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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: Dan Martich
Judges Rating:
91
Aroma:
24 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

With a moderately high fresh floral, fruity hop aroma this beer definitely makes an entrance.  But wait, there's also a slight fresh herb quality with caramel, and some fruity pear esters too.  The color is yellow gold crowned with a moussy white... Read More

One Hop This Time

Night Shift Brewing One Hop This Time Rotating Single-Hop IPA series ber
Reviewed by: Rick Franckhauser
Judges Rating:
94
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Citrus fruit aromas are combined with woody notes, apricots and hints of tropical fruits reminiscent of passion fruit.  A pale golden beer with some dry hop haze and a creamy white foam stand. Pink grapefruit intermingled with the tropical fruits... Read More

Morph

Night Shift Brewing Morph Rotating IPA series beer
Reviewed by: Rick Franckhauser
Judges Rating:
93
Aroma:
21 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Apricots and grapefruits are followed by a virtual fruit basket of other hop aromas. There is a trace amount of sweet malt lying underneath all the hops. A big foamy white head tops the clear golden beer. Flavors of grapes, lechies and berries... Read More

Whirlpool

Night Shift Brewing Whirlpool pale ale beer
Reviewed by: Rick Franckhauser
Judges Rating:
90
Aroma:
21 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Fresh tart lemons and grapefruit are first to greet you senses.  Very low levels of grainy malt follow. Clean fermentation. The beer is a very cloudy light yellow color that looks almost “milky”, like Witbier. Topped with a big frothy white head... Read More

Pogue's Run Porter

Flat 12 Bierwerks Pogue's Run Porter beer
Reviewed by: Rick Franckhauser
Judges Rating:
96
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
20 / 20

A proper English Porter indeed! Bittersweet chocolate with a touch of coffee and roast malt in the aroma invites you to partake, and some dark fruit notes and a slight earthy hop quality round out the aroma.

Half Cycle IPA

Flat 12 Bierwerks Half Cycle IPA beer
Reviewed by: Rick Franckhauser
Judges Rating:
88
Aroma:
19 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Aromas of fresh grass and grapefruit jump out of the glass along with some pine, wood, oranges, and a touch of malt sweetness. A hazy light-golden color with a fine, off-white and creamy foam cap holds up until the end.

Walkabout Pale Ale

Flat 12 Bierwerks Walkabout Pale Ale beer
Reviewed by: Rick Franckhauser
Judges Rating:
87
Aroma:
19 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Big pine resin, wood and earthy hops are discovered in the nose. Some grapefruit and underlying dankness join the New World hop party. Barely noticeable caramel malts lay underneath the hops, which are distinctly and assertively hop-forward.

Upside Down Blonde

Flat 12 Bierwerks Upside Down Blonde beer
Reviewed by: Rick Franckhauser
Judges Rating:
85
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
32 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Grainy and sweet malt with notes of corn are taken over by spicy hops, which then dominate the aroma. Trace amounts of nectarine esters manage to sneak out in time.

Cucumber Kölsch

Flat 12 Bierwerks Cucumber Kolsch beer
Reviewed by: Rick Franckhauser
Judges Rating:
80
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
30 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Very subtle cucumber aroma presents itself as Honeydew Melon. Corn grist and grainy pilsner malt are joined by spicy noble hops along with very low levels of what I can only describe as "green." If chlorophyll has an aroma, this would be it.

Sea Monster

Ballast Point Beer Sea Monster Imperial Stout
Reviewed by: Mike Castagno
Judges Rating:
92
Aroma:
21 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

As if you walked into a trendy coffee house, expect a big waft of fresh roasted coffee, warm espresso, light ashy char and a hint of tobacco when you open this beer. There is a light earthiness with damp leaves, forest floor notes and tea with a... Read More

Julius

Tree House Beer Julius IPA
Reviewed by: Mike Castagno
Judges Rating:
88
Aroma:
24 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Julius by Tree House Brewing was reviewed as an American IPA (BJCP style 21A). The aroma outperforms the other dimensions of the beer, whereas the flavor underperforms the promise of the aroma and the body leaves something to be desired.

Arrows of Neon

Arrows of Neon The Rare Barrel
Reviewed by: Tracy Hensley
Judges Rating:
89
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Aroma of moderate lemon yogurt and salty oyster crackers followed by a low warming bourbon vanilla and dried white oak shavings. Over time, low mousiness and hard plastic start to show.

Forces Unseen

Forces Unseen The Rare Barrel
Reviewed by: Tracy Hensley
Judges Rating:
98
Aroma:
24 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
20 / 20

Intense aroma. This is one impressively aromatic beer. I could smell wildflower honey and fresh pink bubblegum from three feet away as the beer was brought to me. Up close, low bee’s wax, more pink bubblegum and fresh mint appear. Then, when I... Read More

Haze

Tree House Beer Haze Double iPA
Reviewed by: Graham L. Barron
Judges Rating:
97
Aroma:
24 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Haze Double IPA by Tree House Brewing Co. was judged as a Double IPA (style 22A), according to the BJCP's 2015 style guidelines.

Ensorcelled

Ensorcelled The Rare Barrel
Reviewed by: Tracy Hensley
Judges Rating:
92
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
4 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Complex and unusual aroma of dark moist German multigrain bread, smoked cedar, dry coco powder with dried sour black cherries and red raspberry compote. The ale is an opaque muddy brown color with a low tan head clinging only to the sides of the... Read More

Hobbit Juice

Hobbit Juice Beer'd Brewing Co.
Reviewed by: Michael Bury
Judges Rating:
92
Aroma:
21 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

A beer with the name of Hobbit Juice (a Double IPA by Beer'd Brewing Co.) is sure to have a tale or two told of it. In this case, it’s a well-crafted, hop-forward beer clearly showcasing Nelson hops.

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