CNN's Top 12 Beers of 2012 Include One Local

Before we forget last year -- remember 2012? erratic sort, lotsa crazy mood swings? disappointing Chargers season? -- let's note that two locals earned a salute from CNN.

Just before New Year's Eve, the cable network's Eatocracy blog issued its picks for best beers of the year. Nathan Berrong, the CNN staffer whose duties include beer, led with Belgium's rare and coveted Westvleteren 12, but otherwise has a definite West Coast bias. (Not complaining, or arguing. But it is a welcome surprise.)

And there among the brews from Oregon, Colorado and Northern California is Ballast Point's Victory at Sea. Berrong also notes that this excellent imperial porter is aged with coffee from Nortk Park's Caffe Calabria.

You can read Berrong's complete story here. But here's a stripped down version of his list:

Westveleteren 12, Westvleteren, Vleteren, Belgium

Marooned on Hog Island Stout, 21st Amendment, San Francisco

Union Jack, Firestone Walker, Paso Robles

Woodcut No. 6, Odell, Fort Collins, Colo.

Narwhal Russian Imperial Stout, Sierra Nevada, Chico, Calif.

Daytime IPA, Lagunitas, Petaluma, Calif.

Boxer’s Revenge Organic Wild Ale, Jester King, Austin, Tex.

Heady Topper Imperial IPA, The Alchemist, Waterbury, Vt.

Noyaux Wild Ale, Cascade, Portland, Ore.

Victory at Sea Imperial Porter (brewed with vanilla and Caffe Calabria coffee), Ballast Point, San Diego

Vadim Bora Russian Imperial Stout, Wedge, Asheville, N.C.

Odio Equum Wild Ale, Avery, Boulder, Colo.

Read Peter Rowe's full story and more on utsandiego.com