Disclaimer: lists like this are highly contentious, entirely subjective and you may disagree entirely, which is fair enough. There are so many wonderful new beers being produced nowadays, it’d be impossible for anyone to try them all, nevermind simplify them into a Top 10.
So with the above in mind, we did it anyway. Think of it as a list of the Top 10 beers we tried in 2017. If your favourite beer of 2017 isn’t here, leave us a comment below and tell us about it, we love getting recommendations!
1. Boundary Brewing – You’re Not Getting Any
It’s just a boozy, blueberry smoothie. Magical. Creamy, smooth, far too easy to drink. This isn’t hometown favouritism, we haven’t picked this as our beer of the year just because it’s brewed a few miles away, it was genuinely the beer which blew us away more than any other. Do you remember drinking Yop as a kid? It reminded us of Yop. But, y’know, glorious, alcoholic, wonderful, boozy Yop. In a really, really good way.
2. Deya – High Planes Drifter
It pours like thick, murky pineapple juice and it doesn’t taste far off either. Ridiculously juicy, hazy, murk bomb. In a year where ‘haze’ and ‘murk’ became beer buzzwords, this was the best in class.
3. Northern Monk – Patrons Project 3.02: Tropical Death Party
A creamy, pineapple laden, pina colada Black IPA. Possibly the easiest drinking 10% ABV ever.
4. Tiny Rebel – Imperial Puft
Sweet, boozy, marshmallow stout. Stay Puft and Sugar Rush were equally wonderful variations but I’ve opted for the big brother because we like big beers (and we cannot lie). The smell they’ve conjured is out of this world.
5. Beavertown – Humuloid
Literally tastes like fresh orange juice with a subtle, boozy kick. Almost definitely counts as one of your 5 a day. Maybe two.
6. Northern Monk – Patrons Project 4.03: Double Dry Hopped Double Mango Lassi IPA
Amazing artwork and an awesome, alcoholic, mango smoothie. The Patrons Project has consistently delivered stunning, experimental beers with wonderful packaging all year long. This was one of the best.
7. Omnipollo & Evil Twin – Old Fashioned Lemonade IPA
Perfect summer beer. Great balance between sweetness and bitterness. Doesn’t taste close to 7%. Also, lemons for days. The Pink Lemonade version wasn’t on the same level, unfortunately, but this one was so, so good.
8. Beavertown – Heavy Water: Sour Cherry & Sea Salt
Thick as tar, dark, creamy, hard-hitting 9% stout bursting full of salty, cherry goodness.
9. Cloudwater – Islay BA Russian Imperial Stout
This came out around Xmas 2016, but we first tried it in early 2017 so it still counts. Another big hitting stout, aged in Islay whisky barrels. Ridiculously smooth.
10. Buxton – Rain Shadow: Single Barrel (Bourbon)
Another one which came out in 2016 but it was new to us in 2017. It’s a thick, boozy, sweet, caramel, bourbon beauty. Another intense barrel-aged stout full of flavour, and far too easy to drink.
So there we have it – our favourite beers of 2017. It wasn’t easy narrowing it down, check out our list of Honourable Mentions to see the beers that just missed out on the Top 10 spots.
Have you tried any of the above? What did you think? If you agree or disagree with our selections, let us know in the comments below. Also, recommend us your favourite beer of the year, because we love any excuse to try some new beers…
