(AP)
Today is National Beer Day, apparently. It’s an unofficial holiday celebrating the Cullen-Harrison Act signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt which ended prohibition in 1933.
Thanks to the Cullen-Harrison Act, all of us can now enjoy our favorite beers out in the open while simultaneously positing that while the brew we’re currently enjoying is good, this other beer we had a few months ago in much more exclusive company was better.
To celebrate this unofficial holiday, For The Win’s beer “experts” have put together an unofficial list of 25 great beers we’ve come to love over our drinking lives. This isn’t an infallible list. It’s also not comprehensive. With over 4,500 craft breweries in the United States alone, limiting our list to 25 means that approximately 4,475 breweries are going to feel slighted. We’re sorry about that, and if you have a favorite not mentioned, be sure to let us know on Twitter or Facebook.
1. Permanent Funeral IPA – 3 Floyds
American Double/Imperial IPA (ABV 10.5%)
Note: Has a very scary label.
2. Kentucky Breakfast Stout – Founders
American Double/Imperial Stout (ABV 11.2%)
Note: Makes drinking in the morning feel less embarrassing.
3. Pliny the Younger – Russian River
American Double/Imperial IPA (ABV 11%)
Note: The IPA for people who hate IPAs.
4. Old Numbskull – AleSmith
American Barleywine (ABV 11%)
Note: The barleywine you use to judge all other barleywines.
5. Heady Topper – Alchemist
American Double/Imperial IPA (ABV 8%)
Note: The beer in a can you give to your snooty friend who doesn’t drink beer in a can.
6. Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout – Goose Island
American Double/Imperial Stout (ABV 13.4%)
Note: Takes coffee and beer and makes perfection.
7. Sorachi Ace – Brooklyn
Saison/Farmhouse Ale (ABV 7.2%)
Note: The most unique saison on our list uses the Japanese Sorachi Ace hop, which only means it is extra delicious.
8. Sam Adams Utopias – Boston Beer Company
American Strong Ale (ABV 29%)
Note: You take a sip of this beer for the story. You don’t take another sip because you will fall asleep.
9. Imperial Russian Stout – Stone
Russian Imperial Stout (ABV 10.6%)
Note: Stout Russian Imperial.
10. St. Bernardus Abt 12 – St. Bernardus
Quadrupel (ABV 10%)
Note: The definitive proof Belgium’s beer is better than their waffles and chocolate.
11. The Abyss – DeSchutes
American Double/Imperial Stout (ABV 11%)
Note: It’s aged in Pinot Noir barrels so you feel classy drinking it.
12. Choklat – Southern Tier
American Double/Imperial Stout (ABV 10%)
Note: Once poured this over vanilla ice cream. Seriously.
13. Hop, Drop ‘n Roll – NoDa Brewing
American IPA (ABV 7.2%)
Note: The most adorably named beer on the list.
14. Witte – Ommegang
Witbier (ABV 5.2%)
Note: The perfect beer to drink in a hammock.
15. Telegraph Reserve Wheat – Telegraph Brewing
Berliner Weisse (ABV 5%)
Note: The best wheat beer you’ll ever drink.
16. Lagunitas Sucks – Lagunitas
American Double/Imperial IPA (ABV 7.85%)
Note: The best beer you’ll find at your grocery store.
17. Sculpin IPA – Ballast Point
American IPA (ABV 7%)
Note: An excellent beer. There’s also Grapefruit Sculpin, which is also excellent and has grapefruit.
18. Allagash Dubbel – Allagash
Dubbel (ABV 7%)
Note: If Belgian monks overtook Maine, this is the beer they’d make.
19. Saison – Funkwerks
Saison/Farmhouse Ale (ABV 6.8%)
Note: Tastes how summer feels.
20. The Substance – Bissell Brothers
American IPA (ABV 6.5%)
Note: The best named beer on our list.
21. Enjoy By IPA – Stone
American Double/Imperial IPA (ABV 9.4%)
Note: Takes very seriously the need to enjoy beer by the expiration date.
22. Hopslam – Bell’s
American Double/Imperial IPA (ABV 10%)
Note: Makes most IPAs blush.
23. Parabola – Firestone Walker
Russian Imperial Stout (ABV 13%)
Note: It’s aged eight months in bourbon barrels as it transforms into a beautiful beer butterfly.
24. 120 Minute IPA – Dogfish Head
American Double/Imperial IPA (ABV 18%)
Note: The best beer you can make in two hours*
*It’s boiled for two hours … and then ferments for a month.
25. Trappist Westvleteren XII – Brouwerij Westvleteren
Quadrupel (ABV 10.2%)
Note: Might be the best beer in the world.
