Located in a quiet Mira Mesa business park, AleSmith Brewing has been turning out stunning beers since 1995. Speedway Stout is a monster of a Russian Imperial Stout. Clocking in at a mind-boggling 12% ABV, it’s not a beer to be toyed with. Speedway Stout’s aroma washes over the room in waves... Read More
Start 14-Day Trial Subscription
*No credit card required
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:
6 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
20 / 20
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Tucked away just off the Maine Turnpike in the seaport of Portland, Allagash Brewing has been turning out superb beers since 1995, and Allagash White – the brewery’s original brand and still its flagship – is no exception. Brewed in the classic Belgian witbier tradition, with a significant... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
6 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20
The beer itself pours a beautiful copper-orange with exceptional clarity and a bright white head. The aroma is a mélange of classic “C” type American hops, blending into a combination of woody, weedy, and citric components. The flavor is a rustic blend of toasty/cookie-like malt combined with an... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
18 / 24
Flavor:
30 / 40
Mouthfeel:
6 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
Delaware-based Dogfish Head Brewing Company and inimitable owner Sam Calagione continue to produce a world renowned lineup of quirky brews. Midas Touch, the first in Dogfish Head’s Ancient Ales series, is based on a recipe that is a millennia old, boasting aromas of honey, fragrant saffron, and... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Our lone Michigan entry in this issue’s tasting, Red’s Rye PA, presented itself very nicely amid a sea of heavy contenders. Known for their sometimes quirky take on classic beer styles, Founders has developed a devoted following wherever their beers are found. Red’s certainly deserves its... Read More
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Yet another amazing brewery from “The Class of ’96,” Paso Robles-based Firestone Walker Brewing Company has built a reputation for decidedly hop-centric ales of exceptional character. Dry hopped with three different varieties, Firestone Walker Pale 31’s aroma abounds with fistfuls of pine forest... Read More