Your Beers of the Year 2011.

[aleandhearty]

OK, there are a couple of weeks to go, but I thought I'd get things started to give people a chance to reflect and ponder awhiles. Personally, I think it's been another very good for beer, though on an anecdotal level I seem to have found more problems with quality and conditioning in the last couple of months, than the rest of the entire year. No doubt a reflection of the parlous times we live in.

My choices are based on those I've actually drunk and enjoyed over the last twelve months, I'm not saying they're necessarily the best twelve out there. Anyhoo, they are:

Dark Star - Hophead.
Sarah Hughes - Ruby Mild.
Ossett - B2K IPA.
Five Towns - Lucky7.
Fernandes - Malt Shovel Mild.
Elland - Nocturne.
Mallinsons - NZ3.
Northern - Two Tone Stout.
Kirkstall - Black Band Porter.
Magic Rock - High Wire.
Magic Rock - Dark Arts.
Fyne Ales - Jarl.

As someone who tends to drink at the pale end of the spectrum most of the time, I'm surprised at the number of dark beers in the list (approx 2:1), but maybe my enjoyment of them is a reaction to pale beer overload?

If I had to pick a champion beer, then it's an easy choice (and probably no surprise to many), the superb Magic Rock High Wire.

What about everybody else?

[Bucking Fastard]

Like a&h,a lot of my drinking is focussed on the lighter end of the colour spectrum and here are some runners and riders in that category:

Fyne Jarl
Thornbridge Chiron
Redemption Big Chief
Blue Monkey BG Sips
Oakham Citra
Oakham Bishop's Farewell
Titanic White Star
Magic Rock High Wire
Steel City Brewing Riot in Paradise
Marble W90


I have tried this year to be a bit more adventurous and have a go at a few more dark ales and glad I did so.In this area these were some memorable pints

Titanic Chocolate Vanilla Stout
Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby
Red Squirrel London Porter
Fullers London Porter

Two other more traditional bitters also stand out

Bathams Bitter
Bass (which I believe is now brewed by Marston's and has regained it's sulphur nose)


So pint of the year is going to be a difficult decision and I may well have forgotten some complete stars.However compiling that list shows that 2011 was a good year and made me rather thirsty.Off down The Edgar Wallace tomorrow ,lets hope that trip adds to the list.

[Thuck Phat]

This year I have mostly been drinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oakham Bishops Farewell.

[Farway]

This year I have mostly been drinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HSB

Mainly because as ex Gales area most are now Fuller's pubs, limited choice TBH, but still a nice pint

[MJ71]

My favourites of 2011 have not been particularly new beers:

1) RCH Pitchfork. Gorgeous as always.
2) Salopian Shropshire Gold
2) Holdens Black Country Bitter
4) Gadds no.7
5) Dark Star American Pale Ale.

[oldboots]

after a long hard think I've narrowed it down to anything by Mallinsons, Oakham or Salamander

[Oggwyn Trench]

after a long hard think I've narrowed it down to anything by Mallinsons, Oakham or Salamander

Agreed but could easily add anything by White Rose , Pictish or Salopian , decisions decisions !

[Strongers]

I've not really got a beer of the year, but I've been drinking a lot of Dark Star this year and I've not found one I don't like. So hats off to them.

[Spinko]

I scrolled right through all your choices as I wanted to make my own before reading yours, and then read yours.

I've had a good number of tasty Ossett and Fernandes ales, but because they never call their best ones the same name twice, I can't remember any of them.

Oldenshaw-Heavenly Blonde
Rat-King Rat
Magic Rock-Cannonball

I would like to add Thornbridge-Kipling but I won't, because I'm not sure if I had it this year!

[Old Blue]

I've not really got a beer of the year, but I've been drinking a lot of Dark Star this year and I've not found one I don't like. So hats off to them.

I'm in pretty much the same place, loads of great stuff from Dark Star, with Oakham, Thornbridge and (less consistently) Cottage putting in really good showings also.

Plymouth City Roller Girls' Skullcrusher by Summerskills remains the most memorable of my year, though I'm not sure what fantasies that might betray...