Your 2015 Beers in Review

Talk Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Talk' started by AlienSwineFlu, Oct 26, 2015.

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  1. AlienSwineFlu

    AlienSwineFlu Savant (1,135) Dec 14, 2012 Ohio

    With about two months left in the year, I was just reflecting on some of my talking-points of 2015 and felt I would share them with the community (before the Bourbon Countypocalypse), get some feedback, and hear some related opinions. So here are some categories I created... feel free to add your own, and to expound on these as well. I know this is a futile effort, but I feel the need to say *don't take this too seriously*...

    Best Beer: Derivation #2, Side Project: I suppose this category could just be best stout... but for me personally, this was best overall as well. While I haven't had Blend 3 yet, I felt this far surpassed Blend 1, as a vanilla bomb on about the same flavor-level as Vanilla Rye with maybe a hair of a mouthfeel advantage. Regardless, VR was released last November so it's DQed from this particular discussion. :wink:

    Best Surprise: Canadian Breakfast Stout, Founders, 2015 re-release: Something I had looked back on and said "man, I really wish I could have tried this fresh" and due to the maple, wasn't sure if it was worth trading for. And then bam, I was blessed with a fresh re-release and my ticking dreams came true.

    Most Overrated: See the Stars, Creature Comforts Brewing: Don't get me wrong, this was a great beer. But with what locals had it pulling in the trade forums, it just ended up being a letdown at the end of the day. It's a decent BA stout IMO and nothing more.

    Biggest WTF Moment: Current pre-trades of Rare 2.0. Things that make you go :astonished::astonished::astonished:.

    Up-and-comer: People are going to accuse me of homering here, but I'm going with Hoof Hearted out of Ohio. Mark my words, they're going to be the next big IPA brewery. Watch for them more in 2016 especially.

    Old reliable (non-whale): Founders Breakfast Stout. Maybe my palate is broken but it's the one regularly available beer that I feel may be a little better this year than previous years. Again, maybe my palate is broken, I'm crazy, etc. All I know is there are a lot of other beloved shelf beers of mine that seem to fall off from time to time and this definitely isn't one of them.

    Old reliable (whale-ish edition): Toppling Goliath in general. Despite the conversation about a possible decline in quality during their temporary loss of their head brewer, I found King Sue to be amazing, and Mornin' Delight '15 met the hype.


    Ok, go! I look forward to your opinions (and criticisms). What say you?
     
    #1 AlienSwineFlu, Oct 26, 2015
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  2. hopnado

    hopnado Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2014 Michigan

    Best surprise: Uranus. Black IPAs aren't the most popular style and I really wasn't expecting much for this one but Uranus totally blew me away
     
    #2 hopnado, Oct 26, 2015
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  3. Mshea805

    Mshea805 Initiate (0) Apr 12, 2014 California

    Lagunitas High Westified. Not the best beer I had all year by any means but certainly the best bang for the buck which made it my favorite.
     
    #3 Mshea805, Oct 26, 2015
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  4. gibgink

    gibgink Pooh-Bah (1,581) Oct 27, 2014 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    The child in me is laughing.
     
    #4 gibgink, Oct 26, 2015
    eppie82, 4DAloveofSTOUT, ThisWangsChung and 38 others like this.
  5. TonyLema1

    TonyLema1 Pooh-Bah (2,890) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    My surprise beer was Soul Style by Green Flash, love the citrus/trop fruit flavors...I'm not a huge Green Flash guy, but that one was awesome
     
    #5 TonyLema1, Oct 26, 2015
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  6. tillmac62

    tillmac62 Pooh-Bah (2,859) Oct 2, 2013 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    My biggest surprise was seeing Sixpoint and Maine Beer Co begin SC distribution.
     
    #6 tillmac62, Oct 26, 2015
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  7. Sludgeman

    Sludgeman Grand Pooh-Bah (3,356) Aug 17, 2012 District of Columbia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hoof Hearted South of Eleven better than Columbus Bodhi.
     
    #7 Sludgeman, Oct 26, 2015
  8. birdman200

    birdman200 Initiate (0) Jul 6, 2010 Massachusetts

    best beer : I think my gut is telling me jester king omniscience proselytism. My first jester king, and it was wildly memorable.

    best surprise: everything from Kent Falls.

    most overrated:     sorry guys, Hill Farmstead hoppy beers. Super good, but definitely not the nectar of the gods that everyone makes them out to be. Dark Lord can be thrown in that mix too...had my first one recently.

    biggest wtf: any time someone says they only beers they drink are EXCLUSIVELY from local/wait-in-line forever brewery.

    up and comer: Kent Falls again

    old reliable (non whale):     everything from Jacks Abbey and Victory.

    old reliable (whale ish):     fortunate enough to have had a couple Cantillons on draft and bottle this year. Still gets me every time.
     
    #8 birdman200, Oct 26, 2015
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  9. bluehende

    bluehende Initiate (0) Dec 10, 2010 Delaware

    Best beer this year. Currant Affair from Allagash. I had it at a tasting and have not seen it since so figure that will be one and only chance to drink it.

    Biggest surprise Boulevard The Calling

    Biggest disappointment was Bourbon County. Before I get yelled out. I wanted to like it but I realized I am not a fan of the big bourbon taste stouts.
     
    #9 bluehende, Oct 26, 2015
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  10. JFMBearcat

    JFMBearcat Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2014 Ohio

    I dunno, a bunch of BA stouts and IPAs I imagine. Nothing else matters on here.
     
    #10 JFMBearcat, Oct 27, 2015
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  11. gcg49

    gcg49 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2014 Texas

    Best Beer: Foudreweizen by Jester King. They took the wort of the best american Hefeweizen (and my favorite Texas beer) and inoculated it with bugs. Very cool, and was absolutely delicious.

    Best Surprise: Dark Lord. It gets so much flak for being overrated on these forums that I had low expectations, and thought it was perhaps the most drinkable 15% beer I've had.

    Most Overrated: CBS. Sorry, I'm someone who finds KBS overrated too :wink:. Had to show up to a bar on a Saturday morning, wait in line buy a ticket, wait around for an hour, wait in line again... was thin and boozy. 2nd place goes to BA speedway stout. For a beer that sells out in seconds, thought this was pretty average.

    Biggest WTF Moment: Getting shut out of rare day as a Chicagoan, while others BAers talk about flying in and having 6 bottles to pre-trade :astonished:. Really makes you feel warm and fuzzy about the community.

    Up-and-comer: I'll go with Spiteful. Plenty of up and coming breweries around here and I have to say that Spiteful has the best product.

    Old reliable (non-whale): Revolution hoppy beers- anti-hero, first city, a little crazy, etc. Always a good choice at bars around the area.

    Old reliable (whale-ish edition): I'll just go with Zombie Dust as I stumble upon six packs a few times a year and can never pass it up. It's overhyped for sure but it's a nice beer.
     
    #11 gcg49, Oct 27, 2015
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  12. scottsoileau

    scottsoileau Initiate (0) Nov 30, 2014 Louisiana

    Best beer/Up and comer: No question in my opinion, Ghost in the Machine from Parish Brewery.

    Best Suprise: Did not expect Prarie Bomb to be as awesome as it is.

    Biggest Disappointment : I have to say Zombie Dust. Very good, not great IMO
     
    #12 scottsoileau, Oct 27, 2015
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  13. hopnado

    hopnado Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2014 Michigan

    Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!
     
    #13 hopnado, Oct 27, 2015
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  14. jlsims04

    jlsims04 Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2013 Illinois

    Best Beer: Tie between Rose du Ble and Abricot du Fermier. All three derivations were phenomial but these two blew me away.

    Best Surprise: Desthil Wild Sours (the cans)- Great sour beers for a good price and in cans.

    Most Overrated/Let Down: CBS - Don't get me wrong, this was a great beer. I think I just had it built up too much in my head.

    Biggest WTF Moment: What people are giving up for a Rare Day Ticket

    Up-and-comer: Imperial Oak - There version of abraxas/huna blew me (and both of those) away.

    Old reliable (non-whale): Founders Breakfast Stout. Couldnt agree more.

    Old reliable (whale-ish edition): BCBS. Nuff Said.
     
    #14 jlsims04, Oct 27, 2015
  15. floridadrift

    floridadrift Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2014 Florida

    Best Beer: Pallet 1, a coffee-cinnamon-bourbon dream come true for my pallet.

    Best Surprise: Nooner 10 and &+ bottles at Cycle Anniversary or DeGarde Citrus Desay.

    Most Overrated: Dragontrax Night Fury, a hot mess homebrew from Michigan.

    Biggest WTF Moment: When Cycle announced they were going to release a bottle every day for a week during TBBW. I had to have my head reattached.

    Up-and-comer: Angry Chair is set to release Big Debbrah Oatmeal Cream Pie collaboration and German Chocolate Cupcake Stout in bottles.

    Old reliable (non-whale): Cafe Americano b2 2015, incredible this time.

    Old reliable (whale-ish edition): BAMC version: 2015
     
    #15 floridadrift, Oct 27, 2015
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  16. PSU_Mike

    PSU_Mike Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2013 Pennsylvania

    Best Beer: Surly Todd the Axeman. Just an incredible IPA.

    Best Surprise: Perrin No Rules. I've never had anything else from them but by all accounts, they are pretty pedestrian. This beer gave me an erection...and diabetes.

    Most Overrated: West Ashley. Great flavor but 0 carb and watery body. Had it side by side with Fou Foune and it was not even a contest. Tree House IPAs are right behind.

    Biggest WTF Moment: Everything surrounding Rare 2.0. Followed closely by the Bo & Lukes release debacle

    Up-and-comer: I'll go with Side Project. Hard to call them an up and comer but they are newish and everything I've had from them has been excellent.

    Old reliable (non-whale): Fat Head's hoppy beers in general.

    Old reliable (whale-ish edition): Firestone Walker Proprietors Series. Everything about their barrel program is world class.
     
    #16 PSU_Mike, Oct 27, 2015
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  17. ericwo

    ericwo Zealot (624) Aug 21, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Best Beer: Selinsgrove IPA because it is that solid, and their pub is a great place to enjoy a glass of it.

    Best Surprise: Stone 19th Anniversary Thunderstruck IPA - I love Stone, have loved them for years, but after almost 3,000 beers logged over the years, never thought they would create one that would go down as one of the best I've had, this one blew me away that much.

    Most Overrated: Tired Hands, their beers are good don't get me wrong. But the Philly-area BAs want so badly to have a top ranked, highly sought after brewery that they have over-inflated this place a little.

    Biggest WTF Moment: Lagunitas, you know the story.

    Up-and-comer: How about New Jersey (Kane, Carton, Forgotten Boardwalk, Spellbound)

    Old reliable (non-whale): Founders Breakfast Stout

    Old reliable (whale-ish edition): Lost Abbey Cuvee de Tomme, was able to grab a 32oz growler of this for $17.50 at a local beer store, one of my all-time favorites and probably the purchase of the year for me.
     
    #17 ericwo, Oct 27, 2015
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  18. RichD

    RichD Pooh-Bah (2,318) Mar 18, 2012 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Best Beer: Tree House Good Morning. My god was this beer incredible. I've never tasted a beer that seamlessly transitioned from one intense flavor to the next. The coffee and maple were among the most potent that I can remember. Regardless of the reaction it received by those who couldn't get their hands on it when it reached #1, I can say that this beer was definitely the best beer that I had in 2015.

    Best Surprise: When I reached out to a very generous BA seeing if he had some Vanilla Rye on hand that he would be willing to trade for. Then he sends me a porch bomb with VR and about 10 other beers and asks me to send him something back when I feel like it.

    Most Overrated: And I have this beer rated very highly, but Zombie Dust. Boy this beer is quite pedestrian if it's any older than 2 weeks. I love Citra hops, but PseudoSue was much better and the bottle may have been older.

    Biggest WTF Moment: In about a month when Rhode Island is shafted by Goose Island once again and only receives regular BCBS and BCBBW. This has not been confirmed, but this is what probably wil happened.

    Up-and-comer: I'd have to go with Beer'd in Connecticut. I had the opportunity to try some of their IPAs at Beervana fest in Rhode Island about 2 weeks ago and the beers were awesome. I'll be adding Beer'd to the list of breweries that I need to see more of.

    Old reliable (non-whale):     Founders Breakfast Stout. Man this beer is so consistent. I think I drank my last 4 pack in 2 days.

    Old reliable (whale-ish edition): Tree House Julius. I've been having this beer for the last 3 years and it has continued to be my favorite IPA. Canning this beer makes it more accessible and I'll never pass this beer up if I see it.
     
    #18 RichD, Oct 27, 2015
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  19. PrestigeWorldwide

    PrestigeWorldwide Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2015 Michigan
    Trader

    Any joke that involves Uranus is funny 100% of the time.
     
    #19 PrestigeWorldwide, Nov 8, 2015
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  20. Raime

    Raime Pooh-Bah (1,935) Jun 4, 2012 North Korea
    Pooh-Bah

    Best Beer : GLBC Lake Erie Monster

    Best surprise : Stated above

    Most Overrated : Backwoods Bastard

    WTF moment : Backwood Bastard

    Up and comer : Roak Brewing

    Old reliable : Sucks

    Anddddd don't have access to whales
     
    #20 Raime, Nov 8, 2015
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