Your Favorite Beer from 2017

Every year at this time, my brother and I decide what - for each of us personally - was our "Brewery of the Year". This has to be a brewery we tried for the first time this year and that we felt changed the way we drink craft.

Much to some folks dislike, mine was easily Wicked Weed.

Im not bothered they sold out. In fact, Im kinda glad they did because otherwise I still wouldnt have been able to try them. Here are a few favorites I've had from WW:

 

I poured a lot a great beers this year, but this one stands out as my Favorite and it's in my backyard...not literaly, but a mile from my house.

 

Have to say I was very impressed with the Foothills BA Sexual Chocolate. I'd always felt the regular Sexual Chocolate was a good but overrated beer.

To me the difference is like a Founders Breakfast Stout vs. a KBS.

Of course I haven't had the chance to sample some of the major player stouts like Toppling Goliath, Firestone, CBS, but for me the BA Sexual Chocolate is in my top 3 for sure.

 

Haven't cracked CBS yet, but... Westy 8 was the highest rating I've given to any beer thus far this year, followed by Fundamental Observation and Parabola.

Right behind that though was Beachwood Amalgamator, and I'd say that's the one I'd drink most often if I could get my hands on it regularly.

 

Top 3. Foam Pavement; River Roost Mo’rilla, and Trillium collab cloudwater High Fahion.

 

My highest rated Melvin Lambda Lambda Lambda. My favourite and go to Odell Rupture.

 

Tried a bunch of stouts at HABF this year, baptista blew them all away, mornin delight didn't come close.

 

Nice. Their Double Baptist wasn't too shabby either.

 

I haven't opened my cbs, but so far it's madhouse Carpe diem, it's a BA maple breakfast stout. So either way it'll be the same style. A close second was BA el Gordo from good people in Alabama.

 

Cbs edges out Carpe for #1. Wow it is incredible.

 

My first BCBS.

 

Upper Pass Brewing's "First Drop" is an absolutely unreal Pale Ale, by far the biggest surprise beer to me.

 

TRILLBOMB! was probably my 2017-specific, but I could also drink 2nd Shift Katy all day every day.

 

Tie between Jackie O's BBA Oil of Aphrodite and Old Nation M-43

 

Top Five (thus far...in order) for 2017 - [never had before]
1st - Cornet - Brouwerij Palm NV (Brouwerij De Hoorn)
2nd - Duvel Tripel Hop Citra - Duvel-Mortgat
3rd - Finally Legal - Weyerbacher
3rd - Goliath - Brasserie Des Legends
4th - Straffe Hendrik Wild 2017 - Brouwerij De Halve Maan
5th - Barista Chocolate Quad - Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck

 

This question becomes tougher every year with so many local great things. A trip to Asheville didn't make it easier.

The wonderful thing is that I don't have to remember anymore because, well, I can go in and find something super good without worrying that there won't be a replacement around the corner.

My socks got knocked off more than a few times.

 

Can't wait for 2018, intitial notes for the year and ratings are showing quite an interesting lineup for our hero..

Stay tuned!

 

For new-to-me beers I tried in 2017 I'd have to say Empyrean Carpe Brewem Barrel Aged Baltic Porter, with Prairie Pe-kan and Founders CBS just behind that. As far as favorite beer drank in 2017, I'd have to fall back to my favorite Prairie Pirate Bomb.

 

Mother Earth brewing Say When ipa, the only beer I bought week after week until the supplier ran out. A close second was BBA double vision lager from Grand Teton Brewing.

 

Best new release - Jack’s Abby Post Shift Pilsner.

CT has two local Pils (both new this year) that are stellar as well - Counter Weight Workhorse and Fox Farm Gather.