Face it — American craft cream ales don’t get much respect. You never see anyone at the bar furiously logging into their favorite beer rating service to proclaim the greatness of a newly discovered American craft cream ale. It just doesn’t happen... Read More
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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.
Reviewed by: Rodney A. Tillinghast
Aroma:
21 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
Reviewed by: Joseph Formanek
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Southbound Brewing's Black Circle Double Cascadian Dark Ale is a well-balanced, approachable brew that should find fans even amongst those beer connoisseurs who do not prefer this particular style.
Reviewed by: John C. Tull
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
There is an aroma of rich malt, mostly caramel with toasted hints that may be from the wood. The beer has prevalent oaky wood aromas with whiskey barrel and vanilla overtones. Subtle tangerine hints from hops are lurking beneath the wood and malt... Read More
Reviewed by: Richard Wong
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
4 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
This beer poured a very dark brown, near-black color with very nice carbonation and a solid, dark tan head. It had slightly burnt roasted malt aromas with no noticeable hops in the nose. The beer had a nice balance of roasted malts and hops that... Read More
Reviewed by: Susan Ruud
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Double IPAs are hugely popular (and often have huge ABVs), but this wonderfully smooth and easy-drinking Double IPA manages to stand out from the pack. A huge bready malt aroma blended with apricot, earthy and floral hop aromas makes itself known... Read More
Reviewed by: Susan Ruud
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
A smooth, easy-drinking, and pristinely clean beer with hints of light chocolate and roasted malts.
Reviewed by: Susan Ruud
Aroma:
21 / 24
Appearance:
4 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
An extremely nice American IPA. Pours with a fair amount of chill haze, but has a beautiful, tall white stand of foam. Wonderfully pungent citrusy hops upfront in the aroma are followed by a crisp, crackery, bready malt.
Reviewed by: Dan Preston
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Yum! This IPA explodes out of the glass with huge citrus and tropical notes – grapefruit, orange, passionfruit, mango – with a touch of pine/resin at the back end of the aroma. There is a light, crackery, grainy malt character and a hint of light... Read More
Reviewed by: Dan Preston
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
This IPA pours a toasty golden color with great clarity and a thick white head that sticks.
Reviewed by: Dan Preston
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
32 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
This pale ale pours an exceptionally clear, light golden color with a pure, white head and lasting lacing. The nose is pretty balanced between malt and hops. There is a light grainy malt character with a hint of toast that accompanies some... Read More
Reviewed by: Sean Coughlin
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
The aroma is complex with elements of cinnamon, oak, vanilla, and ginger atop a bed of biscuity malt with a hint of bourbon in the background.
Reviewed by: Rick Franckhauser
Aroma:
21 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
An aroma of spicy noble hops followed by mild floral notes greets you before the toasty and somewhat caramel-like malt breaks through. A very clean fermentation, and a bright golden color accentuate the streaming bubbles, which support a creamy... Read More
Reviewed by: Graham L. Barron
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
“The west is the best,” or so say The Doors. Even if you don’t agree, this beer demonstrates that East Coast breweries are able to make great, west coast-style IPAs despite their geographic location. This beer pours a beautiful golden-yellow with... Read More
Reviewed by: Rodney A. Tillinghast
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
A style with all of the subtleness of a tomahawk to the skull: Double IPA. But, for beer lovers and those who appreciate hop-derived goodness, this beer is a home run.
Reviewed by: Graham L. Barron
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
Saison is a style that is open to a wide range of brewer interpretation, but this wine barrel-aged beer pushes those broad limits even further.
Reviewed by: Jason Johnson
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
4 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
The beer pours a dark amber with a slightly reddish hue. It has a well-formed light tan head with tight, compact bubbles. The head disappears within a minute, leaving a thin film on the beer's surface.