Editor’s Pick – Favorite Craft Beers from 2013

American Craft Beer is not just my voice but many…We’re a community of artists, entrepreneurs, writers, and dangerous hopheads based all over the country and we cover the craft beer scene because we love it. We’re currently 17 correspondents deep and every one of them knows more about the craft beer scene in their own individual cities/regions than I could ever hope to. And with the holidays already upon us and 2013 fast coming to a close, I thought it might be fun to ask each of our writers to reflect upon the craft beer scene in their particular parts of the country and to share some of their favorites. And we’ll be featuring their selections daily throughout December.

So let’s start with me…

As the Editor-In-Chief here at ACB, I’ve assumed the role of the national guy. It’s my job to cover the craft beer scene from a national perspective and most of the content that you’ll see in our regular columns like Quick Hits, Rumor Mill, Newbies or Weekend Picks does that. So although I’m asking all our correspondents to highlight craft beers from their own particular regions, I’m exercising a little liberty at my end and will be picking my favorites from all over the country.

Again we’ll all be picking our favorite beers from this year and a favorite for me comes with context. Of course, the beer needs to taste great to begin with (or why bother)…but it’s more than that. One of my favorite beers from this year was a brilliantly crafted Pilsner that my friend and Dallas-based co-editor Amber Medin shipped me up from Texas. It was mid-afternoon on a smoking hot summer day in Washington, DC, and I had just finished mowing the lawn when I opened it for the first time – and it was nirvana. A favorite beer for me is more than the beer itself – it’s everything about that sometimes intangible moment that can make something great all the more memorable.

Favorite Beers from 2013

, Editor’s Pick – Favorite Craft Beers from 2013Zomer Pils – Lakewood Brewing Company
Zomer Pils was the beer I enjoyed that hot DC afternoon and it’s from Garland, Texas-based Lakewood Brewing Company. Their take on the Czech-style Pilsner was crisp, confident, and incredibly true to the European tradition – and it made a sweltering day a total pleasure.

, Editor’s Pick – Favorite Craft Beers from 2013Non-Stop Session IPAAirways Brewing / American Craft Beer
When Alex and Dione Dittmar, the co-founders and owners of Airways Brewing, first approached ACB about brewing a special collaboration with them, we were all obviously psyched. After all, this Kent-based brewery has an almost cult-like following in the Seattle area – and the fact that a collaboration project between an industry news & lifestyle site and a brewery the caliber of Airways had never happened before was enough to get everybody’s juices flowing. But just because something’s a good idea doesn’t mean it has to be any good. But thanks to Head Brewer Alex Dittmar’s deft hand and solid instincts, Non-Stop Session IPA delivered in spades and I was proud to be associated with it.

, Editor’s Pick – Favorite Craft Beers from 2013Imperiale High Gravity Stout Ninkasi Brewing
Stouts are cold weather beers for me. I don’t really crave them till the temperatures drop below forty. And although I’m a huge fan of Eugene, Oregon’s Ninkasi Brewing and love what they do, I’ve never had the opportunity to sample a stout from them. So when Ninaksi’s Communications Manager Ali AAsum sent me a bottle of their Imperiale and suggested that I hold it for Thanksgiving – I did exactly that and was thankful that I did. This is a big, dark, rich beauty of a beer that’s made for the holidays, and in spite of its aggressive 9.1% ABV, it’s surprisingly drinkable. A lot of West Coast brewers make terrific Imperial Stouts and Ninkasi’s Imperiale is without a doubt my newest favorite.

So that’s it for me… Be sure to check in with us tomorrow for some more favorites from 2013…

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