America's Best 50 Beers
By: Leah Rodrigues
Published: July 8, 2011

The American Homebrewers Association has recently released their list of the top 50 American beers in their bi-monthly publication, Zymurgy.  The association asked readers to submit their top 20 favorite beers.  The sole condition was that the beers must be available comercially in the United States.  This year, 1,306 beers were submitted from 433 breweries with Dogfish Head being the top-ranked brewery.
Winning the top spot for the third year in a row was Russian River's Pliny the Elder, a double IPA (Indian Pale Ale).   Finishing second for the second straight year was Bell's Two Hearted Ale, also an IPA.  Russian River's distribution is limited to the West coast with the exception of Pennsylvania.  The company's distribution list is available on their website.  See the full list of winners below.
1. Russian River Pliny the Elder
	2. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
	3 (tie). Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
	3 (tie). Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout
	5. Bell’s Hopslam
	6. Stone Arrogant Bastard
	7. Sierra Nevada Celebration
	8 (tie). Sierra Nevada Torpedo
	8 (tie). Stone Ruination
	10. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
	11. Stone Sublimely Self Righteous
	12. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine
	13. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
	14 (tie). Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
	14 (tie). Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale
	16 (tie). Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
	16 (tie). New Glarus Belgian Red
	18. North Coast Old Rasputin
	19. Bell’s Expedition Stout
	20 (tie). Deschutes The Abyss
	20 (tie). Left Hand Milk Stout
	20 (tie). Odell IPA
	20 (tie). Samuel Adams Noble Pils
	20 (tie). Surly Furious
	20 (tie). Troegs Nugget Nectar
	26 (tie). Rogue Dead Guy Ale
	26 (tie). Samuel Adams Boston Lager
	28. Anchor Steam
	29 (tie). Bear Republic Racer 5
	29 (tie). Ommegang Three Philosophers
	29 (tie). Oskar Blues Ten Fidy
	29 (tie). Three Floyds Alpha King
	29 (tie). Three Floyds Dark Lord
	34 (tie). Avery Maharaja
	34 (tie). Dogfish Head Indian Brown
	34 (tie). Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
	34 (tie). Three Floyds Gumballhead
	38 (tie). Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA
	38 (tie). Lost Abbey Angel’s Share
	38 (tie). New Belgium La Folie
	38 (tie). New Belgium Ranger
	38 (tie). Oskar Blues Old Chub
	43 (tie). Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
	43 (tie). Great Divide Yeti
	43 (tie). New Belgium 1554
	43 (tie). Russian River Blind Pig
	43 (tie). Ska Modus Hoperandi
	48 (tie). Alesmith Speedway Stout
	48 (tie). Dark Horse Crooked Tree
	48 (tie). Green Flash West Coast IPA
	48 (tie). Summit EPA
	48 (tie). Victory Prima Pils

Comments:
John
November 5, 2012

Sam Adams? Twice? Are you kidding me? Also, I see no Abita or Yazoo thus, this list is invalid.
Andy

Three Michigan beers in the top five!  The way it should be (although I am a little disappointed that Short's Brewing didn't make the list).
Rob

This post is embarrassing you should probably take it down.... Nugget nectar tying with boston lager?  Sierra nevada above dogfish head? This is shite
Ryan

Pliny at the top and no allagash on the list? I call BS
bakeca ancona

great stuff
Nate

While its all opinion based...  I agree with this list about 80% ... You're missing a few lighter beers... this is a heavy IPA based list.