Although made under a license from the Brewed in Munich every year since 1872, Spaten’s Oktoberfest is considered the world’s oldest version of this style. Balancing spicy floral hops and a rounded toasty malt character, the aroma is at once soothing yet beguiling, inviting the drinker to delve... 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:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
8 / 20
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
24 / 24
Flavor:
40 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
20 / 20
In the interest of full disclosure, this was a sample from my cellar that had roughly two years of age on it, in addition to the three-plus years it already matured prior to shipping. Still, this is truly a world-class beer, irrespective of its provenance. Hanssens has been producing some of the... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 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
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
More widely known for crisp, refreshing lagers, tropical climes also host a number of breweries producing substantial ales, notably Foreign Extra Stout. Lion Brewery Ceylon, headquartered in Sri Lanka, produces the widely acclaimed Lion Stout, which packs a respectable 8/8% ABV. Rife with lush... Read More
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
18 / 24
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20
In the shadow of the famed San Francisco Bay Bridge, 21st Amendment Brewery is known for producing solid and occasionally eccentric beers for a rapidly growing market. Since 2000, Nico Freccia and Shaun O’Sullivan have been bringing characterful beer to the Bay Area and are now sharing the... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
This brilliantly clear ruby-red beer, is assertively fruit-forward with strawberry, cherry, and apple dominating both the aroma and the flavor. Behind the fruit complexity are light notes of both toffee and root beer. It has a light-medium body, low carbonation, and a clean, lactic sourness that... Read More