Well, we've found it is that time of year once again, dear readers. The time to celebrate and inebriate, debate and discern between the dark, the light, the foamy and the fruity. Time for our sixth annual Beer Cup!

As ever, our cause was to find the best of the best when it comes to beer and although we're pretty partial to anything made in the land shaped like a hand, we blind-tested damn near everything the beer world has to offer in four different categories: IPAs, ciders, fruit beers and ales.

Twelve of the finest in craft brewing, food critiquing and Michigan drink celebrating came to sample the almost 70 beers brought in by everyone from big names like Michelob and Leinenkugel to local craft breweries like Millking It Productions (MIP) and Kuhnhenn. And as one might imagine, what started as a scientific debate quickly turned into an inebriated debacle that had Bacchus smiling down on us and comments like "Our beer is coming faster than a 16-year-old boy" flowing as freely as the beverages.

Between samples our judges sipped on MIP's AXL, SNO and Diesel brews and while clearing cups, serving samples and cleaning up spilled beer (we're looking at you, Megan) it was incredibly entertaining just to catch a crumb of the comments being tossed out as quickly as the beer was tossed back. And although we're aware that our experts know their craft better than damned near any one of us, by the time they were 30 samples deep, the commentary turned more maniacal than methodic – with German accents returning once more (thanks, Travis). But even through beer-glazed eyes they managed to rank and review the amber brews – and now we're ready to present you with their scores. | RDW

Ciders

Uncle John's Blueberry Apple 7.4
Vander Mill Totally Roasted 7.1
Angry Orchard Traditional Dry Cider 6.9
Fox Barrel Pacific Cider 6.8
Strongbow Cider 5.5
Woodchuck Ginger 4.9
North Peak Nomad Dry Hard Cider 4.8
McKenzie Cider Black Cherry 4.6
Michelob Ultra Fruit Pomegranate Raspberry 4.3
Crispin Honey Crisp Hard Apple Cider 3.9

Ales

Ghettoblaster English Style Mild Ale 7.9
Innis & Gunn Rum Cask 7.8
Rochester Mills Rochester Red 7.5
Rodenbach Grand Cru 6.9
Anchor Old Foghorn 6.8
Brux Domesticated Wild Ale 6.8
Motor City Brewing Works Nut Brown Ale 6.7
Dragonmead Final Absolution 6.6
MIP Brik Irish Red Ale 6.5
Mt. Pleasant Brewing Train Wreck Ale 6.4
North Peak Siren Amber Ale 6.3
Newcastle Summer Ale 6.2
Jolly Pumpking Oro de Calabaza 6.0
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale 5.6
Brooklyn Local 1 5.4
Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale 5.3
Chimay Ale 5.2
Blue Point RastafaRye Ale 5.1
Summit Brewing EPA 5.0
Palm Speciale Belge Ale 4.9
Stone Brewing Arrogant Bastard 4.3
Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale 3.8

IPAS

Kuhnhenn DRIPA 7.3
Stone Brewing IPA 7.0
Sam Adams Grumpy Monk Belgian IPA 6.3
Founders Centennial IPA 6.2
Flying Dog Raging Bitch IPA 6.1
Schmohz Hopknocker Imperial IPA 5.9
Arbor Brewing Sacred Cow IPA 5.8
Rochester Mills Cornerstone 5.6
Saugatuck Singapore IPA 5.5
Blue Point Hoptical Illusion 5.4
Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA 5.2
Dragonmead Crown Jewels 5.1
Atwater Conniption Fit Double IPA 5.0
North Peak Vicious Wheat IPA 4.9
Anchor Brewing Libery Ale 4.8
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA 4.4
Magic Hat Blind Faith 4.2

Fruit Beer

Kriek Boon 8.2
Jolly Pumpkin Sobrehumano Palena 'Ole 7.8
Leinenkugel Summer Shandy 6.8
Framboise Boon 6.2
Shock Top Lemon Shandy 5.8
Magic Hat Elder Betty 5.6
Detroit Brewing Co Radler 5.2 Atwater Traverse City Cherry Wheat 5.0
Unibroe Ephemere 4.9
Arbor Brewing Strawberry Blonde 4.8
Blue Point Blueberry Ale 4.8
Sautatuck Delilah Dewyle Berry Wheat 4.4
Arcadia Whitsun Ale 3.8