How We Taste & Test
Reviewing beer may sound like a dream job, but our tasting and review panel takes the role seriously. Composed entirely of Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) judges who have all studied, trained, and been tested on their ability to discern characteristics in beer, our panel is independent and doesn’t include any CB&B editors or staff. The panel tastes all beer blindly— they do not know what brands and beers they are tasting until the tasting is complete.
Our goal is to inform you about the strengths and weaknesses of these beers as well as their relative differences (not everyone has the same taste in beer, so accurate descriptors are more valuable than straight numerical values). The quotes you see are compiled from the review panel’s score sheets to give you a well-rounded picture of the beer.
As our reviewers judge, they score based on the standard BJCP components: Aroma (max 12 points), Appearance (max 3 points), Flavor (max 20 points), Mouthfeel (max 5 points), and Overall Impression (max 10 points). We’ve listed these individual component scores, and the bottom-line number is derived from adding then doubling these component scores to produce a rating on a 100-point scale. Note that we’ve rounded the printed component scores to the nearest whole number, so the math won’t necessarily add up.
Our judges use the following scale in valuing scores:
95–100 » Extraordinary World-class beers of superlative character and flawless execution 90–94 » Exceptional Distinguished beers with special character, style, and flavor 85–89 » Very good Well-crafted beers with noteworthy flavor and style 80–84 » Good Solid, quality, enjoyable beers 75–79 » Above Average Drinkable and satisfactory beers with minor flaws or style deviations 70–74 » Average 50–69 » Not recommended We’d like for you to keep one thing in mind as you read these reviews—your perception of a beer is more important than that of our review panel or editorial staff, and reading reviews in a magazine (or on the Web or in a book) is no substitute for trying the beer yourself. LOC: Oakland, California ABV: 4.4% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Golden State of Mind is a unique creation. We have called it a “California Tea Beer” due to its construction using local California ingredients, from the oats, barley, and wheat to the fresh coriander, chamomile, and sweet orange peel. Golden State of Mind is also a gruit—meaning it is made without hops.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Light citrus with an herbal spiciness and light honey sweetness. Low rice and vanilla aromas as it starts to warm. The herbal tea notes come through as well with light pear, plum, and a touch of cinnamon.” Flavor: “Light and crisp. Moderate herbal flavor with light bitterness toward the end. Low spiciness mixes with the carbonation, which creates a light bite at the end.a very delicate malt character is almost hidden by the fruity/floral character.” Overall: “Refreshing and crisp beer with moderate herbal and tea flavors, light citrus, and a medium carbonic bite at the end of the sip. Tastes like a grown-up version of sun tea. Great for non-beer drinkers.” LOC: Dallas, Texas ABV: 4.8% | IBUS: 8 | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Dance to an unfamiliar tune with our summer ale with hibiscus, lemon peel, and chamomile flowers.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Lemon, orange peel, and hibiscus with a light yogurt-like tartness. Some caramel and light toasty malt thrown in for good measure.” Flavor: “Moderate spiciness with mild orange, lemon, and cherry fruitiness. Hints of lemongrass and a subtle, floral, chamomile that complements the hibiscus. Slightly sweet but clean malt bill with just enough hops to balance. Moderate carbonic bite at the end, but finishes tart and dry.” Overall: “Refreshing and thirstquenching, this beer does a nice job keeping the floral additions subtle. It would be easy to overdo this.”
LOC: Turlock, California ABV: 4.5% | IBUS: 10 | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“A crisp, refreshing blonde ale perfect for our California climate. An addition of vanilla beans to the finished beer gives this relatively sweet ale a mild vanilla aroma and flavor reminiscent of cream soda.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Getting more oak character than actual vanilla on the nose, which is good because vanilla can be overwhelming. Warming, it settles with a touch of malt sweetness, biscuit malt, brown sugar, and light floral hop.” Flavor: “Simple: beer, vanilla. They’re both there, but they don’t play together much at all. Light earthy hops, mild bitterness, some clean malt. There’s oxidation, too, but might be an extra dose of the vanilla character. Fairly big bitterness in the tail end.” Overall: “The base recipe for this beer is not necessarily up to the challenge of supporting the strong flavors they’ve added, and the addition of vanilla makes the beer muddled and a bit disjointed.”
LOC: Cincinnati, Ohio ABV: 4.7% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Aged in Watershed Bourbon Barrel Gin barrels with juniper berries and ginger, this refreshingly tart beer takes a break from the traditional bourbon-barrel beers, lifting it to another level.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Gin barrel comes out up front with some spicy almost peppery ginger and juniper behind it. Very herbal with a pine and tea-like character. Some bready crust and wildflower honey.” Flavor: “There’s an almost lemon-lime soda character to this beer. The gin barrel, gives an herbal—especially ginger — flavor that comes through strong. The base beer is a bit overwhelmed, but there are pleasing citrus notes, and it finishes very dry and slightly boozy.” Overall: “The barrel and spices are used very well. It’s complex herbal without being medicinal and still being very drinkable. The heavy spice flavor additions push past any notion of base beer style, but the spicing is deftly handled for such a light-bodied beer, and it’s still refreshing and interesting.” LOC: Atlanta, Georgia ABV: 7.5% | IBUS: 27 | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“A trip up Buford Highway inspired Telluride Brewing’s Chris Fish and Sweetwater’s Nick Nock to experiment with wasabi—added to a blonde ale. This is a beer to share with friends and experiment with—try pairing it with sushi, ginger, Japanese noodle dishes, or just some grilled chicken.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “A little yeasty, along with some mild fruity esters. Wasabi is fairly strong but not hot. Big piney hops, light crisp coldness, a touch of spicy tingle in the nose.” Flavor: “This beer hits with some complexity, and wasabi emerges midway through the sip and carries through the finish. It also adds some vegetable-like green notes. Earthy piney hops flavor with moderate bitter backing. Good malt sweetness. Some citrus notes from hops. Similar yeastiness.” Overall: “Interesting beer; the more I drank it the more I enjoyed it. However, the complexity of the hops, the base beer, and the wasabi were a bit muddled, and the flavor didn’t live up to the nose.” LOC: Copenhagen, Denmark ABV: 6% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“This is truly a beautiful brown ale boosted with a delightful aroma of citrus, spice, and gourmet Keini, Kenya Beans from The Coffee Collective, Copenhagen.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Coffee and super piney and herbal hops with toasty and nutty malt behind it. Deeper into it, there’s a grassy/paper-like note akin to fresh dry hopping.” Flavor: “Stale coffee, cigarette ashtray, and lots of piney resinous hops. Toast, caramel, malt are in the mix, but the bitterness is out of balance, almost acrid (almost certainly the coffee). Classic pine and resin flavors appear with a lasting bitter finish. Bracingly hop bitterness for what is ostensibly a brown ale.” Overall: “The coffee and hops clash in the aroma and in the bitterness so that it comes across as harsh and astringent. The piney hops and coffee in the aroma are confusing. Reminds me of a hotel room that someone smoked in, with a basket of wet laundry left out overnight.”
LOC: Gainesville, Florida ABV: 6% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Spruce Tip Amber.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Peachie-o candies, apricot, red berry, cherry, and a hint of brown sugar. A grassy hops aroma, with a light peach fruit aspect and a bit of tartness add great complexity.” Flavor: “There’s a strong impression of sweetness, but overall the beer isn’t very sweet even up front. Huge ester bomb with notes of raspberry, peach, honeydew, strawberry, plum. These all blend well with the medium toast malt. Bitterness opens up a light piney character to confirm that it actually is flavored with a tree.” Overall: “The bitterness might be a touch high, but it really helps bring things together. The additions are balanced well with the underlying beer and with the hops character; a crazy and intriguing complexity to what could have been a simple and straightforward beer.”
LOC: Petaluma, California ABV: 6% | IBUS: 49 | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Indigo Pale Ale is a fresh approach to a traditional style in which blue agave nectar creates a unique malt profile, one that is complemented by a mandarin/woodsy hops character derived from the single experimental hop, ADHA 484.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Very delicate nose. There’s not a lot to work with. There’s pleasant tropical mango fruitiness and a touch of pine plus a very light herbal note that is probably agave.” Flavor: “It’s a pale ale, all right. Earthy, slightly woody hops flavor with an herbal edge that could be agave, but it’s not easy to identify. It does linger into the finish.” Overall: “Somewhat one dimensional floral character throughout. And although nothing is wrong with the beer, nothing really stands out. That said, we’d still drink a ton of this.”
What the brewer says
N/A LOC: Juneau. Alaska ABV: 7% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What our panel thought
Aroma: “There are raspberry and strawberry esters from the spruce tips. But this is very clean and rich, with citrus and grass.” Flavor: “Huge berry character that integrates well with a clean IPA base beer. The hops character is fairly restrained, but the bitterness plays well off of the sweetness from the berry esters. There’s lots of spruce, like rubbing a Christmas tree. The finish is fairly bitter and lingers. It’s a bit like putting an entire roll of Life Savers candy in your mouth at once—all of them. The touch of candy sweetness is unexpected, but the bracing pine tree bitterness keeps it from cloying.” Overall: “A well-made IPA that showcases the jekyll and hyde nature of spruce tips while allowing the base beer to demonstrate the quality of the brewing process. A very fun beer with an endlessly fascinating ingredient.” LOC: San Diego, California ABV: 57% | IBUS: 70 | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“This beer began as a crazy experiment. While its bright fruit notes and hoppy bite have made the original one of our favorites, this version takes that balance of flavors to the next level with the citrusy, floral heat of habaneros.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Aroma is light overall with a moderate amount of ancho chile pepper aroma. There’s some citrus light pine and grassy hops behind that.” Flavor: “Chile pepper is a bit more apparent in the flavor with grassy, herbal, and slight piney hops. Maybe a bit of citrus. There’s a fair amount of heat, which masks a lot of the flavor, but there’s a malt backbone supporting it. Tastes like Anaheim and jalepeño chiles with some peach and orange character from the hops. Clean beer beneath with bitterness that complements the heat.” Overall: “Fairly hot but not a ton of character in the aroma or flavor besides that. Okay if you like spicy things, but I would like more flavor to match. The base beer is crisp and clean, which pairs well with the heat. It’s probably good that it’s not hoppier; that would probably just end up clashing.” LOC: Denver, Colorado ABV: 6.6% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Coconut IPA.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Pineapple and mango, with tangerine and almost a hint of vanilla. The coconut slides in, almost by mental association, but it provides a steady bass note to the hops nose. Rich and tropical.” Flavor: “Coconut is present without being overwhelming. Tropical hops— pineapple, orange, lemon, and a touch of strawberry—support nicely. Moderately sweet with moderately low bitterness for an IPA, but it’s appropriate given the tropical goal. Coconut character doesn’t overdo it or push into suntan lotion territory. The tropical fruit hops character with the subtle coconut offer an enjoyable combination that doesn’t feel heavy-handed or forced.” Overall: “Great tropical character and balance—rich and complex from the aroma through the lingering finish. Maybe a bit sweet for an IPA, but that doesn’t overwhelm or detract. Very tasty beer overall.”
LOC: Chicago, Illinois ABV: 5.5% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“American pale ale with Cashmere and El Dorado hops. This seasonal was last canned on May 16, 2017, and should have tropical pineapple and coconut flavors.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “There’s a light tropical aroma mixed with a light orange and bready malt. Aroma is overall a bit low. Coconut starts to come out a bit as it warms. Almost like an ambrosia salad.” Flavor: “Huge coconut in the flavor with mandarin orange and lemon. The coconut adds an almost creamy character. The simple, hoppy nature of the beer is pretty dry and provides a nice counterpoint to the toasted coconut without clashing. Appropriate bitterness and good hops selection. Tastes a bit like a daiquiri, with just a hint of sour milk acidity to keep it from being too sweet.” Overall: “Interesting that the coconut is fairly subtle in the aroma but really strong in the flavor. Great tropical hops character balanced with the coconut additions. Subtle to where you wonder what the point was of adding coconut, but enjoyable nonetheless.” LOC: Framingham, Massachusetts ABV: 5.4% | IBUS: 50 | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Spill The Tea is an aromatic India pale lager brewed with green tea and lemon, orange and grapefruit peel. A combination of Citra and Mosaic hops pairs well with the extra citrus, and the green tea gives this brew a drying, astringent finish. Brewed in collaboration with Finback Brewery, Queens, New York.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Big time dank aroma with a lot of underlying citrus complexity. Tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, white grape, flowers, plus a touch of herbal orange and stone fruit.” Flavor: “Lots of dank, lots of tangerine. There’s a slight berry thing also, much the same as the aroma. The balance is great with medium-high bitterness and some low-medium pithy character that complements things well. The tea quality adds some nice earthiness on the swallow. The beer backbone is crisp and presents a great canvas for the other flavors.” Overall: “Very hops forward, but easy drinking and well-balanced. Loses some definition in the finish, but not enough so to discourage another sip.” LOC: Fort Collins, Colorado ABV: 5.5% | IBUS:35A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Crisp and clean pale ale infused with a powerful dose of fresh, locally roasted coffee.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Lots and lots of coffee. Oily and thick, with plenty of dark roast depth as well as a distinct green pepper smell. Mild caramel sweetness, not much in the way of hops character.” Flavor: “Lots of coffee and little beer—this beer really is about coffee, first and foremost. There’s a slight chocolate character with nice caramel and toast notes if you go digging for them. The finish has hints of vanilla, could probably stand to be a bit more bitter. Hops selection worked well to highlight the positive complexity of coffee’s green pepper flavors.” Overall: “It’s a complete coffee bomb, and if that’s your thing, cool. The base beer is overshadowed, so just be ready for all coffee, all the time.”
LOC: Hershey, Pennsylvaniat ABV: 6.2% | IBUS: 52 | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“It’s summertime. Hop bines are growing up to 6 inches a day. Hibiscus is in full bloom. And in Crimson Pistil, the two get in a glorious tangle of berrylike tanginess, sunset technicolor, and sticky tropical notes.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Dank and citrus hops with raspberry and cranberry whiffs from the hibiscus. A bit of lemon and grapefruit too, along with a hint of black pepper.” Flavor: “The cranberry and raspberry notes from the hibiscus come out more in the flavor with lemon citrus and grassy behind it. It’s a well-balanced IPA with just enough bitterness to round out the malt. Spice beers routinely overdo it on the spice, but this one felt restrained, like they could have gone further but played it safe in a enjoyably balanced way.” Overall: “The hibiscus and hops play nicely together with a citrus and grassy character combined with red fruit notes. A fun beer, and the color is fantastic.”
LOC: Boonville, California ABV: 4.2% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Reminiscent of a classic cocktail, our G&T Gose showcases botanical flavors and aromas of lemon peel, juniper, lemongrass, and grains of paradise. With a juicy lemon-lime tartness and slightly peppery finish, the gose style takes on a unique spin that we’re sure you’ll enjoy.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Fruity, but not of a specific fruit—maybe blueberry or lemongrass. There’s a clean, slightly sour wheat aroma with mild vanilla.” Flavor: “Moderately sour and dry with pineapple, crusty bread, peppercorn, and lightly grassy. Well balanced between tart and earthy. The brewer has gone pretty heavy on the salt, so there’s no mistaking this for anything other than a Gose.” Overall: “A solid gose with a mild spiciness and medium lemon flavor, but any fruit added plays a supporting, background role.” LOC: Boulder, Colorado ABV: 6% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Ginger sour. Botanicals & barrels barrel-aged sour ale with ginger. Verdant fresh ginger is rooted in radiant tartness, peaking in the unmistakable burst and bite of this bright barrel-aged sour ale.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Pumpkin pie–like aroma up front with moderate ginger, nutmeg, and light cinnamon. There’s mild lemon and lemongrass that adds a sweet candy undertone with a bit of Pilsner malt.” Flavor: “Lactic lemon hits up front with a nice acidity. Freshly grated ginger paired up with lemon zest: very Asian. Ginger persists from the initial sip to the long finish. The ginger is a little warm, but it’s still pleasant.” Overall: “Wow! Quite tasty. Thanks to the bright ginger, the beer tastes fresh and bold. It has notes of the ginger itself along with the ginger spice. This combination goes well with the lactic tartness and lemon notes. The base beer is bright and tightly defined, providing a beautiful frame for the well-considered ginger spice.” LOC: Brussels, Belgium ABV: 5% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Two-year-old lambic in which elderberry flowers have been soaked. The character of the elderberry flowers lends this beer a very pronounced, but refreshing, floral taste. The fragrances and flavors of the elderberry flowers are very strong, so much so that we have to select lambics with enough character to enable us to strike the right balance between the beer and the flower.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Earthy, horse-blanket, complex barrel-aged sour with plenty of vanillin to add roundness to the funky front. Delicate white pepper, general lemon acidity, funk, and what comes across as a touch of smoked chile pepper.” Flavor: “Moderate sour up front with a mild pepper spiciness that sneaks in. Pineapple and apricot notes with a slight lemon brightness. Well balanced among wood, spice, tart, and earthy.” Overall: “Fun and complex beer with many layers. Sour in the front, spicy pepper in the back. A well-balanced combo with a medium body and mild carbonation to support the flavors.”
What the brewer says
LOC: Denver, Colorado ABV: 7.2% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Ginger, lemon, peppercorn, slight sulfur, faint grassy hops, and fairly strong phenolic fermentation quality that reminds me of a hippy campfire.” Flavor: “Complex spice notes of ginger and Szechuan peppercorn. Pithy, astringent finish but not necessarily off putting. Some orange and strawberry on the retronasal along with lemongrass. There’s sharpish tartness that gives this one an edge, but the aftertaste is too spicy.” Overall: “This is a fun farmhouse ale with plenty of Brett and some lemon and what tastes like ginger to round things out. Maybe a bit heavy on the spice, but a nice beer overall. The spice character lingers and lingers deep into the aftertaste, reminding you of what you just drank.”
LOC: Tillamook, Oregon ABV: 6% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“A farmhouse wild ale aged in oak with blackberries and rosemary.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Full of dark berry and herbs. The fruit comes across as dark cherry, raspberry, maybe a hint of blackberry. The herb is clearly rosemary and full, slightly smoky.” Flavor: “The fruit here is more cherry than blackberry but without the sweetness—this one tastes like it fully attenuated. The rosemary is rich. Moderately low sweetness with intense acidity. It’s a musty base sour, nicely done, and the lingering resinous herbal notes add depth.” Overall: “Some might find the rosemary a bit over the top, but the rosemary is surprisingly balanced with the berry flavor. It’s an interesting and crazy drinkable beer, with a great fruit and herb combo that plays well with the base beer. While it’s dry, the berries add a perception of sweetness that softens the impact without affecting drinkability. It’s good sip after sip.” LOC: Denver, Colorado ABV: 6.2% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Strawberry is the yin to rhubarb’s yang—the sweet to the tart. This beautiful partnership creates a beer that glows ruby in the glass, bursts with strawberry aroma, and bites with every sip.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Somewhat subtle with light berry, citrus, lemon, herbal, and bready, but you have to dig for the esters from the strawberry. Light caramel sweetness, and a little sweat-sock funk.” Flavor: “Surprising! Clean strawberry flavor with a light follow-up of rhubarb. Jolly Rancher candy notes and a medium hops bitterness that add underlying citrus and herbal. The pie crust notes are apparent which makes sense given the ingredients. Quite dry.” Overall: “Well-executed overall. Although a bit on the sweet side, the taste is excellent. The rhubarb and strawberry flavors come out well mixed with a medium caramel and malt body and moderate carbonation.” LOC: Asheville, North Carolina ABV: 4.45% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Brett pale ale brewed with red roselle hibiscus and aged for eleven months in French oak red wine barrels with
Brettanomyces and then bottle conditioned. More funky than sour, lighter in color and hoppy.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Slight sweet and tart from the hibiscus. A touch of Brett similar to horse blanket with some spicy clove phenols, too. Moderate banana esters and some vanilla.” Flavor: “Moderate tartness and carbonation up front with hibiscus and light sweetness. Mild hops bitterness that blends well with the leather and barnyard Brett flavor. Moderate acidity, with a touch of bubblegum.” Overall: “Good Brett character with a mild sweetness and a big hibiscus flavor that dominates at times. Good carbonation levels for the style keeps the sweetness in check.” complexity LOC: Austin, Texas ABV: 6.8% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Our effort to mimic the flavors of New Zealand sauvignon blanc involved taking farmhouse ale fermented in oak barrels with our mixed culture of brewers yeast, native yeast, and native bacteria, blending the barrels, then adding dried elderflowers and Nelson Sauvin hops to the blend.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Pleasant peppercorn and flower with a touch of soapiness. Peach and star fruit, citrusy, herbal tea, and pear.” Flavor: “The flower character blends well with an almost grape sweetness. Flavors of pear, peach, apricot, passion fruit, lime, and light raspberry. Finishes with a linger of lemongrass, light sour, and hoppy spiciness.” Overall: “Lots of fun stone fruit and tropical aroma, which blends nicely with the sour. Although very acidic, it’s very well balanced overall. Spiciness and flavor of the hops pair well with the herbal elderflower flavor. Sour tames a bit as it warms and comes in balance with the hops and spices.”
LOC: Fort Collins, Colorado ABV: 5.1% | IBUS: 9 | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Green Coyote Tomatillo Sour is our bright, crisp take on a classic German- style Berliner weisse. A bountiful spring harvest of tomatillo fruit creates a slight sweetness and tangy bite, while subtle notes of kiwi, cucumber, and lemon howl alongside tartness on the tongue.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Moderate tartness, lemongrass, grapefruit, light strawberry, and caramel. Some undefined spiciness with whiffs of white grape and vanilla.” Flavor: “Medium sourness with big lemon flavors similar to lemonade without the sweetness. Pineapple, lemon, and white grape and a slight pepper phenolic add complexity. An earthy funk adds interest to an otherwise light beer. You can tell it’s brewed with some sort of kettle souring process, from the mild phenolic component.” Overall: “Tasty Berliner that’s not overly sour and mostly citrus forward with a slight bite. There’s enough body to balance the acidity. A simple summer slammer with a bit of an edge.” LOC: St. Louis, Missouri ABV: 4.2% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“A wave of tropical fruit and spice brightens this lively, tart wheat ale, taking the German Berliner weisse tradition on an island run. Hopfentea, steeped on a house-made tea blend of dried mango, papaya, hibiscus, and lemongrass, pairs well with light appetizers, salads, and high humidity.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Citrus fruit up front with light lemon and lime mixed with tea leaves, mango, pineapple plus a light spiciness and low vanilla.” Flavor: “The lemon lactic tartness of the Berliner hits with notes of mango and a little pineapple. The tea character provides some earthiness and complexity throughout the taste with big fruitiness of pomegranate, blood orange, lemon, and lime. Nice carbonation. Refreshing through the finish.” Overall: “A lot of fun things going on in this beer. The tea, fruit notes, and Berliner all added to the taste and led to a balance between tartness and fruitiness. Easy drinking and perfect for summer afternoons outdoors.”
LOC: Berkeley, California ABV: 5.8% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“A blend of golden sour beers aged in oak barrels with coriander and sea salt. Fermented and soured with a medley of microorganisms.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Belgium esters with light clove spiciness, bubblegum, salty lemon, medium malt toast, and Brett.” Flavor: “Definitely rocks the gose thing. Lemon tartness is mild but pleasant. Huge coriander here, but doesn’t get all woody, sharp, or astringent the way that overdone coriander can be. Tart finish offers the strongest bit of briny salt. Salt lingers from there, like a spicy margarita.” Overall: “This beer has a lot of complexity that comes together well. The sour lactic notes and acidity are in check with the sweetness and tartness. The tartness and sea salt play well together, and I could see this being served next to some salty chips and salsa. The perfect beer for after a long bike ride.” LOC: Denver, Colorado ABV: 6.9% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Golden sour ale with dandelion, lemon peel, and lemongrass.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Lemongrass aroma with light vegetable notes. Light bready malt. Faint peppery phenols with citrus lemon and melon.” Flavor: “Delicate and refreshing, the tartness hits up front with notes of lemon but fades through the taste. Fresh lemongrass emerges with a slight candy sweetness and carries through. Light in body, but it has enough flavor to keep it interesting. Finishes with a touch of melon.” Overall: “Big fun fruit notes and a good balance. This is a relatively complex beer that manages to seem simple and be refreshing. As it warms the flavors come into balance with lemongrass and light vegetable, which is probably the dandelion.”
LOC: Indianapolis, Indiana ABV: 6% | IBUS: 5 | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“The aroma is of tart strawberries, lemon, and grapefruit with floral notes of rose and hibiscus. The flavor has a distinctly tart grapefruit character supported by peach, strawberry, and delicate hints of floral perfume.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Nice balance of sweet strawberry with hibiscus and light tartness. Refreshing and bright. Light malt sweetness, toasty caramel, some cherry, and light floral notes with a touch of honey.” Flavor: “Notes of strawberry provide some fruitiness and sweetness. Nicely balanced acidity. Plenty of fruity esters: berry, strawberry jam, light acidity, a touch of lemon, with light honey notes. The hibiscus and rose give a light floral flavor with a mild tartness in the finish.” Overall: “Sweet, but not too sweet. Very pleasant and refreshing. Just right for those who enjoy meads or fruit wines. Hops profile on this beer is light and blended in well with the fruit and hibiscus.” LOC: Austin, Texas ABV: 5.6% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Brewed with hibiscus flowers and dry hopped with Citra, this ale blends a hint of tartness with tropical fruit and citrus notes. We recommend pairing it with fresh fruit salad, lemon tarts, or Hawaiian pulled pork.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Light berry and spicy aroma, and as it warms, a slight herbal note starts to come out. It has a surprisingly hoppy nose that is a little dank and resinous. Floral sweetness from the hibiscus along with some cherry esters and a light peppery backing.” Flavor: “Light and delicate. Sweet and tart from the hibiscus notes. Medium body, light malt sweetness, a touch low on the carbonation for a saison, moderate acidity, light lemon, touch of hops floral notes and grassy, some light black pepper. Aftertaste is sweet with a slight acidity and a very light bitterness.” Overall: “The delicate nature of the saison body and the sweet/tartness of the hibiscus are enjoyable. But the carbonation is quite a bit low, making the beer border on cloyingly sweet.” LOC: Denver, Colorado ABV: 56.3% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“Nadia Kali is an inspired saison with cross-cultural influence. Nadia’s ruby pink glow comes from a generous infusion of hibiscus, while ginger root gives it a subtle spice and a hint of woodsy maturity, and lemon peel adds a citrus tartness to keep you on your toes.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Some nice malt sweetness. Some pepper and tartness. As it warms, a spiciness comes through mixed with the hibiscus.” Flavor: “The flavor of this beer hits with some earthiness and pepper character. The spice notes carry through the taste. Some sweetness from the hibiscus. A little on the sweet side, but that plays well with the hibiscus. Clean tart finish. In the back sits some light malt sweetness with a little tartness. The carbonation is moderate.” Overall: “The joy is the balance between hibiscus and saison. The moderate hibiscus and spiciness bite up front have the intensity of an IPA.”
LOC: Springfield, Missouri ABV: 5% | IBUS: N/A | SRM: N/A
What the brewer says
“A subtly fruity and quenching Belgian wit brewed to stand up to summer’s swelter. Bright, mildly floral and tart; guaranteed to inspire deeds that will make you blush.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Nice wit character: orange peel, light phenols, floral hibiscus seems to be there and fits in nicely. There’s a sweet undertone too, tied to the hibiscus, as well as some toasty malt and graham cracker.” Flavor: “Although it is refreshing and clean, the flavor doesn’t quite live up to the nose. The fruity pomegranate berry character is nice with some sweetness and fruit notes. It has a delicate tartness and the hibiscus adds depth and works well with the berries.” Overall: “Beautiful nose, tolerable flavor. An interesting mix of tart pomegranate and high carbonation with an underlying wheat note. Herbal is in the middle and quickly dissipates into the aftertaste.”