The Beer Nut reviews Wine Enthusiast Magazine's top picks.
Here’s a sign that craft beer is really starting to dominate the adult beverage market: When leading wine magazines start doing huge feature articles on it.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine just issued their list of the 25 best beers in America. Now, I realize this isn’t the first time a wine magazine has written about beer. And to be fair, some beer writers, like myself, have written about wine. But I think it’s a fair assumption to say that not too long ago some wine enthusiasts looked down their nose at beer no matter how good the beer was. That certainly wasn’t true of many most, or even many wine fans, but I encountered a few over the years where this was the case.
So the more major wine publications include beer in their table of contents, the better. Although the two drinks are incredibly different and complex in very different ways, they are very complementary to each other because they both make great companions to food, and by the fact that they are both relatively low alcohol, compared to spirits.
The Top 5 were: The Bruery Saison Rue Belgian-Style Ale, Traquair House Ale, Samuel Adams Utopias 10th Anniversary, Left Hand Polestar Pilsner; and Deschutes Hop Trip Pale Ale.
Rounding out the Top 10 were: Uinta Dubhe Imperial Black IPA, Dogfish Head Noble Rot, Weihenstephaner Vitus Weizenbock, Founders Bolt Cutter Barley Wine Ale, and Odell The Meddler Oud Bruin Ale.
The complete list may be found at buyingguide.winemag.com/toplists/2012/beers
As I’ve always said, lists like these are totally subjective and should be for entertainment purposes only. I’m sure that’s the intent here by the editors. But, that said, I will make a few comments about their choices:
It was great to see Smuttynose’s S’Muttunator on the list. They’re not a huge brewery and it’s great for them to be recognized, especially since they’re the sister to our brewery here in Northampton. So congrats to them.
Also kudos for recognizing Stone Ruination 10th anniversary IPAA. However I would’ve just pick the regular version of the beer over it. Although I like the 10th anniversary, I find the standard model even better. But that’s quibbling.
The list is pretty wide ranging, so points to the editors for that. My only other complaint would be that it leans a little to the esoteric side and doesn’t have enough hoppy beers on it. But again that’s my subjective taste. But let’s face it: IPAs and stouts are among the most popular. But then again, this isn’t a list about popularity, it’s what they’re saying are the best beers.
What do you think of the list? Anything you think should have been on it that wasn’t? Anything on the list that you think is unworthy? Let me know.
Cheers.
George Lenker can be reached at raconteurgeo@gmail.com
