2026 Firestone Walker Invitational

As a beer nerd, attending the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest has been on my bucket list for a while, and finally this year the stars aligned for me to be in central California at the time of the event! This was the 13th year of FWIBF and it absolutely lived up to the hype.

The day was full of incredible beer, delicious food, fun live music, and relaxing vibes, all for a good cause! Proceeds from the festival benefit Paso Robles Pioneer Day, a local nonprofit dedicated to preserving the unique history and culture of Paso Robles.

The event is incredibly well organized with an app for attendees to download ahead of time with the participating breweries, tap lists, food menus, live music schedule, frequently asked questions, and the ever so important map! On the app attendees were also able to vote for the People’s Choice Award winner which was presented to Everywhere Beer Co. in Orange, CA this year. I was able to visit their taproom in their first year open and was very impressed.

Paso Robles Event Center is the home of the fest and there is plenty of shade, misters, and seating areas to keep folks comfortable. Plus, breweries and sponsors got creative with their offerings to keep things cool and fun as well. Cocktails at beer fest? Beer slushees? Jello shots? Yes yes and yes please!

Overall FWIBF did not just feel like another run of the mill beer fest—there is intentionality and unique touches that set this event apart.

On top of the festival itself, Firestone Walker makes a weekend out of the event. On Friday they organize a block party the day before the fest that is open to the general public with live music, barbeque, FW beers, and guest taps. Then on Sunday the weekend rounds out with Brews and Brekky at the taproom with guest beers and a special brunch menu. The Papas Con Chorizo Pizza I had at brunch alongside a pour of Anna from Hill Farmstead was perfection!

My Top Beers

The 2026 fest featured over 70 breweries from around the world, and what makes this fest even more special is that the brewers/owners themselves are present pouring the beers for attendees, not just volunteers or bartenders. You’ve got the experts onsite sharing their passion and knowledge which was amazing! Here were my top pours:

Blessed Purr collaboration brew from Horus Aged Ales in Oceanside, CA and Anchorage Brewing in Anchorage, AK

Blessed Purr is a bourbon barrel aged blend of double oaked and triple oaked Imperial Stouts with Democratic Republic of Congo vanilla beans, Madagascar vanilla beans, raw coconut, and toasted coconut added. Yes I did in fact start a beer festival with a 21.66% ABV Imperial Stout. Yes it was my absolute favorite beer of the day! This is an insanely great beer from two of the absolute best Stout producers in the country.

Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty, Little Ball of Fur, Happy Kitty, Sleepy Kitty, Purr Purr Purr from Horus Aged Ales in Oceanside, CA

This crazy beer is an Imperial Stout aged in Pappy Van Winkle 20 year bourbon barrels, then William Larue Weller bourbon barrels, and finished in Blanton's bourbon barrels with Democratic Republic of Congo vanilla beans added. I just continue to be amazed by the insanely good beers Kyle is creating!

Samuel from Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, VT

Samuel is a Farmhouse Ale with buckwheat, spelt, and Vermont wildflower honey aged in wine barrels and then bottle conditioned. Although I’ve had Samuel many times, it’s not a beer you pass up when it is available! Always an absolute gem.

Smoke & Stories from Fidens Brewing in Albany, NY

Smoke & Stories is a quadruple dry-hopped Double IPA brewed with Citra, Nelson, Superdelic Cryo, Egger's Special, Motueka and Motueka Hop Kief hops. This was a classic Fidens banger—silky smooth, packed with flavor.

Just One Thing…Nelson! from Green Cheek Beer Company in Orange, CA

This is an all-Nelson double dry hopped Imperial IPA with hand selected 2022 Nelson Sauvin. I love an all Nelson IPA so this was a delight! Green Cheek had a fun set up at the fest as well that was absolutely poppin’. I also loved that they had some of their hop partners pouring cans for folks in the line so you were able to try more than one of their beers while just waiting once. They also had slushees and sliders!

Hana Select Lager from Bierstadt Lagerhaus in Denver, CO

Hana Select Lager is a Czech Pale Lager brewed for International Women’s Month with 19th century Hana Valley malt and Czech Saaz hops. Bierstadt obviously crushes the Lager game but this was even better than their standard Helles or Slow Pour Pils in my opinion. A little bit unique, a lot bit great.

Delia from Birrificio Italiano in Limido Comasco, Lombardia Italy

Delia is a bottom-fermented Italian Pilsner with floor-malted barley and German hops. An Italian Pilsner straight out of Italy unsurprisingly slapped. The foam and slight bitterness were exactly right. Pleasantly surprised!

Dark Watchers collaboration brew from Alvarado Street Brewery in Monterey, CA and Brujos Brewing in Portland, OR

Dark Watchers is a Hazy Triple IPA. Alvarado Street had a fun set-up at the fest pouring out of a car they had to get there on a trailer. Definitely a banger!

Poetica 3 from Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, VT

Poetica 3 is a Czech-inspired Pilsner brewed with a single decoction mash process, Czech Saaz hops, fermented with Czech and German lager yeast in a French oak puncheon. I was lucky enough to have a pour of this tasty beer at their taproom at the end of 2025, so when I saw it on tap at the fest I knew it would be a perfect, refreshing beer.

Achromatic Vibes (2025) collaboration brew from Side Project Brewing in St. Louis, MO and WeldWerks Brewing in Greeley, CO

Achromatic Vibes 2025 is a non-barrel aged Imperial Stout finished on raw and toasted coconut chips and a blend of vanilla beans. This was a solid offering from two great breweries. A coconut Stout will always be one of my favorites!

15 Years Cuvée from Oxbow Brewing Company in Newcastle, ME

15 Years Cuvée is a barrel-aged Farmhouse Ale blended to celebrate Oxbow's 15th anniversary. The blend incorporates threads of barrel-aged batches of all five of their original farmhouse ales: Arboreal, FPA, Noel, Oxtoberfest & Space Cowboy. Oxbow is always great in my eyes, and I can’t wait to visit some of their spaces when I am up in Maine next month! Their Portland taproom with Duckfat fries is chef’s kiss.

My Top Bites

FWIBF also partners with area restaurants and there were 20 different food vendors providing delicious bites to pair with the brews. My favorites were:

Benny’s Pizza Palace and Social Club in San Luis Obispo: Detroit-style Pizza

Pizza and beer? Say less. This sample of pizza was absolutely delicious! As a Michigander I always love a Detroit-style pie, and this one was a great rendition.

Street Side Ale House in Paso Robles and Atascadero: Street Mac

This rotini pasta with house-made pepper jack cream, pepperoncini, bacon, toasted rosemary, and parmesan definitely had a kick, but was packed with delicious flavor! It was a great grab while waiting in the Green Cheek line!

Della’s Wood-Fired Pizza in Paso Robles: Mortadella Sandwich with whipped ricotta and pistachio pesto

The bread on this sandwich was particularly great! Perfect snag to get some substance between pours.

I am bummed I missed the Watermelon & Citrus Shrimp Ceviche from Union & Vine in Atascadero as well!

Cheers to such an amazing fest and weekend of events! The next festival I am attending is Hill Farmstead’s Festival of Farmhouse Ales next month and I can’t wait!

Check back to see my top beers! Cheers —Alexis

March and April 2026

March and April included visits to Asheville, Durham for the Rare and Vintage Beer Tasting, Atlanta for the Little Beer Festival, a quick stop in Greenville, a fun weekend at Wild Hartsville, a couple of bottle shares, and a lot of time in Charlotte supporting local! I visited STIR, Plot Twist, STK, Frenchy’s, Yume, Petty Thieves, Burial x 4, Que Onda, Margeux’s, Kit’s, Edge City, Vaulted Oak, The Craic, HopFly, ESO, Fonta Flora, State of Confusion, Printshop, Salud, and Keepsake over the past two months.

During all of this I tried 181 beers in March and April, and in no particular order, here were the best:

Fairy Ring + Excelsior + Colossal Something from Fidens Brewing in Albany, NY

Three Hazy powerhouses from the fine folks at Fidens! Fairy Ring is an Imperial IPA, Excelsior is a Double IPA triple dry-hopped with Nelson, Peacharine, Riwaka, Nectaron, Motueka Hop Kief, and Rakau Hop Kief. Colossal Something is a Quadruple Dry-Hopped Quadruple IPA brewed with Citra, Waimea, Superdelic, Nelson, Rakau and Riwaka hops.

Luxe from Two Tides Brewing in Savannah, GA

Two Tides came into town for Burial’s Primavera Celebration and graced us with this delicious Imperial Stout during the off-topic panel conversation. It was aged 32 months in 12 year Willet Family Estate PurpleTop bourbon barrels and has roasted pecans, caramel, chocolate and sea salt. Banger!

The Real of Absolute Nothingness from Burial Beer in Asheville, NC + The Fabrication of a Most Diabolical Empire collaboration brew with Xul Brewing in Knoxville, TN

The Realm of Absolute Nothingness is an Imperial Stout aged on select French Broad Chocolate cocoa nibs, Madagascar vanilla beans, and macaroon coconut. The Fabrication of a Most Diabolical Empire is an Imperial IPA mashed with oats and wheat, double dry-hopped with Coleman Farms' Citra, Galaxy, Nectaron, and Rakau, and finished with Citra Cryo & Hyperboost. This Xul collab was also thanks to their Primavera celebration and one of my favorite IPAs I have had in a hot minute.

No Sleep + A Deal With The Devil Triple Oaked Batch 11 from Anchorage Brewing in Anchorage, AK

Anchorage! Always blessed when a month includes a pour of their insanely great beers! No Sleep is a blend of several vintages of double oaked Barleywine and Imperial Stouts aged in a variety of bourbon barrels then fnished in Klatch coffee, Vermont maple syrup and Madagascar vanilla beans. This version of A Deal With The Devil is a triple oaked Barleywine aged 25 months in a mix of Willett, Woodford reserve double oaked bourbon barrels, and cognac barrels.

EBK Until They Kill Me Ghost Edition + Ghost Dead and Gone from Adroit Theory in Purcellville, VA

Adroit Theory is quietly crushing it up in the DC metro area. I loved my visit there a couple of summers ago, and was thrilled to see them on the list at Wild Hartsville. They had several great beers that day, but my two favorites were EBK Until They Kill Me Ghost Edition, a special version of their flagship IPA that is double dry-hopped with Citra, Riwaka, Nelson Sauvin, and Motueka hops and Ghost Dead and Gone, a Triple IPA double dry-hopped with Citra and Mosaic.

GSO Barrel Select 2025 + Ammo Can: Nahvi Bravo from Forgotten Road Ales in Graham, NC

I had the pleasure of attending two festivals in a month that Ben from Forgotten Road was pouring at, so of course there were some stellar Stouts. My two favorites were GSO Barrel Select 2025 which is an Imperial Stout aged in Cognac barrels that aged 14 year bourbon. This was a special release for their Greensboro Taproom's 3rd anniversary. I still need to make it to this taproom! I also loved Ammo Can: Nahvi Bravo, an Imperial Stout aged for 15 months in a 8 year 1792 Sweet Wheat Bourbon Barrel with banana, vanilla and cinnamon.

Coconut Crab from The Answer in Richmond, VA

Coconut Crab is an Imperial Stout with toasted coconut that was one of the VIP pours at Wild Hartsville. So, so good.

Schwemme from Schilling Beer Co. in Littleton, NH

Schwemme was my favorite pour at Little Beer! It is a low ABV sessionable take on the pale German lager tradition. Thankfully I just snagged a can of this locally so I can enjoy it again!

Fusion Chamber: Coconut 2026 from Little Cottage Brewery in Avondale Estates, GA

I was really excited to finally visit Little Cottage and loved this Imperial Stout with coconut. Have you heard I like coconut Stouts? lollllll

For LC from Side Project Brewing in St. Louis, MO + For MD Blend 2 collaboration brew with WeldWerks Brewing Co. in Greeley, CO

Dark beers from Side Project would easily be on my marry list of FMK. LOVE them so much and so thankful that my friend now visits there for work and can get the hook up. For LC is a Double Barrel-aged Imperial Stout with Mexican vanilla beans, cocoa nibs, cinnamon sticks and ancho chilis aged in Blanton's and Weller 12 barrels, then blended and aged a second time on Willett Rye and Artifact Honey Bourbon Barrels, with more vanilla added. MD Blend 2 blends the techniques of each brewery’s most recognizable Stout: Medianoche and Derivation. It is an Imperial Stout aged in 15-year-old Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond bourbon barrels and seven-year-old Weller bourbon barrels with Madagascar vanilla beans and dark, robust maple syrup added.

Yodel: Rakau from Freak Folk Bier in Waterbury, VT + Jasper collaboration brew with Fidens

Freak Folk never misses! Yodel: Rakau is the seventh installment in their Yodel single hop series. Jasper is a fun take on this Fidens classic brewed with Citra hops. Can’t wait to get back up there in July!

From The Pinnacle + Populus from Brujos Brewing in Portland, OR + Green Warlocks collaboration brew with Other Half Brewing in Brooklyn, NY

From the Pinnacle is a triple dry-hopped Triple Hazy IPA. Populus is a double dry hopped Hazy IPA with Nelson, Citra and Mosaic. Green Warlocks is an Imperial IPA brewed by OH. This is the most Brujos I have had in while and it was a good reminder of how fantastic they are!

Undertone: French Butter Pear from Casey Brewing and Blending in Glenwood Springs, CO

Love a good excuse to open a Casey bottle! This is an oat Farmhouse Ale aged with organic French Butter Pears. I will continue to die on the hill that pear Farmhouse Ales are underrated.

Works of Love: Keeping Together collaboration brew from Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, VT and Keeping Together Beer in Santa Fe, NM

I am very excited to visit Averie’s new taproom (hopefully in 2027!) and really enjoyed this collab she did with Hill. This is a Farmhouse Ale with Vermont wildflower honey that was open-fermented in a wooden foudre and bottle aged.

Barrel Aged Sky Summoner collaboration brew from The Veil Brewing in Richmond, VA and Horus Aged Ales in Oceanside, CA

I need a visit to Richmond to restock my Veil bottle supply soon! This was a great pour at Rare and Vintage that is the barrel aged version of this collab that was a blend of each brewery’s house Stout conditioned on Wild Thai banana, toasted coconut, and whole vanilla beans from Uganda, Tahiti, and The Congo. It was then aged on Blis Maple Bourbon, Laird’s Apple Brandy, and Willett Family Reserve barrels for 16 months. It is not an overly sweet Stout like it might read, the barrels balance everything out nicely and create a fantastic brew.

Hypnagogic collaboration brew from Phase Three Brewing in Lake Zurich, IL + Mortalis Brewing in Avon, NY

This Imperial Stout was aged for over two years in Heaven Hill and Henry McKenna barrels then conditioned on raw and toasted coconut, wild Thai bananas, and Saigon cinnamon. I am always delighted to try anything from Phase Three and this was stellar!

The Surrealist Society 2025 No. 11 from Dssolvr in Asheville, NC

Barrel aged Imperial Stout aged for two years in Elijah Craig bourbon barrels, then aged secondary on toasted pecans, cinnamon, cooperative coffee dark roast, and maple syrup. This was my first pour at Rare and Vintage and the perfect breakfast-style Stout to start the day! Would love to try some others from this series!

Loggin’ collaboration brew from Cellarest Brewing in Asheville, NC and Whaley Farm Brewery in Old Fort, NC

Loggin’ is a Czech Pilsner aged in oak puncheons. I had this both on tap at the brewery and at home in a can and loved it both times. Perfectly crushable yet still full of flavor!

Check back next month for my top beers of may!
Cheers—Alexis

My Top Beers of 2025

In 2025 I tried 1,255 beers. The breweries I had the most beers from were Burial (92), Freak Folk (43) and Hill Farmstead (41). I visited 122 new breweries, bringing my total breweries visited up to 1,505. In no particular order, here were the best beers I had over the past year:

• Pliny the Younger 2025 Triple IPA from Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, CA

• Samuel Batch 1, 2, and 3 Saison + Poetica 3 Czech Pilsner + Works of Love: Anchorage Brewing 2016 Saison + Art Batch 6 Saison from Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, VT

• Framboos 2014 Lambic + 3 Fonteinen x Hill Farmstead Resonance Blend 1 Lambic from Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen in Belgium

• Dat Phuc Imperial Stout + Don’t Be A Khack Imperial IPA from CLAG Brewing Company in Sandusky, OH

• Eunoia Batch 18: Coconut Imperial Stout + Pixel Point Hazy IPA from Phase Three Brewing Company in Lake Zurich, IL

• Triple Jasper Triple IPA + Triple Farmer Triple IPA from Fidens Brewing Company in Albany, NY

• Lunar Handshake Czech Dark Lager from Lesser-Known Beer Co in Winston-Salem, NC

• Abiding Cycles Saison + Eye of the Needle Saison from Sante Adairius Rustic Ales in Captiola, CA

• Yodel: Riwaka Imperial IPA + Signet: Gin Saison + Pronghorn Helles Lager + Cult of Billy: The Resurrection Imperial IPA + Torso Imperial IPA + Staglore Wild Ale from Freak Folk Bier in Waterbury, VT

• Bitty Zwickelbier from Burial Beer in Asheville, NC in collaboration with Lesser-Known Beer Co

• A Deal With The Devil Triple Oaked Batch 15 Barleywine + Some Kind Of Something Imperial Stout from Anchorage Brewing in Anchorage, AK

• TEN Imperial Stout from Pulpit Rock Brewing Company in Decorah, IA

• Saint Lamvinus 2010 from Brasserie Cantillon in Belgium

• Hand of Glory 2018 Barleywine from Holy Mountain Brewing in Seattle, WA

• The Blend Imperial Stout from Side Project Brewing in Saint Louis, MO in collaboration with Toppling Goliath Brewing

What were your top beers of the year? Let me know in the comments!

June and July 2025

June and July were quite the whirlwind of travels and delicious beers! I visited Alaska, Colorado, Michigan, Aiken SC, Augusta GA, and Hendersonville NC. I shared beers via 3 bottle shares, and I got to visit two iconic breweries I have been so excited to check out: Anchorage Brewing and Casey Brewing and Blending!

The past two months also brought re-visits to some of my favorites like HOMES in Michigan, Jackie O’s in Ohio, and Bierstadt in Colorado. During all of this I tried 219 beers over the past two months, and here were the best of the best (in no particular order):

Pliny the Younger from Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, CA

Iconic. What more do you need to know about this limited-release Triple IPA?

A Deal With the Devil - Triple Oaked (Batch 15) and Some Kind of Something from Anchorage Brewing Company in Anchorage, AK

I was lucky enough to have several Anchorage beers over the past two months, both at the taproom itself, at a beer bar in Anchorage, and via a friend at a bottle share right before my trip. The two standouts were a version of the beer the are most known for, A Deal With The Devil, and an Imperial Stout blend. Any time I see a dark beer that Anchorage is associated with I know it’s going to be fire, and these two were exceptional examples. I can’t wait to break into the bottles I brought back!

Nelson Collider from North Park Beer Company in San Diego, CA

Nelson Collider is a part of North Park’s series and focuses in on Nelson with Nelson, Nelson Cryo, and Nelson SubZero Hop Kief. It is a Triple IPA that is far too easy to drink and loaded with flavor.

VSOR Select 2024 from Revolution Brewing in Chicago, IL

Similar to Anchorage, when I see a dark beer from Revolution I know I won’t be disappointed and this unique beer was a great example. RSOJ is a Ryewine blend using hand-selected bourbon and rye barrels making the barrel presence extremely prominent and delicious. Best enjoyed by the riverside fire table after hot tubbing in Alaska, obviously.

Royal Blenheim (2023) from Nebuleus Beer in Portland, OR

Nebuleus is just quietly putting out bangers and I still really don’t understand how the operate, but every time I have a beer from them I love it so I am not asking too many questions! This is a blend of oak barrel aged Saisons refermented on royal blenheim apricots from Polestar Farm.

Citra, Citra, Citra, Citra from Inner Voice Brewing in Decatur, GA

All the Citra for this Triple IPA! This is brewed with Citra Cryo and dry hopped with Citra T-90, Citra Lupomax, Citra Spectrum sauce and Citra Cryo. We love to see it.

Good Look At A Steak collaboration from Fidens Brewing in Albany, NY and CLAG Brewing Company in Sandusky, OH

A collab from two of my favs! This Triple IPA is hopped with Simcoe and Nectaron. I cannot wait to get back to CLAG in December to restock, but these stellar collaborations make it easier to get my hands on their delicious beer!

Coconut Bourbon Barrel Temple of Minerva from Jackie O’s Brewery in Athens, OH

A Coconut Stout is generally always going to be tasty, but especially from this incredible spot. Jackie O’s does it again with this Imperial Stout aged for 20 months in Bourbon barrels and conditioned on raw and roasted coconut. Absolutely delightful.

Tarred and Feathered + Yodel: Motueka + Barrel Aged Sky Burial + Melted from Freak Folk Bier in Waterbury, VT

4 Freak Folk beers you say? Sorry not sorry. Here’s the breakdown:

Tarred and Feathered is a Double IPA brewed with Citra, Peacharine, and Motueka hops. Yodel: Motueka is an Imperial IPA Double Dry-Hopped with all Motueka hops as part of their incredible single hop series. Barrel Aged Sky Burial is an Imperial Stout aged for 15 months in Baker Bourbon barrels, conditioned on cacao, coffee, cinnamon, and vanilla beans. Melted is an Imperial IPA with Nelson, Citra & Galaxy hops. Freak Folk is straight fire and I am so incredibly impressed with everything they do!

Altra Volta: Naranja from Fox Farm Brewery in Salem, CT

This Wild Ale was finished in vino de naranja casks and is a great example of how Fox Farm is able to take super unique beers to the next level.

Nucleate (2025) collaboration beer from HOMES Brewery in Ann Arbor, MI and Southern Grist Brewing Company in Nashville, TN

Nucleate is the festival HOMES puts on each summer, and they do a collaboration beer in celebration as well. This year’s edition is aged in Balcones, Buffalo Trace & Jack Daniels Rye whiskey barrels, then aged on a lot of Madagascar vanilla, coconut cookies & cacao nibs. Sheeeesh this was a goodie and I bummed to have missed the fest & bottle release!

Meow, Meow, Meow from Monkish Brewing Company in Torrance, CA

Meow, Meow, Meow is a triple dry hopped Triple IPA with Citra hops—no surprise from anyone who has read this far that I loved it.

Tumalo Kriek from The Ale Apothecary in Bend, OR

Never would I have guessed walking into The Potato in the tiny, remote town of McCarthhy, Alaska that I would be able to enjoy this delicious bottle from The Ale Apothecary. This is a spontaneous Wild Ale aged in oak barrels with cherries and conditioned with honey. Delicious of course, as anything is coming from this Bend brewery, but I think the shock and awe made me love it even more!

Slow Pour Pils from Bierstadt Lagerhaus in Denver, CO

A Slow Pour Pils at the source—chef’s kiss.

Freestyle No. 8 from Casey Brewing and Blending in Glenwood Springs, CO

Casey’s Freestyle series blends different beers together, #8 combines dry hopped Funky Blender & Saison with Peacherine. It was my favorite beer (of many) I tried at their taproom and absolutely delicious!

School Night from Westbound & Down in Idaho Springs, CO

Westbound & Down purchased Aspen Brewing, so the tap list was about 50/50 on each brewery’s beers, and I was delighted with this Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout & Barleywine Blend. School Night is a mix of 14- and 18-month-old Imperial Stout and Barleywine aged in Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, Weller, Austin Nichols and Woodford Reserve barrels. I can’t wait to visit their Denver taproom in just a few short weeks on my next Colorado trip!

Flora (Batch 11 Wax Top) from Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, VT

A great Farmhouse Ale from Hill Farmstead? Shocker, I know! This particular beer was initially brewed in Spring 2017 then rested in wine barrels for years. Packed with flavor and taking the Farmhouse game to the next level.

15th Anniversary Blonde Ale: Shaun Hill & Dan Suarez From Hill Farmstead in Collaboration with Suarez Family Brewery in Hudson, NY

This is definitely the first time a Blonde Ale has made my Top Beers Blog, because this collab was perfection. Refreshing, flavorful, and not your every day Blonde Ale.

Quad Dub + The Study of Dying (Collab with Lyric Brewing) from New Image Brewing in Arvada, CO

The Motueka, Motueka Cryo edition of Quad Dub Quadruple Dry Hopped Double IPA reminded me of how much I love New Image Brewing, even if it has been years since I have gotten my hands on anything from them. My visit to their taproom in Wheat Ridge, Colorado was a highlight of my 6 day CO adventure.

On top of their delicious beers, they also partner with Lyric to have some of their beers and collabs available. One of those is The Study of Dying, a blend of Stouts Aged 48 months in Heaven Hill Bourbon and 36 months in Heaven Hill Rye Barrels, then finished with roasted peanuts. More from Lyric below!

Fight ‘Em Off collaboration from Lyric Brewing Company in Denver, RaR Brewing in Cambridge, MD, and New Image Brewing

Fight ‘Em Off is a Hazy Double IPA with Motueka, Motueka Cryo, Motueka Dynaboost and Freestyle Motueka Hop Kief. 3 fantastic IPA breweries, it’s no surprise this was top notch. Excited to try more from them next month!

Forever Tethered To My Own Undoing from Burial Beer in Asheville, NC

Normally I think beer descriptions are a bit over the top, but when I saw Burial name Ferrero Rocher in the description of this blend of two double-mashed Imperial Stouts, conditioned on a toasted hazelnut and Madagascar Vanilla Bean, I knew that they had nailed it. This tastes exactly like biting into one of those little chocolate-hazelnut-vanilla balls and it is superb.

Never Having Materialized From Magic From Burial Beer in collaboration with Brujos Brewing in Portland, OR

Quadruple IPAs from Burial have been all the rage this year and this Brujos collaboration obviously is no different. This QIPA was whirlpooled with honey and double dry-hopped with Citra, Motueka, Riwaka, and Wakatu before finishing with Motueka Cryo, Citra Incognito, and Citra Hyperboost. Sheesh!

Bitty From Burial Beer in Collaboration with Lesser-Known Beer Co in Winston-Salem, NC

At 3.8% ABV Bitty is the best light beer I’ve ever had. I have no question. A perfect Zwickelbier.

LK Plis from Lesser-KnowN Beer Co

Not to be outdone, Lesser-Known’s German Pilsner is also incredible. I miiiight just be sneaking in another visit in August and can’t wait to get my hands on some more of their delicious Lagers!

Early from Dimensional Brewing Company in Dubuque, IA

Early is a blend of Rye and Bourbon barrel aged stouts aged 15-37 months, then conditioned on coffee, coconut, and vanilla. I had never heard of Dimensional Brewing before this bottle was shared with me, but now I know I have been missing out because this was exceptional.

Check back next month for my top beers of August! Cheers —Alexis

My Top Beers in 2024

In 2024 I tried 1,175 beers. The breweries I had the most beers from were Burial (87), Other Half (45), Resident Culture (44) and Hill Farmstead (32). I tried beers from 375 different breweries. I visited 113 new breweries, bringing my total breweries visited up to 1,383. Here were the best beers I had over the course of this year:

Triple Vegan from Fidens Brewing in Albany, NY

Triple Vegan is a Triple IPA with Citra, Galaxy & Nelson hops. I had this on tap and in cans this year and gave it a perfect 5 both times—it’s tough to beat this brew.

Anytime Your Are Anywhere Always from Burial Brewing in Asheville, NC

This is a Quadruple IPA that is quadruple dry-hopped with Citra, Citra Cryo, Nectaron and Galaxy. A QIPA normally sounds overly boozy and “too much” but Burial perfected this incredible release! I had it 3 times on tap and once in a can, it was perfect each time.

Flora Pear from Hill Farmstead in Greensboro Bend, VT

Flora is the wine barrel-aged version of Florence (1915-1967) and this edition is aged atop organic pears, including a variety of dessert pears as well as Siberian pears. I first had this beer years ago and loved it, so revisiting it this year was a treat!

Seven from The Veil Brewing in Richmond, VA

Seven is an Imperial Stout aged in Willett, Utopias, Maple and Weller Bourbon Barrels for an average of 21 months. It is conditioned on chocolate sandwich cookies, toasted coconut, Tahitian vanilla and truffle. This beer was brewed in celebration of The Veil’s 7th anniversary and is a decadent treat.

Samuel from Hill Farmstead in Greensboro Bend, VT

Samuel is a Saison with a base of buckwheat, spelt, and Vermont wildflower honey then aged in wine barrels. I was lucky enough to try Samuel 3 times this year and loved it each and every time.

Staglore from Freak Folk Bier in Waterbury, VT

Staglore is a Saison brewed with foraged staghorn sumac and conditioned in oak puncheons with mixed culture. Everything Freak Folk does is top notch, but Staglore was a special, special beer.

Scorching Pledges of an Irreversible Nature collaboration from Burial Beer in Asheville, NC and Anchorage Brewing in Anchorage, AK

This is a blend of 12 to 24 month Barleywine aged in Buffalo Trace Rye and Wild Turkey Bourbon barrels with the addition of Vanilla from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I would never expect a Barleywine to make my year’s best list, but this was superb.

4 Meters from Lesser-Known Beer Co in Winston-Salem, NC

4 Meters is a Helles Lager tank poured at Lesser-Known. Anything they make is always fantastic, but this beer is particularly delicious.