Le Coq Imperial Extra Double Stout, Harvey & Sons (Lewes, East Sussex, England): When I am overcome by somber melancholy because I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders, there is no more fitting consolation. (HD)
Old Dubh, Harviestoun Brewery (Alva, Scotland)
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Weiss, Brauerei Heller (Bamberg, Germany)
Gouden Carolus, Brouwerij Het Anker (Mechelen, Belgium): A strong amber ale named after the gold coin that commemorated the rule of Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire, who lived in Mechelen. A sumptuous bittersweet beer full of rich fruit, malt and spicy hops. (RP)
Secession Black IPA, Hopworks Urban Brewery (Portland, OR)
Mort Subite Oude Gueuze, Brouwerij De Keersmaeker (Kobbegem, Belgium)
Also suggested: Oude Kriek
La Trappe Isid’or, Bierbrouwerij de Koningshoeven (Berkel-Enschot, The Netherlands): I have been fortunate enough to have tasted all of the Trappist beers (including those reserved for the monks and not for sale to the public), except for this one. I don’t know that it is good or bad, but I want to have it just because I can no longer say that I’ve tasted all of the Trappist beers. (DT)
Koutska Desitka, Pivovar Kout na Šumavě(Kout na Šumavě, Czech Republic): I think this is in bottles (we had it on draft). Must be drunk fresh. (SH2)
Old Gnarlywine (2006, 2008), Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Lagunitas, CA)
Lammin Sahti, Lammin Sahti Oy (Lammi, Finland)
La Wépionnaise, Brasserie Lefebvre (Quenast, Belgium): Deep in French-speaking Belgium, south of Namur, the small town of Wépion grows strawberries, so they contracted to have a beer made with strawberries. It is something of a novelty, but really quite enjoyable. (MS)
Imperial Stout, Left Hand Brewing Co. (Longmont, CO): We can’t get them in Portland (hint, hint) but I grab some when I cross the mighty Columbia River and do some beer shopping in Washington. (LM)
Also suggested: Milk Stout
Cuvée de Tomme, The Lost Abbey (San Marcos, CA): I could list a bunch of Lost Abbey beers because some days one is a favorite and others another. But I sure as heck want to make sure this one isn’t left off your list. (SH2)
Also suggested: Angel’s Share, Cable Car
Arctic Devil Barley Wine, Midnight Sun Brewing Co. (Anchorage, AK): One of the first, and best, barrel-aged big brews. (AM)
Also suggested: Monk’s Mistress Special Dark Ale, The Obliteration Series
Beer Geek Brunch, Mikkeller (København, Denmark): This is the infamous beer brewed with the special coffee beans that have passed through the digestive tract of the Asian palm civet. It’s a tasty beer, very intense, but chocolaty, without much of the bitterness associated with black coffee. The coffee is rare and expensive and Mikkeller uses a significant percentage of the world’s supply each time he does a batch. (GK)
Murray’s Anniversary Ale, Murray’s Craft Brewing Co. (Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia): While there are many excellent one-offs produced each year, the Anniversary Ale from Murray’s is an annual worth waiting for. A barley wine suitable for aging, this beer offers a fresh twist to the base recipe every year. (MK)
Anniversary X, North Coast Brewing Co. (Ft. Bragg, CA)
Also suggested: Oak-Aged Rasputin Imperial Stout
Whiskey Barrel Aged Smoked Porter, O’Fallon Brewery (O’Fallon, MO): The wax-dipped bomber of this bourbon-aged version of their GABF-gold winning Smoked Porter has passed my lips twice at rare beer tasting parties and each time came away as my favorite. (BY)
Thomas Hardy’s Ale, O’Hanlon’s Brewing Co. (Whiple, Devon, England)
Good King Henry Special Reserve, Old Chimneys Brewery (Market Weston, Suffolk, England): From a tiny brewery in East Anglia that produces a fine range of always very good beers, this is the pick of the crop. A Russian stout aged over oak chips. (JE)
Three Philosophers, Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, NY): Just the sort of elixir that makes you feel in harmony with the universe. (HD)
Orval Trappist Ale, Brasserie d’Orval (Villers-devant-Orval, Belgium)
Kilt Lifter, Pike Brewing Co. (Seattle, WA): A truly wonderful wee heavy ale to pair with aged cheddars. (LS)
Pinkus Honig Malz, Brauerei Pinkus Müller (Münster, Germany): An organic low-alcohol beer brewed with honey. This type of beer is traditional for kids and expectant mothers, but is delicious for everyone, no matter their age or condition. Because it is a little higher in alcohol than 0.5 percent it can’t be sold in America as a non-alcoholic beer―damn. (CF)
Kate the Great, Portsmouth Brewery (Portsmouth, NH)
Palmator, Brauerei Prösslbräu (Adlersberg, Germany): A dark doppelbock, available year round, but rarely found outside the walls of a former cloister that surrounds the brewery and its beer garden. Visit the brewery and pick up a few bottles if you ever find yourself on the motorway between Passau and Nürnberg. (CS1)
Snow Cap Ale, Pyramid Breweries (Seattle, WA)
Old Crustacean (2005), Rogue Ales (Newport, OR)
Temptation, Russian River Brewing Co. (Santa Rosa, CA): It’s becoming more easily available, but is still my favorite of the Russian River barrel beers. (SH2)
Also suggested: Pliny the Elder and Younger, Toronado 20th Anniversary Ale
Yorkshire Stingo, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery (Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England): A rare bottle-conditioned offering from the reclusive Sam Smith’s brewery, aged in oak too. (JE)
Schönramer Pils, Private Landbrauerei Schönram (Schönram, Germany): Available in the States, but this is another beer that really needs to be drunk fresh. (SH2)
Koff Porter, Sinebrychoff (Kerava, Finland)
Abt 12, St. Bernardus Brewery (Watou, Belgium): This week (month), I can’t seem to find St. Bernardus Abt 12―just when I’m wanting to cook with it! (RD)
Aardmonnik-Earthmonk, Struise Brouwers-De (De Panne, Belgium): A regular product in such demand that it ships to many different countries when available. (CC)
Black Damnation IV-Coffee Club, De Struise Brouwers (De Panne, Belgium): Black Albert aged in rum barrels, 14 percent ABV, with flavors of dark malt, black African cacao, Uruguayan coffee, vanilla, voodoo magic, honey, tobacco and fruitiness. (CS2)
Also suggested: Black Albert Imperial Stout
Wöllnitzer Weisse, Gasthausbrauerei Talschänke (Jena, Germany): Very similar to Berliner weisse although slightly less acidic―very low in hop bitterness and only 2.5 percent ABV. The most interesting beer from any German brewpub; the ideal pairing for any fish and seafood dish, and due to its acidity it keeps for years. (CS1)
Rye Squared, Terrapin Beer Co. (Athens, GA): When Georgia raised its alcohol limit on beer to 14 percent in 2004, the trailblazers at Terrapin decided to concoct a double-strength version of their popular Rye Pale Ale. Part of Terrapin’s Monster Beer Tour, Rye Squared usually hits the shelves in February each year. (OO)
St Petersburg Imperial Stout, Thornbridge Brewery (Bakewell, Derbyshire, England): Most innovative of Britain’s craft brewers, the beer is stored in oak casks and different versions are matured in whisky casks and Cognac barriques. (RP)
Also suggested: Bracia, Jaipur India Pale Ale
Dark Lord, Three Floyds Brewing Co. (Munster, IN): Try as I might to ignore hype, it’s pretty much impossible. I might never get to try Dark Lord, so if the opportunity ever presented itself, I would have to jump all over it. (DT)
Surfing Hop, Birra Toccalmatto (Fidenza, Parma, Italy): Strong ale with an Italian twist to them (sometimes owed to a Belgian yeast strain). (CS1)
Also suggested: Skizoid
Traquair House Ale, Traquair House Brewery (Innerleithen, Scotland): History in a bottle. Produced in the original estate brewery located under the chapel―fabulous warm or cool with notes of fruitcake, dark fruit and spices. Yes, I said fruitcake―in its only edible form. (LV)
Trumer Pils, Trumer Brauerei (Salzburg, Austria)
Uerige Doppelsticke, Hausbrauerei Uerige (Düsseldorf, Germany): Usually not available in Europe at all, it’s fairly easy to find in the U.S. market. (CS1)
Trader Joe’s Vintage Ale, by Unibroue (Chambly, QC, Canada)
Also suggested: Unibroue 15
Gose, Upright Brewing Co. (Portland, OR): A refreshing seasonal German beer style with a 300-year history, brewed with salt. (LM)
Also suggested: Upright Brewing’s numbered French-inspired beers
Waldhaus Pils, Waldhaus Brewery (Waldhaus, Baden-Württember, Germany): Arguably the most aromatic pilsner in Germany―the nice little brewery is in the southernmost part of the Black Forest. (CS1)
Westmalle Extra, Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle (Westmalle, Belgium)
Worthington’s White Shield, White Shield Brewery (Burton-upon-Trent, England): Now being produced in slightly greater quantities in Burton-upon-Trent, but still not at all widely available―a textbook bottle-conditioned ale. (SB)
Zyviec Porter, Zyviec Brewery (Zyviec, Poland): Actually a black lager, matured for 90 days, it’s now a rare example of a Baltic porter. (RP)
