The past year was a great year for beer lovers in the U.S. as craft beer continued to gain in popularity. Here are some of the best beers brewed and other hoppy highlights from 2010, according to the experts of the Interwebs:
• The Beer Nut recaps his top 10 craft beers for 2010, from the East Coast to the West Coast. He also picks the 10 best breweries, topped by Sierra Nevada, which celebrated its 30 anniversary and released four special beers to commemorate the occasion.
• Wine Enthusiast Magazine named the Top 25 Beers of 2010 in a list that goes “beyond simple evaluation of numeric scores and pricing and also considered availability, buzz and balance.” Wine Enthusiast’s top-rated beer was Allagash Brewing Company’s Allagash Black, a Belgian-style stout described as “rich, roasty and immensely satisfying; also surprisingly easy to drink.” Sounds yummy.
• Last, but certainly not least, Evan Benn, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch beer columnist and Hip Hops blogger, named his 10 favorite beers for 2010. His list is definitely right in line with my tastes. Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale and Ska Brewing Company’s Modus Hoperandi, which came in at No. 8 and No. 6 respectively, were definitely some of the best beers I tried in 2010. Schlalfy’s Coffee Stout (No. 7 on the list) was also quite tasty, and I plan to brew a similar beer this weekend! And I’ll definitely have to try the Schlalfly American IPA when it comes out again in May, which is Numero Uno on his list.
What are the best beers you tried in 2010? Leave a comment below.
