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Official Review (Issue 37)
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 Michael Bury
Privat
Brauhaus Riegele
96
by Rick Franckhauser
Highland Pilsner
Highland Brewing Co.
Exceptional (95 to 91)
95
by Jim Koebel
Oak & White
Upland Brewing Co.
95
by Brad Darnell
Fastback Racer
Bear Republic Brewing Co.
95
by Nelson Crowle
Barrel-Aged Legion
Community Beer Co.
95
by Richard Wong
Highland Charge Bourbon Barrel Aged Wee Heavy Scottish Ale
Heathen Brewing
94
by Pat Mulloy
The Laurentian Series, Lake Superior
Speciation Artisan Ales
94
by Pat Mulloy
Funkwerks Saison
Funkwerks, Inc.
94
by David Sapsis
Steamworks Pilsner
Steamworks Brewing Co.
94
by Richard Wong
Mega Mint Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout
Heathen Brewing
94
by Michael Heniff
La Trappe Quadrupel
Brouwerij de Koningshoeven
94
by James Link
King Gambrinus
Jersey Girl Brewing Co.
93
by Brad Darnell
Zoigl-Pils
Zoiglhaus Brewing Co.
93
by Pat Mulloy
Wine Barrel-Aged Magic Trait
Speciation Artisan Ales
93
by Sean Coughlin
Oak & Rose
Upland Brewing Co.
93
by John C. Tull
Shared Waters
Coronado Brewing Co.
93
by Randy Scorby
Marine Dream IPA
Coronado Brewing Co.
93
by Richard Wong
Highland Charge Wee Heavy Scottish Ale
Heathen Brewing
93
by Brian Eichhorn
Inline IPA
Garage Brewing Co.
93
by Richard Wong
Helles Lager
pFriem Family Brewers
93
by Michael Heniff
Big Mother Triple IPA
Mother Earth Brew Co.
93
by Joe Formanek
14° ESB
Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
92
by Michael Heniff
Wreak Havoc
Bootstrap Brewing
92
by Michael Heniff
Stick's Pale Ale
Bootstrap Brewing
92
by Pat Mulloy
Raspberry Provincial
Funkwerks, Inc.
92
by John C. Tull
PreFunk Pale Ale
Worthy Brewing
92
by James Link
MO Pils
Jersey Girl Brewing Co.
92
by Jessica Sullivan
L'Attitude
Cape May Brewing Co.
91
by Tracy Hensley
Power of Love IPA
Mother Earth Brew Co.
91
by Rick Franckhauser
Polonia Pils
Flying Bison Brewing Co.
91
by Rodney Tillinghast
Dust Bunny
Monday Night Brewing
91
by Michael McGuire
Snozzberries Taste Like Snozzberries
Pontoon Brewing
91
by Joe Formanek
Cold Press Black
Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
91
by Brad Darnell
Citrus IPA
Garage Brewing Co.
91
by James Link
Bizarre Gardening Accident w/ Kumquat
Motorworks Brewing
91
by Michael Heniff
Bastogne Ardenne Spirit
Brasserie de Bastogne
Very Good (90 to 86)
90 | Pearpawsterous, Upland Brewing Co. by Jim Koebel
90 | Kawi, Currahee Brewing Co. by Dan Preston
90 | Daycation IPA, Highland Brewing Co. by Rick Franckhauser
90 | Flagship IPA, Steamworks Brewing Co. by David Sapsis
90 | Chillax, Bootstrap Brewing by Michael Heniff
89 | Stoker Red Ale, Worthy Brewing by John C. Tull
89 | Rascal, North Peak Brewing Co. by Lyn Howard
89 | Racer 500, Bear Republic Brewing Co. by Brad Darnell
89 | Kismet, Mother Earth Brew Co. by Tracy Hensley
89 | Bright Pale, pFriem Family Brewers by Richard Wong
89 | Bent Hop, Bent Paddle Brewing Co. by Joe Formanek
88 | Spot Coffee Stout, Flying Bison Brewing Co. by Rick Franckhauser
88 | Lucky Scars, Currahee Brewing Co. by Dan Preston
88 | Litigator Imperial IPA, Worthy Brewing by Richard Wong
88 | Key Lime Cider, 3 Daughters Brewing by Brian Eichhorn
87 | Rose du Gose, DC Brau & Cape May Brewing Co. by Jessica Sullivan
87 | MadeWest Standard, MadeWest Brewing Co. by Richard Wong
87 | Jucifer, Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. by Michael Heniff
87 | Down Under IPA, pFriem Family Brewers by Richard Wong
87 | Diabolical, North Peak Brewing Co. by Lyn Howard
87 | Craigies Ballyhook Flyer, Craigies Cider by Sean Coughlin
87 | Belgian-Style Tripel, Garage Brewing Co. by Brian Eichhorn
86 | Vienna Lager, Double Nickel Brewing Co. by Dan Preston
86 | Two of Tarts, Upland Brewing Co. by Jim Koebel
86 | Life Exotic, Upland Brewing Co. by Sean Coughlin
86 | Gnarvana, Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. by Michael Heniff
Average (85 to 75)
85 | Speed Merchant, Platform Beer Co. by Rodney Tillinghast
85 | Four Seasons, Spring '18, Mother Earth Brew Co. by Tracy Hensley
85 | Flotation Device Berliner Weisse - Moscow Mule, Pontoon Brewing by Michael McGuire
84 | Juice Caboose, Flying Bison Brewing Co. by Rick Franckhauser
84 | Combustible Pineapple, Pontoon Brewing by Michael McGuire
83 | Hawaiian Lounge Juice, Highland Brewing Co. by Rick Franckhauser
82 | Texas Lager, Community Beer Co. by Nelson Crowle
82 | Community Witbier, Community Beer Co. by Nelson Crowle
82 | Oak & Red, Upland Brewing Co. by Sean Coughlin
82 | Belgian Golden, Double Nickel Brewing Co. by Dan Preston
81 | Hard Apple Cider, 3 Daughters Brewing by Brian Eichhorn
80 | Murky, North Peak Brewing Co. by Lyn Howard
80 | Marshmallow Milk Stout, Garage Brewing Co. by Brian Eichhorn
80 | MadeWest Pale Ale, MadeWest Brewing Co. by Richard Wong
79 | Smooth Sail, Heavy Seas Beer by Jessica Sullivan
78 | Barrel-Aged German Chocolate Cake, Coronado Brewing Co. by John C. Tull
77 | MadeWest IPA, MadeWest Brewing Co. by Richard Wong