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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.

The Love

The Love
Reviewed by: Mike Castagno
Judges Rating:
86
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
4 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
6 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Bright aromatics of citrus, pear and apple marry with a light grainy note and a faint hint of spice. Although commonly associated with the Hefeweizen style, banana and clove characteristics were nearly completely absent. This is clearly more of... Read More

Untouchable

Nelson India Pale Ale
Reviewed by: Josh Weikert
Judges Rating:
87
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Speakeasy's Untouchable IPA is a solid addition to a market that has every kind of IPA imaginable on offer. It makes good use of not-commonly-paired hops, and has a rich malt base upon which to play.

Calm Before The Storm

Calm Before The Storm Ballast Point Beer
Reviewed by: Nelson Crowle
Judges Rating:
92
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

In evaluating this beer, I was only told that it was a “flavored Cream Ale.” This helps by identifying the perceived flavors and aromas and being able to compare them to what the brewer intended.

Baby Daddy

Baby Daddy
Reviewed by: Josh Weikert
Judges Rating:
80
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
14 / 20

Session IPAs represent an attempt to make something like an IPA, only smaller (without, one would assume, being an American Pale Ale).

Dorado Double IPA

Dorado Double IPA
Reviewed by: Nelson Crowle
Judges Rating:
93
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This is one huge hoppy knock-your-socks-off double IPA that will melt the enamel off your teeth!  Both aroma and flavor are very spicy with loads of black pepper. There is a light grainy malt backbone – slightly toasty, with a little bit of bread... Read More

Barrel Thief

Odell Brewing Barrel Thief IPA
Reviewed by: Jason Johnson
Judges Rating:
88
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

This is a very gorgeous beer, pouring a hazy -- but bright -- golden color with a thick mousse-like off-white head. The aroma is quite complex, with lots of fresh woody oak, some thick vanilla and ripe mango.

Height of Civilization

Height of Civilization Beer
Reviewed by: Jim Koebel
Judges Rating:
82
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

This beer is a sipper, a Barleywine brewed with lemons, hibiscus, cranberry, cherry, and cocoa nibs. Its aroma is quite rich and generically fruity, with oak, ethanol, and cocoa coming through. Ethanol becomes more apparent as it warms, and the... Read More

Grunion Pale Ale

Ballast Point Grunion Pale Ale
Reviewed by: Nelson Crowle
Judges Rating:
94
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

This pale ale has a lot going on – in a good way! It pours a beautiful, brilliantly clear deep gold with a big, mousy light cream-colored head. The aroma has lots of tropical fruit from kiwi to mango and also a spicy grainy rye breadiness. The... Read More

Angel City Berliner

Angel City Berliner Weisse Beer
Reviewed by: Nelson Crowle
Judges Rating:
91
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Berliner Weisse, Napoleon’s “Champagne Of The North,” is a very refreshing light sour wheat beer. This example is very cloudy and has a huge white head that stays around forever. The aroma is of doughy bread with a bit of lemon, with some hay in... Read More

Double Platinum

Double Platinum Starr Hill IPA
Reviewed by: Mike Castagno
Judges Rating:
93
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

There is quite an impressive expression of hops throughout this beer. Huge levels of pine and resin with minor notes of tropical fruit (guava) and a hint of citrus rounds it out. This is a beer of very good clarity with a reddish-orange hue,... Read More

Jomo Lager

Jomo Lager Starr Hill Beer
Reviewed by: Mike Castagno
Judges Rating:
86
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

There is an intense aroma of toast and baking bread up front. The beer is copper in color and brilliantly clear with good head retention. There are ale-like notes of red berries (cherry and strawberry) as the beer warms a bit.

Leviathan

Leviathan Harpoon IPA
Reviewed by: Joseph Formanek
Judges Rating:
90
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Harpoon’s Leviathan IPA is a monster! This aroma of this massive brew is loaded with melon and citrus character with a light resinous background combined with substantial base malt notes. The appearance is outstanding, with very light carbonation... Read More

SuperFuzz

SuperFuzz
Reviewed by: S J Klein
Judges Rating:
90
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
4 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Blood Orange is an interesting addition to a beer. I was afraid this beer would either be soda-poppy, or too dry to hold up to the fruit that was added to it (fruit sugars in beer tend to ferment completely out, leaving fruit essence but no fruit... Read More

Liliko'i Kepolo

Liliko'i Kepolo
Reviewed by: Jim Koebel
Judges Rating:
90
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

A vacation in a glass, this cloudy, bright yellow beer contains a host of tropical fruit characteristics. Its aroma is alive with juicy grapefruit, lemon zest, coriander, pineapple, and white pepper. The flavor follows suit and jumps with passion... Read More

Nordic Saison

Harpoon Nordic Saison Beer
Reviewed by: Joseph Formanek
Judges Rating:
92
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Harpoon Brewing Co, in collaboration with Kissmeyer Beer and Brewing, and Cambridge Brewing Company, has successfully brewed a fine Saison upon which they have then added their own stamp. 

Framboise Boon

Framboise Boon Brouwerij
Reviewed by: Garrick van Buren
Judges Rating:
83
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
14 / 20

This clear, medium-brown beer with a low persistent head of dusty pink bubbles has a huge, enveloping bouquet of freshly harvested raspberries and rich black cherry. The barnyard notes common in the aroma of other lambics are not present here.

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