There are thousands of craft breweries out there making great beer. There's no way to taste them all. Some have been around for a while, some are new on the scene. I'm shocked at how few of the "great" beers according to BeerAdvocate I've actually been fortunate enough to try. So, I've created a craft beer bucket list for myself. This will be an ever evolving list, as I am able to try some, and as I find new beers to add. As befitting a self-described hophead, this list will be heavy on IPAs, but I've mixed in several other styles, as well. Where available, I took the availability from the brewery's website. Otherwise, it's from BeerAdvocate, so I can't attest to the accuracy.
So, here it is, in alphabetical order:
1. Alchemist Heady Topper
American Double IPA
BeerAdvocate Score: 100, Ranking: #1
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/27039/16814/
Availability: Year-round, only in Vermont
2. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
American IPA
BeerAdvocate Score: 98, Ranking: #61
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/199/29619/
Availability: Year-round
3. Bell's Hopslam Ale
American Double IPA
BeerAdvocate Score: 100, Ranking: #23
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/17112/
Availability: Winter, limited distribution area
3. Bell's Two Hearted Ale
American IPA
BeerAdvocate Score: 95, Ranking: #200
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/1093/
Availability: Year-round, limited distribution area
4. Deschutes The Abyss
American Imperial Stout
BeerAdvocate Score: 100, Ranking: #19
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/34420/
Availability: Winter
5. Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout
American Imperial Stout
BeerAdvocate Score: 100, Ranking: #3
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1146/57747/
Availability: Rotating
6. Lagunitas Sucks
American Double IPA
BeerAdvocate Score: 97, Ranking: #83
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/220/74986/
Availability: Winter
7. New Belgium La Folie
Flanders Oud Bruin
BeerAdvocate Score: 95, Ranking: #237
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/192/1917/
Availability: Yearly single-bottling
8. North Coast Old Rasputin
Russian Imperial Stout
BeerAdvocate Score: 96, Ranking: #141
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/112/412/
Availability: Year-round
9. Ommegang Three Philosophers
Belgian Quadrupel
BeerAdvocate Score: 92, Ranking: NR
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42/3457/
Availability: Year-round
10. Prairie Bomb!
American Imperial Stout
BeerAdvocate Score: 99, Ranking: #52
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30356/94350/
Availability: Rotating
11. Russian River Pliny the Elder
American Double IPA
BeerAdvocate Score: 100, Ranking: #4
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/863/7971/
Availibility: Year-round, very limited distribution area
12. Russian River Pliny the Younger
American Triple IPA
BeerAdvocate Score: 100, Ranking: #2
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/863/21690/
Availibility: Year-round, very limited distribution area
13. Sierra Nevada Celebration
American IPA
BeerAdvocate Score: 93, Ranking: NR
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/1904/
Availibility: Winter
14. Stone Enjoy By IPA
American Double IPA
BeerAdvocate Score: 98, Ranking: #54
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/147/84596/
Availability: Rotating, availability varies based on when it's brewed
