Latest WOW! Beer (2020)

So.....is it horrible that after hundreds of beers, until tonight I had never had a Sam Smith Nut Brown Ale? I saw it sitting there on the shelf every time I walked into the bottle shop and said "next time" every time. I will gladly accept any derision and shame. But what a brew.

 

Strictly going on “wow” factor, so far in 2020 I was blown away by “Musti” by Dutch Bargain (Brewing), Groede, Zeeland (Holland).



An imperial stout with vanilla...looked great, smelled like a vanilla ice cream/Coke float (with a hint of black licorice), and tasted like a vanilla BB Bat candy from the ‘60s. I gave it a 4.75 | 4.75 | 4.75 | 4.5 | 4.75

 

Through January, the best beer I have tried this year is Special Cookie from Free Will Brewing. Yum!

 

I've had a few "Wow!" Beers already in 2020 (and strangely enough there is not a single IPA/DIPA to be found among them ). Let's see:

Willettized Coffee Stout - Lagunitas
Blushing Monk - Founders
Rio Reserva (St Emilion Wine + Kentucky Bourbon B.A.) - De Struise
Caramel Fudge Stout - Brouwerij Kees
Firestone 21 Anniversary Ale - FW
Blackout Stout - Great Lakes

Most of these were in my 12 Days of Christmas lineup. Instead of the usual run-of-the-mill holiday themed beers, I decided to fill out this year's lineup with a few of the "bigger" styles (strong ale, RIS, Belgian quad). Maybe I'm easily impressed, but I'd highly recommend any of these. I just wish every day could be Christmas!

 

Yes! Now go back and buy all their other beers, they are classics.

 

Two come to mind:

DC Brau On the Wings of Armageddon (that one just came to NC)
Boulevard Brandy Land

 

Werk Force Barrel Aged Gravity Research...

New Oberfalz Helles...

Both rocked my world recently...

 

Sixpoint Master Blend is the most recent one for me. It's so smooth, but boozy enough to keep from being too heavy/thick. I've been underwhelmed by a few highly rated imperial stouts, so my expectations weren't too high for this one, but man it blew me away. I think it's the best beer I've had so far this year.

 

Founders French Toast Bastard - smells just like a plate of French Toast. It was sweet without being overdone. Very well balanced and dangerously easy to drink for the ABV.

The Four Horseman from Ellison was outstanding.

 

3 standouts so far this year

Fatheads/3 Floyd's - special hoperations
Columbus - insane wanderer volume 6
Voodoo - early times black magick

 

Pipeworks Your Brain on Brunch - so much maple taste!

 

Bergamot La Tache from The Ale Apothecary. I only knew bergamot from Earl Grey tea, but this is an herb by the same name rather than the citrus and provided a big hit of oregano on the nose. I would not have expected something savory to complement a mixed-culture beer but it was delicious.

 

So far, Sierra Nevada 40th rules the roost.

 

Lawson’s Finest Liquids Sip Of Sunshine and Triple Sunshine. Amazing beers.

 

Bell's 5th release in the Leaves of Grass Series: Song of the Open Road is a rich, malty Winter Warmer that I pegged as the best beer in that style that I've ever had.

 

I really thought that Firestone 23 was great, very easy to drink and thought the different beers come together nicely.

 

I think the 2020 Hop Wallop is OUTSTANDING!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-779.632517/#post-6779259

Cheers!

 

My favorite beer from what I drank last night was a real stunner (and it was my favorite from a lot of really excellent beer). It was Brasserie de la Senne's Wadesda Lager made in collaboration with Private Landbrauerei Schönram. When I saw it listed on Gear Patrol's 45 Best Beers of 2019, I knew I would love to try it. Brasserie de la Senne is one of my favorite breweries period. This is the first time they brewed a "bottom-fermented" beer and they modeled it after a Northern German Pilsner. This was served via a side-pull tap. Not only did it not disappoint, it was also wonderful. Just a so-called simple beer executed beautifully.