In the interest of full disclosure, this was a sample from my cellar that had roughly two years of age on it, in addition to the three-plus years it already matured prior to shipping. Still, this is truly a world-class beer, irrespective of its provenance. Hanssens has been producing some of the... Read More
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BC Review
The Expert Panel
The Beer Connoisseur® review was conducted as a round table single blind review by our panel of expert judges. Four to six judges reviewed 8-14 beers per session and submitted their individual scores and notes. The scores were averaged into a single score and notes compiled and summarized for publishing in magazine issues 1-14. These reviews have been republished here in this online format.
The names and biographies of the contributing judges were publsihed with each magazine issue and are listed below.
Charlie Gow - Founding Beer Review Coordinator (1960 - 2014)
Tim Artz
Tom Cannon
Phil Farrell
Pete Garofalo
Rick Garvin
Lee Anthony Hitchins
Owen Ogletree
My reviews
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
24 / 24
Flavor:
40 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
20 / 20
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
One of the world’s truly classic weizenbocks, in constant production since 1907, the Schneider Aventinus throws around gobs of prune, banana, and warm, exotic spices as the aroma billows from the glass. Tim enjoyed the “enticing hints of clove laced with a faint herbal, heather-like” hop note,... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
More widely known for crisp, refreshing lagers, tropical climes also host a number of breweries producing substantial ales, notably Foreign Extra Stout. Lion Brewery Ceylon, headquartered in Sri Lanka, produces the widely acclaimed Lion Stout, which packs a respectable 8/8% ABV. Rife with lush... Read More
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
18 / 24
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20
In the shadow of the famed San Francisco Bay Bridge, 21st Amendment Brewery is known for producing solid and occasionally eccentric beers for a rapidly growing market. Since 2000, Nico Freccia and Shaun O’Sullivan have been bringing characterful beer to the Bay Area and are now sharing the... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Just off of San Francisco’s scenic Embarcadero, 21st Amendment Brewery has been turning out California-themed iconic beer styles for over a decade. Its contract-brewed entry into the “session beer” market, Bitter American expresses much more character than one would expect from a beer of only 4.... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
When they decided to start packaging beer, 21st Amendment Brewery founders Nico Freccia and Shaun O’Sullivan opted for cans over bottles. If ever there was a beer to make believers out of those who turn up noses at canned beer, Hop Crisis is it. The aroma of this imperial IPA, is dominated by... Read More