Some of the better International craft beer of 2011.

...and now for five of my favourite beers from beyond these shores that I drank in 2011.

Brooklyn East India Pale Ale (USA)
Hands down one of the best beers I had last year. Completely unassuming in appearance, this cracking beer is one of those rare examples of an American brewed IPA in more of an English style where the malt and the hops are more balanced. Utterly moorish and bloody good value when compared to a lot of imports. This is as close as you'll find to a true English IPA, outside of the motherland. Distribution in Melbourne is starting to get pretty good too with any decent craft beer shop likely to stock it.

8Wired Tall Poppy India Red Ale (NZ)
I just as easily could have chosen the Hopwired IPA, or their brilliant iStout but the Tall Poppy gets the gong from this amazing brewery due to it's incredible drinkability and for a beer not light on the alcohol (7%). One of the years highlights was an 8Wired Alestars night at The Local Taphouse St.Kilda where we got to meet Soren (via a Skype hook up on the big screen), the brewer himself. My favourite NZ brewery.

Invercargill Saison (NZ)
Being a bit of a "Saison-head", I'm always on the look out for a new one to try out. Had tried Invercargill's Boysenbeery which didn't exactly blow me away, but boy did their Saison. How the brewer managed to cram so much yeasty flavour in this little bottle is a mystery. One of the best saisons out there. Hard to find but worth the search.

Rodenbach Vintage 2007 (Bel)
When researching for a Beer Hunters beer club Sour / Wild ale night I kept being referred back to this beer. A Flanders Red Ale and a fantastic entry point into the flipside of the beer coin that is sour and wild ales. Sour like nothing I'd had before, but enough malt sweetness to keep you goimng back for more, this beer is one of the most memorable I had last year.

Hopback Brewery Summer Lightening (UK)
I never completely understood the distinction between a "summer ale" and a "golden ale" and a "blond ale". This beer made me want to get to the bottom of it. I learnt it's a style that we don't see enough of over in Oz, the English Golden Ale. The style originated broadly for devout UK lager drinkers as an entry point into the word of ales. Summer Lightning is a subtle, gentle aromatic beer that shines bright from the glass. By far the most restrained beer on the list, just a fantastic sessionable beer.

Honourable mentions: Victory Hellios Saison, Weinstephaner Vitus, BrewDog Punk IPA, Deschutes Hop in the Dark, Mikkeller Spontanale

There's probably loads more that I've forgotten about, and I reckon I'll start tracking things a better this year so watch this space.

Next up: On Friday I join my fellow Beer Hunters for a look at Mikkeller's Single Hop IPA range, all 10 of them! You beauty!  (my official Febfast reprieve)