Northeast Beer of the Year

Discussion in 'New England' started by thedaveofbeer, May 14, 2021.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. thedaveofbeer

    thedaveofbeer Savant (1,169) Mar 25, 2016 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Some will say that it is too early to start this thread, but I figured that 5 months into the year is a good time, especially now that the regional thread is bigger and there is a potential for folks to hear about and find beer that may not be on their radar and could be released again/ often enough to make it worth tracking down .

    Here are my contenders so far:

    Tree of Hope- Barrel aged Barleywine by Tree House- unique, but Tree House is putting out more and more barrel aged barleywines, which this Beer Advocate couldn't be happier about.

    Pitch Lined Pils by Notch- should be released a few times in 2021- love the hommage to tradition

    Lost in the Dream- Rauch Lager by Notch -I imagine this will also be released again- best Rauchbier I have ever had

    Very HHHazy by Tree House- who knows- I hope it will be offered again, because it was stupid good for a NEIPA

    Please add yours and note if it is potentially a regular release or more probably a one-off production run. Of course, we may not know, but that is part of the fun.
     
    frozyn, sulldaddy, AlcahueteJ and 4 others like this.
  2. colby600

    colby600 Pooh-Bah (1,919) Mar 24, 2015 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Very Hazy was better for me than Very HHHazyyy. I did a side by side four times and VH won consistently.

    Tree of Hope was decent but overall a let down. Mine was still which isn't the end of the world but was disappointing.

    I haven't tried the others you mentioned.

    TH Brownie was pretty damn good for me and not at all too sweet. I'd buy a case if allowed.
     
    algebeeric_topology likes this.
  3. thedaveofbeer

    thedaveofbeer Savant (1,169) Mar 25, 2016 Massachusetts
    Trader

    I actually liked Steadfast more than Brownie- I suggest trying to get a bottle of that if you can.
     
  4. colby600

    colby600 Pooh-Bah (1,919) Mar 24, 2015 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Trader



    I had one. It wasn't for me, but that's what makes this fun. If everyone liked the same beer this would be boring as hell.
     
    thedaveofbeer likes this.
  5. Kozaka

    Kozaka Maven (1,464) Apr 25, 2006 Connecticut
    Trader

    @thedaveofbeer Nice list! I’ll have to give it some thought and post in a few.

    Just curious; are you saying Lost in the Dream is your top Smoked Helles or top overall smoked lager (pale or dark)?
     
    AlcahueteJ likes this.
  6. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,088) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I’ll have to think about this one...because I adored the Pitch Lined Pils I had on draft at the brewery this past fall...but that was last year. Same with Desítka, which was also last year (might have also been this year, they did a few cannings of it).

    @thedaveofbeer should this be a beer that’s new to us this year?
     
  7. thedaveofbeer

    thedaveofbeer Savant (1,169) Mar 25, 2016 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Good point- Definitely the best smoked helles- My only other contender for top smoked beer would be HF Fear and Trembling, but that was from last year.
     
    Kozaka likes this.
  8. thedaveofbeer

    thedaveofbeer Savant (1,169) Mar 25, 2016 Massachusetts
    Trader

    I think so, otherwise it could just become best beer ever- I like the distinction of New to one in 2021.
     
    AlcahueteJ and Kozaka like this.
  9. colby600

    colby600 Pooh-Bah (1,919) Mar 24, 2015 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm back. After checking my notes, my stand outs so far for '21 have been:

    TH Brownie
    Barreled Souls Wisdom - love this
     
    rightcoast7 likes this.
  10. Kozaka

    Kozaka Maven (1,464) Apr 25, 2006 Connecticut
    Trader

    I was very fortunate to get some Notch this year (thanks to @MattOC and @epoole3) so I’ll list a few of those as best new to me in ‘21:

    Biere d’Alsace
    Here Comes a Regular
    Pitch Lined Pils


    I can’t count this one as I drank a bottle the week of release but perhaps someone who tried it after the new year will cast a vote - Fox Farm Avalonia: Overture.
     
    epoole3, eaglephile, Xerlic and 3 others like this.
  11. Jcorn

    Jcorn Savant (1,196) Jun 17, 2015 Massachusetts
    Trader

    A few that come to mind for me.

    Oxbow Sap Haus

    Schilling Augustin 13

    Jacks Abby Munich Style Festbier
     
    guinness77, AlcahueteJ and Cashbail like this.
  12. jlordi12

    jlordi12 Pooh-Bah (1,844) Jun 8, 2011 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Can we get the NEIPAs out of all the cooler space?

    nordertor by schilling is hitting the spot. Just need it cold
     
    Sheppard and AlcahueteJ like this.
  13. dubdrop

    dubdrop Savant (1,027) Aug 6, 2012 Vermont
    Trader

    My favorites of the year so far:

    Green Dot 2021
    Avalonia Overture
    Anna Pear
    CD31
    Valley Beer Vintage 2019
    Brownie
    Very HHHazyyy
     
  14. kinopio

    kinopio Savant (1,013) Apr 30, 2009 Massachusetts

    My pick is It’s Only May by Are You Kidding Me Brewing
     
    Davl22, BigDummyLamont and jmdrpi like this.
  15. jtads122

    jtads122 Crusader (400) Feb 11, 2014 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Trillium BA Endless Night & Day was incredible. One of the best stouts they've ever put out.
     
    eaglephile likes this.
  16. mrmattosgood

    mrmattosgood Maven (1,301) Nov 6, 2010 Canada (BC)
    Deactivated

    Tributary Altbier is the leader in the clubhouse for me.
     
  17. guinness77

    guinness77 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,480) Jan 6, 2014 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Going through the only pics I saved so far this year:
    St. Kitts Coffee by Carton (imperial cream ale aged in Rum barrels)
    Sap Haus by Oxbow (smoked lager with maple syrup added)
    Here There Be Monsters by Twin Elephant (DIPA)
    River by Suarez (black lager)
    Quiet Life by Fox Farm (Czech pilsner)
     
    Kozaka and Xerlic like this.
  18. pinyin

    pinyin Savant (1,065) Sep 19, 2013 New York

    Best few I've tried thus far in 21"

    Evil Twin NYC-Greenhouse
    Hudson Valley-Say No More
    District 96-Yellow Dog
     
  19. Xerlic

    Xerlic Maven (1,374) Aug 26, 2016 New York
    Trader

    I drank my bottle on March 14, so I'll throw my hat in with this. This bottle was absurdly good. I liked it much more than the Raspberry and Blueberry versions.
     
    Kozaka and colby600 like this.
  20. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,282) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Some contenders for me (going through my Untappd check ins, I've done a good job of drinking local VA beers):
    Equilibrium Austin
    Oxbow Saison du Smierlap!
     
    Xerlic likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.