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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.

A Pale Mosaic

A Pale Mosaic Beer Hops and Grain Brewery
Reviewed by: John C. Tull
Judges Rating:
85
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
3 / 6
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Hops dominate the aroma with a big citrusy, primarily grapefruit, nose backed by some earthiness and spice. The hops are slightly dank and grassy, but not at all unpleasant. Malts contribute to the nose also, mostly as a sweet aroma with a hint... Read More

Greenhouse IPA

Hops and Grain Beer Greenhouse IPA
Reviewed by: John C. Tull
Judges Rating:
95
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

The aroma in this beer is an almost equal blend of caramel malts and grassy and floral hops. Some mild fruit esters are detectable as well. The color is a pale copper with slight haze and a light, white head primarily on the edges of the glass.... Read More

Porter Culture

Hops and Grain Beer Porter Culture
Reviewed by: John C. Tull
Judges Rating:
97
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
20 / 20

This Baltic Porter has a very pleasant and complex aroma that includes floral hops, mild stone fruit aromatics, rich chocolaty malt, hints of burnt roast and a touch of vanilla. A very slight alcohol aroma can also be detected.

The One They Call Zoe

The One They Call Zoe Hops and Grain beer
Reviewed by: John C. Tull
Judges Rating:
90
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
4 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

There is a bold herbal, earthy and spicy hop aroma in this beer. The hops are slightly floral with a slight pungency, but not minty or citrusy or anything undesired. The malt is sweet with a touch of bready doughiness.

Watermelon Dorado

Watermelon Dorado Ballast Point Beer Double IPA
Reviewed by: Nelson Crowle
Judges Rating:
94
Aroma:
21 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

This brilliantly clear, deep golden beer displays a frothy, cream-colored head of tiny bubbles that is very inviting. The aroma is fairly complex with grainy bread dough, a touch of clover honey, some interesting lemon and melon hops, and as... Read More

Victory at Sea

Victory at Sea Ballast Point Beer
Reviewed by: Nelson Crowle
Judges Rating:
91
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Pours almost black as night, but if you put it up to a strong light, it's a beautifully clear reddish, very deep brown. A big tan head of tiny bubbles lasts for a long time and leaves some splotchy Belgian lacing on the sides of the glass.

Reviewed by: Josh Weikert
Judges Rating:
79
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
30 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
12 / 20

This beer had one of the nicest aromas I've put my nose into in quite a while, which made the come-down in the flavor all the more disappointing.  

The Miller's Toll

The Miller's Toll Raleigh Brewing beer
Reviewed by: Josh Weikert
Judges Rating:
76
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
30 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
14 / 20

Imperial Stout can be a little like the big guy on the football team who's really just a Teddy Bear. Sure, it seems big and threatening but underneath it's sweet and approachable. Sadly, that's not what we get here. Here, it's just a bear. Like,... Read More

Moravian Rhapsody

Moravian Rhapsody Raleigh Brewing Beer
Reviewed by: Josh Weikert
Judges Rating:
80
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
32 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20

At its best, the Czech Pilsner style is a real delight. One reason that many brewers don't brew one is because of the time involved and the technical challenges of making a delicate light lager.

Reviewed by: Jim Koebel
Judges Rating:
84
Aroma:
21 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Moderate lactic and buttery aromas rise from this American Wild Ale.  It takes on a background character that is damp and earthy as it warms. This beer pours an opaque orange color, though there is no visible sediment.

Blackberry Barley Wine

lips of faith blackberry barleywine new belgium beer
Reviewed by: Jason Johnson
Judges Rating:
88
Aroma:
21 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

The beer poured a solid, deep amber color with excellent clarity and a short-lived, loose, off-white head. For a barleywine, the overall malt aroma was very low; the normally rich and intense caramelly malt presence of barleywines was just not... Read More

Ginger Big Eye

Ginger Big Eye Beer Ballast Point IPA
Reviewed by: Nelson Crowle
Judges Rating:
85
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

This beer pours a brilliant, deep gold color with a large, cream-colored head of tiny bubbles that persists the whole time. The initial aroma is piney, with malt notes that are like toasty bread crusts.

Pineapple Sculpin

Pineapple Sculpin Ballast Point Beer 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 beer pours a beautiful, burnished gold color with pristine clarity and a large, ivory-colored head of small bubbles that quickly fades to a faint disk. The pineapple aroma is very apparent from a distance as the beer is being poured, an... Read More

Habanero Sculpin

Habanero Sculpin Ballast Point Beer
Reviewed by: Nelson Crowle
Judges Rating:
96
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

This beer pours a beautiful, brilliant, deep gold, and a large head of tiny ivory-colored bubbles hangs around for a long time. The aroma brings out bread crusts, some toasty notes, as well as grapefruit juice and an eye-watering chili pepper... Read More

Grapefruit Sculpin

Grapefruit Sculpin Ballast Point Beer
Reviewed by: Nelson Crowle
Judges Rating:
95
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This IPA pours a brilliant, beautiful gold color with a medium-sized head of small, cream-colored bubbles that fades fairly quickly. The initial aroma is of very smooth grapefruit pulp, with notes of bread crust, toast, grass and background... Read More

Tweak

Avery Beer Tweak Coffee Stout Beer
Reviewed by: Tracy Hensley
Judges Rating:
78
Aroma:
21 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
31 / 40
Mouthfeel:
6 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20

The first aromas that swell out of my glass are of chocolate syrup, Mexican vanilla bean pith and warming alcohol. As the beer warms. the aroma evolves into dried black figs, warm, gooey brownies, dark roasted coffee beans, warm, fresh-cut white... Read More

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