Start 14-Day Trial Subscription
*No credit card required
Official Review, Issue 45
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, insuring 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)
96
by David Sapsis
Terrible
Unibroue
Chambly, Quebec, Canada
96
by Michael Bury
Stranger Danger
Monday Night Brewing
Atlanta, Georgia
96
by Brad Darnell
Irish Coffee Barrel-Aged Legion
Community Beer Co.
Dallas, Texas
96
by Nelson Crowle
East Brother Festbier
East Brother Beer Co.
Richmond, California
Exceptional (95 to 91)
95
by Joseph Formanek
Juice Above the Clouds
Altamont Beer Works
Livermore, California
95
by Dan Martich
Sticky Icky Icky
Short's Brewing Co.
Bellaire, Michigan
94
by Pat Mulloy
Two Stall
Ahnapee Brewery
Algoma, Wisconsin
94
by Pat Mulloy
Ahnapee Oktoberfest
Ahnapee Brewery
Algoma, Wisconsin
94
by Michael Heniff
Lundi
Monday Night Brewing
Atlanta, Georgia
93
by Joseph Formanek
Maui Waui IPA
Altamont Beer Works
Livermore, California
93
by Sean Coughlin
Bohemian Riot
Arches Brewing
Hapeville, Georgia
93
by Michael Bury
Éphémère Pomme
Unibroue
Chambly, Quebec, Canada
93
by Brad Darnell
East Brother Red IPA
East Brother Beer Co.
Richmond, California
93
by Brad Darnell
East Brother Belgian-Style Tripel
East Brother Beer Co.
Richmond, California
93
by Nelson Crowle
pFriem Brett Saison
pFriem Family Brewers
Hood River, Oregon
93
by Michael Heniff
Table Terroir
Two Roads Brewing Co.
Stratford, Connecticut
93
by Rick Franckhauser
Brewers' Pale Ale Galaxy Hop Blend
Anchor Brewing Co.
San Francisco, California
92
by Jason Johnson
Ralph
The Ale Apothecary
Bend, Oregon
92
by Rodney A. Tillinghast
De Proef Triple Honey Kriek
De Proef Brouwerij
Lochristi, Belgium
92
by Michael Heniff
Synopsis Dark Sour Cherry
Two Roads Brewing Co.
Stratford, Connecticut
92
by Michael Bury
Don de Dieu
Unibroue
Chambly, Quebec, Canada
92
by Jim Koebel
Darker Subject Matter
Monday Night Brewing
Atlanta, Georgia
91
by David Sapsis
La Fin Du Monde
Unibroue
Chambly, Quebec, Canada
91
by Michael Bury
Blanche de Chambly
Unibroue
Chambly, Quebec, Canada
91
by Brad Darnell
East Brother Red Lager
East Brother Beer Co.
Richmond, California
91
by Sean Coughlin
Double Archipelago
Monday Night Brewing
Atlanta, Georgia
91
by Jim Koebel
Tie 8 On
Monday Night Brewing
Atlanta, Georgia
91
by Nelson Crowle
pFriem La Mûre
pFriem Family Brewers
Hood River, Oregon
Very Good (90 to 86)
90
by Jason Johnson
SeaBee Gose
Big Boss Brewing Co.
Raleigh, North Carolina
90
by Randy Scorby
Tiki Sunset Sour
Coronado Brewing Co.
Raleigh, North Carolina
90
by Rodney A. Tillinghast
E.Z. Orchards Semi-Dry Cidre
E.Z. Orchards
Salem, Oregon
89
by Sean Coughlin
Lloyd's Light
Arches Brewing
Hapeville, Georgia
88
by Rick Franckhauser
Samuel Adams New England IPA
The Boston Beer Co.
Boston, Massachusetts
88
by Randy Scorby
Dia De Los Deftones
Belching Beaver Brewery
Boston, Massachusetts
88
by Michael Heniff
Lil' Juicy
Two Roads Brewing Co.
Stratford, Connecticut
87
by Dan Preston
Modest Maiden Marzen
Big Boss Brewing Co.
Raleigh, North Carolina
87
by Michael Heniff
Motorworks Oktoberfest
Motorworks Brewing
Bradenton, Florida
86
by Dan Martich
Alcatraz 2X IPA
Alcatraz Brewing
Palm Coast, Florida
86
by Richard Wong
Miracle Mile IPA
6th and La Brea Brewery and Restaurant
Los Angeles, California
Average (85 to 75)
85
by Dan Preston
Cape May Oktoberfest
Cape May Brewing Co.
Columbus, Ohio
84
by Sean Coughlin
Silkscreen
Monday Night Brewing
Atlanta, Georgia
82
by Richard Wong
Get Buzzed
6th and La Brea Brewery and Restaurant
Los Angeles, California
81
by Jessica Sullivan
Pool Party Pilsner
Land-Grant Brewing Co.
Columbus, Ohio
80
by Jim Koebel
Void & Form
Monday Night Brewing
Atlanta, Georgia
78
by Rodney A. Tillinghast
TROOPER Light Brigade
Robinsons Brewery
Stockport, England
77
by Dan Preston
Strawberry Taffy
Cape May Brewing Co.
Columbus, Ohio