Your 2015 Beers in Review

Forgive the Belgian-centric list. I am still in a state of euphoria following my 10 day visit this summer.

Best Beer: Fou' Foune. $35 a bottle at Moeder Lambic in Brussels. Sharing a bottle of this treasure with old friends on the streets of Brussels is my happy thought.

Best Surprise: To discover that St. Bernardus 12 is essentially the same exact beer as a Westy 12

Most Overrated: Most of the overrated beers I can think of are still pretty damn awesome. I'll punt this one.

Biggest WTF Moment: Finding Cantillon on the shelf in Anchorage, AK. This was a good WTF moment.

Up-and-comer: Olde Hickory Brewery (Hickory, NC). The brewery of my former hometown has finally figured out their marketing/art/distribution and are brewing more adventurous styles.

Old reliable (non-whale): Sockeye Red (Midnight Sun Brewing). I drink this all summer while I'm out camping, fishing, and adventuring.

Old reliable (whale-ish edition): Rodenbach Grand Cru. After trying to sample every Belgian beer available during my vacation, this ended up being my go to.

 

Best Beer: Tie between Other Half's All Green Everything and Mexican Cake

Best Surprise: This year's Big Bad Baptist releases

Most Overrated: Anything Mikkeller Beer Geek related (cocoa, vanilla, weasel, breakfast etc) and Stone Fyodor's Classic

Old reliable (non-whale): Great Divide Yeti

Old reliable (whale-ish edition): Parabola and Sucaba

 

Best Beer: I don't know if this is meant as a best new beer's released this year or tried this year--but I'll go for latter. Todd the Axeman, King Sue, Fort Point.

Best Surprise: was in Antwerp at Kulminator, surprised to discover that they had Westy 12 for about $10 a bottle.

Most Overrated: PseudoSue. Granted I've only had the 12oz bottles which are contract brewed in Florida (and I was told that the large format version is substantially better), but I found this beer lacking mouthfeel and depth of flavor.

Up-and-comer: don't know if these qualify, but Grimm and Singlecut. I found the former forgettable and the latter down right bad last year. Grimm has been killing the game lately, and Singlecut has developed a roster of 3 or 4 extremely delicious well-crafted brews. I'm looking to watch both of these breweries build on their name and hype next year.

Old reliable (non-whale): going to have to echo the sentiment here: Founders Breakfast Stout. Drinkable, complex and delicious.

Old reliable (whale-ish edition): Sip of Sunshine. I can get this pretty regularly through friends in Connecticut and it just knocks my hair back every time. Can't say the same for some of its Vermont brethren.

 

Best Beer- Witch's Hat Bourbon Barrel DragonTrax- it's sweet, but there's so much going on, and it tastes unbelievable. They managed to have a few releases this year between tap and bottle.

Best Surprise- All Green Everything- never heard of it, and had a draft at Tørst in April. Awesome stuff

Old Reliable (non-whale)- Odd Side Citra Pale. Gives (insert hyped citra pale ale here...) a run for its money any day.

Old Reliable (whale-ish)- Dark Lord Variants. For the second year in a row I've been (lucky) fortunate enough to try a variant. This year I had Cognac Coffee and BVDL. Both phenomenal.

 

Best beer: Double Barrel Jesus, love the Jesus series of beer and this is the best.

Best Surprise: All of Weyerbacher's new beers, D'Tango, Double IPA #1, SMS, Tart Nouveau with Blood Oranges, 20th Anniversary are all great beers. I feel Weyerbacher is a solid brewery, but all of these were better than their normal line up.

Most Overrated: Maine Another One, yes it is a tasty IPA and well made, but very overpriced. Had a homebrew compared to this, feel I can brew basically the same beer under $20/gallon.

Up-and-comer: Mispillion River Brewery, they've been brewing some solid beers in Milford, DE. Feel they have a lot of potential and are focusing on getting more and more beer out into cans. Can't wait to see what they release next year!

Old reliable (non-whale): Tired Hands Alien Church, calling this an old reliable since Tired Hands keeps putting it on tap. Union Craft Old Pro, quickly became my go to Gose. I know both are pretty new beers, but they both turned into beers I never pass up.

Old reliable (whale-ish): Any version of Bomb!

 

Best Beer: Not a new beer by any means but new to me this year was Tilquin Oude Gueuze. A couple years ago I'm not even sure this is a beer that I'd have been able to appreciate. This classic funky sour is an explosion to my taste buds that reminds me of the first few times I tired wash rind cheeses.

Best Surprise: Melange No. 1 is another beer that I'm not sure I'd have even tried a few years ago. The surprise to me was how well the sour meshed with the barrel-aged stout. It was definitely a beer that caught me off guard and one that I immediately order another pour of when finished.

Most Overrated: Pliny The Elder. I tried this in a blind IPA tasting and just couldn't believe it when I found out this was one of the beers I liked the least. I'd typically attribute this to over-hyping but having been a blind tasting that excuse doesn't play.

Biggest WTF Moment: The complete lack of carbonation in this years Framboos. I still enjoyed the beer but would have liked at least a little carb.

Up-and-comer: Casey Brewing & Blending. I've only had a few beers from them so far but everything I've had the pleasure of trying has been fantastic. Until a couple years ago I lived less than an hour from the brewery and definitely wish that was still the case.

Old reliable (non-whale): Sculpin and variants. I agree it is expensive but IMO it consistently delivers on what I'm looking for in an IPA.

Old reliable (whale-ish edition): Firestone Walker's boxed beers. Anytime one of these beer is released I make it a point to get my hands on one.

 

Best Beer: Funky Buddha Last Buffalo in the Park with Tree House Good morning a close second.

Best Surprise: On a vacation to the finger lakes of NY we stopped in at Hopshire Farm and Brewery. Their fresh hop IPA coHOPeration completely took me off guard with how good it was.

Most Overrated: Sixpoint Jammer Gose. How it has an average of 3.68 astounds me.

Biggest WTF Moment: De Garde's Nectarine Premier. My God what an incredible beer.

Up-and-comer: Burial. Awesome place, awesome people, awesome beer.

Old reliable: Tired Hands HopHands.

 

Cool thread . . .

Best Beer : Sip of Sunshine

Most Overrated: Founders Blushing Monk

WTF: Hoof Hearted opening . . . Five minute drive !

Best Surprise: Speedway Vietnamese Cinnamon

Up and Comer: Hoof Hearted . . . Take notice

Old Reliable : White Rajah

 

1) Best Surprise: Finally seeing Founders on the shelves in my town.
2) Seeing the craft section at my favorite store double in size.
3) Old Reliable: Summit Saga IPA. LOVE this beer and it's cheap.
4) Up & Comer: Well, might sound funny, but I think Lagunitas might show up soon...so, for me, that is the up & comer. And there is a shitload of stuff to try from them.
5) Best Beer: I loved the SN Flipside Red IPA.
6) Most Over Rated: Trappistes Rochefort 8. Gotta try the 10, though.

Looking forward to trying Founders DT this week.

 

I got a can of Konkey Dong and it was banging Gears. Definitely one I would trade for again.

 

Great thread!

 

best beer : KBS. Followed closely by BA VaS, Hoppin Frog Van Wink, IBUsive, and Trillium FPPA.

best surprise: FW PNC, at CA Craft Beer Summit Brewer's Showcase. HOLY shit that beer is good!

most overrated: Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel and Dessert

biggest wtf: Singlecut Billy Full Stack, biggest out of nowhere (for a West Coaster) beer of the year for me. LOVED it.

up and comer: Honey Wagon Brewing in Tehachapi, CA. No idea if they plan to start off-site distro, but I was shocked (pleasantly) at their offerings.

old reliable (non whale): SN Celebration

old reliable (whale ish): Black Butte XXxxx with 1+ years on it.

 

Best Beer - Perrin's No Rules. There's a lot going on in this beer and it's all good.

Best Surprise - the re-release of Founders CBS. I'm with the op on this one. I had the good fortune to have three pours of this at the KBS release and felt pretty damn good. I had a KBS as well that day and I had to choke it down. KBS was not a pleasant beer after having CBS.

Most Overrated - running around like a fool from shop to shop for the opportunity to pay $6+ for one bottle of BCBS. It's a great beer but it's not worth the aggravation.

Biggest WTF Moment - Almost any brewery's release party. The line cutting. Attempts to get more beers than the maximum allocated per person. It's embarrassing.

Up N Comer - Oddside Ales in Grand Haven, MI. I'm not sure if they distribute out of Michigan. They have a solid lineup and have really made themselves stand out the last two years.

Old Reliable (Non-Whale) - Bell's Two Hearted. What can I say that hasn't already been said?

Old Reliable (Whale) - Bell's and Founders. I have the good fortune to live within a drivable distance to each brewery. It is a rare time when they do not have something new and exciting on tap.

 

Best beer: hard to say. But for coming out in 2015 i say Sixpoint Jammer. Im happy with that answer.

Best suprise: DoppleSticky. I expected the opposite of what it was and it was one of my top rated beers all time now.

Overrated: Grapefruit Sculpin. I did not like it. Good ipa, didnt like the additional fruit.

WTF: two roads/evil twin Geyser Gose. A gose brewed with moss, herbs, spices, kelp and sea salt. Its like the ocean in a can seriously.

Up n comer: NJ, Forgotten Boardwalk every beer is great. Local is Pinelands Brewing. Great blonde ale. Ipa, pumpkin milk stout oh my.
Non immediately local Two Roads brewing. Pumping out good stuff.

Reliable: Sierra Nevada, Pilsner Urquell, Forgotten Boardwalk. Sixpoint.

Great year for beer for myself. Look foward to the next. And the last month of 2015.

 

Best beer: I know I am biased, but for me it was Fremont KBS. This year's is truly one of the best stouts I have ever tried.

Best Surprise: Anything by Ommegang

Overrated: Heady. I wanted/expected to love this beer, but was underwhelmed.

WTF: Toaster Pastry by 21sr Amendment. Don't get me wrong, I liked it, but I didn't think it tasted like a pop tart at all

Up in comer: Ruebens Brews in Seattle. They already have a great reputation here, think it will continue to grow as Fremont's has

Old Reliable: Prarie Bomb. Maybe my all-time favorite beer

 

Best Beer: CBS. Had on draft on four different occasions in 2015 (most recently at Crunchy's in East Lansing). Simply brilliant. I love maple, but really enjoy how it doesn't overpower everything else in CBS.

Best Surprise: Finding BA Raspy!

Most Overrated: Dragons milk Chocolate and Coffee. I mean, it tastes fine, but it still has the thin Dragon's milk mouth feel. People saying this is better than KBS, I just don;t get it.

Biggest WTF Moment: No idea what to put here. I guess BCBS changing bottle formats. That made me WTF?

Up-and-comer: In my town Ellison opening up. I need to keep an eye on them.

Old reliable (non-whale): Founders Imperial Stout, especially with a bit of age on it.

Old reliable (whale-ish edition): I don't have any reliable "whales". But have thoroughly enjoyed BBPT5 throughout the year. Personally, one of my favorites.

 

Best Beer: Founders' Kentucky Breakfast Stout. It's perfect every time.

Best Surprise: Bells 30th. Bells never fails to impress, but this beer is/was probably one of the best Non-BA stouts I've had the pleasure of sipping on. Glad I was able to get a bunch and hook up some people on both coasts!

Most Overrated: Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin. I absolutely hated this beer.

Biggest WTF Moment: Bourbon County Everything. Rare Day - Cluster F. Black Friday Release - Joke. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome beer, but seeing people listing PreTrades for Rare, knowing folks will be standing on line for hours Thanksgiving Night, it's everything that's WRONG with this whole scene right now. It's BEER people.

Up-and-comer: Gonna go local. Solemn Oath Brewery has been putting out some solid beer all year.

Old reliable (non-whale): Everyone's saying it, and I have to agree - Founders' Breakfast Stout is about as solid and consistent as any beer on the market right now.

Old reliable (whale-ish edition): Trappist Westvleteren XII. First time I've had it, and it was fresh from the Abbey. Goddddddamn was that an perfect beer.

 

BEST BEER-Willoughby Brewing Nut Smasher. Creamy Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in a glass. Loved it.

BEST SURPRISE-Finding FW Stickee Monkee on tap in a shithole dive bar in Chicago while on a business trip.
I seriously came in my pants after taking my first sip. Unreal beer.

MOST OVERATED-GF brewed Alpine beers. I just don't get it. Watery, oderless and tasteless beers. Someday I will get my hands on the real stuff to compare.

BIGGEST WTF MOMENT-Finding Binny's in Chicago. I was in beer heaven. $500.00 dollars later...

UP AND COMER- JAFB out of Wooster, OH. Haven't had a lot of their stuff but what I had was really good.

OLD RELIABLES-All Fat Head's Hoppy beers. Man do they crank them out. Love fresh Growler fills.

 

Best Beer: BA Speedway Stout. Lucked out and managed to snag a few. Was blown away. Cant wait to get some age on this and try it again.

Best Surprise: Finding out Boulevard BC is going to start distroing to AZ, then going to Florida and finding their collab with CCB in bottles and on draft.

Most Overrated: For me it was Green Flashes Cellar 3 Stout. Pure butterscotch. Yuck....

Biggest WTF Moment: Finding a bottle of Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus and a St. Lamvinus during a recent trip to California.

Up-and-comer: A tie here. Got to go to Fort Myers Brewing and Fat Point Brewing in Florida recently. Both are turning out some pretty amazing beers. Locally I would have to say Fate Brewing in Scottsdale AZ.

Old reliable (non-whale): Anything by Lagunitas. Love these guys and have their beers in my rotation constantly.

Old reliable (whale-ish edition): Going with Russian River here. And before I get battered, I refer to Blind Pig and their sour line. When I go to Cali they are always at the top of my list for draft and bottles. Still like PtE, but that Blind Pig...wow.

 

Colorado Edition - I don't get out much

Best Beer: This is tough, but I am going with Deschutes the Dissadent, simply an outstanding sour beer.

Best Surprise: Despite some of the negative things I'd heard about it, GABF was organized, well run, and had access to some amazing beers. Tickets were available for below face value the week before.

Also, seeing firsthand the friendliness and generosity of the BA community.

Most Overrated: Pretty much everything I tried lived up to the hype this year, so I am going to say none.

Biggest WTF Moment: Seeing the lengths that myself and other people go to, to seek out delicious brews.
Up-and-comer: Black Bottle Brewing in Fort Collins is churning out some great stuff and is completely under the radar due to location. In addition, Broken Compass in Breckenridge seems to be going places.

Old reliable (non-whale): Espresso Oak Aged Yeti is so good and yet easy to find and affordable.

Old reliable (whale-ish edition): BBA TenFidy is a real treat, and finally "available" in cans.