There are many types of ales. I have combined a list of my top ten ales. I have included seasonal both winter and summer, blondes, scottish, browns and an altbier. I used my personal taste in coming up with this list to include beers I was familiar with such as Troegs, Samuel Smith, Fordham Brewing, Anchor Brewing, Newcastle and Samuel Adams. I also used the U.S. Open Beer Championships, The Beer Advocate and Rate Beer for the ones I wasn’t. Cheers and I hope you enjoy.
Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery Pale Ale took 3rd place at he 2009 United States Open Beer Championship in the English Pale Ale category. My experience tells me Samuel Smith is one of my favorite brewers. The Old Brewery Pale Ale is described as having a taste that “captures the soul of beer.
Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome Ale is Samuel Smith’s holiday ale. Winter Welcome Ale is a beer to give the drinker a bit of warmth. The 6% alcohol per volume is sure to help. “Honey-amber-colored, creamy head of small bubbles, floral aroma and delicious malt flavor with great finesse” describes the taste of Winter Welcome Ale.
Twilight Ale by Oregon’s Deschutes Brewing in Oregon won for being the best Blonde Ale at the 2009 United States Open Beer Championship. Twilight Ale is seasonal ale only available June through September. The ale has a 5% alcohol per volume. The brewers describe “Twilight Ale is a lighter, but full flavored ale with a balanced malt profile and a harmonious blend of four hops.”
Robert The Bruce Scottish Ale, brewed by Indiana’s Three Floyds Brewery finished 4th in the 2009 United States Open Beer Championship in the Scottish Ale Category. Robert The Bruce has 6.5% Alcohol by volume. This beer is only distributed in Indiana and Illinois but is highly ranked due to the success of Three Floyds beers in competitions. Robert The Bruce has “a well rounded malty profile of roasted and caramel notes.”
Samuel Adams Summer Ale took first place in the 2009 United States Open Beer Championship in the American Wheat Beer list. The beer is brewed by the popular craft brewing company called Samuel Adams in Boston. This seasonal brew is brewed with lemon zest, grains of paradise and wheat malt to give a unique taste. I find it leaves the mouth a bit dry after a sip.
Anchor Summer Beer was second to Samuel Adams Summer Ale at the 2009 United States Open Beer Championships in the American Wheat Beer category. The San Francisco brewed beer described as “the ideal drink for beer lovers who appreciate tradition and character in their beer, but also seek a lighter, refreshing style, perfect for warm weather.” The beer has 4.6% alcohol per volume. The seasonal ale is available April through November.
My favorite brown ale is Newcastle Brown Ale from Scotland. This ale finished 9th in the United States Open Beer Championship in the brown ale category. The ale has a 4.7% alcohol per volume. It is brown in color. It is a dark beer.
Troegs Rugged Trail Ale finished 5th in the 2009 United States Open Beer Championship in the brown ale category. The ale is brewed in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Rugged Trail Ale has 4.4% alcohol by volume. Rugged Trail Nut Brown Ale is bronze in color with a velvety smooth taste and subtle chocolate note.” The beer is one of my favorite brown ales brewed by one of my favorite breweries.
Troegs also brews winter ale called The Mad Elf Holiday Ale which is brewed in November and December. This ruby, red ale is potent stuff with 11% alcohol by volume, In other words it is the equivalent of drinking two beers. “The combination of Cherries, Honey, and Chocolate Malts delivers gentle fruits and subtle spices.” A great Holiday ale to warm the spirit.
The Fordham Brewery in Delaware brews Copperhead Ale. Copperhead Ale is their version of an Altbier (German Pale Ale). It has 4.7% alcohol per volume. “Copperhead is significantly hopped to provide its signature balanced flavor this ale is known for” is how the brewers describe it. This Fordham Brewery’s top beer and that is saying a lot considering the quality of their brews.
Sources:
Beerinfo.com
Anchorbrewing.com
Deschutesbrewery.com
Merchantduvin.com
Troegs.com
Beeradvocates.com
Threefloydspub.com
Fordhambrewery.com
