Beer

06.28.2010

Each year for the past eight years, Zymurgy Magazine has asked its readers to submit a list of their top 20 favorite beers that are commercially available somewhere in the U.S. The competition is not limited to American beers and votes for imported beers are accepted as long as those beers are available commercially in the States.

The turnout this year was at a record high with a total of 1,192 votes. Of the 450 different commercial breweries that received votes, only 27 breweries made the 50 top-ranked beers list.

One interesting note is that, although many different styles of beers were represented in the poll, the first five of the six top-ranked beers were of the IPA style. It seems as if Americans still love their hoppy beers, despite the latest sour beer craze in the country.

The winner came down to a mere two votes: Russian River Brewing Company’s Pliny The Elder was able to just barely slide by Bell’s Two-Hearted and claim the win. The official list is included below.

Top-Ranked Beers (T = Tie)

1. Russian River Pliny the Elder

2. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale

3. Stone Arrogant Bastard

4. Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA

5. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

6. Stone IPA

T7. Bear Republic Racer 5

T7. Guinness

T7. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine

T7. Sierra Nevada Celebration

11. Stone Ruination

T12. North Coast Old Rasputin

T12. Sierra Nevada Torpedo

T12. Rahr Winter Warmer

T12. Rahr Ugly Pug

T12. Rahr Iron Thistle

T17. Oskar Blues Ten Fidy

T17. New Glarus Belgian Red

T17. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

T17. Duvel

T21. Lagunitas IPA

T21. Samuel Adams Boston Lager

T21. Rahr Storm Cloud

T21. Saison Dupont

T25. Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout

T25. Rahr Bucking Bock

T25. Ommegang Three Philosophers

T28. New Belgium Fat Tire

T28. Alaskan Smoked Porter

T28. Anchor Steam

T31. Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

T31. Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron

T31. Rahr Summer

T31. Rahr Red

T31. Rahr Blind Salamander

T31. Rahr Blonde

T31. Rahr Octoberfest

T31. Victory Prima Pils

T31. New Belgium La Folie

T31. Russian River Consecration

T41. Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale

T41. Rahr Buffalo Butt

T41. New Belgium 1554

T41. Orval

T41. Lagunitas Hop Stoopid

T41. Rogue Dead Guy

T41. Unibroue La Fin Du Monde

T41. Deschutes Black Butte Porter

T49. Surly Furious

T49. Dogfish Head Indian Brown

T49. Rahr Whiskey Warmer

T49. Rodenbach Grand Cru

About Zymurgy Magazine

Zymurgy is published by the American Homebrewers Association, a division of the Brewers Association, a not-for-profit organization located in Boulder, CO. Since 1978, Zymurgy magazine has been the leading light for amateur brewers in North America and around the world. It features innovative and award-winning recipes, articles on do-it-yourself equipment building, explanations of brewing science, and presentations of brewing techniques in addition to a healthy dose of beer culture.