  	Imperial Stout	
27	Deschutes The Abyss		4.21	1090  	Imperial Stout	
28	Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock		4.21	718  	Fruit Beer	
29	Stone Imperial Russian Stout		4.21	2328  	Imperial Stout	
30	Struise Pannepot		4.20	1359  	Belgian Strong Ale	
31	Hair of the Dog Matt 		4.20	310  	American Strong Ale 	
32	Cantillon Blåbær Lambik		4.19	423  	Lambic - Fruit	
33	Goose Island Bourbon County Coffee Stout		4.18	410  	Imperial Stout	
34	Stone Bourbon Barrel Russian Imperial Stout		4.16	238  	Imperial Stout	
35	Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout 		4.16	1891  	Imperial Stout	
36	Lost Abbey The Angels Share (Bourbon Barrel)		4.16	694  	Barley Wine	
37	Old Chimneys Good King Henry Special Reserve		4.16	266  	Imperial Stout	
38	Founders Breakfast Stout		4.15	1966  	Imperial Stout	
39	Firestone Walker Parabola		4.15	496  	Imperial Stout	
40	Russian River Supplication		4.15	1009  	Sour Ale/Wild Ale	
41	Dieu du Ciel Péché Mortel 		4.15	1508  	Imperial Stout	
42	Goose Island King Henry		4.15	147  	Barley Wine	
43	St. Bernardus Abt 12		4.15	2844  	Abt/Quadrupel	
44	Alchemist Heady Topper		4.14	415  	Imperial/Double IPA	
45	Struise Pannepot Reserva		4.14	635  	Belgian Strong Ale	
46	Cigar City Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout - Stranahan’s Whiskey Barrel Aged 		4.14	49  	Imperial Stout	
47	Southampton Imperial Russian Stout		4.14	405  	Imperial Stout	
48	De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis (Wild Turkey Barrel)		4.13	168  	Imperial Stout	
49	Russian River Consecration		4.13	855  	Sour Ale/Wild Ale	
50	Goose Island Bourbon County Vanilla Stout		4.13	356  	Imperial Stout

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/top-50/

I like ratebeer.com. It seems a lot more authentic and less pompous than beer advocate.

 

[BigBeer4All]

Only one sour on the list?

And why is Boston lager on there?

 

[krenshaw]

that one is much better.. heavier on the dark ales.. nice!

 

[OlieNH]

Never heard of? Man you need to get out to San Diego....

Ballast Point Sculpin is an AMAZING beer

 

[bob1852]

Ballast Point Sculpin is an AMAZING beer

Yep. I like it more than pliny.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

The list is mostly predictable. Not saying those aren't good beers, just that it threw up a lot of IPAs and left out lots of styles with excellent beers in their own right.

 

[eastoak]

any list can be picked apart depending on who you show it to. if this were a national survey very few if any of these beers/breweries would be on the list.

 

[MisterTipsy]

any list can be picked apart depending on who you show it to. if this were a national survey very few if any of these beers/breweries would be on the list.

The national survey is the sales data:

Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies
(Based on 2011 beer sales volume)

Rank 	Brewing Company 	City 	State
1 	Anheuser-Busch Inc. (a) 	St. Louis 	MO
2 	MillerCoors (b) 	Chicago 	IL
3 	Pabst Brewing Co. (c) 	Woodbridge 	IL
4 	D. G. Yuengling and Son Inc. 	Pottsville 	PA
5 	Boston Beer Co. 	Boston 	MA
6 	North American Breweries (d) 	Rochester 	NY
7 	Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 	Chico 	CA
8 	New Belgium Brewing Co. 	Fort Collins 	CO
9 	Craft Brew Alliance, Inc. (e) 	Portland 	OR
10 	The Gambrinus Company (f) 	San Antonio 	TX
11 	Deschutes Brewery 	Bend 	OR
12 	Matt Brewing Co. (g) 	Utica 	NY
13 	Bell's Brewery, Inc. 	Galesburg 	MI
14 	Minhas Craft Brewery (h) 	Monroe 	WI
15 	Harpoon Brewery 	Boston 	MA
16 	Lagunitas Brewing Co. 	Petaluma 	CA
17 	Boulevard Brewing Co. 	Kansas City 	MO
18 	Stone Brewing Co. 	Escondido 	CA
19 	Dogfish Head Craft Brewery 	Milton 	DE
20 	Brooklyn Brewery 	Brooklyn  	NY
21 	Alaskan Brewing and Bottling Co. 	Juneau 	AK
22 	Long Trail Brewing Co. 	Burlington 	VT
23 	August Schell Brewing Co. (i) 	New Ulm 	MN
24 	Shipyard Brewing Co. 	Portland 	ME
25 	Abita Brewing Co. 	Abita Springs 	LA
26 	World Brews/Winery Exchange (j) 	Novato 	CA
27 	Great Lakes Brewing Co. 	Cleveland 	OH
28 	New Glarus Brewing Co. 	New Glarus 	WI
29 	Full Sail Brewing Co. 	Hood River 	OR
30 	Pittsburgh Brewing Co. 	Pittsburgh 	PA
31 	Summit Brewing Co. 	St. Paul 	MN
32 	Anchor Brewing Co. 	San Francisco 	CA
33 	Firestone Walker Brewing Co. 	Paso Robles 	CA
34 	Cold Spring Brewing Co. (k) 	Cold Spring 	MN
35 	Sweetwater Brewing Co.  	Atlanta 	GA
36 	Rogue Ales Brewery 	Newport 	OR
37 	Mendocino Brewing Co. (l)
	Ukiah 	CA
38 	Flying Dog Brewery 	Frederick 	MD
39 	Victory Brewing Co. 	Downingtown 	PA
40 	CraftWorks Breweries & Restaurants (m) 	Chattanooga/Louisville 	TN/CO
41 	Oskar Blues Brewery & Tasty Weasel Tap Room 	Longmont 	CO
42 	Odell Brewing Co. 	Fort Collins 	CO
43 	Stevens Point Brewery Co. (n) 	Stevens Point 	WI
44 	Ninkasi Brewing Co. 	Eugene 	OR
45 	BJ's Chicago Pizza & Brewery 	Huntington Beach 	CA
46 	Blue Point Brewing Co. 	Patchogue 	NY
47 	Bear Republic Brewing Co. 	Cloverdale 	CA
48 	Goose Island Brewing Co. (o) 	Chicago 	IL
49 	Lost Coast Brewery and Cafe 	Eureka 	CA
50 	Narragansett Brewing Co. 	Providence 	RI

 

[Qhrumphf]

I've had all but eleven (and most of those aren't distributed here), and yeah, a little ridiculously hop forward, but nothing on there I've had that I'd say wasn't a decent beer, and most of em I'd call great brews.

And Sculpin is fantastic.

 

[Mishraile]

dumbest list ever.

Hey now, play nice. Heh, heh. I agree that the list is flawed (by my oppinion) buuuuut that is the way with public polls right? Just people a bunch of people say "A is the best, then B" doesn't mean it is a hard truth, right? I don't think bell's two hearted should be number 2 by any stretch. And don't get me wrong. I love Two Hearted.

That being said, it is still a cool list and now I have several more beers to try!

 

[Glynn]

What no flying dog on that list. hummmm. how sad

 

[MisterTipsy]

Here are the lowest rated beers at ratebeer.com

1 Olde English 800 3.2 0.93 62 Malt Liquor
2 Natural Light 1.03 1102 Pale Lager
3 Natural Ice 1.04 771 Malt Liquor
4 Milwaukee’s Best Premium 1.07 803 Pale Lager
5 Michelob Ultra 1.07 1116 Pale Lager
6 Sleeman Clear 1.08 130 Pale Lager
7 Budweiser Select 55 1.10 165 Pale Lager
8 Coors Aspen Edge 1.11 199 Pale Lager
9 Busch Ice 1.11 141 Pale Lager
10 Bud Light Chelada 1.12 264 Spice/Herb/Vegetable
11 Bud Light 1.17 2540 Pale Lager
12 Milwaukee’s Best Light 1.17 473 Pale Lager
13 Busch Light 1.17 798 Pale Lager
14 Miller Genuine Draft Light 64 (MGD Light 64) 1.18 290 Pale Lager
15 Camo Genuine Ale 1.19 47 Malt Liquor
16 Keystone Light 1.19 881 Pale Lager
17 Busch Beer 1.23 939 Pale Lager
18 Keystone Premium 1.24 210 Pale Lager
19 Camo Silver Ice High Gravity Lager 1.24 105 Malt Liquor
20 General Generic Beer 1.25 26 Pale Lager
21 Budweiser Chelada 1.25 267 Spice/Herb/Vegetable
22 Labatt Sterling 1.26 64 Pale Lager
23 Hurricane High Gravity Lager 1.26 222 Malt Liquor
24 Milwaukee’s Best Ice 1.27 428 Pale Lager
25 Old Milwaukee Ice 1.27 111 Pale Lager
26 Molson Kick 1.28 54 Spice/Herb/Vegetable
27 Bud Ice 1.30 746 Pale Lager
28 Cave Creek Chili Beer 1.30 733 Spice/Herb/Vegetable
29 Tuborg T-Beer 1.31 57 Pale Lager
30 Corona Light 1.31 783 Pale Lager
31 Icehouse Light 1.31 51 Pale Lager
32 Coors Light 1.31 2429 Pale Lager
33 Keystone Ice 1.33 363 Pale Lager
34 Old Milwaukee 1.33 663 Pale Lager
35 St. Ides Premium Malt Liquor 1.33 94 Malt Liquor
36 Beer 30 Light 1.33 72 Pale Lager
37 Tuborg T-Beer Citrus/ Lemon 1.34 49 Fruit Beer
38 B-40 Bull Max 8% 1.34 25 Malt Liquor
39 King Cobra Malt Liquor 1.34 365 Malt Liquor
40 Jacob Best Ice 1.34 25 Pale Lager
41 Rock Green Light 1.35 284 Pale Lager
42 Olde English 800 1.35 625 Malt Liquor
43 Miller Lite Ice 1.35 79 Pale Lager
44 Miller Genuine Draft Light (MGD Light) 1.35 350 Pale Lager
45 Old Milwaukee Light 1.36 202 Pale Lager
46 Molson Ultra 1.36 42 Pale Lager
47 Miller Lite 1.37 1999 Pale Lager
48 PC 2.5 g Low Carb 1.37 19 Pale Lager
49 Schlitz Malt Liquor OML 1.37 323 Malt Liquor
50 Tequiza 1.38 374 Spice/Herb/Vegetable

 

[brewfreeordie]

I think a better list would be the 50 NEW beers of 2012. List seems a little dated and a little one sided, especially at the top.

 

[jonmohno]

Top 50 according to who/what in zymergy.Based on what?

 

[MisterTipsy]

Zymurgy polled home brewers.

 

[bd2xu]

Ive had every beer on the top 50 but 3. I have drank most of the beers from all of the ranked breweries in the top 25 and I cant say I am a fan of this list at all.

It is clearly heavily influenced by the distribution of the beers and the brewery. Two hearted at number 2 is straight up laughable.

Have to strongly disagree on the two hearted ale, it's got to be the best IPA Ive had. But the whole thing with all this is no one is right, it's all opinion!

I've notice two hearted ale is getting hard to get in the southeast and it's up to $12 a six when I find it. Have to say though the last six I had was disappointing. Very little hop aroma compared to other batches. I'm trying northern brewers dead ringer to see if I can get close.

 

[bd2xu]

Never heard of? Man you need to get out to San Diego....

Had it tonight at the flying saucer in Addison Tx (on tap). It was good!

I also didn't see heavy seas.

 

[bd2xu]

Home brewers picked their top 20 beers and Zymurgy complied the list. It looks like home brewers really like their IPAs.

top 50 beers

1. Russian River Pliny the Elder
2. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
3. Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
4. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
5. Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale
6. Bell’s Hopslam
7. Sierra Nevada Celebration
8. Stone Ruination IPA
9. Sierra Nevada Torpedo
10. North Coast Old Rasputin
11. Firestone Walker Union Jack
12. Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye
13. Bear Republic Racer 5
14. Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale
15. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
16. Firestone Walker Double Jack
T17. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
T17. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
19. Stone IPA
20. New Belgium Fat Tire
21. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
22. Avery Maharaja
23. Founders Breakfast Stout
24. Left Hand Milk Stout
T25. Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA
T25. New Belgium Ranger
T25. Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale
28. Deschutes The Abyss
29. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
30. Surly Furious
T31. Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin
T31. Rogue Dead Guy
T31. Samuel Adams Boston Lager
4. Troegs Nugget Nectar
T35. Lagunitas IPA
T35. New Belgium La Folie
T37. Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
T37. Founders KBS
T37. Russian River Blind Pig IPA
41. Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale
42. Victory Prima Pils
43. Great Divide Yeti
T44. Alaskan Smoked Porter
T44. Anchor Steam
T44. Lagunitas Hop Stoopid
T44. Samuel Adams Noble Pils
T48. Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
T48. Oskar Blues Ten Fidy
T48. Russian River Pliny the Younger

top 20 breweries

1. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif.
2. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Del.
3. Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, Calif.
4. Russian River Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, Calif.
5. Bell’s Brewery, Kalamazoo, Mich.
6. New Belgium Brewing Co., Fort Collins, Colo.
7. Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, Calif.
8. Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Ore.
9. Lagunitas Brewing Co., Petaluma, Calif.
10. Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.
11. Boston Beer Co. (Samuel Adams), Boston, Mass.
12. Avery Brewing Co., Boulder, Colo.
13. Oskar Blues Brewing Co., Longmont, Colo.
14. Odell Brewing Co., Fort Collins, Colo.
15. Three Floyds Brewing Co., Munster, Ind.
T16. Great Divide Brewing Co., Denver, Colo.
T16. Rogue Ales, Newport, Ore.
18. New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, Wis.
19. Victory Brewing Co., Downington, Pa.
20. Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago, Ill.
21. Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont, Colo.
22. Surly Brewing Co., Minneapolis, Minn.
23. North Coast Brewing Co., Fort Bragg, Calif.
24. Bear Republic Brewing Co., Healdsburg, Calif.
25. Green Flash Brewing Co., San Diego, Calif.

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pages/community/news/show?title=2012-best-beers-in-america

Surprised Sweetwater didn't make it. Based in Atlanta and getting very popular. Solid IPA, 420 Pale Ale, Exodus porter is great and have many seasonals. The latest one I love is the LowRyeder IPA, but I love rye pale ales/ipas.