Zymurgy Magazine Announces the “Best Beers in America”

Each year for the past eight years, Zymurgy Magazine has asked its readers to submit a list of their top 20 favorite beers that are commercially available somewhere in the U.S. The competition is not limited to American beers and votes for imported beers are accepted as long as those beers are available commercially in the States.

The turnout this year was at a record high with a total of 1,192 votes. Of the 450 different commercial breweries that received votes, only 27 breweries made the 50 top-ranked beers list.

One interesting note is that, although many different styles of beers were represented in the poll, the first five of the six top-ranked beers were of the IPA style. It seems as if Americans still love their hoppy beers, despite the latest sour beer craze in the country.

The winner came down to a mere two votes: Russian River Brewing Company’s Pliny The Elder was able to just barely slide by Bell’s Two-Hearted and claim the win. The official list is included below.

Top-Ranked Beers (T = Tie)

• 1. Russian River Pliny the Elder
• 2. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
• 3. Stone Arrogant Bastard
• 4. Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
• 5. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
• 6. Stone IPA
• T7. Bear Republic Racer 5
• T7. Guinness
• T7. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine
• T7. Sierra Nevada Celebration
• 11. Stone Ruination
• T12. North Coast Old Rasputin
• T12. Sierra Nevada Torpedo
• T12. Rahr Winter Warmer
• T12. Rahr Ugly Pug
• T12. Rahr Iron Thistle
• T17. Oskar Blues Ten Fidy
• T17. New Glarus Belgian Red
• T17. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
• T17. Duvel
• T21. Lagunitas IPA
• T21. Samuel Adams Boston Lager
• T21. Rahr Storm Cloud
• T21. Saison Dupont
• T25. Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout
• T25. Rahr Bucking Bock
• T25. Ommegang Three Philosophers
• T28. New Belgium Fat Tire
• T28. Alaskan Smoked Porter
• T28. Anchor Steam
• T31. Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock
• T31. Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
• T31. Rahr Summer
• T31. Rahr Red
• T31. Rahr Blind Salamander
• T31. Rahr Blonde
• T31. Rahr Octoberfest
• T31. Victory Prima Pils
• T31. New Belgium La Folie
• T31. Russian River Consecration
• T41. Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale
• T41. Rahr Buffalo Butt
• T41. New Belgium 1554
• T41. Orval
• T41. Lagunitas Hop Stoopid
• T41. Rogue Dead Guy
• T41. Unibroue La Fin Du Monde
• T41. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
• T49. Surly Furious
• T49. Dogfish Head Indian Brown
• T49. Rahr Whiskey Warmer
• T49. Rodenbach Grand Cru

About Zymurgy Magazine
Zymurgy is published by the American Homebrewers Association, a division of the Brewers Association, a not-for-profit organization located in Boulder, CO. Since 1978, Zymurgy magazine has been the leading light for amateur brewers in North America and around the world. It features innovative and award-winning recipes, articles on do-it-yourself equipment building, explanations of brewing science, and presentations of brewing techniques in addition to a healthy dose of beer culture.

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