Beer Review (Issue 21)

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, ensuring 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)

98
by Jim Koebel
Oude Geuze Boon
Brouwerij Boon

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Brewer Q & A

96
by Jason Johnson
Todd The Axe Man
Surly Brewing Co.

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Brewer Q & A

96
by Josh Weikert
Blast!
Brooklyn Brewery

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96 
by Michael Heniff
Pinchy Jeek Barl
Anderson Valley Brewing Co.

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Exceptional (95 to 91)

95 
by Sean Coughlin
The Greater Pumpkin
Heavy Seas Beer

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Brewer Q & A

95 
by Rodney A. Tillinghast
Captain’s Daughter
Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island

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Brewer Q & A

95 
by Rick Franckhauser
Funky Pumpkin
Boulevard Brewing Co.

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Brewer Q & A

94 
by Susan Ruud
The Rainmaker
Green Man Brewery

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Brewer Q & A

94 
by Richard Wong
Incorrigible
New Holland Brewing Co.

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Brewer Q & A

Exceptional (95 to 91)

94 
by Jim Koebel
Hoptometrist
Roughtail Brewing Co.

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Brewer Q & A

94 
by Graham L. Barron
Pernicious IPA
Wicked Weed Brewing

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Brewer Q & A

94 
by Michael McGuire
Grains of Truth
Brewery Ommegang

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Brewer Q & A

93 
by Tom Cannon
INDY
Motorworks Brewing

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Brewer Q & A

93 
by S.J. Klein
The Brother Imperial IPA
Fremont Brewing

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Brewer Q & A

93 
by Nelson Crowle
Dorado Double IPA
Ballast Point Brewing Co.

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Brewer Q & A

93 
by Graham L. Barron
Fielder’s Choice
Heavy Seas Beer

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Brewer Q & A

93 
by Graham L. Barron
Freak of Nature
Wicked Weed Brewing

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Brewer Q & A

93 
by S.J. Klein
Little Sumpin’ Extra
Lagunitas Brewing Co.

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93 
by Randy Scorby
Lights Out Stout
Worthy Brewing Co.

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Brewer Q & A

92 
by Michael Heniff
Tropic King
Funkwerks, Inc.

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Brewer Q & A

92 
by Jason Johnson
Overrated West Coast Style IPA
Surly Brewing Co.

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Brewer Q & A

92 
by Nelson Crowle
Calm Before The Storm
Ballast Point Brewing Co.

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Brewer Q & A

92 
by Joseph Formanek
Nordic Saison
Harpoon Brewery

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Brewer Q & A

92 
by Tom Cannon
Sauvage
NOLA Brewing Co.

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Brewer Q & A

92 
by Susan Ruud
Green Man ESB
Green Man Brewery

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Brewer Q & A

92 
by Rick Franckhauser
Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Boston Beer Co.

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Brewer Q & A

92 
by Dan Preston
Citra Hero
Revolution Brewing

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Brewer Q & A

92 
by Garrick Van Buren
Chucktown Follicle Brown
Holy City Brewing

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Brewer Q & A

92 
by Jim Koebel
Double Duckpin
Union Craft Brewing

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Brewer Q & A

92 
by Jim Koebel
 Duckpin Pale Ale
Union Craft Brewing

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Brewer Q & A

Exceptional (95 to 91)

91 
by Joseph Formanek
Loving Cup
Southbound Brewing Co.

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Brewer Q & A

91 
by Rodney A. Tillinghast
Melt Away Session IPA
Newburyport Brewing Co.

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Brewer Q & A

91 
by Tom Cannon
Treasure Chest
Green Flash Brewing Co.

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Brewer Q & A

91 
by Nelson Crowle
Stone Pale Ale 2.0
Stone Brewing Co.

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91 
by Jim Koebel
12th Round
Roughtail Brewing Co.

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Brewer Q & A

91 
by Jim Koebel
Polar Night
Roughtail Brewing Co.

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Brewer Q & A

Very Good (86-90)

90  |  Leviathan, Harpoon Brewery, by Joseph Formanek
90  |  Abita Octoberfest Märzen, Abita Brewing Co. by Jim Koebel
90  |  Worthy IPA, Worthy Brewing Co. by Randy Scorby
90  |  V Twin, Motorworks Brewing, by Tom Cannon
90  |  Liliko’i Kepolo, Avery Brewing Co. by Jim Koebel
90  |  Mad Bishop, DuClaw Brewing Co. by Sean Coughlin
89  |  Murdered Out Stout, Hilliard’s Beer, by Rick Franckhauser
89  |  Black Circle, Southbound Brewing Co. by Joseph Formanek
89  |  Points Unknown IPA, Stone Brewing Co. by Randy Scorby
89  |  Imperial Pils, Lagunitas Brewing Co. by S.J. Klein
89  |  Modus Mandarina, Ska Brewing Co. by Nelson Crowle
89  |  Rumpkin, Avery Brewing Co. by Josh Weikert
89  |  Raspberry Sour, Avery Brewing Co. by Jim Koebel
89  |  Kalamazoo Stout, Bell’s Brewery, by Sean Coughlin
88  |  Lunch, Maine Beer Co. by James Link
88  |  Your Father Smelt of Elderberries, Stone Brewing Co. by Richard Wong
88  |  Stone Saison, Stone Brewing Co. by Randy Scorby
88  |  Furious, Surly Brewing Co. by Jason Johnson
88  |  King MacAlpin, Highland Brewing Co. by Dan Preston
88  |  Helldorado, Firestone Walker Brewing Co. by Michael Heniff
88  |  Rebel IPA, Boston Beer Co. by Rick Franckhauser
88  |  X-10, DuClaw Brewing Co. by Sean Coughlin
88  |  Green Man Porter, Green Man Brewery, by Susan Ruud
88  |  Intensified Coffee Porter, Brooklyn Brewery, by Joseph Formanek
87  |  Roughtail Pale Ale, Roughtail Brewing Co. by Jim Koebel
87  |  CrossBones, Heavy Seas Beer, by Graham L. Barron
87  |  Untouchable, Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, by Josh Weikert
87  |  Kriek Boon, Brouwerij Boon, by Jim Koebel
87  |  Neon Gypsy, DuClaw Brewing Co. by Sean Coughlin

Very Good (86-90)

86  |  Hop Lava, Double Mountain Brewery, by Randy Scorby
86  |  Heavy Lifting IPA, Boulevard Brewing Co. by John C. Tull
86  |  Grapefruit Sculpin, Ballast Point Brewing Co. by Garrick Van Buren
86  |  Green Head IPA, Newburyport Brewing Co. by Rodney A. Tillinghast
86  |  Raja, Avery Brewing Co. by Michael McGuire
86  |  Yeast Wrangler, Holy City Brewing by Garrick Van Buren
86  |  Funnel Cake, Forgotten Boardwalk Brewing Co. by James Link
86  |  1916 Shore Shiver, Forgotten Boardwalk Brewing Co. by James Link

Average (75-85)

85  |  Back In Black, 21st Amendment Brewery, by Richard Wong​
85  |  Stickee Monkee, Firestone Walker Brewing Co. by Jim Koebel
85  |  Piety, NOLA Brewing Co. by Tom Cannon
85  |  Fist City, Revolution Brewing, by Dan Preston
85  |  Red Sky at Morning, Heavy Seas Beer, by Graham L. Barron
85  |  Samuel Adams Pumpkin Batch, Boston Beer Co. by Rick Franckhauser​
84  |  Scattered Sun, Southbound Brewing Co. by Joseph Formanek
​84  |  Anti-Hero IPA, Revolution Brewing, by Dan Preston
84  |  DBA, Firestone Walker Brewing Co. by Michael Heniff
84  |  Interurban IPA, Fremont Brewing, by S.J. Klein
84  |  Toaster Pastry, 21st Amendment Brewery, by Richard Wong
84  |  The Poet, New Holland Brewing Co. by Richard Wong
84  |  Oarsman Ale, Bell’s Brewery, by Sean Coughlin
84  |  Old Pro, Union Craft Brewing, by Jim Koebel
83  |  Flagship, Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island, by Rodney A. Tillinghast
83  |  Wrought Iron IPA, Abita Brewing Co. by Jim Koebel
83  |  Framboise Boon, Brouwerij Boon, by Garrick Van Buren
83  |  Roughtail IPA, Roughtail Brewing Co. by Jim Koebel
82  |  Tell-Tale Tart, Boulevard Brewing Co. by John C. Tull
82  |  IRA, Double Mountain Brewery, by Randy Scorby
82  |  Chrome Satan, Hilliard’s Beer, by Rick Franckhauser
81  |  Oatmeal Porter, Highland Brewing Co. by Dan Preston
81  |  Brooklyn East IPA, Brooklyn Brewery, by Joseph Formanek
80  |  Baby Daddy, Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, by Josh Weikert
80  |  Pecan Harvest Ale, Abita Brewing Co. by Jim Koebel
80  |  Universale Pale Ale, Fremont Brewing, by S.J. Klein
​80  |  Revolution Oktoberfest, Revolution Brewing, by Dan Preston
78  |  Take 5, Harpoon Brewery, by Garrick Van Buren
76  |  Kashmir, Highland Brewing Co. by Dan Preston
75  |  The Calling, Boulevard Brewing Co. by John C. Tull
75  |  Quintaceratops, Brooklyn Brewery, by Josh Weikert