After hundreds of beers, thousands of votes and more than a few hangovers, we have found America's Next Top Beer. We enlisted the aid of the some of the beer world's sharpest minds and sampled the finest brews this land has to offer. But in the end, one copper-colored Colorado craft beer towered above all others. And now, thanks to your votes, Fat Tire Amber Ale is America's Next Top Beer. ...

Our twelfth of 12 candidates for America's Next Top Beer ... Jai Alai IPA Cigar City Brewing -- Tampa, Fla. There are some fantastic things, uh, brewing in Tampa, thanks to the good folks at Cigar City. "A true microbrewery, they brew eclectic beers that they would have created personally, as homebrewers -- and they do it exceptionally well," The Beer Sommelier gushes. "Using ...

Our eleventh of 12 candidates for America's Next Top Beer ... Furious Surly Brewing Co. -- Brooklyn Center, Minn. It comes in a can and carries a simple one-word name that feels more like a threat than an invitation. But Minnesota came out hard for it this backyard brew, stuffing our comments with raves about this amber ale. "It's hoppy and strong and pairs well with everything from ...

Our tenth of 12 candidates for America's Next Top Beer ... Lagunitas IPA Lagunitas Brewing Co. -- Petaluma, Calif. Can you find Petaluma on a map? Neither can we, but this immensely enjoyable IPA may soon have you planning a pilgrimage to the Lagunitas Brewing Co. A bright, citrusy hops blast -- is that grapefruit? -- followed by a rich malt finish, this IPA is rich enough to satisfy, ...

Our ninth of 12 candidates for America's Next Top Beer ... Brooklyn Lager Brooklyn Brewery -- Brooklyn Tucked away amid the skinny jeans and keffiyehs of hipster central, you'll find the home of one of America's finest lagers. Yes, a former matzo ball factory in Williamsburg now churns out a clean, crisp golden brew that drinks smooth and leaves you yearning for the days the Dodgers were ...

Our seventh of 12 candidates for America's Next Top Beer ... B.O.R.I.S. the Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout Hoppin' Frog Brewery -- Akron, Ohio This Akron brewery's Mean Manalishi Double IPA might be a safer bet for the masses, but Hoppin' Frog's thick, robust oatmeal stout might be the best of its breed. "Hoppin' Frog may be the biggest sleeper of the bunch," according to Jay Janikowski, ...

Our eighth of 12 candidates for America's Next Top Beer ... Fat Tire Amber New Belgium Brewing -- Fort Collins, Colo. With your votes, you launched this Belgian brew (by way of Colorado) into our elite 12-pack of finalists. One sip of this complex but immensely drinkable beer, and it's easy to see why. This rich, copper-colored brew reveals hints of caramel, cherry, pear, florals, hops and ...

Our sixth of 12 candidates for America's Next Top Beer ... Ommegang Abbey Ale Brewery Ommegang -- Cooperstown, N.Y. A bit of Belgium in upstate New York, Brewery Ommegang may well be the gold standard of craft brewers. The Cooperstown company offers a full fleet of Belgian beers, but the head of the class is their Abbey Ale, which Joe Sixpack hails as a "benchmark" brew. A rich amber ...

Our fifth of 12 candidates for America's Next Top Beer ... Anvil ESB Ale AleSmith Brewing Company -- San Diego The beer craftsmen at AleSmith might be the best thing to happen to San Diego since Dan Fouts. "AleSmith makes truly artisan beers, holding true to its company beliefs and values," The Beer Sommelier, Matt Simpson, notes. "[They make] hand-crafted, blue-ribbon ales for true beer ...

Our fourth of 12 candidates for America's Next Top Beer ... Stone Pale Ale Stone Brewing Co. -- San Diego A distinctly British ale by way of San Diego, Stone Pale Ale is one of the main reasons Stone Brewing Co. has seen its production explode from 400 barrels in 1996 to 98,500 barrels last year. In fact, given the company's growth, it may be unfair to include the Stone folks in the ...