Since 1978, Zymurgy magazine has been the leading light for amateur brewers in North America and around the world. The magazine features innovative and award-winning recipes, articles on do-it-yourself projects, explanations of brewing science, presentations of brewing techniques and a coveted annual Best Breweries in America survey in which its readers voted on the best breweries in the nation. Last June, the Zymurgy readers’ refined palates readers named Bell’s Brewery of Comstock, Michigan, the number one brewery. Since Bell’s and number three voted brewery Russian River Brewing of Santa Rosa, California, don’t distribute in Washington state, Peaks and Pints thought we would present a flight of five other 2017 winner we call Craft Beer Crosscut 3.7.18: A Flight of Zymurgy Best Breweries in America.
No. 7 Deschutes Brewery: Fresh-Squeezed IPA
6.4% ABV, 60 IBU
From one of Oregon’s most heralded breweries, Deschutes Brewery, comes Fresh Squeezed, a Citra-hopped delight. The mouthwatering, delicious Fresh Squeezed IPA receives a liberal dosing of Mosaic and Citra hops for a mango, pineapple, orange and grapefruit morning fruit cup. While the initial flavors are sweet and fruity, a good dose of hop bitterness comes through near the end, keeping it all in perfect harmony.
No. 6 Firestone Walking Brewing: 805 Blonde
4.7% ABV, 20 IBU
Originally called “Honey Blonde,” Firestone Walker’s “805” beer stands by anything local is freshest, and 805 is the area code in the brewery’s hometown of Paso Robles. The beer, a relatively light blonde ale at 4.7 percent alcohol by volume, was originally sold exclusively within a 100-mile radius of the brewery. Today, it has ventured outside of California, including Peaks and Pints in Tacoma, Washington. It offers subtle malt balanced by a touch of hops leading to a clean finish.
No. 5 Stone Brewing: Drew Curtis/Wil Wheaton/Greg Koch Stone Farking Wheaton wOOtstout
13% ABV, 65 IBU
The w00t is back. This year marks the fifth year Stone Brewing’s collaborative imperial stout hits the street. Stone Farking Wheaton W00tstout 2017, a 13 percent ABV imperial stout brewed with rye, wheat malt and pecans before being partially aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels, is a collaboration between actor Wil Wheaton, Fark.com creator Drew Curtis and Stone CEO Greg Koch. It’s named after Wheaton’s annual festival celebrating cross-genre geekdom w00tstock. Expect raisins, coffee and roasted malt flavors with a spicy finish. The booze is evident but for the ABV it goes down easy. Woot! Woot!
No. 4 Sierra Nevada Brewing: Hop Bullet
8% AV, 50 IBU
Sierra Nevada Hop Bullet double IPA sees a double dry-hop of whole Magnum hops and lupulin dust — pure, concentrated hop flavor — directly into the fermenter to emphasize the intense pine and citrus flavors of classic West Coast hops. The lupulin glands in the hop plant contain the essential oils and resins that are responsible for flavor and bitterness. Lupulin dust is the result of the conversion of these oils into a powder by a new process that supposedly retains more of the desirable hop attributes than other forms of hops used by breweries. The result is amazingly fresh and bright pine and citrus aroma and flavor. The body is fairly light for this style with very little malt or bitterness.
No. 2 Founders Brewing: Breakfast Stout
8.3% ABV, 60 IBU
Founders Breakfast Stout was named the third best beer in the 2017 Zymurgy Best Beers in America survey. The Michigan brewery brewed this stout with flaked oats, chocolate, and two kinds of coffee beans. This imperial stout pours jet-black with a thick, tan head that strongly resembles latte foam. In fact, coffee really shines through in this beer, giving off a strong aroma of fresh roasted beans, caramel and roasted malt. If you like your coffee black and your beer before noon, this is the perfect way to start the day.
