A few days ago we released the Drink Craft Beer Top 11 Craft Beers of 2011. These were the beers introduced in 2011 that impressed us the most. As many have pointed out, though, it's an extremely Northeast biased list. One of the great things about craft beer is that each region has it's own breweries; one of the tough things about this, though, is that you usually don't have access to those breweries in other parts of the country. While we'd love to travel around the country all the time and try everything, we simply can't. Luckily, we have all of you craft beer drinkers who can help us out with this!

We put out our Top 11 New Craft Beers of 2011, but we want to know what YOU liked this year! What was your favorite NEW craft beer released in 2011? We'll compile all of the votes and then release a Nationwide Top 11 of 2011 list on Tuesday, January 3rd. Since this is a list of 2011 beers, voting closes at the stroke of Midnight on New Years Eve, so you have to get your vote in while the calendar shows 2011 and not a second later!

As usual, vote below then let us know what you voted for on Twitter, on Facebook or in the comments below the poll.

The current standings are (with 77 votes counted as of 12/30/2011 at 2:34pm ET):

Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale - 7
Deschutes The Stoic - 7
Stone Brewing Co. 15th Anniversary Imperial Black IPA - 6
DC Brau "The Corruption" - 3
Troeg's Perpetual IPA - 2
Cigar City Ligero Black Lager - 2
Epic's Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stout - 2
Maine Beer Co. Lunch IPA - 2
Hardywood Gingerbread Stout - 2
Brew Dog Hops Kill Nazis (aka Hops Kill ?) - 2
Backlash Brewing Groundswell - 2
Narragansett Summer Ale - 2
Berkshire Brewing Co. Kelly's 60th Anniversary Dark Red Irish Ale - 2

All with only one vote:

Hardywood Singel
Stone Vertical Epic 11-11-11
New Glarus Laughing Fox
Shipyard Applehead
Midnight Sun Open Container
No Label Black Wit-O
Wachusett Homegrown Hop Ale
Jailhouse Misdemeanor
Lazy Magnolia Ginger Jaque
Boulevard Brewing Collaboration #2 White IPA
Jester King Das Wunderkind
21st Amendment / Ninkasi Allies Win The War!
Notch Session Saison
Austin Beerworks Fire Eagle IPA
Victory Headwaters Pale Ale
Hangar 24 Pugachev's Cobra
Baxter Pamola Amber Ale
Karbach Brewery Sympathy for the Lager
Firestone Walker XV Anniversary Blend
Right Brain Brewery Firestarter Porter
Port City Porter
DC Brau "The Citizen"
DC Brau "The Public"
Coast Old Nuptial Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine
Harpoon Chocolate Stout
Drakes Aroma Coma IPA
Jack's Abby Kiwi Rising Double India Pale Lager

The first time I tried a beer from Peak Organic Brewing Company back in 2006 I went into it thinking, “great, a generic, gimmicky organic beer.” Boy was I ever wrong! In that time, they’ve continued to innovate and put out some truly delicious beers, many of which have become Drink Craft Beer favorites. With all they’ve done, though, I think my favorite idea that they’ve had yet is one they only recently released: The Peak Organic Local Series. For this set of ales, they worked with farmers in four states (Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and Maine - sorry New Hampshire, nobody is willing to grow enough hops in your state, get on that!) to produce grain and hops that will go into a beer for each state made entirely with locally grown ingredients. They brew the same recipe for each state, the only variation is where the ingredients are grown. The effect is surprising and really shows that not all hops or malt are created equal; each state has its own characteristic taste that needs to be tried to be understood. And, with that said, on to our local version, the Massachusetts Ale!

Peak’s Massachusetts Local Series ale cascades into the glass a light and clear amber color that skews just a bit to the orange-ish family. A tight, eggshell colored head settles on top just long enough to take a picture and carry the glass to my seat. This certainly looks like a beer I’d enjoy drinking a bomber of; it’s not too thick in appearance and the color is awfully nice.

The number one thing I pick up when I smell this beer, and this was before I was even trying to smell it, is hops...delicious, grapefruity, citrusy, Massachusetts-grown hops! After you get passed this the rest is fairly clean. The yeast is pretty neutral, which is great as it lets the local ingredients shine. Malt? I’m sure it’s there, but it’s hanging out behind those gorgeous smelling local hops, most likely a result of the generous dose of dry-hops added by the Peak Organic crew! As a Massachusetts hop grower myself (albeit on a very small scale), this is especially neat to me!

While the hops are the star of the show in the aroma department, things are a bit more even once you sample this one. Let’s be clear, though; this is a hop-forward beer, it’s bitter and it’s got some great hop flavor that really shows the difference that comes from growing the same ingredients in different places. That said, it’s still balanced for what it is, meaning it’s not overly bitter. Those who don’t love hoppy ales, I’d say still give it a try as it’s a bit different from many hoppy choices...it’ll be a challenge, but that’s what makes you grow.

The difference is in the malts. Thanks to the Valley Malt Brewer Supported Agriculture (BSA) program I, and Massachusetts residents, have had several chances to sample malt that’s been grown right here in-state. The locale really does make a difference! The local grain lends every beer I’ve tried a minerally quality that is great with hops. It really brings them out and serves to showcase them in a flattering manner. That’s why I say those who are a bit reluctant when it comes to the IBUs should try this one. It’s bright, it’s a little fruity with hop flavor and it’s crisp with very little of that resinous character I’m coming to dislike in over-hopped beers. Well done, Peak!

I picked this bottle up at Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont.

Wachusett Brewing Company is one of those breweries that is often overlooked by beer enthusiasts, but the way they're growing tells us that they’ve got to be doing something right! We’ve long appreciated the work that they do over in Westminster, MA and, if you show up on a growler fill Saturday, you’ll see what kind of loyalty they’re breeding. Beer isn’t always about hype, imperial stouts and hops; sometimes it’s about making a delicious product that you can come back to again and again. When we visited the brewery back in 2007, that’s what they were doing. Since then they’ve turned up the volume just a bit, introducing Larry (one of the best Double IPAs in the area in our minds), Ryde (a delicious and drinkable hoppy rye ale), a rotating set of 22oz bombers (including a delicious Milk Stout) and some more limited brews. Today, though, I want to go back to an old mainstay that helped get them to where they are today: Wachusett Winter Ale.

Wachusett’s Winter Ale pours a rich coppery, almost red, crystal clear hue with a tan, thick, creamy head. It looks almost the color and consistency of honey, though I doubt it is nearly as thick.

The smell is such a refreshing change from what I expect now from so many winter ales: over-spiced nutmeg and clove bombs. Instead, this brew’s flavor comes almost entire from the malt. It smells of a deep, whole wheat loaf of bread that just came out of the oven. There is little, if any, hoppiness in the aroma and that’s just fine by me! A “classic scotch ale” (as the label says) by design, this nails it right on the head.

What do I want in a winter ale? Let’s see...I want a malt backbone to keep me warm on a winter night...I want some body to let me know that this is a sippin’ beer to be had by a wood fire...I want flavor and lots of it, I’m not looking for a crisp summer thirst quencher now! Guess what? Wachusett’s Winter Ale has all of this. It’s got a rich maltiness that goes along with the fresh bread smell. The beer isn’t too clean, but rather has a bit of fruitiness from the fermentation that goes very well with base. It’s a bit chewy, even, which is probably related to the sweetness on the finish. All in all, the folks at Wachusett will tell you they didn’t put any spice into this winter ale and that’s because they didn’t need to! One taste and you know that this is a tipple meant for the chilly nights we get in New England.

This bottle was a sample sent to us by Wachusett Brewing Company. Thanks folks!

As much as we love beer here we also enjoy other beverages. This Christmas I know I'll be having some mulled wine, perhaps a glass of scotch and of course some good craft beer as well. So what do you plan of having this Christmas? Let us know your specific drink of choice in the comments below or on twitter.

Vote below then let us know which way you went on Twitter, on Facebook or in the comments below the poll.

Merry Christmas