After knocking off another well-made version of my proclaimed favourite style, it set me to wondering - how many of the BA top 50 for said style have I had? Turns out, 33 out of 50 for the American Double / Imperial IPA. Show me what y'all got!
While I couldn't tell you an exact number...(I've gotten lazy over the years). I will say this, I really enjoyed your review of Steel Reserve.
4 of my favorite styles are IPAs, DIPAs, Imperial Stouts, and RIS... Out of the 50 most reviewed beers for those styles, here's where I stand: IPAs: 27/50 DIPAs: 30/50 Imperial stouts: 24/50 RIS: 26/50
I have tried 22/50 for Russian Imperial Stout and 17/50 for American Imperial Stout. And considering that the top 50 for each of those styles is dominated by limited release barrel-aged beer, and considering that I don't trade for beer, I'd say those are really good numbers. Hell, it took me almost a decade to get around to trying Dark Lord (my one and only trade exception--ever).
A lot of the American imperial/double stouts are brand new or brewery only/really rare and have 1-10 reviews, but I've had 2 lol
Have had 47/50 of the most reviewed American Double/Imperial IPAs........missing out on Flying Dog Double Dog (have seen Flying Dog beers but not sure if I've seen this one in my area), Pliny the Younger (haven't made the trip to SF or Philly in Feb/March yet), and Rogue XS (could probably find this in my area but haven't been a Rogue fan).
I am at about ~10/50 in both categories. So far the best IPA/DIPA I've ever had is Pure Hoppiness. I can smell and drink this beer for the rest of my life... IPAs: 10/50 Sculpin IPA Duet AleSmith IPA Grapefruit Sculpin Two Hearted Ale Hop, Drop 'n Roll Stone IPA (India Pale Ale) Union Jack India Pale Ale Red Racer IPA (India Pale Ale) Fat Tug IPA DIPAs: 12/50 Pliny The Younger Hopslam Ale Abrasive Ale Stone Enjoy By IPA Lagunitas Sucks (Brown Shugga Substitute Ale) Pure Hoppiness Stone RuinTen IPA DirtWolf Double Jack YuleSmith (Summer) Racer X Double IPA 90 Minute IPA
My favorite style is IIPA and I have had 44 from that list, but only reviewed 20. Had 49 of the most reviewed list
I don't really take notice of the top beers in a style. I do however find myself constantly wanting to try as many different beers from the breweries that I like.
If they are available and I am short on beer I will buy one. But since I home brew that is seldom. I have had 2 from the list.
Since I have only had about 5% of the total number of beers the OP has had, I figured my numbers would be comparatively low, but I'll post them anyway because I think my favorite styles aren't in the majority of others' favorites. Hefeweizen: 5/50 Wee Heavy: 6/50 and now I am a bit of a hypocrite because..... DIPA: 18/50 Could have also gone with Flanders red and fruit lambics, but I have had very few of them.
My favorite 4 styles are very different: Fruit beers: 26 total, 11/50 most reviewed, 13 top rated (including the top four and 6 of the top 8) American porter: 21 total, 8/50 most reviewed, 8 top rated Tripel: 17 total, 8/50 most reviewed, 9 top rated Hefeweizen: 13 total, 9/50 most reviewed, 9 top rated I've also tried a lot of these 3 styles but I wouldn't say they're my favorite: American IPA: 34 total, 9/50 most reviewed, 7 top rated Imperial stout: 27 total, 11/50 most reviewed, 14 top rated Imperial IPA: 20 total, 7/50 most reviewed, 8 top rated If "sours" was one big category, that would be my overall favorite style by far...but it's not so that's why it doesn't appear above.
I've rated/reviewed on this site...I don't know why the drop off, I guess I'll have to drink more 56 IPAs 38 DIPAs 6 Tripels 6 Hefeweizens 10 Stouts
I don't know if I could honestly pick a favorite style. I guess I would probably go with Double/ Imperial Stout. I am at 16/50 in the Imperial Stout category. This made me curious, so I looked at some of the other styles that I have hit the hardest. (I did top rated, not reviewed) DIPA 16/50 IPA 12/50 American Porter 12/50 American Pale 10/50 Scottish/Wee Heavy 14/50 Pumpkin 12/50 English Barleywine 10/50 Apparently I am not a whale hunter. At least not a very good one. Really, can't say I am too surprised though based on the amount of styles I like, and the availability of some (hoppy ales) verses others (lagers). A few things I took away from this exercise: I feel really worthless seeing the reviews for every one of the 4,600+ rated beers from @biboergosum when I have done about 200 of 770. I just now realized (after having 3 of them) that Sip of Sunshine is not a Double/ Imperial IPA. Even more mind blowing. There are a shitload of Brown Ales in the top 50 that I have never heard of.
My 100% favorite style is American imperial/double stouts. Out of the top 50 I've had 12 with 16 more in the cellar. I gotta get drinkin'!
