Top NE beers of 2018

1) heady topper - stands test of time. Undefeated in the quality to value department. Unique beer that comes at you with waves of different flavor

2) Berkshire life on Marzen - vacation from the onslaught of hops. Super smooth yet packing a little alcohol.

3) Stellwagen More Umlaut/ Modulation series - these guys are awesome just need to crank up production in 2019.

 

The Standard from Notch

Far and away the best American made Pilsner I've ever had.

Especially on draft at the brewery, but the cans were excellent too. I need to make more trips up there to try some more of their stuff that doesn't see distribution.

 

I'll list some of my new/local favorites from this year. In no particular order.

- Small Change: the future is unwritten (English dark mild). Had their pale of draft,
- Notch: The Standard
- Notch: Pyschocandy. This beer was easily one of my favorites of the year.
- Wunderkammer: Anything. Everything I've had from him is always interesting and well executed.
- Tree House: Moment of Clarity. Had it this past weekend and thought it was outstanding. Battled between savoring each sip and guzzling it because it was so flavorful.
- Trillium: Permutation #57. One of the best adjunct stouts of the year for me.
- Hill: Geneaology of Morals (2018). Floored by this when I had it. One of the best Hill stouts I've had in awhile, even against M&Cs, etc. Flew under the radar a bit, but shouldn't have.

Didn't drink a ton of local hoppy beers so nothing really stood out. Hill is always at the top of the hoppy pile for me.

 

Massachusetts; Jack’s Abby, It’s a toss-up between Modern Hells and Red Tape.
Rhode Island; Proclamation, Derivative: Galaxy.
Maine; Maine Beer Co, Zoe.
Vermont; von Trapp Brewing, Dunkel Lager.
New Hampshire; Smuttynose, Finest Kind.

Exploring Connecticut beers is part of my New Year’s resolution. Black Pond Brews in Danielson maybe.

 

Best Beers I had while in each state this past year:

CT: Two Roads - Typecast, OEC - Boudelot Blanche
VT: Foam - Pavement
NH: Branch and Blade - Waking Up in Handcuffs
MA: Tree House - Very Green, Trillium - Double Seesaw
RI: Proclamation - Derivative Galaxy
ME: Maine Beer Company - Fall, Allagash - Goulship

Good year.

 

I tried proclamation derivative a number of times in cans due to the feedback. Its just a 3.75-4 out of 5 at best to me. I also have very little sense of smell so maybe my palate is just different from everybody else in a weird way.

Second Fiddle on draft (becoming more prominent in boston and even had it in New Bedford at Pour Farm)
Anything Foam or Upper Pass in VT
Heres to Feeling good all the time - Bissell Bros
SSSapp - Treehouse
Junior IPA - Frost

 

My beer intake/activity dipped significantly in 2018 (Was kind of obsessed like 2015-17). I also started to grow weary of NEIPAS (still enjoy the good ones). That being said..

Allagash Bottles: Farm to Face and Pick your own (got distro in CT which was awesome) There were perfect beers that blew my socks off.

Counterweight Ein Helles, Double Inundation (their stuff has been spectacular)

Hill Farm Double Galaxy

Fox Farm in General

Happy Holidays everyone!

 

2018 by State
MA: Notch - The Standard........just a phenomenal Pils
MA: Trillium - Fort Point Pale Ale........new fermentation profile is not as good, to me, but still a great beer
MA: Mystic - Voltage........kinda reminds me of the original FPPA
VT: Foam - Baby Name.....fantastic Pale Ale for just over 5% abv

 

Here are my 2018 finds:

Attitude from Long Live. I liked a lot of LL stuff, especially the lower ABV like this.

Good n You from Springdale. I had many great trips to JA back in 2015-2016 but my time in MetroWest dropped just about the time they opened Springdale. I wasn't that impressed with the early stuff I tried from Springdale, and didn't see a big price edge, so never sought them out. Bu this summer I was out there for an event and brought home a bunch of cans and this one was a cut above, unfortunately I don't see it at most stores...

Verdomme and Tiny House from Allagash. Functionally these are about as different as you can find (11% vs 3%), but I really enjoyed both of these on draft up there.

One more I think I'll seek out is Three from Castle Island. I had their One a couple years ago and thought it was terrific. I'll be driving east next week so think I might head over.

 

Mosaic Bottle Fly was definitely my favorites of this year. Also, Hill's new single Mosaic IPA was terrific as well.

Granted, I've been out of NE for the last few months, but for me (in addition to the above)->
Notch Roggenbier
Alchemist Luscious
Idle Hands Transmutation I
Hill BA Dorothy
Hill Flora Cherry (by far the best fruited Flora...I've had)
CBC Death and the Maiden
CBC Smoke on the Charles
JA Dawn of the Dunkel

 

Tried a lot more out of state stuff this year, but still had a good amount of Trillium & TH.

1. Trillium Permutation 57 - Best stout I've had to date. Loved the blend of barrels on this one
2. HF S&S #4 - My first time having a HF beer and it blew me away. Only had 1 can from a trade, but going to seek it out more in 2019.
3. TH Triple Shot - I love coffee and stouts and this had lots of coffee.
4. Trillium Permutation 32 - The new fermentation profile worked well on this one.
5. Trillium Tiramisu - Another coffee stout with lots of coffee. Strongly anticipating the BA version.

Think in 2019 I'll keep branching out more, especially with HF. That S&S really is freakin' fantastic.

 

Favorite brand in 2018: Springdale. Multiple highlights for me - Desert Soltaire, Fresh Boysen, Apriculture & Just Sayin’

Other beer highlights:

1. Stellwagen pina colada frostee (thought it would be silly or stupid but loved it)
2. CBC What’s the Use
3. Devil’s Purse handline kolsh (hate the price though)
4. Fox Farm Graze
5. Jack’s Abby Dawn of the Dunkel
6. Trillium Perm 55

 

Some of my faves from this year:

• Antidote to Apathy, Henry and Fran
• Moment of Clarity, Tree House
• Other One, Tilted Barn
• PB PM Dawn, Trillium
• Danker Sinatra, Castle Island
• Double Nelson, Hill Farmstead
• Holy Moley, Alchemist

 

I'm about to try Second Dinner tonight, will report back if it hits my top 5 and then rerank

 

Nothing better than a good batch of Second Fiddle!

 

BBA Affogato - Trillium/J Wakefield collab..not usually a fan of team-ups..
Bonus Cup - from the underrated Long Live Beerworks
Daylily - Fox Farm. FF nails everything

 

1. Marblehead Lighthouse-Trillium
2. Double Seesaw BlackCurrant-Trillium
3. Virtuoso-Lord Hobo
4. Dinner-Maine Beer
5. Another One-Maine Beer

 

Been a good beer year, I tried the usual heavy hitters ( TH Maple Double Shot and Juice Machine come to mind). Cuvee De Gorgoroth from OEC might have joined my top 5 all time. Coolship Red was absurdly good. However my two favorite beers of the year were TH Old Man and Switchback Ale.