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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.

Free Spirit No. 6

Free Spirit 6 Terrapin Coppertail Beer
Reviewed by: Michael McGuire
Judges Rating:
87
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

This beer poured a mostly clear, lightly hazy, rich orange color. The initial thick white head disappeared quickly. The aroma was complex, replete with sour notes, fruity esters and the earthy funk often found in farmhouse ales.

Watermelon Gose

Terrapin Beer Watermelon Gose
Reviewed by: Michael McGuire
Judges Rating:
88
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This Watermelon Gose poured a pale yellow color with a huge (2-3”) white head of tiny bubbles that dissipated quickly; the beer itself was relatively clear for a Gose with only a slight haze. The aroma was notably tart with plenty of watermelon... Read More

Nadia Kali

Great Divide beer Nadia Kali Saison
Reviewed by: Josh Weikert
Judges Rating:
87
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

This is a fun and well-made fruit beer; I'm just not certain that hibiscus and saison play well together. Having said that, I'd have been happy to drink a full pint of this, particularly on a warm day!

House Beer

House Brewing House Beer
Reviewed by: Nelson Crowle
Judges Rating:
86
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Pours a pretty, brilliantly clear yellow color with a white head of small bubbles that dissipates fairly quickly. The initial aroma is of bread dough, corn grits and a fairly high sulfur content with hints of earthy hops beneath.

Number 22 Porter

Big Bend Brewing 22 Porter
Reviewed by: Richard Wong
Judges Rating:
84
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

A wonderful aroma of coffee permeated the first sniff along with subtle hop flavors. The color was a medium-dark brown that featured a tan head that dissipated very quickly. It had flavors of roasted and burnt malts accentuated with a light hop... Read More

La Frontera IPA

La Frontera IPA Big Bend Brewing
Reviewed by: Richard Wong
Judges Rating:
81
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
6 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20

The initial aroma of this beer was hoppy floral notes – very typical of this style. The color featured a light straw hue along with light carbonation. The flavor had a nice malt sweetness balanced with some hop bitterness, but I felt that the hop... Read More

Terlingua Gold

Big Bend Beer Terlingua Gold
Reviewed by: Richard Wong
Judges Rating:
83
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20

The aroma of this beer had slight fruity aromas, neglible malt and a low hop profile in the nose. The appearance was a nice wonderful copper hue featuring a somewhat low carbonation and head retention.

Big Bend Hefeweizen

Big Bend Brewing Weissbier
Reviewed by: Richard Wong
Judges Rating:
85
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
6 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

The aroma of this Hefeweizen had hints of banana and cloves -- an indication of a proper German hefeweizen. The pour had the appearance of a beautiful straw-colored brew, and was quite cloudy and hazy due to the unfiltered process.

Tejas Lager

Tejas Lager Big Bend Beer
Reviewed by: Richard Wong
Judges Rating:
82
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
5 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

The beer had a very nice malty aroma that was somewhat grainy with slight fruitiness compounded with a golden straw color and low carbonation. The flavor was well balanced between the low malt and hop profile. Both of these aspects should be at a... Read More

Reviewed by: Mike Castagno
Judges Rating:
94
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Initially there is a huge waft of toffee in the nose, though this quickly calms down to allow for a generous maple syrup character mixed with the aroma of a coffee house – espresso and fresh-brewed coffee. To add to the complexity, there's a... Read More

Hop Stimulator

Hop Stimulator by Funk Buddha Brewery
Reviewed by: Mike Castagno
Judges Rating:
89
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

As the name would suggest, your senses will be immediately stimulated with huge hop vapors of pungent resin, pine and spruce – as evergreen-type hops dominate the initial perception.

Commotion

Great Raft beer Commotion Pale Ale
Reviewed by: Mike Castagno
Judges Rating:
90
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

With the first tasting, there was an exaggerated, obvious ruby red grapefruit aroma, almost seeming to be artificial in nature. The second tasting, however, provided a much more natural hop character: generically “citrusy” with notes of... Read More

Reasonably Corrupt

Great Raft Beer Reasonably Corrupt
Reviewed by: Mike Castagno
Judges Rating:
84
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

I am initially hit with a strong roast character that's full of burnt toast, ash and coffee grounds. This slowly gives way to a subtle bread crust and graininess with a bit of caramel notes to follow. The caramel amplifies as the beer warms,... Read More

Southern Drawl

Great Raft Beer Southern Drawl Pale Lager
Reviewed by: Mike Castagno
Judges Rating:
87
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

The immediate perception with this beer centers on its soft, grainy and doughy malt aroma that's reminiscent of oyster crackers and freshly baked bread. It was visually striking with a straw yellow color and a clean, pale white head.

Reviewed by: Jason Johnson
Judges Rating:
86
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Off the pour, the beer is a solid golden color with an ivory-colored head of loose bubbles and a lower retention. The aroma is of sweet clean malt, some spicy pepper. I also get a high pome fruit aroma, a combination of apple skins and juicy pear... Read More

Adaptation Ale No. 4

Roughtail Beer Adaptation Ale Beer
Reviewed by: Joseph Formanek
Judges Rating:
92
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This brew pours a hazy gold with a lingering, finely-bubbled white head that leaves an attractive lacing.

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