Wine Enthusiast’s Top Beers of 2024
The best and worst of an uneven annum
BY JOHN HOLL
Bad year to be a beer in some corners—reflecting on 2024 will be a painful experience for many in the space. Each month brought news of brewery closures for various reasons, the volume and sales numbers declined as customers seemed to take inflation impacts out on their beer budgets.
Still, being a creative industry, there were bright spots as some brewers doubled down on what they believe is important. It remains to be seen, but it appears further contractions are on the horizon this year. That can be good for the future of beer in America with brewers putting their focus on their strengths and finding customers who appreciate the craftsmanship. In the meantime, here’s what worked and what has work to do before it’s ready for a second round.
What makes a great beer? That’s a question I’m asked quite a bit and the answer is complicated. There are style guidelines to hit and the beer should be defect-free, showcase ingredients deftly, and either speak to tradition or modernity. All of that comes with years of evaluating beer and thinking about it way too much. So what makes a great beer for the casual beer drinker? Having more than one pint. If a beer speaks to you enough to order another round, and maybe even more after that, it’s the sign of a good beer.
On my travels
This Article was originally published on Wine Enthusiast
