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Top 100 Beers of 2018
Each year, we collect the highest-scoring beers evaluated in the Official Review and combine them into a list of the finest examples. In 2018, the rise of hazy American IPAs was evident, as many of the most well-brewed American IPAs and Double IPAs were unfiltered.
Once again this year, we witnessed Specialty Wood-Aged Beers aged in a variety of bourbon, gin, rum, wine and other barrels featured in every style bracket. Our judges loved the complexity, aroma characteristics added by the use of essential oils and wide range of flavors that aging beers in barrels provided.
Many exemplary German styles are present, such as flavorful Festbiers and easy-drinking Pilsners, and big Belgian beers are also well represented such as Tripels, Quadrupels and Saisons. Additionally, multiple varieties of sour and wild beers were reviewed such as American Wild Ales, Mixed-Fermentation Sour Beers, Wild Specialty Beers and Brettanomyces Beers. We hope you enjoy reading about the Top 100 Beers of 2018 and that you use this list to help navigate the vast expanse of beers available today.
ABOUT
The Official Review is conducted in a single blind tasting format that adheres to the Beer Judge Certification Program 2015 Style Guidelines. This method provides the best opportunity to rely on facts and to avoid favoritism, ensuring a level playing field for all brewers. It serves both the industry and the consumer to have unbiased and objective scores from qualified experts.
In effort to provide the most credible evaluations, The Beer Connoisseur hand-selects judges with a minimum BJCP ranking of “National” or Master Cicerone®. Judges are required to work with an assistant that handles beer prior to evaluation, and breweries are not allowed to solicit judges directly.
In the single blind tasting format, judges are presented with a chilled, properly poured beer and given its style category. Scoring is then done on the following basis using a 100-point scale: Aroma (24 points), Appearance (6 points), Flavor (40 points), Mouthfeel (10 points) and Overall Impression (20 points).
The score breakdown is as follows:
100 to 96: World Class – You need this beer in your life.
95 to 91: Exceptional – Don’t hesitate.
90 to 86: Very Good – A brew to savor.
85 to 75: Average – Somewhat unimpressive.
74 and below: Not Recommended – Just walk away.
#100
93
by Michael Heniff
Saddleback
Uinta Brewing
#99
93
by Joseph Formanek
Fire Iron
Urban Artifact
#98
93
by Tracy Hensley
Buffalo Bill's Black Pumpkin Stout
Buffalo Bill's Brewery
#97
93
by John C. Tull
Four Seasons - Summer '18
Mother Earth Brew Co.
#96
93
by John C. Tull
Shared Waters
Coronado Brewing Co.
#95
93
by Michael Heniff
Pêche
Alesong Brewing & Blending
#94
93
by Rodney A. Tillinghast
Ante Meridiem
Monday Night Brewing
#93
93
by Jason Johnson
Licher Weizen
Licher Privatbrauerei
#92
93
by Rick Franckhauser
Starr Hill Amber Ale
Starr Hill Brewery
#91
93
by Sean Coughlin
Oak & Rosé
Upland Brewing Co.
#90
93
by Pat Mulloy
Wine Barrel-Aged Magic Trait
Speciation Artisan Ales
#89
93
by Brad Darnell
Zoigl-Pils
Zoiglhaus Brewing Co.
#88
93
by James Link
KC Bier Co. Hefeweizen
KC Bier Co.
#87
93
by Jim Koebel
Night Game
Sketchbook Brewing Co.
#86
93
by Jim Koebel
14° ESB
Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
#85
93
by Michael Heniff
Big Mother Triple IPA
Mother Earth Brew Co.
#84
93
by Richard Wong
pFriem Helles Lager
pFriem Family Brewers
#83
93
by Brian Eichhorn
Inline IPA
Garage Brewing Co.
#82
93
by Richard Wong
Highland Charge Wee Heavy Scottish Ale
Heathen Brewing
#81
93
by Brad Darnell
Capella Porter
Ecliptic Brewing
#80
93
by Randy Scorby
Dry-Hopped Censored
Lagunitas Brewing Co.
#79
93
by Tracy Hensley
North Island IPA
Coronado Brewing Co.
#78
93
by Susan Ruud
pFriem Extra Pale Ale
pFriem Family Brewers
#77
93
by Jim Koebel
Saison de Rose
Free Will Brewing Co.
#76
93
by Pat Mulloy
Elbow Patches
The Virginia Beer Co.
#75
93
by Randy Scorby
Man Juice
Knee Deep Brewing Co.
#74
93
by Sean Coughlin
La Trappe Witte
Trappist Brewery Koningshoeven
#73
93
by Michael Heniff
Cloud Catcher Milkshake IPA
Odell Brewing Co.
#72
93
by David Sapsis
Betty IPA
Hangar 24 Craft Brewing
#71
93
by Sal Mortillaro II
Alpha Abstraction Vol. 3
Wild Leap Brew Co.
#70
94
by Randy Scorby
Pinot Fresa
Angel City Brewing
#69
94
by Michael Heniff
Riegele Augustus
Brauhaus Riegele
#68
94
by Joseph Formanek
Concrete Dinosaur
Right Brain Brewery
#67
94
by Michael Heniff
Last Will & Testament
Monday Night Brewing
#66
94
by Richard Wong
Reuben's Brews Pilsner
Reuben's Brews
#65
94
by Dan Martich
Modern Tart
Upland Brewing Co.
#64
94
by Jason Johnson
Syringa Pale Ale
Boise Brewing Co.
#63
94
by Richard Wong
Four Seasons - Winter '18
Mother Earth Brew Co.
#62
94
by Susan Ruud
Hop Peak IPA
Breckenridge Brewery
#61
94
by David Sapsis
pFriem Barrel Aged Saison II
pFriem Family Brewers
#60
94
by Pat Mulloy
Funkwerks Saison
Funkwerks
#59
94
by Pat Mulloy
The Laurentian Series, Lake Superior
Speciation Artisan Ales
#58
94
by John C. Tull
Lemon Zest Farmhouse Ale
pFriem Family Brewers
#57
94
by Jim Koebel
Bastogne Ardenne Saison
Brasserie de Bastogne
#56
94
by David Sapsis
Fayuca Rizing
Helio Basin Brewing Co.
#55
94
by James Link
KC Helles Lager
KC Bier Co.
#54
94
by Jason Johnson
Goodwood Bourbon Barrel Stout
Goodwood Brewing Co.
#53
94
by Pat Mulloy
Apricot Orchard Brett Golden Ale
The Virginia Beer Co.
#52
94
by Rick Franckhauser
Front Row
Starr Hill Brewery
#51
94
by Rick Franckhauser
Looking Glass
Starr Hill Brewery
#50
94
by James Link
King Gambrinus
Jersey Girl Brewing Co.
#49
94
by Michael Heniff
La Trappe Quadrupel
Trappist Brewery Koningshoeven
#48
94
by Richard Wong
Mega Mint Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout
Heathen Brewing
#47
94
by James Link
Danzig
Devils Backbone Brewing Co.
#46
94
by John C. Tull
Bailey's Taproom 10th
pFriem Family Brewers
#45
94
by John C. Tull
Super Saison
pFriem Family Brewers
#44
94
by Dan Martich
Blind Pirate
Monday Night Brewing
#43
94
by David Sapsis
Steamworks Pilsner
Steamworks Brewing Co.
#42
94
by David Sapsis
Jolly Russian
Odell Brewing Co.
#41
95
by Sal Mortillaro II
Zwart Black Star
De Proef Brouwerij
#40
95
by Randy Scorby
Weekend Vibes IPA
Coronado Brewing Co.
#39
95
by Jim Koebel
Oak & White
Upland Brewing Co.
#38
95
by Randy Scorby
Never Better DIPA
Coronado Brewing Co.
#37
95
by John C. Tull
Nectarine Golden Ale
pFriem Family Brewers
#36
95
by Tracy Hensley
Digital Bath
Belching Beaver Brewery
#35
95
by Susan Ruud
Transcend IPA
Heathen Brewing
#34
95
by Brad Darnell
Four Seasons - Autumn '18
Mother Earth Brew Co.
#33
95
by Michael Bury
Seedstock Oktoberfest
Seedstock Brewing Co.
#32
95
by Rick Franckhauser
Temporarily Permanent
Cape May Brewing Co.
#31
95
by Brad Darnell
Bo Pils
East Brother Beer Co.
#30
95
by Sean Coughlin
Amirite?!
Springdale Beer
#29
95
by John C. Tull
Blonde de l'Enfer
Unibroue
#28
95
by Dan Martich
Clencher
BuckleDown Brewing
#27
95
by Brad Darnell
Epitaph Russian Imperial Stout
Heathen Brewing
#26
95
by Tracy Hensley
Fresh Bongwater Hemp Ale
KettleHouse Brewing Co.
#25
95
by David Sapsis
pFriem Vienna Lager
pFriem Family Brewers
#24
95
by Richard Wong
Santa's Little Helper
Port Brewing Co.
#23
95
by Pat Mulloy
pFriem Flanders Blonde
pFriem Family Brewers
#22
95
by Michael Heniff
Brewery Lane Series: Imperial Vanilla Porter Aged in Rum Barrels
Breckenridge Brewery
#21
95
by John C. Tull
Maibock
Devils Backbone Brewing Co.
#20
95
by Jim Koebel
Pinky Sweater
Sketchbook Brewing Co.
#19
95
by Randy Scorby
Barreljuice, Barreljuice, Barreljuice
Angel City Brewing
#18
95
by Jim Koebel
Aspall Grand Cru
Aspall Cider House
#17
95
by Nelson Crowle
Barrel-Aged Legion
Community Beer Co.
#16
95
by Brad Darnell
Fastback Racer
Bear Republic Brewing Co.
#15
95
by Richard Wong
Highland Charge Bourbon Barrel Aged Wee Heavy Scottish Ale
Heathen Brewing