June’s 10 favorite beers of 2012

by

I had so many good beers this year it was really had to narrow down my favorites of 2012, especially since we took a trip to the Northwest where there are so many wonderful beers! And thank goodness for Untappd (I’m Nashbeergirl if you’d like to friend me) or I’d never remember everything I’ve tried. I have a feeling I’ll have a lot of favorites in 2013 as well since we’ve got trips planned to Asheville, Portland OR, Spokane, Portland ME and Boston!

Here are my 10 favorites, in no particular order:

  • Three Floyds Zombie Dust – I tried this and Pliney the Elder on the same night and I actually preferred Zombie Dust (not that Pliney’s isn’t tasty).
  • Blackstone Chocolate Milk Stout – One of the yummiest beers I found at 12 South Winter Warmer beer fest in Nashville. It was like drinking a Hersey Bar. Loved it so much that I scheduled the next Girls’ Pint Out event at Blackstone so I could have it again!
  • Founders Cerise – We had a bottle of this at the Nashville GPO Black Friday Beer Tasting. A wonderful dessert beer, tastes like cherry pie. We had lots of good beer that night but this was one of my favorites!
  • Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro – Mmmm. Smooth & creamy with just a hint of coffee flavor.
  • Yazoo Bells Bend Preservation Ale – I got to try this fresh from the tap when it was released at Yazoo’s 9th birthday party. Super yummy hoppy beer.
  • Turtle Anarchy Ninja Star Stout – This is Middle Tennessee’s newest brewery and this beer is one of their stouts in the special “50 Shades of Black” series. I thought I would hate this one since I don’t like black licorice, but the anise flavor actually grew on me.
  • Laughing Dog Huckleberry Cream Ale – I tried this on vacation at the taproom in Ponderay, ID. We hung out quite a bit at this brewery! Stop by and say “Hey” to Fred and his crew if you’re in the Idaho panhandle.
  • Laughing Dog The Dogfather Bourbon Barrel Aged – We hung out so much in the taproom that the owner kept giving us special samples. He brought out a bottle of this fresh off the bottling line and gave me & Kendall a taste. Super smooth.
  • Firestone Walker Wookey Jack – Had a pint from the tap at a really cool pub in Spokane, WA, The Post St. Ale House. I love black IPAs and this was a great one.
  • Steam Plant Brewing Double Stack Stout – This place is one of thecoolest brew pubs I’ve ever seen! It’s in a 100 year old steam and electrical power plant in downtown Spokane, WA that was turned into a restaurant/brew pub. The stout was big, creamy & chocolaty.