The Best Breweries of 2018

First Runner-Up: Breckenridge Brewery

One World Class Beer & Two Exceptional Beers

Total Score: 285 points

Highest-scoring beers:

Nitro Irish Stout – 96

Brewery Lane Series: Imperial Vanilla Porter Aged in Rum Barrels – 95

Hop Peak IPA – 94

Breckenridge Brewery of Littleton, Colorado had a strong year in this year’s Official Review.

Leading off Breckenridge’s slate of world-class and exceptional beers was the beautiful, cascading pour of Nitro Irish Stout, which scored a 96. An easy-going stout that adds a welcoming Colorado spirit to an old-world style, this roasty, chocolaty brew features a pillowy mouthfeel due to the nitrogenation and coffee, dark chocolate and espresso elements.

Breckenridge delivered another exceptional dark brew with Brewery Lane Series: Imperial Vanilla Porter aged in Rum Barrels. The series is named after the street upon which the brewery is located in Littleton, Colorado. A lush and filling brew, this sweet and boozy creation spent 55 days aging in rum barrels with vanilla beans to provide excellent complexity in an elegant and luxurious dark beer.

Showcasing Breckenridge’s depth and ability to craft various styles, Hop Peak IPA was a sterling representation of the American IPA style. Brewed with whole-cone Simcoe and Citra hops as well as Citra lupulin powder, this beer gushes out piney, citrusy and earthy aromas.