Now I'm just updating the rankings as groups of taste tests are completed. A few things to note:
1. Within categories, the beers are not really ranked (though I do kinda put them in order based on latest results).
2. A beer doesn't leap to the top until it has been tested at least twice, usually much more often.
3. As often as possible, I try to include an established beer in a tasting with new or new-ish beers as a benchmark. Sometimes this is a huge help, other times it messes everything up.
4. I won't test a beer unless I or a friend I trust really like it, or it has a great reputation. Merely appearing on this list means a beer is good.
5. Taste tests are generally 3 to 4 beers, with at least 4 testers. Testers vary, except I always participate. Occasionally I will do 5 beers, and I will only do more for a "fun" test - I have 6 of the top ten and plan on doing an "all-star" tasting.
Here is the master list:
SOLID WINNERS:
COAST Boyking
Fiddlehead 2nd Fiddle
Odell Myrcenary
Firestone Walker Double Jack (no longer available)
Edmund's Oast Viridi Rex
Burlington It's Complicated Being a Wizard
Prairie Phantasmagoria
Alaskan Hopothermia
SERIOUS CONTENDERS:
AleSmith Double IPA
Evil Twin Lost Souls
Westbrook Two Claw
Maine Beer Company Dinner
Upper Pass Cloud Drop
Frost Beer Works Slush
Frost Beer Works Lush
Single Cut Softly Spoken Magic Spells
AWESOME, BUT NOT BEST EVER:
Russian River Pliny the Elder
Tree House Bright
Alchemist Heady Topper
Alchemist Focal Banger
Lawson's Sip of Sunshine
18th Street ZERO Discipline
Greater Good Greylock
Trillium Melcher Street
Clown Shoes Galactica
Maui Brewing Double Overhead
Weyerbacher Double Simcoe
New Belgium Rampant
Foley Brothers Prospect
MIDDLE GROUND:
Southern Barrel Slippery Slope
Edmund's Oast Viridi Rex
Burlington It's Complicated Being a Wizard
Prairie Phantasmagoria
Alaskan Hopothermia
SERIOUS CONTENDERS:
AleSmith Double IPA
Evil Twin Lost Souls
Westbrook Two Claw
Maine Beer Company Dinner
Upper Pass Cloud Drop
Frost Beer Works Slush
Frost Beer Works Lush
Single Cut Softly Spoken Magic Spells
AWESOME, BUT NOT BEST EVER:
Russian River Pliny the Elder
Tree House Bright
Alchemist Heady Topper
Alchemist Focal Banger
Lawson's Sip of Sunshine
18th Street ZERO Discipline
Greater Good Greylock
Trillium Melcher Street
Clown Shoes Galactica
Maui Brewing Double Overhead
Weyerbacher Double Simcoe
New Belgium Rampant
Foley Brothers Prospect
MIDDLE GROUND:
Southern Barrel Slippery Slope
Southern Tier 2xIPA
Trillium Vicinity
Stone Ruination 2.0Trillium Vicinity
Second Fiddle Mastermind
Alchemist Crusher
Boulevard Brewing The Calling
Wicked weed Freak of Nature
Trout River Hangry Angler
Farnham B72
Banded Horn Daikaiju
Melvin Brewing 2 by 4
Lord Hobo Boom Sauce
Bear Republic Racer X Double IPA
BOTTOM DWELLERS (still good but not competitive):
Shmaltz She Brew
Clown Shoes Space Cake
Shmaltz Wishbone
Firestone Walker Leo vs. Ursus Fortem
Foley Brothers Fair Maiden
Foley Brothers Pieces of Eight
Benford Problem Solver
Westbrook Three Claw
Exhibit A Hair Raiser
Heavy Seas Double Cannon
Crooked Run Orbz