Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Men’s Journal Choices for the “25 Best Beers in America”

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Men’s Journal, a general interest magazine for men, for the third year in a row has selected their picks for the “25 best beers in America.” The list graces their October issue and while it is filled with terrific beers, such a list can never be considered definitive. As good a list as it is, there are as many great beers left off the list as there are on it, probably more.

It’s great news, of course, for the beers on the list. Hopefully they’ll get more attention and even possibly more sales generated from the article. But it doesn’t mean the beers not on the list aren’t in many cases every bit as good as those who made the cut this year. For those of us who judge beer regularly there are so many factors that come into play that a list like this one can never be truly taken serious for a variety of reasons. But the novelty of it appeals to all of us, myself included, and I imagine I scanned the list with as much interest as the average reader. Anything that shows craft beer in a positive light can’t be all bad, and this annual list (now in its third year) is certainly another good way to spread the message of how many good beers are being made all over the country. Now if we can just get more people to start drinking them, that would be really something.
 

Here’s the full list:

  1. Firestone Walker Pale Ale: Paso Robles, CA
  2. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA: Milton, DE
  3. Stoudt’s Pils: Adamstown, PA
  4. Russian River Temptation Ale: Santa Rosa, CA
  5. Avery Mephistopheles’ Stout: Boulder, CO
  6. Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale: Boonville, CA
  7. Great Lakes Holy Moses White Ale: Cleveland, OH
  8. Full Sail Session Lager: Hood River, OR
  9. Rogue Brutal Bitter: Newport, OR
  10. Bell’s Expedition Stout: Comstock, MI
  11. Southampton Double White: Southampton, NY
  12. Smuttynose Big A IPA: Portsmouth, NH
  13. Penn Weizen: Pittsburgh, PA
  14. Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale: Cleveland, OH
  15. Ommegang Hennepin: Cooperstown, NY
  16. Samuel Adams Black Lager: Boston, MA
  17. Sprecher Hefe Weiss: Milwaukee, WI
  18. Alaskan Amber: Juneau, AK
  19. Deschutes Broken Top Bock: Bend, OR
  20. Lost Abbey Avant Garde: San Marcos, CA
  21. Jolly Pumpkin Bam Bière: Dexter, MI
  22. Victory St. Victorious Doppelbock: Downington, PA
  23. Allagash Interlude: Portland, ME
  24. Alesmith Speedway Stout: San Diego, CA
  25. New Glarus Yokel: New Glarus, WI