The Experts Have Voted, These Are The Best Beers And Breweries In 2020

Bell’s Brewery has constructed a dynasty. The brewery from Comstock, Michigan, was not only named as the best American brewery in 2020, but it also boasts the top beer this year.

Zymurgy magazine, a publication from the American Homebrewers Association, released its “Best Beers in America” for 2020 of brews that are commercially available in the United States. Two Hearted Ale, an American India Pale Ale from Bell’s Brewery, was named as 2020’s best beer. This is the fourth-straight year that Two Hearted Ale was named as the greatest beer in the land. Bell’s Hopslam, a double IPA, was named the fifth-best beer in the country.

Two Hearted Ale, which is named for the Two Hearted River in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, is brewed with 100% Centennial hops from the Pacific Northwest. This hoppy 7% ABV IPA packs aromas of pine resin and grapefruit. Two Hearted Ale has a 95 score from Beer Advocate and a 96 rating from Craft Beer & Brewing.

Zymurgy readers’ pick for the second-best beer was Pliny the Elder from the Russian River Brewing Company. Pliny is no slouch itself, it held the title of the best beer in America for seven consecutive years until Two Hearted River dethroned it in 2017.

For the second consecutive year, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s Pale Ale came in third place.

Top 10 Ranked Beers:

1. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale*
2. Russian River Pliny the Elder*
3. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale*
4. The Alchemist Heady Topper*
5. Bell’s Hopslam*
6. Three Floyds Zombie Dust*
7. (TIE) Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale * / Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout
8. Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA*
9. North Coast Old Rasputin*

Zymurgy also ranked the top breweries in the country, which saw Bell’s Brewery hold the crown, followed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, and Russian River Brewing Company that is located in Santa Rosa, California.

Top 10 Ranked Breweries:

1. Bell’s Brewery*
2. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.*
3. Russian River Brewing Co.*
4. Founders Brewing Co.
5. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery*
6. Tree House Brewing Co.*
7. Deschutes Brewery*
8. The Alchemist Brewery*
9. New Belgium Brewing Co.
10. (TIE) Firestone Walker Brewing Co.* / Stone Brewing*

“All breweries marked with an asterisk (*) are small and independent craft brewers.”

You can see the Zymurgy’s best breweries in each state HERE.

The complete list of best beers and best breweries in 2020 will be published in the November/December print issue of Zymurgy.