Beer.
I pour on with my Best of 2018 series to provide a heady brew of the tastiest beers I enjoyed during the past 12 months.
Beers listed are all produced by independent brewers in England, Wales, Switzerland, and the US – with a disproportionate number from the state of North Carolina.
Please note, this list merely reflects how I chose to spend my time during the year and is comprised of well established and brand new venues as well as businesses that are somehow related to where work and play took me.
Items appear in alphabetic order, not ranked.
Best Beer
Bang-On Mêl | Bang-On Brewery
Bridgend, Wales, UK
This honey beer brewed with botanicals is a collaboration between Bang-On Brewery in Bridgend, Wales and the Cardiff School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences’ Pharmabees project is deeply flavoursome and moreish. Soon as I finished the one sample bottle I had I wished I could have another.
4%ABV
Brunch: Coffee Kolsch | 1718 Brewing Ocracoke
Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, USA
Who needs espresso martinis for brunch when this inventive Outer Banks brewery serves this toasty beer at its restaurant?
ABV 5%
Fauxbia | Saucy Brew Works
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
This white stout from awesome Cleveland brew pub pizzeria has a light look but a full rich roasted flavour.
5.9% ABV
Freudian Strip | Hop Stuff Brewery
London, UK
This Vienna malt and Madarina Bavaria hops blend from South London’s Hop Stuff Brewery has one of the most refreshingly fun names and labels of any beer I’ve ever come across. Appropriately enough, this zesty amber ale is also an especially refreshing brew to drink.
5.4% ABV
Heller Engel | Stadtmauer Brauer
Basel, Switzerland
Last year, I said I’d make a beeline for this aromatic unfiltered Pilsner if I made it back to Basel. Well, I did so I did.
4.6% ABV
This is the second year in a row Heller Engel made my ‘best of’ list for Beer.
LionHeart Artisian Premium Ale | Brookfield Brewing Company
Sharnbrook, England, UK
This very downable ale from Brookfield Brewing Company relies on a 12th century style recipe featuring wild harvested sweet gale and the “open squares” system for some exceptionally flavoursome results. Toasty and balanced with a hint of nuts and mild spice, it’s one of the tastiest brews I’ve come across in quite some time.
4.5% ABV
Malt Licker | Mockery Brews
Denver, Colorado, USA
This playfully potent Bourbon barrel aged barley wine offers a toffee coated complexity of flavours for contemplative drinking.
10.5% ABV
Mandarina Mild | Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery
Farmville, North Carolina
This mild English ale made with German mandarina hops is an easy drinker that still boasts bold and balanced flavour.
3.9% ABV
Skullville Jalapeno Pale Ale | Trollingwood Taproom & Brewery
Greenville, North Carolina, USA
This unusual pale ale from a tiny Greenville, North Carolina brewery is fiery, flavoursome and thirst quenching all in one sip – but why in the world would you only want to take one sip?
5.4% ABV
More of the Best of 2018 to follow!
