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Three pumpkin beers in the top 25? Seriously? Is this supposed to be a personal top 25 or a balanced assessment?

[quote:33th9rwk]This year, in the June issue, Wine Enthusiast was proud to introduce its Beer Buying Guide—equal parts acknowledgement of the craft brewer's movement and a means to satisfy strong hints on the part of readers and staff.

As a result, our Best of Year issue also welcomes a new member to our Top Wines and Spirits lists, the Top 25 Beers of 2009.

The beers listed here represent the most diverse and dynamic offerings that were tasted this year. They are beers that offer extraordinary quality at prices that still represent affordable luxury.

In compiling this list, I had to go beyond simple evaluation of numeric scores and pricing and also consider availability, buzz and balance. With so many selections currently available to the American beer consumer, it was important to showcase a wide range of styles produced in various countries and regions at all price points. From classic styles like American lagers and wheat beers to newer, more experimental styles such as American wild ales, this list demonstrates both the beauty and craftsmanship of a traditionally brewed beer as well as the excitement and cutting-edge adventure of the craft brewing scene today.

So hoist your steins and discover the best that this year's reviews had to offer.[/quote:33th9rwk]
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Interesting to get some thoughts from our two Americans?
Keeganales and brewer might have a different opinion if its an American preference but its probably just a personal preference of whoever wrote the list.

My read of this is that it's directed at wine drinkers.

The list seems to be split between beers that have flavor profiles (apple, pepper, oak) that could be related to wines (thus all the Belgian styles) and seasonal beers that might be more accessible because they come with a set of expectations (*of course* a summer beer tastes like lemon!)

Otherwise, this list bears no resemblance to reality. A Top 25 without a stout or porter?

Mind you, the part they did get right was all the players who experiment - Stone, Allagash, Lost Abbey, Southern Tier, DFH - which only reinforces my impression that they picked these particular brews with an agenda in mind.

Check out this[/url:hlkq3868] or this[/url:hlkq3868] for a much more representative (if still skewed in favour of IPAs and RISs) show of preferences.

After reading the list I opened a bottle (small) of the maudite and found it very underwhelming i must say, no real complexity to it or depth of flavour, very light tasting though for an 8% beer, maybe I got a dodgy bottle but it was just a bit meh as the young folk say.
The list did give me a real urge to head back to the Gingerman pub in NYC though where I'd say a good few of these beers are available.

That list is a joke.

Pumpkin? Pete's Wicked did a test on the taste of pumpkin and found that it had no impact on the taste of their pumpkin beer. It was nutmeg that people thought was pumpkin. I think that the use of pumpkin is an interesting option for a source of sugar. But I would not put a single pumpkin beer in my top 25.

I like American craft beer but there are several continents that were skipped on this list!