Experimenting with the recently developed Japanese Sorachi Ace hop, Brooklyn Brewery delivers in a big way with its beer of the same name. Crafted loosely in the saison style, Sorachi Ace is a distinctive beer, showcasing all the bright citrus aromas and flavors the signature hop is so rightly... 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:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
20 / 20
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20
A clean, well-crafted interpretation of the style, Bell’s Porter is a highly quaffable brew that is a great introduction to the world of porters. Its deep brown color and thick, creamy tan-colored head are spot on, and when held to the light, flashes of garnet dance along the edge of the glass.... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Now entering a third decade of brewing, Petaluma-based Lagunitas continues to produce some of the more idiosyncratic beers (and labeling) on the market today. “Censored” is no exception, having been renamed after a certain Federal agency censored the original label. The aroma is subtle, with... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
For over 25 years, Pittsburgh’s Penn Brewery has been knocking out top-notch German-style lagers and staunchly sticking to a no adjuncts rule. Penn Brewery’s Penn Dark is a traditional Munich-style Dunkel relying on Munich malts and Hallertau hops to deliver a truly authentic brew. Spicy,... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
Heiner Brau’s German owner/brewmaster produces traditional lagers in Covington, La., with his German-style Maerzen being the brewery’s flagship brand. With brilliant clarity, a gorgeous amber/orange hue and a thick layer of off-white foam, this beer’s appearance elicited a unanimous “thumbs-up”... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
This beer is full of big clean malty flavor and aroma, backed by hints of toffee and Tupelo honey, providing creamy, almost vanilla notes to the beer. It pours a crystal clear golden with a bright white head. The malt comes through in layers that range from bready to rich graham cracker. These... Read More