Best of 2009

Ok, so this is a bit overdue, and I haven't done a review in a while, so it's time to look back at the best beers I had in the last year. I'm going to go ahead and say up front that the beers we've been making have been really awesome in my opinion, and have been among my favorite things to drink, but I'm not going to include them since I'm a little biased. So here they are in roughly no particular order.

10. Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout - This beer was basically breakfast in a bottle. It's tasty, easy to drink, has a great roast quality, and makes you feel good about drinking before noon...

9. Clipper City Red Sky at Night - Another saison. While it's not even in the same league as the Avec les bons Voeux, it is MUCH cheaper, tastes great, and definitely worth trying out. It's one of the few beers that I've bought more than once in the last year.

8. Lancaster Milk Stout - I wouldn't want to overlook Lancaster brewing. Even though they might not stand out as much as some of the other beers on this list, the brewery has become one that I trust. I haven't had anything from them that I didn't like. The milk stout is definitely my favorite from them, and my go-to beer when I want something dark, delicious, and easy to drink.

7. Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale - I had a hard time choosing between putting this up or the 09.09.09 Vertical Epic. This beer won out simply because I'll never be able to get the 09 again. It's a black IPA, kind of an oxymoron, but so tasty that it makes up for it.

6. Dogfish Head/Sierra Nevada Life & Limb - This was a special collaboration between the 2 breweries that was made in very limited quantities. I was lucky enough to have had it twice once in a bottle that Dan managed to get and the other time on tap at Dogfish's restaurant. It was absolutely worth the trip to have this beer.

5. North Coast Old Rasputin - I really like dark, complex, flavorful beers. Old Rasputin fits that description perfectly. It's a great Russian Imperial Stout, a style characterized by high alcohol content and bold bitter and roasted flavors.

4. Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA - Considering that I live in the same state as Dogfish Head, it's not surprising that I've been there a few times. I've become much more of a fan of hops this year, and Dogfish's 120 Minute is one of the best examples of a IIPA.

3. Westvleteren 8 - This beer was amazing. It was complex and delicious. My only complaint about this beer is how hard it is to get.

2. Duvel - It's still my default favorite beer, and I toasted with it at my wedding. I can't imagine ever getting sick of this beer.

1. Avec les bons Veoux - I don't think there's a style that I like more than a saison, and this is the definitive example of the style in my opinion. It's absolutely spectacular. I really can't get enough of this beer.

So after putting this list together I realized I really need to start reviewing beers on here again. I was actually having a hard time remembering everything I've had this year, and I didn't write anything about a good portion of the things I've tried. It's a shame because I'm sure I missed a few beers that really deserved to be on this list.

Dan's Top 10 of 2008

This past year was a big one for me as far as beer is concerned. Before the start of 2008 I was not a beer drinker at all. I had tried a few, but i could count them on one hand. Liquor and the ocasional wine were my drinks, and I had really only come to tolerate the taste of Yuengling. It wasnt until Adam brought me a six pack of Grolsch, and shortly after, a bottle of Duvel, that I really enjoyed a beer. So here it is, the top 10 beers from my first year as a beer drinker.

1. Chimay Grande Reserve - The first Trappist I tried, and still one of my favorite beers. This will be a standby for life.

2. Westmalle Dubbel - Another dark Trappist, probably my favorite, but I've still got a few from each abbey to try.

3. Aecht Rauchbier Marzen - Bavarian Smokebeer! One of the most unique beers I've had. (review coming soon)

4. Ommegeddon - Truly outstanding "Funkhouse Ale" hmm... I should go buy another bottle...

5. Brooklyn Brown Ale - If I had to pick my favorite beer, this would probably be it.

6. Brooklyn Local 1 - Great representation of a Belgian Pale that I think was even better than Duvel (shh, don't tell Adam)

7. Theakston's Old Peculiar - An "Old Style Ale" with a very unique flavor.

8. Avery's The Beast - A Grand Cru Ale weighing in at 16.4% alcohol without a hint of alcohol on the nose or tongue. Dangerous!

9. Blue Moon - A delicious Belgian White best if you can find it on tap, and served with a wedge of orange. I'll be drinking plenty of this in '09

10. Grolsch Lager - This is what got me into beer, and it'll always be one I return to.

This was really difficult, trying to narrow my favorites down to just 10. Lets hope 2009 is just as full of great beer. It's certainly off to a great start.

- Dan

Top 10 of 2008

Alright, so January is already halfway over, but today I was thinking about this last year. 2008 was definitely a good year for me and beer, so I decided to try to make my top 10 list of beers I tried in 2008. These weren't necessarily beers I tried for the first time, but were my favorite of the year. Dan and Solomon, I'd like to see what your lists are too. These aren't necessarily in order, they're just the ones that really stood out.

10. Rochefort 8 - Chocolaty and sweet, another great Trappist.
9. Aecht Rauchbier Marzen - Bacon Beer! The smokey/meaty flavor of this beer makes me hungry!
8. Maredsous 8 Dubbel - Each sip was a new flavor, one of the most complex beers I've had.
7. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2008 - Strong but good, this was one of the first bitter beers I've really enjoyed.
6. Chimay Blue - Always a good choice, and one of my favorite Trappist beers.
5. Brooklyn Local 1 - Like Duvel, but with a citrus flavor. Excellent beer (review is coming I promise).
4. Ommegeddon - It's a constant temptation to pick another one up. Very unique flavor.
3. Brooklyn Brown Ale - Sweet and flavorful, I could probably drink it all day.
2. Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter - Wow. Rich and flavorful, it's like Guinness on steroids.
1. Duvel - still my favorite, this one will always be hard to top.