2017’s Best Beer By Style Category
Story by:
Editorial Dept.
Published: January 5, 2018
| Updated: February 18, 2025
Each year we recognize the top rated beers of the most populated styles submitted to our Official Review. The categories in the order as they appear are…
Top 10 IPAs (All Styles)
Top 5 Double IPAs
Top 5 American Pale Ales
Top 10 Wood-Aged Beers
Top 10 Fruit Beers
Top 5 Spiced Beers
Top 3 Trappist-Style Ales
Top 5 European Sour Ales
Top 5 Strong Ales
Top 3 Sweet Stouts
Top 10 American Wild Ales
Top 5 American Porter & Stouts
Top 3 International Lagers
Top 3 Amber Bitter European Beers
Congratulations to these brewers and their exceptional beer!
Top 10 IPAs of 2017 (All Styles)
1. Stone 21st Anniversary Hail to the Hop Thief
Stone Brewing Co.
Score: 95
2. Reviver Red IPA
Starr Hill Brewery
Score: 95
3. Hoppyright Infringement
NOLA Brewing Co.
Score: 95
4. White Caps
Cape May Brewing Co.
Score: 94
5. Paradise
Holy City Brewing
Score: 94
6. MC²
Equilibrium Brewery
Score: 94
7. Insurrection
Fulton Beer
Score: 94
8. Better Life Choices
Atwater Brewery
Score: 94
9. 16 Point IPA
Devils Backbone Brewing Co.
Score: 94
10. Orange King of Hop
Starr Hill Brewery
Score: 93
Top 5 Double IPAs of 2017
1. Stone 21st Anniversary: Hail to the Hop Thief
Stone Brewing Co.
Score: 95
2. Hoppyright Infringement
NOLA Brewing Co.
Score: 95
3. White Caps
Cape May Brewing Co.
Score: 94
4. MC²
Equilibrium Brewery
Score: 94
5. Insurrection
Fulton Beer
Score: 94
Top 5 American Pale Ales of 2017
1. Grateful Pale Ale
Starr Hill Brewery
Score: 95
2. Osiris Pale Ale
Sun King Brewing
Score: 94
3. Glorious
Lord Hobo Brewing Co.
Score: 94
4. Drifter Pale
Widmer Brothers Brewing
Score: 94
5. This Season’s Blonde
Aspen Brewing Co.
Score: 93
Top 10 Wood-Aged Beers of 2017
1. Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout
Anderson Valley Brewing Co.
Score: 95
2. MILF
Mother’s Brewing Co.
Score: 95
3. Kentucky Cream Barrel Aged Pale Ale
Full Sail Brewing Co.
Score: 95
4. pFriem Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
pFriem Family Brewers
Score: 94
5. Blackbeard’s Breakfast
Heavy Seas Beer
Score: 94
6. Berserker
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
Score: 93
7. Local’s Stash Reserve Series – Rum Barrel-Aged Dark Ale w/ Ginger and Lime
Crazy Mountain Brewing Co.
Score: 92
8. Four Seasons Autumn ’17
Mother Earth Brew Co.
Score: 91
9. Bourbon County Stout Original
Goose Island Brewing Co.
Score: 91
10. Barrel-aged Jude
Reformation Brewery
Score: 91
Top 10 Fruit Beers of 2017
1. Brewery Lane Series Barrel Aged Imperial Cherry Stout
Breckenridge Brewery
Score: 97
2. Four Seasons Spring ’17
Mother Earth Brew Co.
Score: 96
3. Luau Krunkles
Terrapin Beer Co.
Score: 95
4. Tundra Wookie
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
Score: 93
5. Blood Orange Wheat Ale
Full Sail Brewing Co.
Score: 93
6. Strawberry Beards Forever
Holy City Brewing Co.
Score: 92
7. Juicy Watermelon
New Belgium Brewing Co.
Score: 92
8. Hefe Berry Lime
Widmer Brothers Brewing
Score: 92
9. Buffalo Bill’s Strawberry Doppel Weizen
Buffalo Bill’s Brewery
Score: 92
10. Blueberry Oatmeal Stout
Buffalo Bill’s Brewery
Score: 92
Top 5 Spiced Beers of 2017
1. Four Seasons Winter ’16
Mother Earth Brew Co.
Score: 97
2. Double Bass Mocha Double Chocolate Stout
Starr Hill Brewery
Score: 96
3. Apple Pie Pale Ale
Garage Brewing Co.
Score: 95
4. Midnight Espresso Coffee Porter
Motorworks Brewing
Score: 92
5. Hardywood Gingerbread Stout
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Score: 92
Top 3 Trappist-Style Ales of 2017
1. La Trappe Quadrupel Oak-Aged
Trappist Brewery Koningshoeven
Score: 96
2. Lune de Miel
Unibroue
Score: 94
3. Local’s Stash Raspberry Belgian Style Quad
Crazy Mountain Brewing Co.
Score: 92
Top 5 European Sour Ales of 2017
1. Rodenbach Vintage 2015
Brouwerij Rodenbach
Score: 97
2. Rodenbach Fruitage
Brouwerij Rodenbach
Score: 96
3. Cursed Kettles
Upland Brewing Co. & Prairie Artisan Ales
Score: 95
4. Cherry
Upland Brewing Co.
Score: 95
5. Cuvée des Jacobins Prestige
Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste
Score: 94
Top 5 Strong Ales of 2017
1. The Partner Ships Series with Stone Brewing Co.
Heavy Seas Beer
Score: 97
2. Below Decks
Heavy Seas Beer
Score: 96
3. 21 Anniversary Ale
Heavy Seas Beer
Score: 94
4. Brewery Lane Series Oak Aged Saison
Breckenridge Brewery
Score: 94
5. Boughs of Barley
Cape May Brewing Co.
Score: 93
Top 3 Sweet Stouts of 2017
1. Beavers Milk Nitro
Belching Beaver Brewery
Score: 93
2. Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout
Anderson Valley Brewing Co.
Score: 92
3. Jomax
Wren House Brewing
Score: 91
Top 10 American Wild Ales of 2017
1. The Topsail
Cape May Brewing Co.
Score: 98
2. The Scupper
Cape May Brewing Co.
Score: 95
3. pFriem Flanders Blonde
pFriem Family Brewers
Score: 95
4. Pawpaw
Upland Brewing Co.
Score: 95
5. Mystery Ship
Southbound Brewing Co.
Score: 94
6. Dryades
NOLA Brewing Co.
Score: 94
7. Sour Reserve
Upland Brewing Co.
Score: 93
8. Rider
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
Score: 92
9. Funke Hop Farm
Sudwerk Brewing Co.
Score: 91
10. Culture Two
Fulton Beer
Score: 91
Top 5 American Porter & Stouts of 2017
1. Declaration
Reformation Brewery
Score: 95
2. Vladislav
Cape May Brewing Co.
Score: 93
3. Sin Tax
Mother Earth Brew Co.
Score: 93
4. Dragon’s Milk Reserve Triple Mashed
New Holland Brewing Co.
Score: 93
5. Postcard Porter
Diebolt Brewing Co.
Score: 92
Top 3 International Lagers of 2017
1. Sesiόn Cerveza
Full Sail Brewing Co.
Score: 95
2. Standard Lager
Fulton Beer
Score: 93
3. Bocholt
Brouwerij Martens
Score: 92
Top 3 Amber Bitter European Beers of 2017
1. Alaskan Brewing Amber
Alaskan Brewing Co.
Score: 95
2. Free Time
Upland Brewing Co.
Score: 94
3. Grevensteiner
Brauerei C & A Veltins
Score: 92
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