They are becoming few and far between for me, unfortunately. I think it was Sam Smith Apricot Ale for me. Was not expecting that.....
I think the last one to really blow me away was Rice, Rice Baby, a rice milk stout (no lactose) brewed collaboratively between Birdsong Brewing and Free Range Brewing here in Charlotte. It was just perfectly balanced between the roast and sweetness from both vanilla beans and the rice milk.
This is going to be rather pedestrian but I am drinking Founders Harvest Ale and I didn't expect it to be nearly as good as it is. Also, just got back from Minneapolis and tried Furious for the first time. I know it got a lot of hype so I was a little leery but wow...it is well deserved. Edit to add: Founders has never disappointed me so I don't know why I am that surprised but I am.
For me, I wasn't expecting Heavy Handed by Two Brothers, makes me want to move to the midwest, and definitely savor this last one I have.
Oxbow Oxtoberfest, MBC King Titus, or a sneak peak of Allagash's next batch of Red to be released(got the inside tour of the wild room and the Maine rep and good friend cracked open a bottle with two(ish) years on it. AMAZING stuff.) Titus was awesome, turned me back on to porters which I had been straying away from, Oxtoberfest was just incredible in all ways- the touch of smoke at the end really put that beer over the top, and Red is just one of the best stateside sours you can find.
In order of when I tried them: Stone 15th Anniversary: August 2011 Heady Topper: July 2012 Kern Citra: August 2012. This one I revisited and found it to be amazing!!!
completely blown away by, firestone walker double dba. random in a trade but thankful for the chance and now i need more
I also had my first Heady Topper (thank you time4lunch) recently. Before that it was Hop Venom from Boneyard! I can't wait for Boneyard to start canning.
I would have to say Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. I just found out about it and picked up two 4-packs on a friends suggestion, and am ready to go pick up a case tomorrow. Dark truth by boulevard is not far behind. You would not get a stout close to this guy a year ago and now i can't get enough of them.
Rumor is that my local store is supposed to be getting a case of Black Ops and luckily i have a friend at the store that will save me a bottle if they do.
Heady was the biggest revelation in recent memory, but that's over six months ago now. More recently, Lunch was pretty damn good, as was Sofie, but honestly the last time I had Two Hearted on tap (like 2-3 weeks ago), I was really, really surprised at just how good it really is. Unbelievably good beer for the price. Oh, I have a real answer to this: Stillwater Cellar Door, in late May. That blew me away.
Wisconsin Belgian Red but I have had it about a thousand times but last night I had it at a local craft bar and it blew my mind... No beer should have that much awesome flavor at 4%, but I am sure glad it does.
Most recently for me I'd have to say FFF Apocalypse Cow. Took me by surprise and a nice twist on a DIPA.
Pannepot...... as far as a quad..... this really caught me off guard...... very sweet tart/sour foward...... delicious
Epic's Big Bad Baptist. I had to resist every urge in my body last night at dinner from ordering a glass of it, as I was limiting myself to a single lower ABV drink for the night. So hard but I persevered....certainly helped to have other options of interest! But, yeah, loving this beer since discovering a few weeks back. I have made trips to the bar just to have some, plus grabbed some extra bottles for the fridge.
Heavy Seas Loose Cannon, kinda like a DFH 90 Minute light, but not really light...you know what I mean.
Most recently, Smuttynose Baltic Porter. So complex and tasty, and not as viscous as the thickest stouts.
Heady Topper . . . Lives up to the hype. Just plain amazing. Second would have to be SSS from De Molen.
