Finalists Announced for NYCR 2011 New York Beers of the Year Tasting

By Julia Burke, Beer Editor

On behalf of the NYCR Beer Team, I'm proud to announce that our "Beers of the Year" program has grown to ten nominees this year.

2011 was a huge year for growth and exciting change and we are thrilled to recognize these outstanding breweries, scattered all over the state, for crafting some amazing brews. The following beers represent numerous styles (and riffs on styles), brewing philosophies, techniques, and ingredients but all demonstrate a commitment to quality that makes us proud to say we're from New York. 

Western New York breweries:

• Southern Tier Brewing Company XXIPA
• Southern Tier Brewing Company Choklat
• Three Heads Brewing "The Kind" IPA
• Custom Brewcrafter's Brewing Company Signature Series Krysztoff Porter

Central New York breweries:

• Brewery Ommegang BPA
• Horseheads Brewing, Inc. Hot-Jala-Heim
• Ithaca Beer Company Brute

Downstate New York breweries:

• Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Captain's Reserve IPA
• Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen Weisse
• Southampton Publick House Cuvee des Fleurs

We will taste these beers and select a Beer of the Year at our tasting over the weekend of February 10-11. Congratulations to all of the finalists.

Comments

[Ethan]

Taste 'em blind! I am sure some, possibly all, will be obvious anyway. But do your best to award on the beverage in the bottle and nothing else.

[Evan Dawson]

Julia - Thanks for your consistent and hard work in this category. I'm always excited to learn from your palate. I've had some of these, but not all, and look forward to seeing how the true beer palates shake this out.