Top 11 Craft Beers of 2011

2011 was a great year for craft beer. Breweries opened, production volumes increased and more establishments than ever stocked craft beer! In addition to this, in Massachusetts, we saw a ton of new beers released and local brewing companies open or grow.

The original idea for this column was to tell you about the eleven new beers that really excited us this past year from anywhere in the country. After we compiled our list, though, we realized that all of them were local to the Northeast despite the fact that that wasn't our goal. This is great, though, as we couldn't be more excited to see the local beer scene growing as rapidly as it is! So, with that said, let's get on to the Drink Craft Beer Top 11 Craft Beers of 2011...then, afterwards, let us know what you really enjoyed in 2011 on Twitter, on Facebook or in the comments below!

Sixpoint Autumnation

A pumpkin fresh hop beer in a 16oz tallboy can?! What is there not to love? Sixpoint pleased their fans this year by finally packaging their beer for more than just draft, and this may be the best of their cans yet. This is an innovative beer that can truly only be brewed in Autumn. It doesn't seem like the flavors should go together, but somehow the crew at Sixpoint managed to meld citrusy Citra hops and fresh pumpkin into an amalgamation of flavors that really sing. Too bad we've got to wait until next fall for more!
(Original Review: Sixpoint Autumnation)

Notch Session Saison

You may have read about Notch Session on this site before. Founded in 2010, 2011 was the year that founder Chris Lohring really started making waves with his sub 4.5% abv brews in Massachusetts. While we dig pretty much all of the Notch brews, the one that really impressed us the most was his 3.7% abv dry-as-hell-and-even-more-refreshing summer seasonal (now a year round) Saison! Utilizing a mix of several grains and a traditional Belgian yeast, this is the perfect beer on a hot summer day. We were happy to have this brew launched at our Fifth Anniversary Party, in a cask dry hopped with our homegrown hops, back in June at Stoddard's Pub!
(Original Review: Notch Session Saison)

Maine Beer Co. Lunch IPA

We're not much for hype beers. That said, this one deserves everything you've heard! An intensely grapefruity IPA, this is an easy to drink brew that focuses as much on flavor as on bitterness. As we mentioned in our original review, it's nearly impossible to find and sells out as soon as it hits shelves (if it hits shelves at all) so keep your ears open for this one!
(Original Review: Maine Beer Co. Lunch IPA)

Mystic Brewery Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Fermented Saison

As we mentioned, 2011 was a great year for new breweries in the Northeast, and Mystic is one of those! Based in Chelsea, MA, the guys at Mystic are focused on Belgian farmhouse style brewing and the Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Fermented Saison is our favorite so far from them. Most barrel aged beers are fermented in steel tanks then aged in barrels, but this one is fully fermented in the barrel, giving it a depth of flavor that can't be replicated. We know there's even more interesting stuff coming out from them soon, so we're looking forward to 2012 as well!
(Original Review: Mystic Brewery Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Fermented Saison)

Cisco Pechish Woods

A sour, peach wild ale that's locally brewed? We love all those things here at Drink Craft Beer! We first tried this at a beer fest and were hooked, going back repeatedly for extra 2oz samples. At $18 for a 750ml bottle this isn't an everyday beer, but that's fine. It's a special beer for a special occasion. It can be tough to find, but it's out there so just look around.

Blatant IPA

Blatant Brewing founder, Matthew Steinberg, has a long history of brewing in Massachusetts and this is just his latest venture (and yet another new brewery that opened in the state in 2011). A super hoppy and dry IPA, this is what's often called a west coast IPA. There aren't many of them in the area, so we're stoked to have easy access to a local version. At this point the IPA (as well as the Blatant Session Ale, a hoppy 3.7% bitter) are still just on tap, but Matthew should be packaging both for home consumption soon.

Jack's Abby Kiwi Rising Double India Pale Lager

It's a fact: the world needs more lagers. Luckily, we have another new Massachusetts brewery, Jack's Abby in Framingham, MA, that is going to get on that. Brewing only lagers, they're providing a different take on some American craft beer classics. Our favorite so far was their version of a Double IPA, which they call a Double India Pale Lager. There's no fruit in this one, but the Kiwi Rising name comes from the fact that the hops are sourced from New Zealand. This is a smooth beer with a huge hop flavor that you've got to try. We like the focus on showing what hops taste like, rather than how bitter they can be, and we think you will too!
(Original Review: Jack's Abby Kiwi Rising Double India Pale Lager)

Pretty Things Magnifico

It's been a year with a lot of lower alcohol beer and we couldn't be more pleased. When we heard that Dann Paquette's Pretty Things Beer & Ale Company was producing a 3.7% abv hoppy session beer (Magnifico is the name of the hop in Dann's world of beer, the little cousin of Jack D'Or, the barley grain) for draft only release, we were interested. When we heard it would be served in huge glass mugs, we had to get it! And damn was it worth it. Super dry and quite bitter, this beer is refreshing and almost bracing on a hot summer day. Jeff had quite a few while sitting on the deck at The Otherside Cafe (not closing anymore, yeah!) this past summer and we can't wait for next summer when Pretty Things is supposedly going to re-release it!

Peak Organic Local Series: Massachusetts

If there was one theme that we noticed this year in craft beer, it was session beer. But, if there were two (and there were at least that many) the second would be local. Leading the way is one that we're not surprised to see picking up the mantle, Peak Organic. They've worked with local suppliers in Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and Maine (sorry New Hampshire, apparently nobody grows enough hops in your state to supply Peak Organic, tell somebody to get on that!) to produce a brew for each state that is entirely sourced from within it's borders. The Massachusetts version showcases grain grown in-state and malted at Valley Malt in Hadley, MA which really give it a unique flavor. The hops are intense, lending a great flavor and bright bitterness. IPA lovers will really dig this beer and the concept is awesome!

Slumbrew Porter Square Porter

Another new Massachusetts brewery that just opened in 2011, Somerville Brewing Company (aka Slumbrew) launched onto the scene with three beers, an IPA, a blood orange hefeweizen and a chocolate porter aged on Taza Chocolate nibs. All three were delicious, but one really caught our taste buds: Slumbrew Porter Square Porter. Not overly chocolatey, this one has a great earthy, smooth, roasty flavor. Devon originally lamented only grabbing one bottle but, luckily, we've grabbed more since!
(Original Review: Slumbrew Porter Square Porter)

High & Mighty Pas de Dieux Saison

We know, we know...another low alcohol, Massachusetts-brewed saison on the list?! Well all we can say is that we've been lucky this year! Saison is one of our favorite styles, yet so many breweries try to make them high alcohol, sweet and sticky; it just doesn't work for us! This one, though, is light, effervescent, spicy from the yeast and simply delicious! High & Mighty has been focused on producing delicious beers of moderate strength for a while now, shying away from the typical biggization of American craft beer. We' re glad they finally churned out a saison!
(Original Review: High & Mighty Pas de Dieux)

Now that we've told you our favorites of 2011, what were yours? Craft beer is just a matter of taste and taste is hugely personal, so we want to know what you liked! With so many new beers coming out all the time, did we miss anything? Let us know what you really enjoyed in 2011 on Twitter, on Facebook or in the comments below!