Seventh Consecutive Win for Russian River’s Pliny the Elder
Boulder, CO • June 18, 2015—For the seventh year running, Russian River’s well-known and beloved double IPA, Pliny the Elder, has been tapped for the top spot on Zymurgy magazine’s list of the Best Commercial Beers in America.
“I say it every year, but we really are honored and humbled. There are so many great beers out there,” said Vinnie Cilurzo, Co-Founder and Brewmaster, Russian River.
Members of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA)—the publisher of Zymurgy—voted for up to 20 of their favorite beers in an online poll. Members were able to choose any commercial beer available for purchase in the United States. More than 19,000 votes were received for almost 6,000 different beers from 1,763 breweries nominated in the poll. As in recent years, flavorful IPAs and double IPAs were crowd favorites, comprising eight of the top 10 beers.
Top-Ranked Beers:
- Russian River Pliny the Elder
- Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
- Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
- Stone Enjoy By IPA
- Founders Breakfast Stout
- The Alchemist Heady Topper
- Bell’s Hopslam Ale
- Three Floyds Zombie Dust
- Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
- Firestone Walker Wookey Jack
Top-Ranked Breweries:
- Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa, Calif.
- Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, Calif.
- Bell’s Brewery, Inc., Kalamazoo, Mich.
- Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles, Calif.
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif. and Mills River, N.C.
- Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Del.
- Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, Calif. and Chicago, Ill.
- Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego, Calif.
- Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Ore.
Top-Ranked Beer Portfolios (T indicates Tie):
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., 60 beers
- Stone Brewing Co., 54 beers
- Bell’s Brewery, Inc., 52 beers
- New Belgium Brewing Company, 47 beers
- Avery Brewing Company, 39 beers
T6. Goose Island Beer Co., 37 beers
T6. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, 37 beers
T8. Firestone Walker Brewing Company, 35 beers
T8. The Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams), 35 beers
T8. The Bruery, 35 beers
“Homebrewers love to try all different types of beer, which is easy given the plethora of varieties offered by today’s small and independent brewers. So, to be selected by homebrewers nationwide and named among the best beers in America is a tremendous honor,” said Gary Glass, director, American Homebrewers Association. “While a diverse group of brewers from every corner of the country were recognized for their outstanding beers and portfolios, one particular style still reigned supreme: IPA.”
The complete list of Zymurgy’s “Best Beers in America” is available at HomebrewersAssociation.org. This was the 13th year that the poll was conducted.
Learn more about Zymurgy magazine.
Contact: Jacob Streiter, on behalf of the American Homebrewers Association, (646) 695-7047
About the American Homebrewers Association
The American Homebrewers Association has worked on behalf of the homebrewing community since 1978 and celebrates a membership of more than 43,000 homebrewers. The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) organizes events including the National Homebrewers Conference and National Homebrew Competition. The AHA also publishes Zymurgy magazine. The AHA is part of the Brewers Association, whose Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.
Beer lovers and anyone interested in making their own homemade beer are invited to learn more at HomebrewersAssociation.org. Follow the AHA on Twitter, and join us on Facebook.
The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.
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