The Anderson Valley Brewing Company has spent the past 25 years in Mendocino County producing stellar brews for appreciative beer lovers. Hop Ottin’ IPA, a brewery mainstay, is all about hops. It overflows with aromas of citrus fruit, bakery fresh bread, and hints of lavender and thyme. Rick was... Read More
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BC Review
The Expert Panel
The Beer Connoisseur® review was conducted as a round table single blind review by our panel of expert judges. Four to six judges reviewed 8-14 beers per session and submitted their individual scores and notes. The scores were averaged into a single score and notes compiled and summarized for publishing in magazine issues 1-14. These reviews have been republished here in this online format.
The names and biographies of the contributing judges were publsihed with each magazine issue and are listed below.
Charlie Gow - Founding Beer Review Coordinator (1960 - 2014)
Tim Artz
Tom Cannon
Phil Farrell
Pete Garofalo
Rick Garvin
Lee Anthony Hitchins
Owen Ogletree
My reviews
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Fort Collins, Colo., is home to a number of excellent breweries, and Odell is no exception. Their 5 Barrel Pale Ale is a classic interpretation of the English-style Pale Ale, attesting to a restrained hand on the bittering hops and a skillful blending of malts, all producing a wonderfully... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
Generally known for the blockbuster, high-octane brews (Scaldis, Scaldis Noel), Brasserie Duboisson entered the fruit-flavored beer market just under five years ago. Of course, the brewers stayed true to their roots, and the result, Pêche Mel’Scaldis, clocks in at an impressive 8.5 percent ABV... Read More
Appearance:
2 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Brewed in the classic Bavarian Weizenbier tradition and released each May, Dancing Man Wheat has amassed an army of loyal adherents. Throwing off dense, saturated notes of banana, cotton candy, warm bread, and ground cloves, this beer’s nose embodies a true Weizenbier. Mike honed in on the... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20
Yet another mid-’90s entrant into craft brewing, Baltimore’s Clipper City brewery produces several lines of beers, all now under the Heavy Seas brand. Peg Leg Imperial Stout, revealing intensely pungent aromas of blackstrap molasses, dark roast coffee and rich milk chocolate, is archetypically... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Convoluted aromas of dry wood, treacle, caramel candy, earthy hops, brown sugar, vanilla and allspice emerge from this dark amber, slightly hazy ale. Caramel malt flavors blend with dry, vanilla, oxidative whisky tones from barrel-aging, while favoring hops manage to peek through the barrel... Read More