Well, no surprises in the 2010 Zymurgy Best Beer in America Poll, I guess. For two years in a row now it’s Pliney, Pliney, Pliney! I haven’t had Pliney the Elder (feel free to send me some), but I have had Bell’s Two Hearted and can attest to its tastiness. Other than the fact that the top of the list is packed with IPA’s, this is basically a collection of 50 really good beers.
| 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 |
Check out the rest of the results from the American Homebrewer Association site, including brewery rankings and which breweries have the best portfolios of beer. I have to say the #1 brewery is a bit of a head scratcher, at least if you’re not from Texas.
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
Interesting list, but who/what is Rahr? Seems they have half the list locked up and well, I’ve never heard of them!
Exactly. I dunno who they are, but I think they know how to mobilize their fanbase to vote.
Rahr and Sons is a brewery out of Fort Worth, Texas. The best brewery in Texas if you ask me!
I hear lots of other folks feel the same, even if the place doesn’t have a roof!
I think Bells is good, no doubt…I’d hardly put it at number 2 though. The arbitrary nature of “best beer lists” always cracks me up. It’s hard for me to take them serious.
Agreed. Two Hearted is terrific, but there are several beers I’d put ahead of it and Pliney.
They must be in cahoots with Pennsylvania. 😉
Well, it looks like they have the same thing going on Facebook (5000+ fans and a very active page: http://www.facebook.com/rahrbrewing ). That’s how Victory skewed the best beer state vote for PA. Just goes to show the whole world is rigged and the only thing that matters is your opinion (unless it’s been manipulated by a clever social networker).
Also, if I ever open up a sports bar, I think I’ll name it “Cahoots!”
You’ll have to open it somewhere other than Idaho…We already have one.
Really? I’d go for “Spuds!” if I were in Idaho.
I just read this on Rahr and Sons Brewing Co’s Facebook Page:
“Our roof collapsed during the February 12, 2010 snowstorm. We’re rebuilding and will be back in production as soon as possible. Thank you so much for your support!”
First off, I wish them well and hope for a speedy return to production. But I find it odd that the number one brewery on Zymurgy’s list only brewed beer for two months this year. I know there’s a supply on the shelves, etc., but it still strikes me as weird.
But still, a little good publicity probably makes the sting of rebuilding hurt a little less.
Who knew a little brewery in Fort Worth, TX would be represented on that list so well?!?!
Yeah, especially one without a roof, which was caved in during a February snowstorm. I hope their anointment puts a spring in their step, as I imagine it’s gotta suck having your world collapse like that.
Look at that list. Tons of IPAs and Pale Ale. Who says that Americans aren’t still in that phase. Come to think of it, 90 min was voted bet 2 years in a row before Pliny. This list really does stay fairly similar year to year and you can tell people are sticking with the tried and true. By the way, Stone IPA has no business on the list at all, let alone number 7.
Number 6…my bad.
While I like pale ale and IPA, I would rather see a greater variety in that list. I wonder… what were the parameters for compiling such a list?
Votes. and only about 2700 of them, mostly from readers of Zymurgy (you know, those unwashed homebrewer types) 😉
When I started drinking good beer, I was pissed that so much shelf space was dedicated to IPA’s, which I saw as hipster soda. This iluustrates why – the stuff is popular, even if its not my favorite style.
Stone was the first IPA I ever really liked, but I agree that it’s up a little too high. But then again I wouldn’t have most of these in my Top 10.
I take absolutely no stock in these kind of lists. I have never even heard of Rahr, and I’ve been in this industry over half my life. It seems really odd that a list like this comes out filled with 11 beers from a Texas brewery that hardly distributes anywhere… there’s not even a single Rahr brew on RATEADVOCATE’s Top Billion Best over-rated list.
It looks like ballot-stuffing by Rahr and Sons… kind of funny, since the last time a recount was needed involved a governor from Texas and his brother in Florida!
Al Gore wants a recount! And a happy ending!!
Why does it seem like everytime something needs to be recounted, it involves Texas or Texans???
I have lots of clever answers for you, Kev, but I bet a boot in my butt that you shouldn’t mess with Texas!
Kevin, you should have seen the gubernatorial race here in WA back in 2004… no Texans involved.