The end of the year is upon us so lets get to which beers tasted in 2016 made a favorable impression on yours truly. To be eligible, the beer had to have been tasted in the calendar year 2016 and logged into Untappd. With 202 beers, ciders, and hard sodas eligible, it was tough, but winners for #BeeroftheYear, #BreweryoftheYear, and #BestLocalBeer were chosen. Without further ado, here are the 2016 #gravyallovahbeerawards recipients:
- Beer of the Year-Honorable Mention: Best Damn Cherry Cola
2016 Honorable Mention for Beer of the Year
Beer: Best Damn Cherry Cola
Style and ABV: Malt Liquor, 5.5% ABV
Brewery: Best Damn Brewing Company (a subsidiary of AB-Inbev)
My Untappd Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Notes: Its not a real beer and its an AB-Inbev product so I know the snobs will disagree, but like Taylor Swift says “a haters gona hate hate hate hate hate.” And I love cherry cola. The taste is nearly spot-on and it goes down so smooth that you forget that its alcohol. It needed to be mentioned in the top beers so it gets an honorable one in 2016.
- Beer of the Year-2nd Runner-up: Toaster Pastry
2016 2nd Runner-up for Beer of the Year
Beer: Toaster Pastry
Style and ABV: India-Style Red Ale, 7.6% ABV, 74 IBUs
Brewery: 21st Amendment
My Untappd Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.25
Notes: I really like a good Red Ale and this one didn’t disappoint. I’d be lying if I said that the intrigue of a Pop-Tart beer didn’t lure me in. I picked this one up in a nice store in Annapolis, MD after searching for it on other trips. You can read more about this beer at http://21st-amendment.com/beers/toaster-pastry/
- Best Local Beer: Hop Kine
2016 Best Local (Hawaii) Beer
Beer: Hop Kine
Style and ABV: India Pale Lager, 5.7% ABV, 52 IBUs
Brewery: Maui Brewing Co
My Untappd Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.25 (for now)
Notes: I have been waiting for a crushable lager that had more flavor and some hoppiness to it and to get one made locally is a bonus. Last year I had Sierra Nevada’s Nooner pilsner, which is still great, but Hop Kine is on another level. An India Pale Lager that takes the goodness of an IPA with the goodness of a lager and combines it to make something so good, it should be available more widely. It’s a lager that is more my style, lots of hoppiness without too much biterness and very very drinkable. Extra: the hop honu (turtle) logo is badass, I want it on a hat or shirt! Too bad the cans were changed for branding purposes, we may never see the logo again 😢
- Beer of the Year-1st Runner-up: Flannel Friday
2016 1st Runner-up for Beer of the Year
Beer: Flannel Friday
Style and ABV: Red Ale/American Amber, 5.7% ABV, 35 IBUs
Brewery: Harpoon
My Untappd Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.25
Notes: See, I told you I like Red Ales. I wish I could get this here. Im not even sure where I got it or if someone brought it back for me. All I know is I will be on the lookout for it whenever I go back east. This beer has such a great malty character that exemplifies what an american amber ale should be. Plus the hat and poke complemented the beer in the pic 😛
- Brewery of the Year: Sixpoint Craft Ales
2016 Brewery of the Year
Beers tried in 2016: Bengali, Hi-Res, 5 Beans, Sweet Action, Resin (had previously, but this year as well)
Brewery: Sixpoint Craft Ales
My Untappd Rating: between 🌟🌟🌟🌟 and 🌟🌟🌟🌟.25
Notes: What is not to like about this brewery? They have a cool name and logo, they use the skinny cans like Red Bull, and create awesome beers. I hunted down Resin a couple years back and have been hooked ever since. This year I got to try four more of their beers and wasn’t disappointed. From their IPA, to double and triple IPA, to a imperial porter and a cream ale, each one could have taken a spot in these awards. For making so many good beers and their commitment to crafting ales, Sixpoint, gets Brewer of the Year in 2016.
- Beer of the Year: Death By Coconut
2016 Beer of the Year
Beer: Death By Coconut
Style and ABV: Porter, 6.5% ABV, 45 IBUs
Brewery: Oskar Blues
My Untappd Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Notes: Oh when oh when will we get Oskar Blues here? After trying this beer, I knew I had to get more. Finally got to go over to Maui and bring back some a few weeks back. This beer is unbelieveable. The coconut aroma coupled with the chocolatey malt makes it tastes like i’m drinking a Bounty candy bar. I thought nothing could beat MBC’s coconut porter, but this one was just so decadent, I knew this one was the BOTY (Beer of the Year) once it passed my gums. I am a big fan of Oskar Blues even though my tastings have been limited to only a few of what I can get my hands on. I hear there is a barrel-aged variant of this one as well, but without a trip to the continent on the horizon, probably won’t get it anytime soon. I do have a small stash of the original now, so I will survive for a bit.
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Congratulations to all of the winners and all the beers consumed even though many didn’t win, they were all great craft beers. Feel free to send samples to me so that your faves can be considered for a 2017 award! 2016 was a blast so here is to good beers and a hoppy 2017 🍻
Island Beer Union 