Highly acclaimed brews that were better than expected?

Heady Topper. Celebrator. Parabola. Citra IPA. Abacus. King Henry.

 

Abyss, Pliny, and Beatification are the top three that I knew would be good and still melted my face off with surprise regardless.

The most unexpected surprise was Cuvee Des Jacobins. Bought a few Batch 1 bottles just because it was a sour I had not had yet; I did not look it up on BA prior and really knew nothing about it, and it instantly became my favorite.

 

Nugget Nectar.

 

Adam from the wood. I would trade my first born son for a case of Adam from the wood.

 

The 4th Schlenkerla Maerzen of the night.

 

Heady Topper and Uncle Jacobs.

 

Hop Rod Rye. It's highly rated but really seems to fly under the radar. I was expecting it to be great, but instead it's top-ten material.

 

There are a few things that are highly rated that I like even more than the ratings. The first thing I can think of that I read the ratings before I tried it and had high expectations for was Breakfast stout.

 

THIS.

It took me 3 or 4 tries to "get" rauchbier, but now it's one of my favorite styles. In my case, it was the Schlenkerla Ur-bock that made me a fan.

 

Beatification
Bcs rare
Armand'4 zomer
Bourbon abominable
Splinter blue
La roja gr
Berserker
Cantillon (most all of them)


Those are the ones that immediately come to mind.

 

Abyss, Dissident, BCS, and Pannepot, I had one that was several years old and it was great.

 

I'd have to say sculpin and bcbs. definitely 2 beers worth the hype

 

KBS, Darkness, Zombie Dust

 

First one that came to my mind as well.

Also, Epic's Big Bad Baptist, Avery's Uncle Jacob's Stout, and Deschutes Red Chair also fit the bill for me.

 

Row 2, Hill 56. Better than the ratings.
Black Tuesday. Holy hell.

 

Founders Breakfast Stout and Little Sumpin Sumpin are 2 for me

 

More love for FBS. As far as a coffee stout goes, I think it's literally perfect. I've never had a coffee stout I like more (and that includes the De Struise Black Damnation series).