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Holiday 2024, Issue 75

Holiday 2024, Issue 75

Issue 75 kicks off with an intriguing editorial from Jim Dykstra, who decries the use of AI slop in creative fields and lifts up the stuff that helped the Founding Fathers frame the Constitution and create the United States of America. I’m talking, of course, about beer!

Then, it’s an intriguing piece delivering seven terrific Thanksgiving recipes alongside corresponding beer pairings that will have even your most curmudgeonly uncle beaming with happiness.

Next up is our bi-monthly What We’re Drinking Now column, with some terrific holiday seasonals mentioned, including some top-tier Christmas Ales that will be available soon, if they aren’t already.

Speaking of Christmas Beers, our next piece delivers an Advent calendar’s worth of the famed seasonal style in advance of the Christmas season. These tremendously interesting, flavorful and festive beers are sure to have you thanking your lucky stars you’re on the “nice” list.

Following that is a detailed piece about Chicago’s beloved Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged beer, a beer connoisseur’s paradise that specializes in beers that are aged on wood or in barrels. Unsurprisingly, these beers are replete with terrific aromas and flavors and ooze complexity.

A detailed education story about Modelo Beer follows, which covers the history of this venerable brand as well as its rise to being the top-selling brand in the U.S. – and one of the top sellers around the world.

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Summer 2024, Issue 73

Summer 2024, Issue 73

We kick off the issue with an intriguing opinion piece about AB InBev’s odd treatment of beloved beer ratings website RateBeer after it purchased it. This “zombie asset” is using decrepit code for its site and not showing any considerable profit for the megalithic ABI, but they continue to let the site go on with no renovations or changes. An unusual – and unsettling – situation.

Another issue means our next entry into the “What We’re Drinking Now” series, this time for the dog days of summer. This story is chock-full of flavorful, lightly fruited sours, thirst-quenching lagers and even a Pre-Prohibition lager – all of which are perfect for sultry summer days (and nights).

Our next story delivers a definitive list of the top beer quotes of all time, whether they be from notable historical figures, fictional characters, beer merchandise or simply heard at your local watering hole. This story is sure to help aid you when crafting your next toast upon meeting old friends.

Next up is a delightful story about the beer scene in Monaco, the absolutely stunning (and tiny) country on the French Riviera. With glorious views from all angles and a number of terrific late-night hotspots, this story is a great introduction if you’re planning an amazing summer trip to Monte Carlo.

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Early Summer 2024, Issue 72

Early Summer 2024, Issue 72

The issue kicks off with an intriguing opinion piece from longtime contributor Jim Dykstra, who ponders the fallout of Monster Beverage Corp.’s purchase of famed craft beer conglomerate CANarchy last year. “Monster Brewing” was recently named a top ten “craft brewery” in the U.S. by the Brewers Association, which doesn’t sit right with our writer.

Cooling off from that incendiary story is our Beer Recommendations for Early Summer 2024, which feature a bevy of easy-drinkers ranging from fruit beers to lagers. These famed summer sippers are sure to be the perfect accompaniment to the early days of summertime.

Following that is a fun story about Asheville, North Carolina, which stands out as the best beer city in the South. Featuring a plethora of top-rated breweries and myriad beer festivals and events, Asheville has something for everyone, as long as that something you’re looking for is beer-related!

Heading further north, that story leads into a detailed brewery tour of one of the most important and popular breweries in Massachusetts: Charlton, MA’s Tree House Brewing Co. As a brewery that’s been on the forefront of the hazy IPA movement, Tree House continues to innovate across its five locations – including a cider house in Connecticut.

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Spring 2024, Issue 71

Spring 2024, Issue 71

The issue begins with a story on Mike Tyson, one of the greatest boxers of all time. Did you know he now has his own brand of Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC gummies? That’s right! We follow that up with an engaging piece about Pickle Beer, which is an intriguing beer style that shouldn’t really work, but it does. Then, it's our Beer Recommendations for Spring 2024 (aka What We’re Drinking Now). This rotating story features some of the best brews for the spring season, including a few that won GABF gold medals near the end of last year, as well as a few that scored highly in our Official Review.

After that, we're off for a detailed tour of Portland, Maine’s tremendous brewing scene, which is home to Allagash Brewing Co., Batson River Brewing and Distilling, Bissell Bros Brewing Co., Oxbow Brewing and Blending and many, many more. Another travel story follows with Tasting Greece: The Search for the Best Greek Beer, which dives into the pristine azure waters of the Mediterranean and explores some of the best beer and breweries available in Greece. Our last travel story in the issue takes us to the Pacific Northwest for a tour of Great Notion Brewing, a terrific beer mecca for fans of IPAs, stouts, sours and much more in Portland, Oregon.

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Winter 2024, Issue 70

Winter 2024, Issue 70

The Beer in Review

Hello all and welcome to our annual, year-end edition of The Beer Connoisseur® magazine! This issue, as always, reflects the past year in beer with our trademark reviews, feature stories and wrap-up lists – showcasing the best breweries, beers and beer styles of 2023.

2023 held notable news across the board for the beer industry, including tragic stories (the shuttering of legendary craft brewery Anchor Brewing Co.), surprising stories (the rise of non-alcoholic beer) and stories of mega-beer boycotts (the Bud Light boycott by conservatives that caused it to fall from its sales throne).

Beyond all that, brewers continued to push the boundaries of brewing and produced an impressive number of top-flight brews, which we have aimed to highlight in our year-end Beer in Review winter edition.

Our Official Review saw a striking 12 World Class beers get reviewed, including one of only six scores of 99 that our judges have ever had the privilege to review. This marks two straight years that we have reviewed a beer that reached that lofty score. The beer scene is still thriving, despite near-constant rumblings of potential setbacks due to increased competition, market saturation and more.

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Fall 2023, Issue 68

Fall 2023, Issue 68

Welcome beer lovers! Explore scintillating stories about beer's ancient origins in Sumeria, discover some of the famous beer drinkers in history, learn everything you need to know about hops and much more.

Hello readers and welcome, once again, to another edition of The Beer Connoisseur magazine!

Want to know who brewed the first recorded beer? Check out our Ancient Origins: Beer's Mesopotamian Beginnings story. Sumerians started the tradition of beer brewing and drinking around 4000 BCE! Modern brewers have also started to explore using those historical recipes in recent years.

Beer has been made famous by many celebrity drinkers over the years, and our Famous Beer Drinkers in History story showcases the most notable beer fans ever. Where else on the internet will you find a story that features legendary British monarch Queen Elizabeth I right next to MLB Hall of Fame third baseman Wade Boggs?!

There’s nothing like a good cocktail to help ring in a new season. Perhaps you should Embrace Autumn with These Delectable Cocktail Creations thanks to a terrific story features intriguing autumn cocktails such as a Maple Bacon Bourbon Old Fashioned, a Pumpkin Spice White Russian, a Mulled Wine Martini and many more. Happy drinking!


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Summer 2023, Issue 67

Summer 2023, Issue 67

Welcome beer lovers! Immerse yourself in the best summer beers of 2023, explore an educational story about a fascinating alternative adult beverage, the Finnish Long Drink, discover an article about celebrity spirits brands and much more!

Welcome back readers, to this, the Summer Issue 67 of The Beer Connoisseur® Magazine!

This issue starts off with an intriguing piece about Lonkero (aka Finnish Long Drink), the extremely refreshing and citrusy Finland-based ready-to-drink cocktail that predates the hard seltzer and canned cocktail craze by about 70 years! This fascinating Finnish beverage is experiencing a resurgence, so grab a (long) drink and read all about it.

Celebrities have long looked to the world of food and drink to further their brand, and our Sips from Celebs story showcases a selection of 17 liquor and spirits brands that are either owned by or have partnered with notable celebrities, such as Bob Dylan, Matthew McConaughey, Metallica and more!

While white wine, hard seltzer and smooth cocktails abound during the summer months, beer is always a popular choice as temperatures heat up. Check out 12 Thirst-Quenching Beers for This Summer if you need some inspiration for poolside sipping.

Everyone likes a refreshing cocktail during the sultry summer months, so we have a story about The Art of Creating Delicious Ginger Beer Cocktails at Home that is sure to offer up some terrific tipples to imbibe while you're chilling by the pool, hosting a family barbecue, or simply hanging out with your friends out in the summer sun.

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May/June 2023, Issue 66

May/June 2023, Issue 66

  

Welcome back readers! We are back for the start of a new month with a brand-new edition of The Beer Connoisseur® magazine!

The issue starts off with one of our highly read best-of lists. This list highlights the Top 42 Lagers our judges have had the pleasure and privilege to imbibe over the course of history. There are a few surprises in store within the piece, so be sure to check it out.

We explore some of the best alcohol subscription clubs around with our 18 Great Alcohol Subscription Clubs for Enthusiasts story. From wine to bespoke cocktails alongside whiskey, gin and, of course, beer, this list has plenty of options for fans of any booze.

Martin Thibault takes a trek to the insular northeastern region of Lithuania to discover The Secrets of Lithuanian Farmhouse Brewing in the country, which is highly secretive and highly competitive. It’s worth it, though, as the beers created via this method are truly one-of-a-kind and unforgettable, as Martin conveys.

Everyone likes beer and ice cream, right?! Well, with that being the case (save for our poor lactose-intolerant friends and celiac sufferers), our story on Beer and Ice Cream Recipes. This article provides multiple ways to combine these two famed warm-weather treats, including beer floats, beer sorbets and more!

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Spring 2023, Issue 65

Spring 2023, Issue 65

  

It’s that time again, readers! Issue 65 of The Beer Connoisseur magazine has arrived, and with it, all the brew that’s fit to drink as spring is almost upon us following the long, cold months of winter.

We’ve got a bevy of beverage-related stories, as we branch out from the world of beer into spirits, barley water, interior design and much more in this thrilling issue of the magazine.

Famed artist Ralph Steadman, of Flying Dog Brewery label artwork fame, discusses the process behind creating terrific beer labels as well as his career creating zany art – and working alongside his good friend Hunter S. Thompson.

Have you ever wondered where the name “Moscow Mule” came from for the famed cocktail? We’ve got a story that delves into this fascinating beverage and explores its history, ingredients and even some of its controversies throughout history.

The Japanese craft beer scene (aka ji-biru) has grown considerably in recent years. Martin Thibault travels to the Land of the Rising Sun and enjoys some terrific Japanese craft brews made from fresh, unique and local ingredients, which produce beers that represent the fascinating land where they were born.

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and we’ve got some delectable Irish-inspired recipes that are sure to satiate the appetite of those who’ve been pounding green beer all day to celebrate the holiday.

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Winter 2023, Issue 64

Winter 2023, Issue 64

The Beer in Review

It’s a new year, and that means it’s time for us at The Beer Connoisseur to reflect on the year that was in 2022 with our year-end print edition.

2022 finally resembled something of a “normal” year after the doldrums of two years of COVID-related strife. Taprooms, bars, and breweries were all back to normal operating hours – though there definitely were fewer of them as the long COVID layoff caused a number of them to shut their doors permanently.

Still, though, innovation in beer and brewing was high, and popular new styles continued to crop up – including the continued rise in popularity of lagers, specifically imported lagers and Mexican lagers. Those trends and more – including non-alcoholic beers, THC/CBD beverages, and cold IPAs – can be found within this issue in our year-end Trends story by Jim Dykstra.

Last year was a terrific one in terms of our Official Review as our judges evaluated a record-tying 13 beers that achieved World Class ratings of 96 or above. Furthermore, one beer achieved a near-perfect rating of 99 – making it one of only five other beers in our history to reach those lofty heights in our Official Review.

For our Breweries of the Year story, our top Brewery of the Year is from New England and is known for its high-quality IPAs, stouts, and maple ales – hopefully, those hints aren’t too precise, so read on to find out who won!

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