Top Ten Craft Beers of 2010

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I guess it’s that time of year again, time to come up with our lists of our favorite things from 2010. Now that 2011 is upon us, I have taken the time to try and come up with a list of the best beers I drank for the first time in 2010. Below is that list, in no particular order. I hope you enjoy, and make sure to post your list below in the comment section.

1. Terrapin Hopzilla – This was definitely the best beer I drank this year and is the best Imperial IPA I have ever tasted, bar none. Bursting with hop aroma and flavor, Terrapin’s Hopzilla clocks in at 10.8% ABV. Experiencing this beer on draft was pure craft beer nirvana.
2. He’Brew Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah 13 – Another one of my absolute favorite beers of 2010 was this American Strong Ale from Schmaltz Brewing Company. Schmaltz brews an anniversary beer every year featuring a certain number of hops and malts based on which anniversary they’re celebrating. In this case, they used 13 different hops and 13 different malts, and ended up with a 13% ABV incredibly complex beer.
3. Russian River Supplication – This is one beer I really wish I could taste on a regular basis. Russian River Brewing’s Supplication was my first sour beer experience, and is definitely one of my favorites. Here’s the information about Supplication from Russian River’s website: “Brown Ale aged in French oak Pinot Noir barrels with three strains of Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus and sour cherries.” The extensive aging in Pinot Noir barrels adds a lot of flavor to this beer, and this is one of the most balanced sour beers I have had to date.
4. Rodenbach Vintage 2008 – Another great sour beer. I tasted this extremely limited brew on draft at the Brick Store Pub in Atlanta, GA, and I absolutely loved it. This beer is aged in a single oak vat for two years, and is then released in 750ml caged-and-corked bottles. A definite must-try.
5. Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA – Another incredible Imperial IPA, this beer totally blew me away. This was another beer that I tried on draft at the Brick Store Pub, and I’m very glad I did. The hop character in this beer is amazing, and is very close to my idea of a perfect Imperial IPA.
6. Avery Mephistopheles Stout - One of my favorite Imperial Stouts of all time. I had this beer from the bottle at World Of Beer and instantly fell in love with it. I picked up notes of butterscotch, caramel and roasted coffee. Absolutely delicious.
7. Dogfish Head Festina Peche – This Berliner Weisse from Dogfish Head is the perfect summer beer. Unfortunately, I didn’t try it until summer was over, so I couldn’t stock up for the rest of the year. Make sure to pick up this Dogfish summer seasonal when it comes out, because it is perfectly crisp, tart and refreshing.
8. Bell’s Java Stout – This incredibly flavorful coffee stout was one of my favorite finds of this year. It was perfectly balanced between malty and roasty, and wasn’t over-the-top boozy like a lot of the flavorful coffee stouts I drink.
9. Maui Brewing CoCoNut Porter – Easy drinking, full of flavor and sessionable. What more can you ask for from a beer? The only flaw in this beer is its limited distribution *hint hint Maui Brewing*.
10. Flying Dog Raging Bitch – This beer holds a special place in my heart, since it is the beer of choice for “6-Pack Fridays” at my office. Flavorful, well-priced and easy to drink for non-craft beer enthusiasts, this beer was a major hit around the water cooler at work.