Zymurgy Presents the 17th annual Best Beers and Breweries in America

The results are in for the 17th annual Best Beers and Breweries in America poll from Zymurgy magazine. Each year readers for Zymurgy are asked about the favorite beers and breweries that are commercially available in the United States.

Zymurgy magazine is the publication of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA), and each year for the past 17 years have polled their readers in a survey to come up with the top beers and breweries. With over 7,400 breweries in America, Two Hearted Ale from Bell’s Brewery earned the top spot for the third consecutive year.

“Being selected as a winner for this esteemed list is no small feat. All of this year’s winners showcase exceptional flavors, expertly crafted by some of the greatest talent in the brewing industry,” said Gary Glass, director, American Homebrewers Association in a statement. “I’d like to extend congratulations to all of this year’s winners and toast to their exemplary beers favorited by homebrewers and beer lovers alike.”

“It is an honor to once again be awarded the top-ranking spots among so many great breweries and beers,” said John Mallett, director of operations, Bell’s Brewery in a statement. “Only the best Centennial hops, a commitment to quality by the entire Bell’s team, and the splendor of our home state are all part of the beauty of Two Hearted Ale. There is one other vital component, the beer lover. “We are truly humbled to be recognized by the finest palates in homebrewing.”

John Mallett (right) from Bell's Brewery at the Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival.
John Mallett (right) from Bell’s Brewery at the Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival.

Here are the results for the 2019 Best Beers in America survey. You can also check out the Best Beers in America results broken down by individual state. And for the homebrewers out there, click on the hyperlinked beers for a clone recipe that you can brew at home.

Top Ranked Beers:
1. Bell’sTwo Hearted Ale*
2. Russian River Pliny the Elder*
3. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale*
4FoundersKBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)
5. The Alchemist Heady Topper*
6. Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS)
T7. Founders All Day IPA
T7. Bell’s Hopslam*
T9. Founders Breakfast Stout
T9. WeldWerks Juicy Bits*
11. Cigar City Jai Alai IPA*
T12. Tree House Julius*
T12. Three Floyds Zombie Dust*
14. Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro*
15. DeschutesFresh Squeezed IPA*
T16. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale*
T16. New Holland Dragon’s Milk*
T18. Lawson’s Finest Liquids Sip of Sunshine*
T18. Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale*
20. Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout
T21. Allagash White*
T21. The Alchemist Focal Banger*
23. North Coast Old Rasputin*
T24. Odell IPA*
T24. Russian River Blind Pig I.P.A.*

Top Breweries:
1. Bell’s Brewery, Comstock, MI*
2. Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids, MI
3. Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa & Windsor, CA*
4. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA & Mills River, NC*
5. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE*
6. Tree House Brewing Company, Charlton, MA*
7. The Alchemist, Stowe, VT*
T8. Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR*
T8. Odell Brewing Company, Fort Collins, CO*
T10. Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles, CA*
T10. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA*
T12. Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City, MO*
T12. Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, FL*
T12. WeldWerks Brewing Co., Greeley, CO*
15. New Glarus Brewing Company, New Glarus, WI*
16. New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO & Asheville, NC*
17. Three Floyds Brewing Company, Munster, IN*
T18. Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, CA & Chicago, IL
T18. Oskar Blues Brewery, Longmont, CO, Brevard, NC, & Austin, TX*
20. Tröegs Independent Brewing, Hershey, PA*
21. Avery Brewing Company, Boulder, CO
22. Allagash Brewing Company, Portland, ME*
23. Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont, CO*
T24. Goose Island Beer Company, Chicago, IL
T24. Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN*

All breweries marked with an asterisk are currently considered small and independent craft brewers according to the industry trade group Brewers Association.