[reverseapachemaster]

I do think that Pliny has a mystique that gets it votes, as has every other "top beer".  Dogfish head 90 won it a few years in a row, but they distribute far and wide.  The one that gets me was Alaskan Smoked porter, it won a couple years in a row and its distribution was very limited.  The other thing to think about is how many homebrewers live in California... Quaff, Doze, the Maltose Falcons and the Brewing Network (not all are in California, but I would bet that a substantial number are), are some of the most populous homebrew clubs and they are all in CA... I think the days of a non-California beer winning best beer in America will be few and far between.

Alaskan has expanded distribution in the past couple years. We get their beers here in Texas, even smoked porter.

[nateo]

All of the lists look the same to me, every year. I wonder what it will take to shake it up.

[In The Sand]

All of the lists look the same to me, every year. I wonder what it will take to shake it up.

Maybe some sort of an IPA with columbus, cascade, simcoe, citra, or amarillo....... lol

[klickitat jim]

A majority of votes does not make anything best.

[HoosierBrew]

A majority of votes does not make anything best.

+1.  I love hoppy beers and RIS as much as anybody, but hard to believe Boulevard Saison-Brett and  Founders Backwoods Bastard (for example) wouldn't be on there somewhere.

[klickitat jim]

Was it a fill in the blanks survey or circle your favorite?

[narvin]

The 'Derek Jeter' of beers?

If this is a reference to him winning a Gold Glove despite having terrible range, you win the internet!

[fmader]

Was it a fill in the blanks survey or circle your favorite?

Fill in the blanks of your top twenty beers... No word bank lol

[denny]

Taking nothing away from the quality of the beers on the list, but it is kind of a most famous beers list, isn't it?

And most likely they're famous due to the quality.  I don't see your point.

[drjones]

I just checked Chris Frey's 2010 AHA demographic summary /forum/index.php?topic=2717.0 but there is no mention of the proportion of members east vs. west of the Mississippi.  Anyone know this?  The top 100 certainly seemed to express a West Coast bias.
Pliny-less in New England

[denny]

All of the lists look the same to me, every year. I wonder what it will take to shake it up.

More people who have different tastes who vote?

[HoosierBrew]

The 'Derek Jeter' of beers?

If this is a reference to him winning a Gold Glove despite having terrible range, you win the internet!

I love it.  Freakin hilarious !  So, wondering what the Derek Jeter of Beers would be - maybe SA Boston Lager? No BMC - that would be the Utility Infielder of Beers (if that).

[AmandaK]

I love seeing Boulevard represent! Tank 7 is a truly great beer. 

[bluesman]

I love seeing Boulevard represent! Tank 7 is a truly great beer. 

+1

Really like this beer too.

I have to say that the list sums it for me. I might not necessarily have them in the same order, but there are some very stellar beers on the list.

[Joe Sr.]

I love seeing Boulevard represent! Tank 7 is a truly great beer. 

I agree.  And it actually surprised me to see it on there, since the list is so dominated by hoppy beers.

I've had Pliny.  It was good.  I'm not a big IPA guy so I can't say it was the best.  It was not on my list, as it's not something I have access to nor would I likely drink it very often.  Whatever. People love it.  The people I shared it with loved it.  This list is unscientific.