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Latest Reviews

Explore The Beer Connoisseur® magazine's database of most recent beer and cider reviews as evaluated by our panel of judges in the Official Review.

Black is the new Wit

Black is the new Wit
Reviewed by: Owen Ogletree
Judges Rating:
89
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Quite an interesting experimental ale, this beer boasts an expansive range of mild flavors that merge to form a unique black ale with aromas of dark malts and suggestions of root beer, coffee, cola, burnt sugar, raisins, plum and smoke.

Carnevale Ale

Carnevale Ale
Reviewed by: Owen Ogletree
Judges Rating:
92
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Sometimes blending two wonderful things produces unexpected, yet magnificent, results.

Florida Cracker

Florida Cracker
Reviewed by: Owen Ogletree
Judges Rating:
92
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Inviting aromas of coriander, cumin, cereal grains and slightly earthy notes of wheat and citrus emerge from the glass when swirled. With a pale gold shade, pleasant haze and impressive fluffy stand of white foam, the beer seems to glow when held... Read More

Hop Hunter IPA

Hop Hunter IPA Sierra Nevada
Reviewed by: Owen Ogletree
Judges Rating:
95
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Pungent, earthy hop resins punch the drinker in the nose with notes of pine, citrus, grapefruit and even hints of juniper. Pale malt-driven, this golden beer achieves impressive clarity and a moderate, white, persistent head.

Rübaeus

Rübaeus Founders Beer
Reviewed by: Tom Cannon
Judges Rating:
86
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

The beer starts out with a fresh, tart raspberry aroma and pours a brilliantly clear dark pink with a light pink head. The flavor is a touch more juicy, but is offset by a nice creaminess to the texture of the beer, which works well with the... Read More

Carolina Blonde

Carolina Blonde Foothills Beer
Reviewed by: Tom Cannon
Judges Rating:
91
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Cream Ale sounds a bit ordinary, but when done right it can take “lawnmower beer” to a higher level. The complexity to the aroma starts this beer off right, biscuit malt wrapped in an appetizing blend of pear and pineapple. The pour is an... Read More

Saranac Legacy IPA

Saranac Legacy IPA Matt brewing
Reviewed by: Tom Cannon
Judges Rating:
93
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

The key to a good American IPA is getting the hops right and making them taste great. This beer gets it right, from a pleasant piney, resiny aroma to a fresh hop flow in the flavor leading to a smooth bitter finish.

Silva Stout

Green Flash Beer Silva Stout
Reviewed by: Tom Cannon
Judges Rating:
95
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
20 / 20

The beer starts with a roasted marshmallow, smoky vanilla aroma with some caramel added – not quite what one would expect from an imperial stout. In the glass it’s black on black with a fluffy dark tan head and pretty lacing.

Devil Dancer

Founders Beer Devil Dancer Triple IPA
Reviewed by: Jason Johnson
Judges Rating:
89
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This beer pours a dark copper color with a hint of haze and a thin, long-lasting head. For a Triple IPA, the hop aroma is a bit subdued, but there are typical grapefruity citrus and pine aromas, along with some tropical fruit in the background.... Read More

Brombeere

Odell Beer Brombeere Gose
Reviewed by: Jason Johnson
Judges Rating:
92
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

The beer pours a soft hazy copper color with pinkish-red highlights and a well-formed head. Up front in the aroma you get blackberries followed by some doughy/bready wheat, and a hint of sour. Don’t expect much from the hops in this style.

Pale Ale 2.0

Stone Pale Ale 2.0
Reviewed by: Nelson Crowle
Judges Rating:
91
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

With a brilliantly clear orange-hued amber color and a three-finger cream-colored head, this beer tempts you with its beautiful presentation in the glass. The aroma is grainy with notes of toast and bread crust, and there is a nice big citrusy... Read More

1Z Enuff

1znuff
Reviewed by: Jason Johnson
Judges Rating:
91
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

The beer pours a beautiful, brilliantly clear dark gold with a very nice cream-colored head. As one would expect with an Imperial IPA, there are lots of hop aromas and hop flavors to match, mostly white grapefruit and resinous pine, but I did get... Read More

Athena

Athena
Reviewed by: Josh Weikert
Judges Rating:
87
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

As a common "gateway" sour, Berliner Weisse tends to be a little one-note, but it's usually a pretty good note! Athena follows that model, and is a good drinking sour even if it isn't a great example of a Berliner Weisse.

Unfiltered Wheat Beer

Boulevard Brewing Unfiltered Wheat beer
Reviewed by: Nelson Crowle
Judges Rating:
91
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Pours with a very inviting cloudy yellowish color and a large white poofy head. The aroma is of bready wheat with a touch of bread crust and a pleasant grainy character.  Some background notes of river rock minerality, fresh hay, and a bit of... Read More

Helios Farmhouse Ale

Reviewed by: Phil Farrell
Judges Rating:
95
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
40 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

This beer has an unmistakable aroma of Brettanomyces barnyard funkiness in all its glory. Once the beer warms there are typical saison light citrus aromas with a touch of pepper spice. The flavor is every bit as complex as the aroma. I initially... Read More

Spinnerbait

Reviewed by: Tom Cannon
Judges Rating:
90
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

The Belgian Red style usually contains a level of sourness that this example does not have. It does have some fruity notes and a fi rm Belgian character. The aroma has some sweet, candy-like cherry features along with a faint farmhouse nose.

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