Start 14-Day Trial Subscription

*No credit card required

Latest Reviews

Explore The Beer Connoisseur® magazine's database of most recent beer and cider reviews as evaluated by our panel of judges in the Official Review.

Stay Tuned

Stay Tuned by Free Will Brewing Co.
Reviewed by: Jim Koebel
Judges Rating:
87
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Stay Tuned is an Imperial Stout, BJCP Category 20C. The aroma of this beer is super clean. It's roasty and smooth, and that's about it. Surprisingly, the roasted character doesn't accompany any coffee, smokey, or fruity aromas; it's simply clean... Read More

Reviewed by: Jim Koebel
Judges Rating:
87
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Cloudy with a Chance of Charcuterie is a New England-style IPA, judged as BJCP Category 21B. This beer's aroma consists of dense grapefruit and orange, with pine in the background.

Morning Wood

Morning Wood Funky Buddha Brewery
Reviewed by: Jim Koebel
Judges Rating:
94
Aroma:
24 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Morning Wood is a flavored Imperial Porter aged in oak barrels, judged as BJCP Category 33A.  Cafe mocha aroma is this beer's first impression, complemented by sweetness, vanilla, and oak undertones. They blend very well and together are rich and... Read More

pFriem Flanders Blonde

pFriem Flanders Blonde by pFriem Family Brewers
Reviewed by: Pat Mulloy
Judges Rating:
95
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

This beer is reviewed as a BJCP 28B (Mixed-Fermentation Sour Beer). This beer captures an interesting Brett at an interesting stage and its worth buying a bottle to participate in the event.

Reviewed by: Tracy Hensley
Judges Rating:
90
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Aromas of strong milk chocolate covered by cloying candied orange peel and vanilla jelly with a lingering note of warm bourbon vanilla.  A very low tan film with sea spray-like legs cover the glass over an opaque dark brown stout color.

Reviewed by: Tracy Hensley
Judges Rating:
85
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

This hazy Double IPA leads with ethanol and hop bitterness, followed by unusual, but interesting, aromas of white milk chocolate and aggressive resin flavors.   

Reviewed by: Tracy Hensley
Judges Rating:
95
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

KettleHouse Brewing Company's Fresh Bongwater Hemp Ale was evaluated as a Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer with a base beer style of Blonde Ale (2015 Beer Judge Certification Program [BJCP] Category 30A and 18A, respectively).

Reviewed by: Tracy Hensley
Judges Rating:
90
Aroma:
19 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This is a sessionable example of a Scottish Export (2015 Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Category 14C), with uncharacteristic but enjoyable burnt, smoky, and roasted aroma notes.

Double Haul IPA

Double-Haul-IPA-by-KettleHouse-Brewing-Co.
Reviewed by: Tracy Hensley
Judges Rating:
90
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

A solid IPA, good looking with a well-developed aroma profile.  For the IPA style (2015 Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Category 21A - American IPA), the conflicting, bitter, and chalky flavors as well as a carbonic mouthfeel are... Read More

MILF

MILF by Mother's Brewing Co.
Reviewed by: Michael Heniff
Judges Rating:
95
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Mother's MILF Imperial Stout is being evaluated as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (category 33B of the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines).  For this category, the best examples have a "harmonious blend" between the base beer and the wood/spirits... Read More

Reviewed by: Michael Heniff
Judges Rating:
94
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

pFriem Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout is being evaluated as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (category 33B of the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). For this category, the best examples have a "harmonious blend" between the base beer and the wood/... Read More

Reviewed by: Michael Heniff
Judges Rating:
87
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

pFriem Scotch Barrel Aged Imperial Brown is a being evaluated as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (category 33B in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines).  For this category, the best examples have a "harmonious blend" between the base beer and the wood/... Read More

Reviewed by: Sean Coughlin
Judges Rating:
81
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
4 / 6
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

500 is a Belgian-style Quadruple aged in wood (2015 BJCP Guidelines 33A) with the base beer being evaluated using the 2017 Brewer’s Association Guidelines for Belgian-style Quadruple. 

Declaration

Declaration by Reformation Brewery
Reviewed by: Sean Coughlin
Judges Rating:
95
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Declaration is an Imperial Stout (2015 BJCP Category 20C) and is being evaluated as such according to the BJCP guidelines. 

Barrel-aged Jude

Barrel-aged Jude by Reformation Brewery
Reviewed by: Sean Coughlin
Judges Rating:
91
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Barrel-aged Jude is a Belgian-style Tripel and is being evaluated as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (2015 BJCP Category 33B) offering according to BJCP guidelines.

Scout The Storyteller

Scout by Reformation Brewery
Reviewed by: Sean Coughlin
Judges Rating:
80
Aroma:
19 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
32 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20

Scout the Storyteller is a Foreign Extra Stout (2015 BJCP Category 16D) and is being evaluated as such according to the BJCP guidelines. 

Pages

Partner Sponsor - Official Review