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Editorial Dept.'s picture

The Best Breweries of 2021

The breweries that submitted the highest-scoring beers collectively in 2021. These brewers demonstrated mastery of their craft.

 

The Beer Connoissseur Brewery Awards - 2nd Runner-Up

Second Runner-Up

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Two World Class Ratings
One Exceptional Rating
Total Score: 288 points

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Gnarly Barley Brewing Co.
1709 Corbin Rd 
Hammond, LA 70403

Tel: (985) 318-0723
www.gnarlybeer.com

gnarly barley logo

After taking home Brewery of the Year last year, Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. of Hammond, Louisiana continued to demonstrate excellence by being named 2021’s second runner-up!

Gnarly Barley’s top-scoring beer was Imperial Peanut Butter Korova, following in the footsteps of their top-scoring beer last year – Barrel Aged Imperial Korova – and both beers notched a 97. This beer is based on the base recipe of the brewery’s Korova Milk Porter, a delightfully rich, creamy and chocolaty American porter. This amped-up version of the beer has its ABV raised to 9% (from 6.2%) and both tastes and smells like a melted peanut butter cup. Combined with the smooth and flavorful base beer, this near-flawless brew is sure to appeal to fans of chocolate desserts and rich stouts alike.

The brewery’s next highest-scoring beer was Jet Black Scream, which exemplified one of the rarer styles in the world of beer these days: Black IPA. Despite being a dark beer, black IPAs such as this one shouldn’t lose any notable hop elements because – at their heart – they are IPAs. In the case of Jet Black Scream, it emanates fresh floral and pine notes in the aroma, and the flavor is rich with elements of nutty praline and an amazing balance between dark malts and hops.

Last (but far from least), Gnarly Barley’s final highest-scoring beer was a light and tropical fruited sour called Mango Margarita Gose. Though sour beers are now competing with a glut of hard seltzers on the market, this enjoyably lush, sweet and tart sour aims to recreate its namesake – and succeeds with aplomb.


Rated 97 – World Class

Imperial Peanut Butter Korova
Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer

A decadently rich dessert beer that both smells and tastes like a melted peanut butter cup in a glass. Divine!

Imperial Peanut Butter Korova Gnarly Barley Brewing Co.


Rated 96 – World Class

Jet Black Scream
Black IPA

Black IPAs are becoming difficult to find, and this brew is an exemplar of the style’s balance between malt and hops.

Jet Black Scream Gnarly Barley Brewing Co.


Rated 95 – Exceptional

Mango Margarita Gose
Wild Specialty Beer

Wanting a sweet and tart margarita with mango flavors? Skip the mixing and simply sip this exceptionally well-crafted brew.

Mango Margarita Gose Gnarly Barley Brewing Co.


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