It’s been a great couple of months here at The Hopry. I was able to get my new video camera figured out and finally started reviewing craft beers in full 1080 High Definition. Next, I got my website underway and began getting the word out about it. As a result I’ve met some like-minded beer lovers along the way. While only in its infancy stage, I look forward to doing bigger and better things with The Hopry in 2010. I hope you will all stay tuned along the way. But as for 2009, here are the top 10 beers I reviewed last year. Clearly this task will be harder next year as I plan to have at least 100 HD videos (and beers) to peruse before making my final list for 2010. I hope everyone has enjoyed what they’ve watched and read so far. Thank you 1,000 times over for coming back and for caring about what I do. It means a great deal to me. HOPPY NEW YEAR!!!
For a larger HD experience click here.
On the iPod: Fugazi
Posted by Mike on January 3, 2010 at 4:52 PM
These are my favorites that i had for the first time in ’09
10.Smuttynose IPA
9. Hercules DIPA
8.Founders KBS
7.Duvel
6.Racer 5 IPA
5.Founders Breakfast Stout
4.Unfiltered Double Simcoe IPA
3.Founders Devil Dancer
2.Oaked Arrogant Bastard
1.Hop Rod Rye
Posted by thehopry on January 3, 2010 at 6:01 PM
That’s a very nice list, Mike. You’ll be happy to know that I have a Devil Dancer review coming in the next week or so.
Posted by Mike on January 3, 2010 at 6:33 PM
Devil Dancer is a monster! Pretty much everything Founders does is amazing.
I’m looking forward to your review to see if you liked it as much as i did. Oh by the way, after seeing your review on the Péché Mortel i added to my list of beers to try. I’m going to check with some places around here to see if i can get my hands on it. The number 1 beer i need to try is Pliny.
Cheers!
Mike
Posted by Michael on January 3, 2010 at 11:56 PM
2009 was my first year in craft beer. My list:
1. Dieu Du Ceil Peche Mortel
2. Allagash Interlude
3. Ayinger Celebrator
4. Founders Backwoods Bastard
5. Bosteel Tripel Karmeliet
6. De Struise Black Albert
7. Unibroue La Fin Du Monde
8. Moortgat Duvel
9. St Bernardus Abt 12
10. Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux
A few great runners up include Ommegang Rouge, Ithaca Brute, Mikkeller Santa’s Little Helper, Founders Breakfast Stout (haven’t had KBS yet…), Russian River Pliny The Elder (top 10 for most, and a damn fine beer, but I’m just not enough of a hop head), Corsendonk Christmas Ale… Any of these, and many more, could be in the top 10 if you asked me again tomorrow.
Peche Mortel is a tough one for first. I adore it, but the weight and boldness means it’s not quite an anytime/anywhere beer… I have to plan ahead
Still, it stood out so much that I couldn’t help but give it the podium.
Here’s to hoping 2010 won’t bankrupt me in my quest for next year’s top 10 (paying Pennsylvania mark-up is a bitch).
By the way, fantasic blog. I love it. Keep it coming!
Posted by thehopry on January 4, 2010 at 8:22 AM
Michael –
Thank you very much for the great comments and boy did you have a great list. The Peche Mortel is definitely getting some much deserved love this year. Makes me want to go buy a few more. Also, I like that you have the Black Albert on there as well. I have one of those in the fridge waiting to be reviewed, but I’ve been holding off because I feel like all I do is review IPAs and Stouts. Soon, though…
As for the Backwoods Bastard, I’m having a bit of a hard time warming up to that one. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Dirty Bastard, but am hoping that the other three Backwoods I have will mellow out a bit over the next several months. We’ll see…
And definitely understand on the Pliny. It’s nice to hear people actually think the greats aren’t always the bee’s knees sometimes. Keeps things honest and interesting.
Again, thank you for the comments. Very glad you like the site and hope to see more comments soon.
Thanks,
Mark Starr
http://www.thehopry.com
Posted by Michael on January 4, 2010 at 11:51 PM
I love scotch ales, but Dirty Bastard leaves me wanting. But I also adore bourbon aging, and that combined with an otherwise decent scotch was a win. Admittedly, opening one is never a world changing experience, but a beer doesn’t have to be. It consistently keeps me coming back and does so at a reasonable price compared to the imports, so it gets a nod.
Posted by thehopry on January 5, 2010 at 12:26 AM
As it should. I mean Founders really doesn’t make a bad beer and I’ve said numerous times that they are a favorite brewery of mine. I am just surprised to see this one (not a favorite) on so many lists. Either way, it’s a good beer by a great brewery, so I definitely see the appeal. HomeBrewHawk below even has it at #1 on his list. I may like this one more as I work my way through the four pack I have, but who knows. First impressions are big to me…
Posted by HomeBrewHawk on January 4, 2010 at 12:03 PM
My top 10 for 2009 in no particular order.
1. Founders Backwoods Bastard
2. Goose Island Juliet
3. Ayinger Weizenbock
4. New Glarus R&D Golden Ale
5. Stone Vertical Epic 09
6. Surly Darkness
7. Weihenstephaner Vitus
8. Avery Brabant
9. Firestone Walker 12
10. Boulevard Tank 7
I stuck to beers that were new to me in 09.
Posted by thehopry on January 4, 2010 at 12:28 PM
Backwoods Bastard again…very nice. I think I may have to revisit this one tonight when I get home from work. As I mentioned above, it didn’t really hit me right the first time I had it. And love that you have the Tank 7 on there. That is actually my favorite Boulevard beer (even above Saison Brett). I’ll have to review it soon along with the Bourbon Barrel Quad they just released. Thank you for sharing your list…
Posted by Mike on January 4, 2010 at 4:14 PM
I agree with you Mark.
I had Backwoods Bastard once and wasn’t overly thrilled with it. I scored it at 3.6 out of 5 on BA. I liked the regular Dirty Bastard better.
Cheers!
Mike
Posted by HomeBrewHawk on January 5, 2010 at 8:29 AM
I like Bourbon and malty beers, so the Bastard works for me. Founders was definitely the best addition to the KC beer scene. I really liked the Old Curmudgeon, Centennial IPA and Red’s Rye as well. I missed out on the Devil Dancer. On the other hand, the Breakfast stout doesn’t do a whole lot for me. I’m not big on the coffee stouts.
Posted by theReaper16 on January 6, 2010 at 1:19 PM
My top 10 list based on my reviews on BeerAdvocate. I’m only counting beers that I tried for the first time in 2009.
10. Three Floyds Dreadnaught (4.4)
09. Deschutes The Abyss – 2009 vintage (4.4)
08. Goose Island Sofie (4.5)
07. Boulevard [Smokestack Series] Harvest Dance Wheatwine (4.55)
06. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA (4.55)
05. Schnieder Aventinus (4.65)
04. Bell’s HopSlam (4.65)
03. Boulevard [Smokestack Series] Saison-Brett (4.65)
02. Boulevard [Smokestack Series] Imperial Stout (4.7)
01. Pliny the Elder (4.75)
Obviously, I disagree with the idea that Pliny isn’t the bee’s knees. I think its the entire bee, not just the knees. I LOVES me some hops and Pliny gives me the flavor of the Platonic form of the hop flower & marries it to the light mouthfeel that I prefer in hoppy beers.
Also, I’m only one of a few people who think this way, but I don’t see how imperial stouts are supposed to be better than Boulevard’s Impy Stout. That beer was a revelation.
Posted by thehopry on January 6, 2010 at 5:13 PM
Pliny, Dreadnaught, and Hopslam are easily the three best IIPAs out there, so I definitely agree with you. I was told today that Hopslam should be in stores on Friday here in KC so make sure you stalk your local shop. I purchased the 2009 Abyss a month or so ago but haven’t had it yet. I will definitely review it in 2010. Really need to get that Aventinus again, too, because it’s been ages since I’ve had it. Will definitely put on the list to review as well. Lots of other great choices on your list. Love all the respect to Boulevard as they really are a bit underrated. Anyway, that is a wicked list! Love it. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by Jon Rogers on January 13, 2010 at 11:01 PM
My top for 2009 in no particular order:
Left Hand – Milk Stout
Coronado Brewing – Hoppy Daze
Pink Elephant Brewery – Imperious Rushin Stowt
Ska Brewing – Merlo Stout
Airdale Brewing – Dark and Stormy
Lightning Brewery – Elemental Pilsner
Lost Abbey – Avant Garde
Stone – Cali-Belgique IPA
Stone – Levitation Ale (I just appreciate a “light” IPA for when I need to watch the calories or slow down on the ABV.)
Port Brewing – High Tide
Posted by thehopry on January 14, 2010 at 9:19 AM
Hi Jon –
Very interesting list I must say. I’ve had a total of none of them…lol. Can’t wait to try the Hoppy Daze. Also, I do like that there are breweries on there that I’m unfamiliar with (Pink Elephant, Airdale, and Lightining). Means there’s more out there than what I thought. Thanks for sharing your list…
Posted by Jon Rogers on February 17, 2010 at 1:59 AM
I never checked back here, but yes there are quite a few breweries in the SD area that no one knows except the locals. It is a shame, but there are so many big craft brew names here it is hard to get noticed. Airdale I don’t think is bottling yet (I haven’t seen any), but Lightning is bottling with several out on the SD market. Pink Elephant on the other hand, good luck finding. It is a tiny brewery in Blenheim, New Zealand that has been making strong, flavorful beers for 20 years. The operation is so small they hand write the batch and bottle number on each label. This guy takes his beer seriously and if anyone is ever on the south island I recommend you try to locate a few of his bottles. You won’t be disappointed.
Posted by Bob Venekamp on February 2, 2010 at 7:02 PM
Nothing better than kickin back with a craft brew and watching some Hopry on youtube! My first year (well, Nov-Dec) of craft beer, due to my part time job at a wine & spirit store!
Top 10 of 09 (hard to make a particular order out of this)
1. Bell’s Hopslam
2. Stone Old Guardian (2008/2009)
3. Goose Island Bourbon County (2007)
4. Southern Tier Iniquity
5. Three Floyds Dreadnaught
6.Two Brothers Heavier Handed Double IPA
7.Stone Double Bastard (2008)
8. Hoppin’ Frog Boris-The-Crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout
9.Stone Imperial Russian Stout
10.Three Floyds Alpha Klaus
Would LOVE to add Pliny the Younger or Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous to this list for 2010! (Dark Lord WILL be on the list
Thanks for the great reviews Mark!
Posted by Bob Venekamp on February 2, 2010 at 7:05 PM
Obviously had some great Founders and other Stone and Three Floyds, but those were the 10 that really stuck out to me!
Posted by thehopry on February 2, 2010 at 7:16 PM
Thank you, sir! Glad you like the show. That is a very solid list of beers, too. I’m with you on the Pliny the Younger. It’d be very nice if they bottled it one day. Who knows if they will, though. Thank you for sharing your list.
Posted by Tim on September 20, 2010 at 8:52 PM
I know this is from last Christmas – hopefully you will see it – you have really been my inspiration for entering the wild and wooly world that is craft beer. It seems as though craft beers have been so in vogue over the past few years that I have almost been too intimidated to give them a try. Caught your gumballhead review and know I am hooked.
Thanks for all your work. I for one am really enjoying your website and the great new world of tastes that has been opened up for me!
Now let me go crack open my first dreadnaught!