Zymurgy Magazine Announces 2018 “Best Beers In America”

From The Brewers Association:

Bell’s Two Hearted Ale Takes #1 Spot for Second Consecutive Year

Boulder, Colo. • June 21, 2018—The results are in! For the second year in a row, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale was named number one in the annual Best Beers in America survey conducted by Zymurgymagazine. Now running in its 16th year, the survey asks members of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA), which publishes Zymurgy, to choose up to five of their favorite commercial beers available for purchase in the U.S.

“As brewers, the members of American Homebrewers Association can discern the subtle differences between a good beer and an outstanding beer.,” said Gary Glass, director, American Homebrewers Association. “Zymurgy’s Best Beers in America survey showcases which commercial beers are truly the best of the best out there, and all the breweries who made the list should be proud.”

Despite the plethora of delicious options available to beer lovers, the same two beers have been battling it out for first place for the past eight years. For the second straight year, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale bested Russian River’s Pliny the Elder, which had taken the top spot from 2009 to 2016.

“When I think about the elements that Bell’s shares with the passionate homebrewing community, the values that rise to the top include creativity, a meticulous attention to detail, and the joy of sharing thoughtfully crafted beers with friends,” said John Mallett, director of operations, Bell’s. “To be recognized for excellence by people who truly understand all that goes into creating and delivering quality beers and experiences to our communities is a huge honor. These values are true drivers for us all.”

Top-Ranked Beers (T indicates tie; *indicates small and independent craft brewer):

1. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale*

2. Russian River Pliny the Elder*

3. The Alchemist Heady Topper*

4. Bell’s Hopslam*

T5. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale*

T5. Founders CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout)

T5. Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)

8. Three Floyds Zombie Dust*

9. Founders Breakfast Stout

T10. WeldWerks Juicy Bits*

T10. Founders All Day IPA

Top-Ranked Breweries:

1. Bell’s Brewery, Inc., Comstock, Mich.*

2. Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.

3. Russian River Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, Calif.*

4. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif. and Mills River, N.C.*

5. Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles, Calif.*

T6. Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Ore.*

T6. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Del.*

8. Stone Brewing, Escondido, Calif.*

9. The Alchemist, Stowe, Vt.*

10. Three Floyds Brewing Company, Munster, Ind.*

Top-Ranked Beer Portfolios:

1. Stone Brewing (33 beers)*

2. Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (29 beers)*

T3. New Belgium Brewing (24 beers)*

T3. Founders Brewing Co. (24 beers)

5. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (23 beers)*

T6. Avery Brewing Co. (22 beers)

T6. Hill Farmstead Brewery (22 beers)*

T7. Boulevard Brewing Co. (20 beers)*

T7. Trillium Brewing Co. (20 beers)*

T9. Bell’s Brewery (19 beers)*

T9. Deschutes Brewery (19 beers)*

T9. Odell Brewing (19 beers)*

T9. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (19 beers)*

T9. The Bruery (19 beers)*

T9. Three Floyds Brewing (19 beers)

The complete list is available at HomebrewersAssociation.org.

For homebrewers interested in replicating some of the winningest beers at home, the AHA provides clone recipes in Zymurgy and online, including Two Hearted Ale, Pliny the Elder and much more, which can be accessed via the recipes section of the AHA website.

Contact: Jacob Streiter, on behalf of the American Homebrewers Association, (646) 695-7047

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About the American Homebrewers Association

The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) has worked on behalf of the homebrewing community since 1978 and celebrates a membership of 46,000 homebrewers. The American Homebrewers Association organizes events including Homebrew Con™ and the National Homebrew Competition. The AHA also publishes Zymurgy^® magazine and offers the Brew Guru™ mobile app. The AHA is part of the Brewers Association (BA), whose independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA’s Brewers Publications™ division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers and anyone interested in making their own homemade beer are invited to learn more at HomebrewersAssociation.org. Follow the AHA on Twitter, and join us on Facebook and Instagram.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.