The Most Well 'Crafted' Beer

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by SloppyJoeWasAMan, Jan 2, 2015.

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  1. SloppyJoeWasAMan

    SloppyJoeWasAMan Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2013 Maryland

    I searched and didn't find a thread on this (though I may have missed it).

    What beer, in your opinion, is the best crafted beer you have had. Not necessarily meaning your favorite, but one that you believe is the best made. I'm not including any specific qualifications/guidelines, it can be most complex, most consistent, best tasting, etc., whatever reason you want.

    For me, I'd have to give the nod to Orval.
    Cheers!
     
    #1 SloppyJoeWasAMan, Jan 2, 2015
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  2. Iamjeff6

    Iamjeff6 Initiate (0) Sep 9, 2013 Virginia

    I have a feeling this is going to be filled with a bunch of Trappist beers.
     
    #2 Iamjeff6, Jan 2, 2015
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  3. Vav

    Vav Savant (1,049) Jul 27, 2008 Illinois

    Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. That beer is the epitome of many years of dialing in and perfecting. The fact that it's bottle conditioned with a perfectly rationed amount of yeast to get the job done without leaving a noticeable amount of sediment is a testament to their process & control over their product.
     
    #3 Vav, Jan 2, 2015
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  4. Pahn

    Pahn Initiate (0) Dec 2, 2009 New York

    hmm. my personal top 5, in no order (edit: actually, i've ordered them why not)...

    1. pilsner urquell
    2. schlenkerla fastenbier
    3. orval
    4. xyauyu
    5. cambridge brewing company cerise cassee / NEBCO gold stock (tie)


    probably my top 5 favorites as well, but i am trying to stick to the "best crafted". could argue for bourbon county stout actually. with some time to take it in, i would imagine some of the great APAs/"session IPAs" coming out right now are world class enough to be mentioned in the same breath as pilsner urquell.

    p.s. good chance that if i thought harder, i could knock 4 and 5 off the list and replace with something. 1 thru 3 are solid though.
     
    #4 Pahn, Jan 2, 2015
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  5. BWM-77

    BWM-77 Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2014 Kentucky

    Weihenstephaner hefe. That's the first one that comes to mind. The origin of beer...
     
    #5 BWM-77, Jan 2, 2015
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  6. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'd say the Schlenkerla Urbock, myself, but you couldn't go wrong with many of their offerings. The fact that they have their own maltings to produce their smoked malt and have total control over the end product goes a long way towards showing their dedication.
     
    #6 TongoRad, Jan 2, 2015
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  7. TylerKitchens

    TylerKitchens Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2014 Massachusetts

    With Trappist beers aside (because they are all relatively well crafted with a long running history of producing world class beers)

    I would have to say most beers that come from Maine Beer Company are really well crafted brews. (Lunch, Another One, Mo, and Dinner especially)
     
    #7 TylerKitchens, Jan 2, 2015
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  8. Vav

    Vav Savant (1,049) Jul 27, 2008 Illinois

    That's a great call. That beer is incredibly consistent.

    I like seeing Orval listed multiple times too, i honestly think that's a perfect beer. (i even have a tattoo of the logo)
     
    #8 Vav, Jan 2, 2015
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  9. Dil_thebeerdrinking_do

    Dil_thebeerdrinking_do Savant (1,192) Jan 21, 2014 Georgia
    Trader

    Parabola.
     
    #9 Dil_thebeerdrinking_do, Jan 2, 2015
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  10. utopiajane

    utopiajane Grand Pooh-Bah (3,982) Jun 11, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    I think the beers that drank with the most succinct excitement. The ones that led me to conclusions, the ones that caused me to consider that they came together excellently and therefore deliberately. There were quite a few. All styles.
     
    #10 utopiajane, Jan 2, 2015
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  11. IKR

    IKR Maven (1,490) May 25, 2010 California
    Trader

    Not everyone's cup of tea but I'm going with the Firestone Walker Anniversary beers. The use of experienced vintners to come up with the appropriate blends, the use of multiple types of barrels for the barrel aging, and the flavors play well with each other in the final product. Not the cheapest but they work for me.
     
    #11 IKR, Jan 2, 2015
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  12. yemenmocha

    yemenmocha Grand Pooh-Bah (4,116) Jun 18, 2002 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah

    Long list of Trappist ales

    Ayinger Celebrator, Brau-Weisse
    Weihenstephan Korbinian, Hefeweissbier
     
    #12 yemenmocha, Jan 2, 2015
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  13. Buschyfor3

    Buschyfor3 Savant (1,083) Jan 4, 2009 Kentucky

    St. Bernardus 12 (complexity)
    Rochefort 10 (complexity)
    Weihenstephaner Hefe (consistency)
     
    #13 Buschyfor3, Jan 2, 2015
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  14. GreesyFizeek

    GreesyFizeek Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,026) Mar 6, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Rochefort 10
    Hill Farmstead Arthur
    Carton Boat
    Timothy Taylor Landlord
    Uerige Alt
     
    #14 GreesyFizeek, Jan 2, 2015
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  15. JasonHaviland

    JasonHaviland Zealot (742) Feb 19, 2013 New Hampshire
    Trader

    The Smuttlabs releases from Smuttynose.
     
    #15 JasonHaviland, Jan 2, 2015
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  16. kerry4porters

    kerry4porters Maven (1,495) Dec 31, 2012 Arizona

    What he said
     
    #16 kerry4porters, Jan 2, 2015
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  17. threeviews

    threeviews Initiate (0) Apr 18, 2011 Florida

    A well-made Belgian Triple seems to hit on all the right flavors:
    Exit 4 - Flying Fish (a bit hoppier, but my personal favorite)
    Don De Dieu & La Fin Du Monde - Unibroue (I give my preference to the former)
    Merry Monk's - Weyerbacher
     
    #17 threeviews, Jan 2, 2015
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  18. surfcaster

    surfcaster Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2013 North Carolina
    Trader

    Westmalle Tripel

    -doen't need a born on date
    -not worried about it when i open one
    -just right every time
     
    #18 surfcaster, Jan 2, 2015
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  19. Mlkluther

    Mlkluther Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2014 Canada (AB)

    Great post and question.

    I don't have enough access to many of the beers listed so I can't comment too much.

    I'd love to try Sierra Nevada Pale Ale as I hear it is consistently a great beer.

    I do think the Belgian beers need to be listed.
     
    #19 Mlkluther, Jan 2, 2015
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  20. alucard6679

    alucard6679 Savant (1,009) Jul 29, 2012 Arizona

    Either Duvel or Sucaba
     
    #20 alucard6679, Jan 2, 2015
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