4 Of America’s Top Beers Come From Michigan Breweries

Two western Michigan breweries are among the best in the nation, and one of them — Bell’s Brewery Inc. in Comstock — claimed honos for the best beer in America, according to the Best Beers in America survey conducted by Zymurgy magazine. Bell’s claimed two of the top beers — Bell’s Two Hearted Ale, named the best beer in America, and Bell’s Hopslam, the No. 5 beer.

Grand Rapids-based Founders Brewing Co. came in at No. 2 in the survey of the best breweries, and Founders’ Breakfast Stout and Kentucky Breakfast Stout were the No. 3 and No. 6 (two-way tie) beers in America.

“This is an incredible honor for us. We got our start as homebrewers—that’s how my dad got going—so we really identify with the homebrewing community,” Laura Bell, CEO, Bell’s Brewery, whose father, Larry, started the brewery in 1985 in Kalamazoo, said in a news release. “We take a lot of that spirit into what we do today.”

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Comstock ended an eight-year winning streak for Russian River Brewing Company’s double IPA Pliny the Elder in the top spot, according to the Zymurgy magazine survey.

“As homebrewers, Zymurgy readers have more refined palates than most for tasting beer,” Gary Glass, director, American Homebrewers Association, said in a news release.. “The Best Beers in America survey reveals which beers are leaving the biggest impression on the minds — and mouths—of these discerning beer drinkers.”

Members of the American Homebrewers Association, which publishes Zymurgy, were able to choose up to 20 of their favorite commercial beers available for purchase in the United States in an online voting system.

Top-Ranked Beers (T indicates Tie):

• 1. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
• 2. Russian River Pliny the Elder
• 3. Founders Breakfast Stout
• 4. Three Floyds Zombie Dust
• 5. Bell’s Hopslam
• T6. Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)
• T6. The Alchemist Heady Topper
• T8. Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA
• T8. Sierra Nevada Celebration
• 10. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

Top-Ranked Breweries:

• 1. Bell’s Brewery, Inc., Comstock, Mich.
• 2. Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.
• 3. Russian River Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, Calif.
• 4. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif. and Mills River, N.C.
• 5. Stone Brewing, Escondido, Calif., Richmond, Va., and Berlin, Germany
• 6. Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles, Calif.
• 7. Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Ore.
• 8. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Del.
• 9. Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, Calif. and Chicago, Ill.
• 10. Ballast Point Brewing, San Diego, Calif.

Top-Ranked Beer Portfolios (T indicates Tie):

• 1. Stone Brewing (31 beers)
• 2. Bell’s Brewery, Inc. (27 beers)
• 3. Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (25 beers)
• 4. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (24 beers)
• T5. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (22 beers)
• T5. Lagunitas Brewing Company (22 beers)
• T7. Boulevard Brewing Co. (21 beers)
• T7. Founders Brewing Co. (21 beers)
• 9. Avery Brewing Co. (19 beers)
• T10. New Glarus Brewing Co. (18 beers)
• T10. Odell Brewing Co. (18 beers)

Photo by Kate Borkowski via Flickr Commons