I'd have to say, my latest was Lagunitas Sucks. Just had my first one over this past weekend. I love Lagunitas stuff, but for some reason wasn't expecting much from this. BOY was I wrong! Loved this beer!
This for me EXACTLY, then I discovered BA and RB and that has lead to a few others as well. First Heady really is that good. Second was revisiting Prima Pils with a better understanding of beer. That beer is perfect at what it is and a wonderful interpretation.
Ten Fidy ...Everyone seemed to like it...Little did I know It would become just a regular staple in my house after one can. Also Big Foot.
Thanks for the suggestions! I've had Sixpoint Resin and do indeed love it. I'll try to get my hands on some Big A.
The list goes on and on. Beers that blew me away include Zombie Dust, PtE, FIS, Ten FIDY.... i.e., a lot of stuff you'd expect to see on a list like this. So I'll list some not-as-highly-acclaimed beers that I had neutral/low expectations for and they ended up being awesome.... Kuhnhenn DRIPA Delirium Tremens Founders Porter Great Lakes Christmas Ale Great Lakes Oktoberfest Dragonmead Under the Kilt Short's Peaches & Creme
Ha! At the time of his post he only listed Heady Topper. By the time I hit enter and submitted my post he added the others. But yes my answer was Heady Topper
These come to mind: BCBS Eclipse 50/50 Elijah Craig 12 Big Worse Pannepot Boulevard's Saison-Brett Recently had a 2008 Matilda that I expected to be good, but it was fantastic.
Deschutes The Dissident, Ballast Point Victory at Sea. The two most intense, albeit very enjoyable, beers I've had
Red's Rye PA. Had it for the first time this past weekend, great stuff. Horrible timing, used to be year round, now a seasonal.
BCBS: For the amount of money it is in PA I didn't think it could live up to my expectations, but I would gladly buy again. Pliny: Only have had it on draft. A lot of my friends think it is overrated, I find it to be way better than any other IPA/DIPA readily available in my area. It also has never been expensive. Imperial Biscotti Break: Superb for a non-barrel aged beer.
For me it definitely has to be rochefort 10 and goose island Dominique, man I wish GI would have bottled that... Oh, and bells wild one because that led me to my love of sours
After hearing the east coasters constantly brag about Flower Power I finally got one and it exceeded my expectations. Uinta Hop Notch is pretty amazing too.
Founders Breakfast Stout. Only tried it for the first time over the weekend and it's now the stout I'll probably measure all others by. Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale because up to that point, I was a non IPA drinker. It opened my eyes to the idea that you just need to find the right flavor profile for a type in order to enjoy it. Now I know to look for grapefruit forward IPAs to try. Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale. I had it on tap in Boston at a crab place and was just amazed at the trueness of the flavors.
Met: ZD, kbs Surpassed: flower power,ninja v unicorn, nemesis '10 And for fun... Did not meet: pte, 2hearted
Jacks Abby lagers. I hate lagers Eclipse JD 300 day Alesmith Decadence 2010 Barrel Aged BCS Cherry Rye Cascade Strawberry Cheers!
Pliny on draft at SD Toranado Abyss Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock Troeg's Nugget Nectar Sucks Zombie Dust Fullsteam Hogwash
I still say Ruination since it was a game changer regarding IPA's for me. But I got the bright idea to look at my ratings and rDevs to see whether that correlated with the numbers - not so much since my score for Ruination was up there with everybody else's and the rDev is pretty small positive. Interesting looking at the scores a little differently.
A few that I can remember: Fresh Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Lagunitas Sucks Conflux No.1 (Collage) Ayinger Celebrator
One I had no expectation of whatsoever--mainly just from lack of information at that point--was AleSmith Horny Devil. Then I drank it and it wowed me. Really one of my favorites despite its miced reviews.
I love Green Flash and most of what they do, but Rayon Vert tastes like dirty band-aids (and yes, I know what Brett is and what it tastes like, and this is overboard)
ZD, then Lagunitas Sucks. Imperial stouts lately have been delicious but I've pretty much been expecting that- Narwhal, BCBS, etc.
I was a little let down by The Dissident. Victory at Sea was great, especially with a year on it. BCBS is my new favorite. Totally surprised given the hype.
