Beer Year in Review: The Sequel! (2020)

2020 stunk.  There is no other way to put it.  Still all the same I did have a lot of good beers through 2020.  So we will celebrate the top 5 beers of the year!

#5: 

Name: Lucky 13
Brewery: Lagunitas
Location: Chicago, IL
Type: Red Ale
Alcohol Content: 8.8%
What Makes it Unique: A high gravity smooth red ale with subtle smoky hints.
Limited Release
Final Grade:  A


Brewed on their 13th anniversary.  This is a delicious red ale.  All the more amazing because I don't typically like red ales.  But this has a hint of peat and smoke instead of choking you with it.  Amazing.  But seasonal.  So you have to get it when it's available!

#4:

Name: J. Henry
Brewery: Calfkiller Brewing
Location: Sparta, TN
Type: Brown Ale
Alcohol Content: 5.9%
What Makes it Unique: Nice hints of coffee, chocolate, and caramel.
Final Grade:  B-

#3:

Name: Fear. Movie. Lions.
Brewery: Stone Brewing
Location: Richmond, VA
Type: Double IPA

Flavor Profile:  Fresh-squeezed fruit juice, strawberry, blueberry, grapes and a hint of white sage.
What Makes it Unique: An unfiltered double IPA which ramps up the tropical notes
Alcohol Content: 8.5%
IBU: 60
Final Grade:  A+

Described so beautifully by Stone's Brewing themselves:  

New England-Style IPAs are all the rage. Fans of Stone repeatedly ask for our take on the style, which can be met with some criticism. Rooted in West-Coast style IPAs for decades, how would we do it? Fear no more. Our brewers took the approach to deliver incredibly hoppy and aromatic flavor while keeping it very balanced, and upping the alcohol unnoticeably - nailing this astounding one-of-a-kind creation.

Overall this unfiltered double IPA is juiced up with massive tropical & citrus notes. The mild bitterness and relatively dry body compliment the style, and the residual maltiness nicely rounds it out. Lingering lime peel and tropical fruit derived from the hops stand out on the finish, begging one to seek out more. 

What 3 words pinpoint where this beast was born? The location is printed on the can.

It's an amazing beer.  Highly recommended!  In my top 10 Favorite beers!

#2:

Name: Voodoo Ranger
Brewery: New Belgium
Location: Colorado
Type: Imperial IPA
Alcohol Content: 9.0%
What Makes it Unique: Strong pine followed by citrus (grapefruit and orange) and grass, herbal hop notes and light stone fruit, graham cracker and bread dough.
Final Grade:  A+


Beer 17 looks familiar.  But it's not actually.  We covered the regular IPA.  But now it's time for the Imperial.  This is one of my favorite beers of all time.  Bar none.  Worth drinking!

AND FINALLY #1:

Name: Grassroots
Brewery: Calfkiller Brewing Company
Location: Sparta, TN
Type: Pale Ale
What Makes it Unique: It's a pale ale brewed with a house yeast strain.  This adds citrus overtones.
Alcohol Content: 5.7%
Final Grade:  A+


Calfkiller brewing has the unique distinction of being the first of the two breweries the town has.  They offer many different types of beers.  While not having a taproom, they do have their beer in many restaurants here and the surrounding towns.  

What about the beer itself though?  Well if you are an IPA fan or a Pale Ale one you will love it.  A warning that it is very hoppy.  But if you like your beer bitter with fruit notes you will love this bad dude.  I highly, highly recommend it.  

There you go.  My top 5 favorite beers of 2020.  That was tough.  Let's make 2021 an even harder year....uh to decide on the best beers.  Just to clarify!