There is always something newsworthy taking place in the beer industry. That's why we dedicate Monday of each week to publishing the top stories from the previous week in our Industry News e-newsletter. Here you'll find a compilation of all the news we've covered since the last issue, with links to the full stories.

Industry & People

pFriem Family Brewers Expands Reach with New Taproom in Historic Milwaukie City Hall Building

We saddled up with the masterminds behind the highest-rated brews and asked them about the inspiration behind the recipes. Follow the links below to the individual Q & A's, or you may access Q & A's from all editions here.

Early Summer 2024, Issue 72

Nine Pin Ciderworks Founder and Cider Maker Alejandro del Peral Talks Quince

Discover the rich heritage and enduring appeal of farmhouse ale, one of the oldest and most beloved beer styles in history. Despite the passage of time, farmhouse ale remains a favorite among beer enthusiasts worldwide, evident in the plethora of options available today. 

We all have that friend who sticks to a straightforward diet of meat, potatoes, and a basic lager, content with the familiar day in and day out. Yet, they might just need the right introduction to break out of their culinary comfort zone. Enter Farmhouse Ale. This approachable beer style dates back generations and delivers a tart, earthy punch alongside interesting zesty flavor notes of cloves, bananas and more. Not only that, but this beer pairs beautifully with myriad different foods including pizza, pasta and hearty meat dishes. So read on to investigate the details of this intriguing beer style, and, who knows, that persnickety friend might just find a new favorite!

The laid-back and serene town of Charlton, Massachusetts is celebrated for its natural beauty and artistic heritage. It has also become a haven for beer lovers thanks to the revered Tree House Brewing. This brewery has not only won over the hearts and minds of beer lovers but also has gained deep importance among the hearts of locals.

Read on to explore everything there is to know about Tree House Brewing including the history of the brewery and its tasting rooms, the brewery's various locations, hours of operation, signature beer styles, signature ingredients, must-try beers, customer reviews, awards won, partner organizations and events organized by the brewery.

Among the Brewers Association’s Top 10 Craft Brewing Companies in 2023 was a new name, which seemingly slipped in through the window in the dead of night: Monster Brewing.

Monster Brewing Co. is an independent brewer which grew from humble roots and unwavering dedication to quality, community and the spirit of craft brewing. Or was that Oskar Blues? Maybe Cigar City? Deep Ellum? Perrin? Utah Brewers Cooperative (formerly Wasatch and Squatters)? The correct answer is all of the above, and the correct answer to which of the above traits is true about MBC is none of the above. Monster Brewing Company is, of course, an alcoholic beverage arm of Monster Beverage Corp; a sort of Franken-craft collective born as a result of small brewer purchase and consolidation which is diluting the craft beer industry into something worse than the stalest Icehouse.

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.

Are you a beer enthusiast looking for your next hoppy adventure? Look no further! We've scoured the United States to bring you the finest craft beers from all corners of the country. Whether you're in New England, the Midwest, the Southeast, the Rocky Mountains, the Southwest or on the West Coast, we've got you covered. Let's embark on a flavorful journey and savor the fresh brews that are the toast of the country during the early summer months.

Disclaimer: It's impossible for our judges to review every single beer released by the nearly 10,000 breweries in the U.S. each week. As such, while this story serves as a peek at some of the best beers released recently that have scored highly in our Official Review, it also features beers that rank highly on other beer reviewing platforms, beer that have medaled in recent competitions or have been burning up message boards and forums with immense hype. If you're in the regions where these beers are available, we hope they become What You're Drinking Now!

Editor's Favorite!