August 6, 2010 | Don | 12 Comments

BeerAdvocate’s Top Beers on Planet Earth!

Well, someone’s gone and done it! BeerAdvocate has rated the top 100 beers on the planet. How did they do it? Well it’s all explained here, but should they have done it might be a better question.

One thing I have come to learn about brewers is they are all passionate. They put their heart and soul into the creation of their brew. Is it really right to judge them? Even more so is it right to judge them based on some sort of mathematical formula? Does the fact that it is empirically based make it more valid? I say no. Beer is completely subjective. What I think sucks, other people adore, and vice versa.

So why then do we do this? What is to be gained from making lists and checking them twice? Well we are inexplicably drawn to them. I guess we want to see if we fit in, or it somehow validates our thoughts. Let the feeding frenzy and arguments begin!

Enjoy!

Top Beers on Planet Earth
		Score / WR	Reviews
1	Trappist Westvleteren 12 Quadrupel (Quad) / 10.20% ABV Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren)	A+ / 4.63	919
2	Pliny The Younger American Double / Imperial IPA / 11.00% ABV Russian River Brewing Company	A+ / 4.63	490
3	Vanilla Bean Aged Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout / 13.00% ABV Three Floyds Brewing Co. / Brewery & Pub	A+ / 4.57	109
4	Canadian Breakfast Stout American Double / Imperial Stout / 9.40% ABV Founders Brewing Company	A+ / 4.56	228
5	The Abyss American Double / Imperial Stout / 11.00% ABV Deschutes Brewery	A+ / 4.55	869
6	Pliny The Elder American Double / Imperial IPA / 8.00% ABV Russian River Brewing Company	A+ / 4.54	1553
7	Portsmouth Kate The Great Russian Imperial Stout / 9.50% ABV Portsmouth Brewery	A+ / 4.53	303
8	Cantillon Blåbær Lambik Lambic – Fruit / 5.00% ABV Brasserie Cantillon	A+ / 4.53	95
9	Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout American Double / Imperial Stout / 11.20% ABV Founders Brewing Company	A+ / 4.51	1259
10	Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout American Double / Imperial Stout / 13.00% ABV Goose Island	A+ / 4.51	238
11	Trappist Westvleteren 8 Dubbel / 8.00% ABV Brouwerij Westvleteren (Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren)	A / 4.48	553
12	Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout American Double / Imperial Stout / 11.50% ABV Cigar City Brewing	A+ / 4.48	188
13	Oak Aged Dark Lord Imperial Stout Russian Imperial Stout / 13.00% ABV Three Floyds Brewing Co. / Brewery & Pub	A+ / 4.47	118
14	Supplication American Wild Ale / 7.00% ABV Russian River Brewing Company	A / 4.46	572
15	Kaggen! Stormaktsporter Russian Imperial Stout / 10.00% ABV Närke Kulturbryggeri AB	A+ / 4.46	49
16	Trappistes Rochefort 10 Quadrupel (Quad) / 11.30% ABV Brasserie de Rochefort (Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy)	A / 4.45	1603
17	Dark Lord Imperial Stout Russian Imperial Stout / 15.00% ABV Three Floyds Brewing Co. / Brewery & Pub	A / 4.45	736
18	AleSmith Speedway Stout – Barrel Aged American Double / Imperial Stout / 12.00% ABV AleSmith Brewing Company	A / 4.44	147
19	Citra DIPA American Double / Imperial IPA / 8.00% ABV Kern River Brewing Company	A+ / 4.44	55
20	Black Tuesday American Double / Imperial Stout / 19.50% ABV The Bruery	A / 4.43	196
21	The Perfect Storm English Barleywine / 13.50% ABV Pelican Pub & Brewery	A / 4.43	124
22	AleSmith Speedway Stout American Double / Imperial Stout / 12.00% ABV AleSmith Brewing Company	A / 4.42	829
23	Masala Mama India Pale Ale American IPA / 5.90% ABV Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery	A / 4.42	522
24	Founders Breakfast Stout American Double / Imperial Stout / 8.30% ABV Founders Brewing Company	A / 4.42	1561
25	Bell’s HopSlam Ale American Double / Imperial IPA / 10.00% ABV Bell’s Brewery, Inc.	A / 4.42	1737
26	Sculpin India Pale Ale American IPA / 7.00% ABV Ballast Point Brewing Company	A / 4.42	719
27	Darkness Russian Imperial Stout / 10.30% ABV Surly Brewing Company	A / 4.42	411
28	St. Bernardus Abt 12 Quadrupel (Quad) / 10.50% ABV Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV	A / 4.41	1753
29	Parabola American Double / Imperial Stout / 13.00% ABV Firestone Walker Brewing Co.	A / 4.41	136
30	Stone Imperial Russian Stout Russian Imperial Stout / 10.50% ABV Stone Brewing Co.	A / 4.4	1862
31	Péché Mortel (Imperial Stout Au Cafe) American Double / Imperial Stout / 9.50% ABV Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel	A / 4.4	1081
32	Duck Duck Gooze American Wild Ale / 7.00% ABV The Lost Abbey	A / 4.4	111
33	Dreadnaught IPA American Double / Imperial IPA / 9.50% ABV Three Floyds Brewing Co. / Brewery & Pub	A / 4.39	1087
34	Bell’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Expedition/Double Cream Blend (aka Black Note) American Double / Imperial Stout Bell’s Brewery, Inc.	A / 4.39	77
35	Temptation American Wild Ale / 7.25% ABV Russian River Brewing Company	A / 4.38	538
36	Czar Jack Imperial Stout Russian Imperial Stout / 9.30% ABV Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery	A / 4.38	60
37	Cable Car American Wild Ale / 7.00% ABV The Lost Abbey	A / 4.38	92
38	The Angel’s Share Grand Cru American Strong Ale / 12.00% ABV The Lost Abbey	A+ / 4.38	51
39	Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Hefeweizen / 5.40% ABV Brauerei Weihenstephan	A / 4.37	1514
40	Live Oak HefeWeizen Hefeweizen / 4.10% ABV Live Oak Brewing Company	A / 4.37	244
41	Consecration American Wild Ale / 10.00% ABV Russian River Brewing Company	A / 4.37	476
42	Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel Doppelbock / 7.10% ABV Klosterbrauerei Andechs	A / 4.36	233
43	Stormaktsporter Russian Imperial Stout / 9.00% ABV Närke Kulturbryggeri AB	A+ / 4.36	20
44	Firestone 13 – Anniversary Ale American Strong Ale / 12.00% ABV Firestone Walker Brewing Co.	A / 4.36	141
45	Splinter Gold American Wild Ale / 12.00% ABV Tröegs Brewing Company	A+ / 4.36	32
46	Bourbon County Brand Stout American Double / Imperial Stout / 13.00% ABV Goose Island	A / 4.35	1223
47	Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock Eisbock / 13.50% ABV Kuhnhenn Brewing Company	A / 4.35	314
48	Tröegs Nugget Nectar American Amber / Red Ale / 7.50% ABV Tröegs Brewing Company	A / 4.35	1495
49	Heady Topper American Double / Imperial IPA / 8.00% ABV The Alchemist Pub & Brewery	A+ / 4.35	27
50	Great Lakes Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout Russian Imperial Stout / 9.00% ABV Great Lakes Brewing Company	A / 4.35	165
51	Furious American IPA / 6.20% ABV Surly Brewing Company	A / 4.35	824
52	Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout – Laird’s Apple Brandy Barrel American Double / Imperial Stout / 11.50% ABV Cigar City Brewing	A+ / 4.35	38
53	Cantillon Saint Lamvinus Lambic – Fruit / 6.00% ABV Brasserie Cantillon	A / 4.34	257
54	Pannepot – Old Fisherman’s Ale Quadrupel (Quad) / 10.00% ABV De Struise Brouwers	A / 4.34	469
55	Melange No. 3 American Strong Ale / 17.00% ABV The Bruery	A / 4.34	55
56	Founders Black Biscuit Old Ale / 10.50% ABV Founders Brewing Company	A / 4.34	67
57	Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock Doppelbock / 6.70% ABV Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying	A / 4.33	1675
58	Wisconsin Belgian Red Fruit / Vegetable Beer / 5.10% ABV New Glarus Brewing Company	A / 4.33	598
59	AleSmith IPA American IPA / 7.25% ABV AleSmith Brewing Company	A / 4.33	749
60	Samuel Adams Utopias American Strong Ale / 27.00% ABV Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)	A / 4.33	250
61	Brute American Wild Ale / 6.50% ABV Ithaca Beer Company	A / 4.33	209
62	Abrasive Ale American Double / Imperial IPA / 9.00% ABV Surly Brewing Company	A / 4.33	241
63	Registration Ale American IPA / 7.50% ABV Russian River Brewing Company	A / 4.33	43
64	Raspberry Tart Fruit / Vegetable Beer / 4.00% ABV New Glarus Brewing Company	A / 4.32	507
65	Exponential Hoppiness American Double / Imperial IPA / 10.50% ABV Alpine Beer Company	A / 4.32	201
66	Sanctification American Wild Ale / 6.47% ABV Russian River Brewing Company	A / 4.32	169
67	Boy King Double IPA American Double / Imperial IPA / 9.50% ABV COAST Brewing Company	A / 4.32	74
68	Duvel Belgian Strong Pale Ale / 8.50% ABV Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV	A / 4.31	1998
69	Cantillon Lou Pepe – Kriek Lambic – Fruit / 5.00% ABV Brasserie Cantillon	A / 4.31	136
70	Fantôme Saison Saison / Farmhouse Ale / 8.00% ABV Brasserie Fantôme	A / 4.31	537
71	YuleSmith (Summer) American Double / Imperial IPA / 8.80% ABV AleSmith Brewing Company	A / 4.31	728
72	Arctic Devil Barley Wine English Barleywine / 13.20% ABV Midnight Sun Brewing Co.	A / 4.31	154
73	Beatification American Wild Ale / 5.50% ABV Russian River Brewing Company	A / 4.31	287
74	Coffee Stout American Stout / 8.20% ABV Central Waters Brewing Company	A / 4.31	196
75	Abacus American Barleywine / 12.00% ABV Firestone Walker Brewing Co.	A / 4.31	58
76	Bourbon Barrel Barleywine American Barleywine / 11.50% ABV Central Waters Brewing Company	A / 4.31	175
77	Ivan The Terrible Russian Imperial Stout / 10.00% ABV Big Sky Brewing Company	A / 4.31	85
78	Beer Geek Brunch Weasel American Double / Imperial Stout / 10.90% ABV Mikkeller	A / 4.31	295
79	La Fin Du Monde Tripel / 9.00% ABV Unibroue	A / 4.3	1989
80	Schneider Aventinus Weizenbock / 8.20% ABV Private Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH	A / 4.3	1576
81	Double Bastard Ale American Strong Ale / 10.50% ABV Stone Brewing Co.	A / 4.3	1427
82	Blind Pig IPA American IPA / 6.10% ABV Russian River Brewing Company	A / 4.3	760
83	Ølfabrikken Porter Baltic Porter / 7.50% ABV Ølfabrikken	A / 4.3	292
84	Saison – Brett Saison / Farmhouse Ale / 8.50% ABV Boulevard Brewing Co.	A / 4.3	283
85	Matt American Strong Ale / 11.50% ABV Hair of the Dog Brewing Company	A / 4.3	70
86	The Oracle American Double / Imperial IPA / 10.40% ABV Bell’s Brewery, Inc.	A / 4.3	192
87	Trappistes Rochefort 8 Belgian Strong Dark Ale / 9.20% ABV Brasserie de Rochefort (Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy)	A / 4.29	1200
88	Hop Rod Rye American IPA / 8.00% ABV Bear Republic Brewing Co.	A / 4.29	1491
89	Girardin Gueuze 1882 Black Label (unfiltered) Gueuze / 5.00% ABV Brouwerij Girardin	A / 4.29	342
90	Pure Hoppiness American Double / Imperial IPA / 8.00% ABV Alpine Beer Company	A / 4.29	366
91	Racer X American Double / Imperial IPA / 9.00% ABV Bear Republic Brewing Co.	A / 4.29	255
92	Thomas Hooker Liberator Doppelbock Doppelbock / 8.00% ABV Thomas Hooker Ales & Lagers	A / 4.29	431
93	Drie Fonteinen Schaerbeekse Kriek Lambic – Fruit / 6.00% ABV Brouwerij Drie Fonteinen	A / 4.29	105
94	Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout Russian Imperial Stout / 9.50% ABV Great Divide Brewing Company	A / 4.29	1096
95	Berserker Imperial Stout Russian Imperial Stout / 10.40% ABV Midnight Sun Brewing Co.	A / 4.29	75
96	Drie Fonteinen Oude Gueuze (Vintage) Gueuze / 6.00% ABV Brouwerij Drie Fonteinen	A+ / 4.29	27
97	Nelson American IPA / 7.10% ABV Alpine Beer Company	A / 4.29	213
98	The Angel’s Share – Bourbon Barrel-Aged American Strong Ale / 12.00% ABV The Lost Abbey	A / 4.29	336
99	Mango Mama American IPA / 6.00% ABV Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery	A / 4.29	45
100	Victory At Sea Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter American Porter / 10.00% ABV Ballast Point Brewing Company	A / 4.29	269

Tags: Beer Advocate, Lists

Categories: Beer, Lifestyle

Author:Don

View all posts by Don →

Join the Madness

Like beer? Like whiskey? Like goofing off? Follow Us!

← Lego People Love Beer Too!

The Beer is Great in the Badger State →

12 Comments on “BeerAdvocate’s Top Beers on Planet Earth!”

Reply

Rob Crozier

August 6, 2010 at 3:03 pm #

I take these lists with a grain of salt. I do read the BA reviews after I’ve tasted a beer and sometimes I don’t get what people are raving about. Take a beer like Dale’s Pale Ale – a classic beer with quality that you can see and taste…not even on the list. I like that a list was compiled but, as you point out, its all subjective; someone could have given Dale’s an “F” which brought down the score – is that fair? Who cares! I like what I like and keep an open mind to new things and judge for myself whether I like it or it goes on my own “Top 100 List”.
- Reply
  
  Don
  
  August 6, 2010 at 3:05 pm #
  
  That is true Rob. I think what I like best about lists is not that they tell me what to think, but they might point me in a direction I might otherwise not go in. It is a tool that one can use, but it is only a guideline not hard and fast.
Reply

hanna brooks olsen

August 6, 2010 at 3:03 pm #

Ah! Thank you for posting this list! As an Oregonian, pretty stoked to see Deschutes place so high.
- Reply
  
  Don
  
  August 6, 2010 at 3:07 pm #
  
  Deschutes is a great brewery and makes some outstanding beers. What I like most about them is they would rather not put a beer on the market than put a bad beer out. That is why there will be no Black Butte XXII. Problems with infected yeast.
Reply

bierfesten

August 6, 2010 at 3:04 pm #

Ah the TOP LISTS are hear again. I definitely feel there is space for the beer sites to release such results, but like best beer bars, or best beers some common sense should prevail. Do we only look at beers rated between Jan 1-Aug 1 ? or to running tallies of beer results? if so maybe those under 100 scores should be put into another category. (40-100) (100-300) (over 500) for example. It would give it more credence in my mind.

But these lists always provide the content for interesting Blog Articles.. 🙂
- Reply
  
  Don
  
  August 6, 2010 at 3:09 pm #
  
  That they do! I think these list’s utility is marginal. It is more like watching an auto race for the accidents. No one will admit it, but that is why they watch.
Reply

Evan

August 6, 2010 at 4:28 pm #

My problem with beer ratings sites is that a beer pretty much has to be extreme, or at least big in some way to rate high. I think that some of the world’s best beers are the well brewed sessionable beers, but you don’t find those on any top lists when it comes to these review sites.
- Reply
  
  Don
  
  August 6, 2010 at 4:49 pm #
  
  Also Evan a beer has to be widely distributed too. Or at least in great demand. You aren’t going to find any Idaho or most Washington beers here, because not enough east coast people bother to rate them in the first place.
  - Reply
    
    Evan
    
    August 6, 2010 at 7:39 pm #
    
    Not even just that, but even beers on an international level. Take something like Paulaner Original Munich: One of the greatest lagers (if not the greatest) produced on a large scale, and it’s downright slammed on these sites because people want it to be “BIG” or hit them in the face with some big bold flavor. But that’s not what this style is about. It’s supposed to be clean, light bodied, slightly hop forward, and not have anything that really hits you in the face as crazy. But holy crap is it a well brewed, amazing session lager.
    - Don
      
      August 7, 2010 at 6:45 pm #
      
      This is a lot like the discussion I had with Nate from Thank Heaven for Beer. He was saying it is much harder to brew a fine pilsner than a high intensity Stout because there is nothing for any off flavor to hide behind in a pilsner. But you are correct they are not as highly regarded as the big beers.
Reply

Jim

August 6, 2010 at 4:57 pm #

Boo! I don’t care what THEY think, I care about what I think!
- Reply
  
  Don
  
  August 6, 2010 at 4:58 pm #
  
  Simmer down there POT, this KETTLE can do a list post too.