Kentucky’s popular Altbier, modeled after the North German Altbier style, boasts a grain bill featuring Munich, wheat, caramel and chocolate malts. Another notably clear beer judged by our tasting panel, Bluegrass Brewing’s eye-friendly entry displays a copper shade with amber hues – a color on... 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:
22 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
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:
4 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Brewed since 1862, Chimay Première is the flagship beer of the Trappist monks of Abbaye Notre Dame de Scourmont in Chimay, Belgium and is quite likely the most widely recognized Trappist beer in the world today. Emanating waves of turbinado sugar, Tahitian vanilla, and rum, Chimay Première’s... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
27 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20
A respectable venture into the classic Irish Red Ale style, Thomas Creek’s version shines with an attractive red/orange color and a moderate ivory head. Excellent clarity also shows through. Wisps of biscuit, woody English-style hops, fruity notes, toffee, bread crust and caramel make up the... 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
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Coronado Brewing Company has delivered a solid lineup of noteworthy brews since opening in 1996. The current heavyweight, Idiot IPA, carries an 8.5% ABV and is loaded with sticky, resiny hops, to the tune of 3 pounds per barrel. Although notes of orange peel, grapefruit, and pine dominate the... Read More