The Best Beers Of 2009: RateBeers Great Beers By Country

RateBeer members have spoken! And after 2 million beer reviews from all over the world were tabulated, the results are in. Here are just some of the winners for 2009 by country.

RateBeer boasts that it has the largest beer competition in the world and, no doubt, it has. With reviews of 91,000 beers from 8700 breweries, the sampling seems to be rather large. But because its reviewers are worldwide and may not have been exposed to all 91,000 beers, I thought I would focus today's column on the winners of the Best Beers By Country 2009.

The lists by country are 50 beers long, so I picked the top 3 from each country to tantalize you. Countries included by RateBeer were Belgium, England, Canada, Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden, and the United States. Other countries' beers were included in the overall competitions, but not in this one because of the limited number of reviewers.

Best Beers Of Belgium 2009

1. Westvleteren Abt 12, brewed by Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus (Rated number 2 of world's best beers.)

Abt is an ultra-strong very dark Trappist ale. Westvleteren beer has the smallest production of the Trappest breweries and very little is available outside of Belgium, so save your pennies for a trip if you would like to taste it. The alcohol content is over 10 percent!

2. Struise Dirty Horse, brewed by Struise

(Rated number 5 of world's best beers.)

This beer was actually an experiment following a recipe of someone who had made the beer 20 years ago. Several fermentation processes were used in the making of Dirty Horse and it was made in very small quantity and will not be available for export. Tsk.

3. Struise Cuvée Delphine, brewed by Struise

The Cuvée Delphine is an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels for a year. Again, sales are very limited.

Best Beers of England 2009

1. Good King Henry Special Reserve, brewed by Old Chimneys

An imperial stout from Diss, England, has the raters roaring, citing a dark, strong, chocolaty, roasted, sweet malt beer with a long vanilla aftertaste. Available for export.

2. Six Hop Ale, brewed by Dark Star

An India Pale Ale, reviewers liked the hoppiness, the grapefruitiness, the syrupyness, and the golden amber pour.

3. Moor JJJ IPA, brewed by Moor

The JJJ is known as an imperial/double IPA, or DIPA. It is a strong, very hoppy version of the traditional India pale ale. A bit stronger than the pale ale, darker, and sweeter.

Best Beers of Canada 2009

1. Péché Mortel brewed by Dieu du Ciel

Classified as an imperial stout, the Péché Mortel is, according to tasters, an impeccable blend of coffee and stout flavors, so if you love coffee and love stout, this beer is for you! (distribution)

2. Aphrodisiaque brewed by Dieu du Ciel

A stout among stouts, according to tasters, the Aphrodisiaque pours almost black with a thick beige-colored head, very roasty, vanilla, coffee, chocolate, sweet followed by somewhat bitter. Only available locally on tap.

3. Dominus Vobiscum Lupulus, brewed by Microbrewery Charlevoix/Le Saint Pub

Being available in bottles helps the DVL get around a bit more but, unfortunately, it is not widely distributed. Light to medium hazy gold pour; fruity (descriptions ranged from citrusy to sweet, spicy, and flowery.

Best Beers of Denmark 2009

1. Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel, brewed by Mikkeller (Rated number 6 of world's best beers.)

An imperial stout from Copenhagen, the beer claims to be brewed from on of the most expensive coffees. Why? Well the beans are not harvested in the most customary manners. These beans are the droppings of a Southeast Asian Civel or Weasel Coffee. This stout pours black and has a very strong coffee taste and smell, bitter cocoa, and strong fruits. (distribution)

2. Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch One-For-One, brewed by Mikkeller

An experimental brew of only 350 bottles. Strong black brew with strong flavor and odor, a bit of sweet, with heavy roasted coffee, maybe a little "burnt."

3. Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast

You can get your oatmeal breakfast in this stout which is 25 percent oat-based with a "nice touch of gourmet coffee." (distribution)

Best Beers of The Netherlands 2009

1. De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis (Hell & Damnation), brewed by Brouwerij de Molen

An imperial stout with heavy burnt malt, chocolate, licorice and coffee. Rich, somewhat sweet, bitter finish. (distribution)

2. DeMoeln Cuvée, brewed by Brouwerij de Molen

The Cuvée is a blend of beers, triple-fermented and matured on French oak for 6 months. Tasters report a strong very dark beer, characteristic of American strong ale, with lots of different deep flavors like dark fruits, licorice, caramel, and chocolate.

3. De Molen Tsarina Esra Imperial Porter, brewed by Brouwerij de Molen

A dark medium-bodied beer with less roastiness and more malt, soy, licorice, chocolate, and caramel. "Sweet and sticky," wrote one reviewer. Available in The Netherlands and Italy.

Best Beers of Sweden 2009

1. Närke Kaggen Stromaktsporter, brewed by Närke Kulturbryggeri (Rated number 1 of world's best beers.)

Classified as an imperial stout, the Stormaktsporter is described as a full and complex-flavored beer, with a black pour and a small tan head, with reported flavorings from chocolate and vanilla to raisins and plums to oak, cigar, and bourbon barrel.

2. Närke Stromaktsporter, brewed by Närke Kulturbryggeri

Also an imperial stout, this edition has very similar ratings and descriptions as the above beer. Unfortunately, these beers are only sold in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.

3. Dugges No. 100, brewed by Dugges Ale & Porterbryggeri

An imperial/strong porter, this beer pours black, tastes of roasted malt, espresso, chocolate. Sweet and malty.

Best Beer of The United States 2009

1. Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company (Rated number 3 of world's best beers.)

Dark Lord Russian hails from Indiana and most reviewers suggest the 2007 or 2008 brews, as they suggest aging does not do justice to the beer. Chocolaty, very sweet, sticky, pours thick and dark. Described as earthy, fruity, toffee or maply syrupy (must be the molasses!).

2. Lost Abbey Yellow Bus, brewed by Port Brewing/Lost Abbey

(Rated number 4 of world's best beers.)

Described as sour ale with peaches, this brew hails from San Marcos, California. 'Funky" comes up a lot in its description, as well as fruity, light, tart, smooth, refreshing. Pours light orange with white head.

3. Oak Aged Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company (Rated number 7 of world's best beers.)

The oaky flavor is there, according to reviewers, but not terribly pronounced, so this beer received comments very similar to those for the Dark Lord Russian (1, above). If you don't like thick, you probably won't enjoy this beer. Otherwise, it's very rich with lots of complex flavor. Maybe, skip your meal for this one.

Check out 100 Best Beers in the world for 2009. Or check out 100 Best Breweries in the world for 2009. If you're just not into dark, thick beer, try the Best Beers by Style list for 2009. (Sorry, no lite beers anywhere on these lists!)

Great source for me and for you! RateBeer.com