February 14 - February 18
Had a few beers unique to 2020 this President's Day weekend, so wanted to post before things got to out of control. Part of the variety is due to a place in Delray Beach, Florida called Beer Trade Co., in which the refrigerated coolers - think convenience store - are loaded with various crafts beer and take up the entire back wall of the place. You take what you want back to your table, consumer, and repeat, and then you bring the cans/bottles to the cash register when you tab out and they ad the beer to your food tab. Easy way to try new and/or unusual beers.
72. Lagunitas IPA - Lagunitas Brewing - Petaluma, CA - 6.2% ABV
I have not had a Lagunitas IPA in some time, and honestly, I remember it tasting better. It was rather plain, with not much flavor. I think a lot of this probably has to do with the number of high-quality IPAs I have had in the past few years, but also for this ranking since January 1.
73. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing - Chico, CA - 5.6% ABV
I consider this the standard bearer of Pale Ales, even though I have not had it in a while. Although there are definitely better, as you will see on my list below, this is refreshing, and you know exactly what you are going to get - a good tasting pale ale that is good to have on almost every occasion. Although I am listing this at their home in Chico, CA, the brewery just outside Asheville airport in North Carolina is a must-see for any brewery enthusiast.
74. Tropical Envy Triple IPA - Civil Society Brewing - Jupiter, FL - 10.0% ABV
This is a heavy alcohol beer, and it tastes that way, but it is delicious. In fact, I had two, and then went home. This beer did make me re-think my whole ranking system, as I feel double and triple IPAs need to be separated out from the IPA category, as their is a distinct taste difference, and the heavy alcohol content also contributes to the fact that they should be ranked differently.
75. DayBlazer Easygoing Ale - New Belgium - Fort Collins, CO - 4.8% ABV
This beer is certainly appropriately named, as it is indeed "easy going". Blonde, but a little hazy, there is no harshness in this ale at all. Even though I was engaged in a hard-game of bar trivia, this beer made me think that I was playing bar trivia at the beach. This is another beer that I attribute to its home location, but the scene looking down the embankment at the river from the back patio of the Asheville, NC brewery is amazing.
76. Purple Haze Raspberry Lager - Abita Brewing - Abita Springs, LA - 6.2% ABV
I absolutely love this beer. Given that it is on-tap at Roxy's Pub in West Palm Beach, FL - the host bar for Florida Gators alumni football watching - this is generally my go-to Florida Gator football watching beer, as it is a super-tasty lager with a raspberry flavor that is light and not overwhelming, and it is a lager so I can have it throughout the game. Plus, my aunt used to live just blocks from the brewery in Abita Springs, Louisiana prior to the havoc created by Hurricane Katrina, so I have an affinity for how much the brewery contributed to the recovery in that area.
77. Mama's Little Yella Pils - Oskar Blues Brewing - Longmont, CO - 4.7% ABV
This, along with Lagunitas IPA and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, I feel are more a craft beer starter kit, as each has been around for a long time. I like the Dale's Pale Ale much better than Mama's Little Yella Pils, but this one is light, airy and for someone that does not prefer heavy or strong beers is a good, solid choice.
78. Father Francisco Belgian Golden Ale - Wynwood Brewing - Miami, FL - 9.3% ABV
This was a full-bodied, delicious golden ale, which surprised even me as I have only ever had it on tap before, but this time I found it in a can. The beer did not lose any freshness or flavor by being canned, and for that I have no complaints. Despite being a high ABV, the beer presents itself way lighter, and would go great paired with barbecue chicken or maybe a fully baked duck.
79. Oberon Wheat Ale - Bell's Brewery - Kalamazoo, MI - 5.8% ABV
Another standard bearer among old-school craft beers. This one tasted exactly like I remembered, with only a slight wheat taste/flavor that most wheat and hefeweizen varieties cannot replicate. If you really like wheats/weizens for their flavor, this one is not for you, but if you enjoy beer in general and like to have wheat ales on occasion, this is what you should drink.
80. Gloves Off Red IPA - Funky Buddha Brewery - Oakland Park, FL - 5.5% ABV
Now, I generally absolutely love Funky Buddha beers, and I was super excited to try this one, having never had it before. And, uh, nope.
81. 24th Street Brown Ale - J. Wakefield Brewery - Miami, FL - 6.8% ABV
Named after the street on which J. Wakefield is located in the Wynwood section of Miami, this brown ale is a bit nutty, with a bit of a coffee flavor, and it is absolutely worth trying. In fact, when I had this beer, I stopped sampling others for the purposes of this blog, and settled in on this beer for a couple of more before ending the evening. Get one today!
72. Lagunitas IPA - Lagunitas Brewing - Petaluma, CA - 6.2% ABV
I have not had a Lagunitas IPA in some time, and honestly, I remember it tasting better. It was rather plain, with not much flavor. I think a lot of this probably has to do with the number of high-quality IPAs I have had in the past few years, but also for this ranking since January 1.
73. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing - Chico, CA - 5.6% ABV
I consider this the standard bearer of Pale Ales, even though I have not had it in a while. Although there are definitely better, as you will see on my list below, this is refreshing, and you know exactly what you are going to get - a good tasting pale ale that is good to have on almost every occasion. Although I am listing this at their home in Chico, CA, the brewery just outside Asheville airport in North Carolina is a must-see for any brewery enthusiast.
74. Tropical Envy Triple IPA - Civil Society Brewing - Jupiter, FL - 10.0% ABV
This is a heavy alcohol beer, and it tastes that way, but it is delicious. In fact, I had two, and then went home. This beer did make me re-think my whole ranking system, as I feel double and triple IPAs need to be separated out from the IPA category, as their is a distinct taste difference, and the heavy alcohol content also contributes to the fact that they should be ranked differently.
75. DayBlazer Easygoing Ale - New Belgium - Fort Collins, CO - 4.8% ABV
This beer is certainly appropriately named, as it is indeed "easy going". Blonde, but a little hazy, there is no harshness in this ale at all. Even though I was engaged in a hard-game of bar trivia, this beer made me think that I was playing bar trivia at the beach. This is another beer that I attribute to its home location, but the scene looking down the embankment at the river from the back patio of the Asheville, NC brewery is amazing.
76. Purple Haze Raspberry Lager - Abita Brewing - Abita Springs, LA - 6.2% ABV
I absolutely love this beer. Given that it is on-tap at Roxy's Pub in West Palm Beach, FL - the host bar for Florida Gators alumni football watching - this is generally my go-to Florida Gator football watching beer, as it is a super-tasty lager with a raspberry flavor that is light and not overwhelming, and it is a lager so I can have it throughout the game. Plus, my aunt used to live just blocks from the brewery in Abita Springs, Louisiana prior to the havoc created by Hurricane Katrina, so I have an affinity for how much the brewery contributed to the recovery in that area.
77. Mama's Little Yella Pils - Oskar Blues Brewing - Longmont, CO - 4.7% ABV
This, along with Lagunitas IPA and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, I feel are more a craft beer starter kit, as each has been around for a long time. I like the Dale's Pale Ale much better than Mama's Little Yella Pils, but this one is light, airy and for someone that does not prefer heavy or strong beers is a good, solid choice.
78. Father Francisco Belgian Golden Ale - Wynwood Brewing - Miami, FL - 9.3% ABV
This was a full-bodied, delicious golden ale, which surprised even me as I have only ever had it on tap before, but this time I found it in a can. The beer did not lose any freshness or flavor by being canned, and for that I have no complaints. Despite being a high ABV, the beer presents itself way lighter, and would go great paired with barbecue chicken or maybe a fully baked duck.
79. Oberon Wheat Ale - Bell's Brewery - Kalamazoo, MI - 5.8% ABV
Another standard bearer among old-school craft beers. This one tasted exactly like I remembered, with only a slight wheat taste/flavor that most wheat and hefeweizen varieties cannot replicate. If you really like wheats/weizens for their flavor, this one is not for you, but if you enjoy beer in general and like to have wheat ales on occasion, this is what you should drink.
80. Gloves Off Red IPA - Funky Buddha Brewery - Oakland Park, FL - 5.5% ABV
Now, I generally absolutely love Funky Buddha beers, and I was super excited to try this one, having never had it before. And, uh, nope.
81. 24th Street Brown Ale - J. Wakefield Brewery - Miami, FL - 6.8% ABV
Named after the street on which J. Wakefield is located in the Wynwood section of Miami, this brown ale is a bit nutty, with a bit of a coffee flavor, and it is absolutely worth trying. In fact, when I had this beer, I stopped sampling others for the purposes of this blog, and settled in on this beer for a couple of more before ending the evening. Get one today!
Ales
1. Day Blazer Easygoing Ale - New Belgium
2. La Rubia - Wynwood Brewing
1. Guayabera - Cigar City
2. 420 - Sweetwater
3. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing
4. Dale's Pale Ale - Oskar Blues
4. Dale's Pale Ale - Oskar Blues
5. Infinite Trails - Infinite Ale Works
6. Reef Donkey APA - Tampa Bay Brewing Company
IPAs
1. Grapefruit Sculpin - Ballast Point
2. Boomsauce - Lord Hobo Brewing
3. Brew Free or Die - 21st Amendment
4. Hopsecutioner - Terrapin Beer Company
5. Free Dive - Coppertail Brewing
6. Hi-5 IPA - Twisted Trunk Brewing
7. Sunrise City IPA - Sailfish Brewing
8. Hops for Teacher - J. Wakefield
9. Cat Nap IPA - Memphis Made
10. Knockabout IPA - Steamhorse Brewing
11. Hanalei Island - Kona
12. Last Stop IPA - Brew Bus Brewing
13. Sunshine City IPA - Green Beach Brewing
14. Lagunitas IPA - Lagunitas Brewing
15. Tropical IPA - Biscayne Bay Brewing
15. Tropical IPA - Biscayne Bay Brewing
16. Gloves Off Red IPA - Funky Buddha
17. Elvis Juice Grapefruit Infused IPA
17. Elvis Juice Grapefruit Infused IPA
18. Apeiron IPA - Infinite Ale Works
Double/Triple IPAs
1. Tropical Envy Triple IPA - Civil Society Brewing
2. The Calling Imperial Double IPA - Boulevard Brewing
Double/Triple IPAs
1. Tropical Envy Triple IPA - Civil Society Brewing
2. The Calling Imperial Double IPA - Boulevard Brewing
New England/Hazy IPAs
1. Official Hazy IPA - Bell's Brewery
2. Party Hat Hazy IPA - Sixpoint Brewery
3. Hazy Jane - Brewdog Brewery
4. Luminescence Hazy IPA - Florida Avenue Brewing
Reds/Ambers
1. Roundhouse Red - Steamhorse Brewery
2. Cafe Con Finn - Twisted Trunk Brewery
3. Amber Ale - Bell's Brewery
4. Finn McCool - Twisted Trunk Brewer
5. Smithwick's
6. Fireside Amber - Memphis Made
7. Rolling' Dirty Red Ale - Brew Bus
Browns
1. Wynona's Big Brown Ale - Voodoo Brewing
2. 24th Street Brown Ale - J Wakefield Brewing
3. Bellaire Brown - Short's Brewing
Porters
1. Sweet Baby Jesus - DuClaw Brewing
2. Nuttin' Fancy Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter Please! - Steamhorse Brewing/Twisted Trunk Brewing
3. Porter Please! - Steamhorse Brewing
3. Porter Please! - Steamhorse Brewing
Stouts
1. Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - North Coast Brewing
2. Coco Vin Rouge Imperial Stout - Steamhorse Brewing
3. Don't Doubt the Stout - Steamhorse Brewing
4. Into the Dark Roast with Vanilla Imperial Stout -Infinite Ale Works
(Honestly, I would take both of these over most beers - even though they are #s 4 and 5 here)
5. Into the Dark Unknown Imperial Stout - Infinite Ale Works
6. B Rabbit Espresso Cream Stout - Copperpoint
7. Guinness
7. Guinness
8. Half and Half - Both of these are about the same, it just depends upon my mood.
9. Herd Mentality Stout - Playalinda Brewing Company
Wheats/Hefeweizens
1. Oberon - Bell's Brewery
2. Boujee Berry Raspberry Wheat - Steamhorse Brewing
2. Boujee Berry Raspberry Wheat - Steamhorse Brewing
Whites/Wits
1. Raspberry Witfinite - Infinite Ale Works
2. Blood Orange Wit - Copperpoint
3. Mango Wit - Proof Brewing Co.
4. White Wizard - Barrel of Monks
4. White Wizard - Barrel of Monks
Saisons
1. Watermelon Saison - Twisted Trunk Brewing
Lagers
1. Purple Haze Raspberry Lager - Abita Brewing
2. Fourth Wave - Breakside Brewing
3. Yuengling Traditional Lager
4. Steamhorse Lager - Steamhorse Brewing
5. Tri County Common Lager - 26 Degrees Brewing
5. Tri County Common Lager - 26 Degrees Brewing
6. Bud Light
7. Coors Light
Pilsners
1. Tiny Bomb - Wiseacre Brewing
2. Mama's Little Yella Pils - Oskar Blues
3. Palm Beach Pilz - Twisted Trunk Brewery
4. Stella A
5. Beck's
Kolsches
1. Kaptain's Kolsch - Biscayne Bay Brewing
2. Key Lime Chancellor - Tequesta Brewing/Twisted Trunk Brewing
Bocks
Belgian Strong Ales
1. Father Francisco Beligan Golden Ale - Wynwood Brewing
Belgian Tripels
1. She Devil - Meddlesome Brewing
2. Tourist Trappe - MIA Brewing
Belgian Dubbels
Belgian Quads
1. St. Bernardus ABT 12 - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
2. West Floridan - Infinite Ale Works
Sours
1. Pucker Factory Berliner - Twisted Trunk Brewing
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