The 20 Best Beers in the World

Not sure if you’re making the most out of those tap picks at the bar? Ratebeer, the number one beer-rating website, has now ensured you never make the wrong choice when it comes to your favored brew. The site, with more than three million beer reviews, has compiled a list of the twenty best beers available – and without further ado…

The experts named Stone’s Imperial Russian Stout at its twentieth pick, with its thick, rich pour; Bell’s came in at numbers 19 and 18, with Batch 7000 Ale (with hints of vanilla and caramel)taking the 19th honor, and Bell’s Hopslam Ale (which uses six different hops) at 18. 3 Fonteinen’s Schaerbeekse Kriek was named number 17 for its use of wheat, malt, hops and rare Schaerbeek cherries, and one of the strongest beers in the world, Hürlimann’s Samichlaus, was sixteenth. Hair of the Dog’s Fred from the Wood, aged for six months prior to pour, was fifteenth. Deschutes Brewery’s The Abyss, made with licorice and molasses, was named 14 and at 13 was Surly’s Darkness, made in Minnesota. Westvleteren’s Extra 8, brewed by monks in Belgium, earned the 12th spot. At number 11 was Russian River’s Supplication, aged in used Pinot Noir barrels.

The top 10 list was just as colorful: Hair of the Dog’s Adam was named 10; Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout, aged in 18-year-old bourbon barrels, at nine; Russian River’s Temptation, aged in Chardonnay barrels, at eight; and Russian River’s Pliny the Elder named seventh best bear, made from a blend of citrus, pine and fresh hops. The 6th KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout), brewed from coffee and chocolates.

Three Floyds Brewing’s Dreadnaught Imperial IPA took the fifth honor, Bell’s Expedition Stout was named number four and AleSmith’s Speedway Stout named third best. Second place was another Three Floyds Brewing beer, this time the Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout, which is only sold one day of the year (on “Dark Lord Day”), and only 6,000 bottles are made. Taking the top honor is Westvleteren’s 12, a beer made with only six ingredients, and sold weekly from the steps of a monastery in Belgium.

Not surprising, the first and last place picks were only separated by a margin of .284 – making it almost impossible to go wrong ordering a beer that made its way on to the list.

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