The results are in! For the second year in a row, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale was named number one in the annual Best Beers in America survey conducted by Zymurgy magazine. Now running in its 16th year, the survey asks members of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA), which publishes Zymurgy, to choose up to five of their favorite commercial beers available for purchase in the U.S.
“As brewers, the members of American Homebrewers Association can discern the subtle differences between a good beer and an outstanding beer,” said Gary Glass, director, American Homebrewers Association. “Zymurgy’s Best Beers in America survey showcases which commercial beers are truly the best of the best out there, and all the breweries who made the list should be proud.”
Despite the plethora of delicious options available to beer lovers, the same two beers have been battling it out for first place for the past eight years. For the second straight year, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale bested Russian River’s Pliny the Elder, which had taken the top spot from 2009 to 2016.
“When I think about the elements that Bell’s shares with the passionate homebrewing community, the values that rise to the top include creativity, a meticulous attention to detail, and the joy of sharing thoughtfully crafted beers with friends,” said John Mallett, director of operations, Bell’s. “To be recognized for excellence by people who truly understand all that goes into creating and delivering quality beers and experiences to our communities is a huge honor. These values are true drivers for us all.”
1. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
2. Russian River Pliny the Elder
3. The Alchemist Heady Topper
4. Bell’s Hopslam
T5. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
T5. Founders CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout)
T5. Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)
8. Three Floyds Zombie Dust
9. Founders Breakfast Stout
T10. WeldWerks Juicy Bits
T10. Founders All Day IPA
T12. Cigar City Jai Alai IPA
T12. Tree House Julius
T12 Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA
15. Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale
16. The Alchemist Focal Banger
17. Toppling Goliath Pseudo Sue
T18. Lawson’s Finest Liquids Sip of Sunshine
T18. Sierra Nevada Celebration
T18. Russian River Blind Pig I.P.A.
21. Melvin 2×4 DIPA
22. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
T23. Surly Todd The Axe Man
T23. Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout
T25. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
T25. Odell IPA
T27. Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro
T27. Old Nation M-43 N.E. IPA
29. North Coast Old Rasputin
T30. Russian River Pliny the Younger
T30. Surly Furious
T30. New Holland Dragon’s Milk
33. Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
T34. Arrogant Bastard Ale
T34. Ommegang Three Philosophers
T36. Firestone Walker Parabola
T36. Allagash White
T36. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
T36. Fat Head’s Hop JuJu Imperial IPA
T36. Prairie Artisan Ales Bomb!
T43. Summit Extra Pale Ale
T43. Founders Dirty Bastard
T43. Bell’s Oberon Ale
T43. Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale
T43. Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
T43. Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin
T49. Odd13 Codename: Superfan
T49. Tree House Green
T49. Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA
T49. Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin
T49. Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA
T49. Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA
T49. New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red
T49. Odell Rupture
T49. Creature Comforts Tropicália
T49. Orval
Top-Ranked Breweries:
1. Bell’s Brewery, Inc., Comstock, Mich.*
2. Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.
3. Russian River Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, Calif.*
4. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif. and Mills River, N.C.*
5. Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles, Calif.*
T6. Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Ore.*
T6. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Del.*
8. Stone Brewing, Escondido, Calif.*
9. The Alchemist, Stowe, Vt.*
10. Three Floyds Brewing Company, Munster, Ind.*
Top-Ranked Beer Portfolios:
1. Stone Brewing (33 beers)*
2. Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (29 beers)*
T3. New Belgium Brewing (24 beers)*
T3. Founders Brewing Co. (24 beers)
5. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (23 beers)*
T6. Avery Brewing Co. (22 beers)
T6. Hill Farmstead Brewery (22 beers)*
T7. Boulevard Brewing Co. (20 beers)*
T7. Trillium Brewing Co. (20 beers)*
T9. Bell’s Brewery (19 beers)*
T9. Deschutes Brewery (19 beers)*
T9. Odell Brewing (19 beers)*
T9. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (19 beers)*
T9. The Bruery (19 beers)*
T9. Three Floyds Brewing (19 beers)