Looks like you've wandered into THEbreweryauthory's Top Beers Ever Made EVER list, the ultimate list of the best beers we've ever tried. You will definitely agree with some while absolutely hating some others. Don't assume these are the highest ranking Untappd beers either. Sure a few certainly rank up their, but that's not what this list is about. THEbreweryauthority has tried 12,000 beers and counting so it was extremely difficult compiling these beers into one comprehensive list....but we tried anyway. Putting all these beers together was actually quite difficult so this isn't necessarily a countdown except for the final 5. Either way you slice it we have some amazing beers listed below. Let us know if you agree or disagree!
Souther Tier - Samoa This
If you like dessert beers then Samoa This is for you. Drenched in chocolate and coconut, you will think you were whisked away to a chocolate factory. Tons of breweries have chocolate and coconut in their stouts, however, Samoa This simply takes it to another level....maybe 5 or 6 levels.
Rogue - Pumpkin Patch Ale
Pumpkin beers are polarizing in the beer world but if you're into these beers then Rogue's Pumpkin Patch Ale should be on your radar. Many breweries simply throw in Pumpkin spice and call it a day. Rogue actually roasts Pumpkin for this beer and gives you some REAL pumpkin.
Tattered Flag - Kiwi Shake Shake Shake
Not as controversial as pumpkin beers, you have milkshake IPAs. Tattered Flag Brewing in the Harrisburg PA area put together a heavy hitting kiwi milkshake IPA that comes in at whopping 12.5%. You may not think a Kiwi milkshake would work but I assure you it does. Bad news though...the Kiwi Shake Shake Shake was a one and done beer.
Austin Street - Offset
Nothing fancy here just a well made New England IPA made in New England. The bright juicy goodness from a crazy amount of El Dorado and Citra hops is enough to satisfy any hop head. This Portland ME brewery could have several IPAs on this list if they really wanted to.
Jailbreak - The White Russian
Sounds like a stout, right? Wrong. Certainly has the mouthful of a stout with the thick velvety texture , but this here is a CREAM ALE. This ain't your dad's cream ale. Full bodied with full flavors of coffee and vanilla...way more than you would expect by the looks of it.
Triple Crossing - French Viking
Complicated beers can often be a disappointment. However, this Biere de Garde was fermented with a citrusy ale strain, then lagered, then conditioned on orange zest and vanilla beans. Some dry hopping was done for a little extra character. The result is a delicious vanilla and citrus beer that confuses your tongue with each sip...but in a very nice way
Vasen - The Sour Walrus
The sour stout is an underutilized style and one that's quite difficult to master. Vasen Brewing in Richmond VA seems to have figured it out! As one of our first sour stouts we were shockingly surprised how the tart cherries blended so well with the dark chocolate. Take a chance and try this one.
Bay City - Pale Ale
A simple pale ale is on THEbreweryauthority's TOP Beers Ever List?! Insane that such a basic beer could be so delicious. Honestly, the pale ale is such a forgotten style any more, but this citrusy, toasted grain, zesty treat is such a delight!
Burlington - Single Hop IPA (Galaxy)
A step up from the basic pale ale is the single hop IPA. Utilizing a single hop is a great way for the average beer drinker to discern the different flavor profiles in certain hops and when using Galaxy you can't go wrong. Burlington Beer Co has a whole line of single hop IPAs that are also amazing.
New Belgium - Felix (Aged in Apple Whisky Barrels)
As if aging in a straight whisky barrel isn't good enough, New Belgium takes it to another level. Hints of apple and, of course whisky, dance all around your tongue in a way that lingers for minutes after....in a good way. No chaser needed with this one
Masthead - Poblano Chili Stout
Get ready for this one. Masthead in Cleveland OH takes the intense burn out of this dessert stout and instead gives you a touch of fire and smoke up front then silky smooth chocolate on the backend. Pepper beers are sometimes undrinkable, but this one changes the game.
Platt Park - Watermelon Sour
Guess what kind of beer this is? Simple name with complex flavors. Not sure how they captured a watermelon warhead into a beer but this Colorado brewery did just that. So unique of a flavor profile that it just had to make the list. If you hate warheads then this one isn't for you
Weldwerks - Galaxy DDH Juicy Bits
Galaxy always comes through as a cheater hop...can't miss! What makes this one great is the process Weldwerks in Colorado utilizes. Water chemistry and specific dry hopping schedules help showcase the hops and this results in a velvety mouthfell bursting with citrus and tropical fruits.
Marto - Martoberfest
How can such a simple beer with such a simple name be so perfect? Every brewery makes an Oktoberfest but Marto's is the best. Rich toasty malts and noble hops blend together in this traditional German beer. Not surprised...all Marto's beers are exceptional.
Beltline - Double Brunch
Usually you assume stout when drinking a brunch beer. Avast, Double Brunch takes all the tropical fruits you eat at brunch, sours them, and puts it in a beer glass for you. Puckering pink guava and pineapple pair perfectly with whatever is on your brunch plate at this Buffalo brewery
Jughandle - English Bitter
Odd seeing an English Bitter make this list, but for the style this simply named beer stands out. The amber colored delight was made by Jughandle Brewing in NJ, but seems as though this beer belongs to the ages now as it's no longer in production.
Sapwood Cellars - Lord Rupert Barrelton
Hard to come across a below average beer from this Maryland brewery. The IPAs, sours, and traditional style beers are tops in the state. But this rye barrel aged Russian stout takes the cake. Chocolate, vanilla, toasted bread, toffee, and coffee ice cream give this all you need in an all night sipper
Equilibrium - You Can't TIPA Stamp a DIPA Stamp
One of many great EQ IPAs! But this triple IPA has that juicy hop profile blasting you in the face. The creamy thick mouthfeel and absence of booziness leaves you shocked when you realize this is a 10% IPA!
Une Annee - Le Seul XXI (Coconut/Pineapple)
Une Annee's line of sours is quite well known. Pick your favorite fruit and chances are you will absolutely love the wild ale version. The coconut pineapple edition whisks you away to a Caribbean beach with your toes in the sand. Who knew coconut and pineapple went together so well?
Foam - Like Clockwork
Another Burlington VT IPA makes the list. Pineapple and orange meet your palate initially but the resinous pine lingers long after you finish this finely crafted New England. Foam makes great IPAs regularly...like clockwork.
Dancing Gnome - Lol
Nothing funny about this one. Actually you may chuckle when you find out this silky smooth IPA rings in at a whopping 11%. The interesting combo of Simcoe, Amarillo, and Columbus set this triple IPA apart from others. The best in Pittsburgh.
The Answer - Mexican Chocolate Fluffernutter
The Answer in Richmond VA may be more well known for their sours but this stout means serious business. How about peanut butter chocolate pie with a dash of chili heat? Works to perfection. My only regret is not getting more....
Southern Grist - Blackberry Cobbler
Sticking with the pie theme here, but this time we go with some sour pie! Not just a blackberry sour....Southern Grist nails the pie flavor. Cinnamon and milk sugar push this to limits once thought unachievable! Who knew Nashville made great pastry sours??
Moody Tongue - Caramelized Chocolate Churro Baltic Porter
Thats one way to get the most trend savvy hipster to try a Baltic porter. Just add some delicious adjectives to the name. Do we have to go more into detail here? It tastes just like the name....exactly.
Black Flag - Double Barrel Black Mage
As the name suggests this stout is barrel aged. However, the bourbon resides in the background as the perfect compliment. The star here is the slight roastiness and the intense maple syrup. Put all these together and you have a surprisingly drinkable 13.1% stout.
Barrel Culture - Heavy Jams: Quadberry
Four types of sour berries will push your taste buds to the limit. Raspberry, blackberry, black currant, and red currant give you a sour fruit salad of epic delight. One can of this won't be enough, hell a full case won't be enough.
Xul - VHS 042
Xul has a line of stouts inspired by VHS players of the 80s and 90s. The can brings me back to the good ole days but I'm greatful to be in the future because I get to enjoy this unbelievable cookies n' cream stout. Actually, it's more like melted cookies n' cream ice cream in a glass. Savor every sip.
Monkfish - The Stars are Inside
You can't really go wrong with southern hemisphere hops. This "no longer in production" beer needs a second chance because it blew us away. This west coast brewery makes some serious east coast IPAs and this zesty, grassy juice bomb is the perfect example. Bring it back! Bring it back! Bring it back!
Cerebral - Boss Fight
Can't find anything wrong with this Denver stout. Coconut, marshmallow, cacao, and cinnamon is an ingredient combo that a brewery uses often, but not brewed to perfection as often. This stout will warm your toes after your Rocky Mountain hike.
The Answer - Imperial 3 Scoops: Passionfruit, Mango, Peach
Finally we get The Answer's sours! I see why people wait for hours in line at 6am on a Sunday for a crowler of these. The burst of fruity flavors is unmatched in any other brewery's sours, although some come close. Think pink lemonade with this one.
R. Shea - Polymer Caramel Espresso Stout
This Akron OH brewery puts out a heavy hitting stout with this one. More on the sweeter side that most stouts, this espresso stouts nails that over sugary Starbucks coffee vibe. Perhaps sweet stouts aren't your cup of espresso, but we sure did enjoy it.
Mortalis - Hydra: Key Lime, Peach, Mango, Blood Orange
Now I just think these breweries throw darts at a fruit board and whatever they hit is what goes into the sour. Whatever. These fruits work amazingly together so keep on throwing darts! The Hydra serious puts out some amazing fruited sours. If you happen to be in the middle of New York state you should stop on by Mortalis and try one.
Hours Aged Ales - Coconut Crown
This imperial stout is made with several forms of coconut. Coconut candy, coconut syrup, coconut water, shredded coconut, and of course toasted coconut. Look for notes of coconut in this one! If you hate coconut please don't try it and give it a 1 on Untappd.
Other Half - Triple Mosaic Daydream
My mouth waters at the very mention of the word "triple." I won't complain about an all mosaic triple IPA, especially when Other Half makes it. Add to that some milky smoothness and even more mosaic and you have yourself a dangerously delicious beer.
Trillium - Peach Super Soak
Unlike heavily fruited kettle sours, the super soak series takes its time. The peaches are aged on slow fermenting yeast strains made especially for this process. The oakiness from the foeders adds a bit of love and class to one of the best sours in New England.
Other Half - Triple Citra Daydream
The Other Half daydream series strikes again, this time with Citra!! In our book Citra slightly edges out Mosaic in this series. I'm convinced Other Half has never produced a bad beer.
Fourscore - Soft Swerve Pink Drank
Fourscore Brewing in Gettysburg PA gives some of their beers the ice cream treatment. For this they added acai, strawberry, coconut cream, raspberry, and PINK dragonfruit. This VERY pink beer tastes as good as it looks.
The Top 5
You've just read, in no particular order, some of our favorite beers out of 12,000+. Now get ready for our top 5. These 5 beers are burned into our memory as some of the most delicious and unique beers we've ever tried. Each one has something that truly sets them apart from all the rest.
#5 Dewey - Secret Machine: Raspberry, Peach, and Marshmallow
Too often we encounter a fruited sour that's simply too sweet or lacking the fruit that was promised. We like balance....balance of tartness and sweetness. This Delaware beach brewery captures that balance. The sweetness comes from the fruit mainly, with marshmallow essence added. No fake sugar here. Both fruits are represented equally with not one overpowering the other. Sometimes I have dreams about this beer and it's only number 5...
#4 Brouwerij De Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren - Trappist Westvleteren 12
I never EVER want to spell out that brewery and beer name ever again. However, I'd gladly pay $40 for a 12 ounce bottle again. Yes that's how much it cost... This Belgian Quad may reach the Top 5 by reputation alone, but that's not how I remember it. This 10.2% quad drinks more like 5.1%. Legally you can only buy the beer at the monastery so I'm not sure how it ended up at our local craft beer bar. Your girlfriend who only likes fruity beers and seltzers will like this beer....
$15 for a bottle seems cheap compared to the last one, but that's what you pay for this extraordinary Flanders red. No crazy Brewing procedures or fermentation schedule, just a finely crafted traditional sour perfected with time. I'm sure the local ingredients were handpicked for quality and the local oak barrels were carefully scrutinized. If you are ever in St Louis please visit Side Project.
#2 Equilibrium - Barrel Aged Swiss Bliss
Several batches of this have come out but the original shall always remain our favorite. Equilibrium gets labeled as a "haze bro" mecca with their IPAs getting most of the attention. In my opinion the stouts and sours are better. This beer just isn't a chocolate stout. Equilibrium captures not only the hot chocolate flavor but the BRAND of hot chocolate. The first sip sends you back to childhood when you come back inside from playing in the snow for 3 hours and your mom makes hot chocolate. The resemblance is uncanny and I can't get the blatant hot chocolate 12% barrel aged stout out of my mind.
#1 Imprint - Schmoojee Grape Cotton Candy Puffsicle
There sure are a good amount of fruited sours on this list for someone who actually prefers IPAs, saisons, and lagers. But I know quality when I taste it and Imprint, like Equilibrium, captures a childhood memory in a can. This isn't a grape sour. It's a grape COTTON CANDY sour. I didn't know cotton candy had a flavor until I tried this and, again, was transported back to my childhood. Perhaps a baseball game or the county fair? As much as I hate to say it, Imprint Brewing's cotton candy sour ranks as the best beer ever according to THEbreweryauthority.
Thanks so much for reading. I'm sure you hated plenty of our Top Beer choices so make sure to complain in the comments section of our Instagram @THEbreweryauthority
Cheers!
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