Top Beers of 2012

[MoJo]

So I don't know a lot about beers, but would like to try some good ones out and perhaps put together a nice sixer Christmas gift for a friend who is into beer. So in spirit of the top xx of 2012 threads out there, what are some of your top beers of 2012 so I (and others) know what are some good ones to try

 

[ilikefishes]

Abyss by Deschutes
Pliny the Elder

There are really too many to name. It has a ton to do with tastes as well. So tell us what you like and we can make better recommendations.

 

[tsimonitis]

Dogfish Head 60 minutes is the gateway beer that lots of people start with.

 

[MoJo]

Abyss by Deschutes
Pliny the Elder

There are really too many to name. It has a ton to do with tastes as well. So tell us what you like and we can make better recommendations.

Honestly, I've never really gone beyond some of the mass marketed beers like budweiser with the occasional Guinness and new castle. I'm more of just wondering what are some of your favorites so I can give them a try and see if I like it.

 

[Craig Mac]

Mostly an IPA guy. A few I had this year that stuck out:

Pliney The Elder
DFH Bitches Brew
DFH 120 Min
DFH Burton Baton
Nugget Nector
Unita Hop Notch
Dark Lord(last 3 years)
Mephistopheles

 

[Fox06WRX]

Ruination IPA
Stone 16th Anniversary IPA
Terrapin Hopsecutioner

Yes I am IPA biased, don't hate

 

[Shaunylw]

I quit drinking a month and a week ago but my passion was always beer. No particular order but pliny would probably be number one.

1. Pliny the elder from russian river
2. Rouge Double dead guy
3. Stone IPA
4. Hoptologist- Knee deep brewing
5. Dogfish 120 min
6. Dogfish 60 min

 

[W.B.]

Some things you available right now (depending upon distribution to your state)

Bell's Amber Ale
Brooklyn's Black Chocolate Stout
Firestone Walkers Double Jack
Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout
Chimay 'Blue'
St. Bernardus 12
Rochefort 8 or 10

 

[tsimonitis]

Really can't go wrong with a Stone Brewing Variety Pack. Nice way to start and all good beers even if you friend has had them before. Not all that expensive either in the grand scheme of the beer world.

 

[bballbaby]

Here's some thoughts on some basic beers that are available at most any grocery store. Many of these guys with their IPAs and fancy names will likely scoff at these recommendations, but they are recommendations for the everyday beer drinker.

Dos Equis...a lighter beer with some flavor
Harp...A smooth beer with some heavier mouthfeel and buttery finish
Red Stripe for a medium bodied lager
Molson Golden - Has a kind of very lite coffee flavor to it, probably more of a carmelized sugar taste, but I call it coffee.

 

[twenty5]

A nice variety 6 pack that you will actually be able to find:

RIS - Oskar Blues Tenfidy
IPA - Ballast Point Sculpin
Belgian - Orval Trappist
Sour - Russian River Supplication
Porter - Sam Smith's Taddy Porter
Brown - Dogfish Palo Santo Marron

 

[Craig Mac]

I scoff at you..... He asked for top picks so I gave em. If he asked for regular everyday I would have slightly adjusted the list

Here's some thoughts on some basic beers that are available at most any grocery store. Many of these guys with their IPAs and fancy names will likely scoff at these recommendations, but they are recommendations for the everyday beer drinker.

Dos Equis...a lighter beer with some flavor
Harp...A smooth beer with some heavier mouthfeel and buttery finish
Red Stripe for a medium bodied lager
Molson Golden - Has a kind of very lite coffee flavor to it, probably more of a carmelized sugar taste, but I call it coffee.

 

[Knickerbocker]

surprised at all the recommendation for DFH 120 min, it's like grain alcohol was not enjoyable at all.

 

[D Quintero]

good beer is largely regional
add the states still having stupid prohibition era anti bootlegger laws on the books
a few large(r) realeased way tasty good ones

bourbon barrel aged imperial stout- goose island bcs (iso) :razz:
apa- lagunitas little sumpin sumpin
imperial stout-sierra nevada narwhal

 

[Craig Mac]

surprised at all the recommendation for DFH 120 min, it's like grain alcohol was not enjoyable at all.

It clearly states in the OP he is asking for everyones best of 2012 list, so it is not really a recommendation. Sounds like he just wants to get an idea of what everyone liked this year. But just like cigars, everyone will have their own personal preference.

 

[MoJo]

surprised at all the recommendation for DFH 120 min, it's like grain alcohol was not enjoyable at all.

It clearly states in the OP he is asking for everyones best of 2012 list, so it is not really a recommendation. Sounds like he just wants to get an idea of what everyone liked this year. But just like cigars, everyone will have their own personal preference.

exactly, looking for what everyones favorites were this past year. I definitely appreciate the suggestions for beginners though and will most likely sample beers from both peoples favorites of 2012 and the what people have recommended as some starter beers (outside of the grocery store everyday beers, I'm plenty familiar with most of them)

Thanks for all of your suggestions so far!

 

[calgon]

Some of my favorites this year were:

In no particular order
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA
Southern tier 2x stout
Terrapin So fresh and so green green
Left hand milk stout
Terrapin pumpkin fest
Cigar city cucumber saison

 

[danthebugman]

In no particular order...

Founders Breakfast Stout
Southern Tier 2X Stout
Left Hand Nitro Stout
Mother's Brewing Imperial Three Blind Mice
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti (in any of its forms)
Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter
Mother's Brewing Trouble Maker
Boulevard Saison-Brett
Southern Tier Oat Imperial Oatmeal Stout

Just a few of my favorites...obviously I like stouts :grin:. I'm sure if I think longer I could extend the list, but this'll do to get you started.

Dan

 

[BigFoot]

Mikkeler breakfast geek
Dfh 75 and 120
Dfh bitches brew
Stoudts anniversary ale
Firestone wooky jack
Goose island bcs

 

[smokinghole]

Yuengling Lager in a can
Heady Topper in a can
Orval
Victory Headwaters Pale Ale (an easy drinking wing night favorite)
Westmalle Tripel and Dubbel are good belgian beers you can get almost anywhere serious.