The Top 10 Canned Beers of 2012

Drink Beer in a Can this Summer | Beer Reviews

New Belgium Shift Pale Lager
Fort Collins, Colorado
A light lager with plenty of body, thanks to a newly hybridized hops from New Zealand. Crack one after your shift ends. 5 percent; $9 for four

Oskar Blues Old Chub

Oskar Blues Old Chub
Longmont, Colorado
Sweet caramel mellows out the kick, but the taste of metal clings to your teeth. 8 percent

Sly Fox Pikeland Pils

Sly Fox Pikeland Pils
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
A heady, chewy taste that’s unusually hoppy for a pilsner. 4.9 percent; $8.50

Caldera IPA

Caldera IPA
Ashland, Oregon
So hoppy it tastes like a meal. If you like your beer to bite back, this is the one. Kicks, too. 6.1 percent. $9

Tallgrass Velvet Rooster

Tallgrass Velvet Rooster
Manhattan, Kansas
The Kansas version of a Belgian tripel. We loved the floral sweetness in this well-crafted pint. 8.5 percent; $9 for four

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Chico, California
Rich and piney, Sierra Nevada’s signature ale has enough spice for a Christmas party. 5.6 percent

21st Amendment Monk’s Blood

21st Amendment Monk’s Blood
San Francisco
Spiced with vanilla, figs, and cinnamon, but still the smoothest strong beer on the list. 8.3 percent

Ska True Blond Ale

Ska True Blond Ale
Durango, Colorado
This was the best light beer we tried, with a hint of lemon that’s not too tart. Perfect for grilling days. 5.3 percent

Sixpoint Resin Ale

Sixpoint Resin Ale
Brooklyn, New York
Known for cramming a ton of hops into its cans, this Brooklyn brewery went all out on bitterness. The strongest brew we tried. 9.1 percent; $10 for four

Wynkoop B3K Black Lager

Wynkoop B3K Black Lager
Denver
Creamy, chocolaty, and smoky all in one sip, this German-style schwarz-bier uses four layers of malts to achieve its complexity. 5.3 percent