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Official Review (Issue 53)
Judging Process
Our reviews are conducted in a single-blind tasting format. This method provides the best opportunity to rely on facts and to avoid favoritism, insuring a level playing field for all brewers. It serves both the industry and the consumer to have unbiased and objective scores from qualified experts. To best implement this approach, the Judges Review is open to those with established experience as a Master Cicerone® from the Cicerone® Certification Program or as a judge that has accomplished the rank of National or higher from the Beer Judge Certification Program. In the single-blind tasting format, judges are presented with a chilled, properly poured beer and given its style category. Scoring is then done on the following basis using a 100-point scale:
Score Breakdown:
100 to 96: World Class – You need this beer in your life.
95 to 91: Exceptional – Don’t hesitate.
90 to 86: Very Good – A brew to savor.
85 to 75: Average – Somewhat unimpressive.
74 and below: Not Recommended – Just walk away.
World Class (100 to 96)
97
Lone Buffalo
Wild Leap Brew Co.
97
Situational Ethics - Rye Barrel-Aged Rocky Road Imperial Stout
Monday Night Brewing
96
Alpha Abstraction, Vol. 15
Wild Leap Brew Co.
Exceptional (95 to 91)
95
Campfire Coffee Stout
Gnarly Barley Brewing Co.
95
Christmas Island
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
95
Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter
Wild Leap Brew Co.
94
Bourbon Barrel Raspberry Stout with Vanilla Beans
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
94
Blueberry Pancake Pastry Stout
Gnarly Barley Brewing Co.
93
Estate Kriek
pFriem Family Brewers
93
Maple Barrel Aged Barleywine
pFriem Family Brewers
93
Barrel-Aged Hypnic Jerk
Gnarly Barley Brewing Co.
92
Barrel-Aged Brownie Batter Blend #2 Base
Pontoon Brewing
92
NITRO Cali Creamin'
Mother Earth Brew Co.
92
pFriem Pale Ale
pFriem Family Brewers
92
Features & Benefits IPA
Stone Brewing Co.
92
2021 New Year Cuvée
pFriem Family Brewers
92
Gingerbread Murder Scene
Pontoon Brewing
91
pFriem + Alesong
pFriem Family Brewers
Very Good (90 to 86)
90
Fruit Cup v3
Pontoon Brewing
90
Cosmic Pyrokinesis
Mother Earth Brew Co.
88
pFriem Rum Barrel-Aged Porter
pFriem Family Brewers
88
Gnarpocalypse
Gnarly Barley Brewing Co.
88
None of This Makes Sense
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
88
Bomb Cyclone
Pontoon Brewing
87
Alcatraz Double Cold Brew
Alcatraz Brewing
86
The Mighty Banana
Pontoon Brewing
Average (85 to 75)
85
Sol Crusher
Pontoon Brewing
84
Small Stash Reserve - Horner Beer
Seedstock Brewery