It’s a new year, and that means it’s time for us at The Beer Connoisseur to reflect on the year that was in 2022 with our year-end print edition.

2022 finally resembled something of a “normal” year after the doldrums of two years of COVID-related strife. Taprooms, bars and breweries were all back to normal operating hours – though there definitely were fewer of them as the long COVID layoff caused a number of them to shut their doors permanently.

Still though, innovation in beer and brewing was high and popular new styles continued to crop up – including the continued rise in popularity of lagers, specifically imported lagers and Mexican lagers. Those trends and more – including non-alcoholic beers, THC/CBD beverages and cold IPAs – can be found within this issue in our year-end Trends story by Jim Dykstra.

Last year was a terrific one in terms of our Official Review as our judges evaluated a record-tying 13 beers that achieved World Class ratings of 96 or above. Furthermore, one beer achieved a near-perfect rating of 99 – making it one of only five other beers in our history to reach those lofty heights in our Official Review.
For our Breweries of the Year story, our top Brewery of the Year is from New England and is known for its high-quality IPAs, stouts and maple ales – hopefully those hints aren’t too precise, so read on to find out who won!

Though this issue is in the spotlight, we also debuted our Atlanta/Georgia Print Edition to our local fans in 2022 – allowing us to feature the happenings in our own backyard in greater detail with coverage of local breweries, bars, restaurants, events and much more.

As always, our continued coverage would amount to nothing without you, our dear readers, so we profoundly thank you for your continued support and look forward to raising a glass with you in the new year. 

Cheers to a Happy 2023!

The holidays bring joy via its songs, its celebrations, its food and its beverages, and it is with overflowing joy myself that I introduce this issue to you, dear readers, The Beer Connoisseur’s Atlanta/Georgia print edition for the holidays!

Our cover story profiles pioneering Atlanta area restaurateur and craft beer retail expert Kraig Torres, who has reshaped the bottle shop market in the region with Hop City, while also opening up some highly successful restaurants in the form of Boxcar and Barleygarden. Owen Ogletree sat down with the jet-setting entrepreneur to discuss his efforts in the area.

We have an interview with Nicole Swofford, Events and Beverage Manager for McCray’s Tavern, who details some of the upcoming events at the restaurant while also delving into some of the trends she’s seen over the past year.

Jim Dykstra is back with a story called Drinking Beyond Beer, which details some of the non-beer beverage companies that are located in Atlanta and beyond, including Arden’s Garden, Kava Mama, Old Fourth Distillery and more. Jim also profiles two notable businesses in metro Atlanta, including New York Butcher Shoppe, a chain butcher that’s slinging high-quality meats near you, and Distillery of Modern Art, a fascinating distillery-turned-gallery that features a space for local artists to share their work – including on liquor labels!

As always, this issue features a selection of “What We’re Drinking Now,” which highlights some wonderful brews that we’ve reviewed in years past – this time focusing on rich holiday styles that will pair well following a post-Thanksgiving family hangout or with cookies left out for Santa (he won’t notice, right?).

Finishing up the issue is a brewery tour of Steady Hand Beer Co. and a Brewer Q&A featuring Monday Night’s Peter Kiley discussing the delectable barrel-aged beer Last Will & Testament.

Happy Holidays!

Welcome back, dear readers, to The Beer Connoisseur’s new local Atlanta/Georgia print edition. Our first summer issue featured everything that beer lovers enjoy – ranging from engaging music and arts events, top picks for beer, delectable food and plenty of fun summer sporting events.

Our cover story focuses on the booming film industry in Georgia and elucidates how Georgia has coaxed so many film companies to produce their films here. In the story, Kurt Spurlock lists some notable past and future productions in the state – as well as some memorable beer appearances in Georgia films.

Beer lovers do indeed love food, so this issue also features a profile of the delectable meat treats from DAS BBQ in Grant Park. Whether you’re craving brisket (I always am), pulled pork, mac n’ cheese, a rack of ribs, collard greens or a sliced turkey sandwich – DAS BBQ can satiate your barbecue needs.

ASW Distillery (aka Atlanta Spirit Works Distillery) is known as “Malt Disney World,” by many of its customers. With a wide range of house-made drinks and a lovely campus at the ASW Whiskey Exchange, this Atlanta hotspot provides a lovely atmosphere alongside its lovely libations.

This issue features a selection of “What We’re Drinking Now,” which highlights some wonderful products that we’ve reviewed that fit the season and that are sure to whet your appetite for high-quality brews.

Rounding out the issue is our interview with a local brewer responsible for a terrific Georgia beer; this issue, it’s Pontoon Brewing’s head brewer Chris Baratz discussing the brewery’s fun (and spooky) Halloween sour beer Nightmare Fuel.

We sincerely hope you enjoy this issue, as it wouldn’t be possible without the support of you, our dear readers. After your rake those leaves, you will have earned the right to sit back, relax and crack open Issue #2 of The Beer Connoisseur’s Atlanta/Georgia edition!

It is with a great sense of pride that we are able to present our fans and readers with this new print magazine dedicated solely to discovering the world of beer in Atlanta, Georgia and the Southeast.

Within these pages you can expect to find the best in beer and brewing, and, moreover, you will find an exploration of all of the things that beer lovers enjoy. Many times, we are unaware that these can be found in our own backyards.

It has been a tremendous battle building The Beer Connoisseur brand from scratch into the publication it is today while navigating a tumultuous and uncertain media environment. But as I look back, being successful in this business is no different than being successful in any business. The truth is, almost all avenues of business are difficult and those who come out on top are those willing to put the work in and refuse to quit along the way. 

And the great secret is that when you are passionate about what you do, it provides a nigh-invulnerable defense against quitting when times get tough. 

The Beer Connoisseur has survived longer than all its direct competitors nationwide. Today, it is the last publication standing serving the beer industry in the general consumer space. 

The Beer Connoisseur would not exist without you, our hometown readers, many of whom are our founding lifetime subscribers. We hope that this new Atlanta/Georgia edition is worthy of your time to read and utilize as your new local guide to discovering the world of beer. 

Cheers, Santé, Próst and Thank You, Atlanta!

In the wake of recent natural disasters, a couple things have become apparent. For one, these trials are a chance for everyone to set aside certain differences and squabbles and come together. Second, beyond the essentials – food, water, shelter, electricity – beer is one of the most important things required to ride out a storm. Reading material helps too.

Luckily, we combine them both. We hope that Fall Issue, #32 of The Beer Connoisseur helps you look on the bright side while you enjoy one or more beers and face whatever nature throws your way.

We've seen breweries big and small doing their part to send aid to affected areas, and it serves as a great reminder that beer is about community, more than anything.

Stay safe friends, and enjoy Fall 2017, Issue 32!

In these wild times, we here at The Beer Connoisseur do our best to remain as informed and consistent as possible. Amidst thousands of breweries and tens of thousands of beers, that's not always an easy task. The reward is getting to share everything we learn with you, our readers. 

By looking to us as a source of information and hopefully, insight, you allow us to perform a very fulfilling role, and we hope that our magazine and site can contribute to whatever sort of fulfillment and happiness you seek. Consider us your BEER vitamin.

On the note of seeking out what makes you happy, our cover story this issue, Real Ale In Rock & Metal, takes a look at the parallels between two very common dream jobs: musician and brewer, with the help of some of rock and metal's biggest names. Having chased down one dream, they're now blazing their own trails in the world of beer. 

Beer, as we have often stated, is meant to act as a bit of spice on the pastry of your life. Too much cinnamon and you'll be sputtering, but when it's just right, the world is sublime. As you peruse this issue, which features multiple takes on the post-Wicked Weed world, a painstakingly thought out and wholly subjective list of America's Top Five Taprooms and a lot more content we're proud to share, we hope you also consider what passions you might not have explored.

So, enjoy Summer 2017, Issue 31 of The Beer Connoisseur, and when you chase down your dreams, share a beer with them!

If you've ever turned the dial to your local public broadcasting television channel, then you're probably acquainted with the worldly travel guru and Bill Gates doppelganger Rick Steves, who has made it his mission to travel the globe and show Americans the faces and places they have never encountered.

Mr. Steves contends that everyone should see the world, and by doing so, will see their preconceived notions of other cultures melt into fascination and appreciation. When we break bread and clink glasses together, we're reminded of the common threads that bind the fabric of humanity. Walls crumble when glasses are raised in collective celebration.

With these thoughts in mind, we bring you our May / June edition, which emphasizes the exploration of aspects of culture outside of our own. Sherry Dryja returns with a traditional three course Japanese feast (brews included) that can transport you around the world without leaving your dining room, and Jonathan Ingram checks in with the low down for beer travel and transport, or "the other kind of flight".

Next, we give you the skinny on the FDA's updated nutrition facts and what they mean for beer, so you can stay light on your feet before trekking into the wild west of beer law, also known as Utah. 

We know travel is easier said than done. It's expensive and exhausting, and downright impossible for some, which is why we've still got all the reviews, Brewer Q&A's, news, and insight from industry leaders you need to survey the world of beer from the comfort of your own bar.

Wherever you are, we hope the May / June 2017, Issue 30 of The Beer Connoisseur finds you well. Pop a bottle and let it take you to a place of peace.

One of the best things about beer is that it brings people together... depending on who you ask and how many snifters they've snuffed.

Competition within the industry is friendly and spirited, and at the end of the day you'll find everyone at the pub enjoying their fellow brewers' creations and offering constructive criticism. This is a sentiment at the core of craft brewing, and it's incredibly important to maintain. Craft has been defined to death but it's nothing without heart and soul.

This issue we cover many different brewers -- some hallowed, like Belgium's century and a quarter year-old Vander Ghinste, and some bright eyed and bushy ale'd, like New Jersey's Cape May Brewing Company, before we branch into adjacent industries for the lowdown on artisan glassware and its place in craft brewing.

We talk with the Beervangelist, Fred Bueltmann, who offers advice for growing a brewery in 2017's uber-competitive market, along with a message of collaboration over competition and quality over quantity which applies as much to everyday life as it does to beer. And of course, we've got the best reviews in the biz, accompanied with Brewer Q&A's, news and more, designed to elucidate and enhance your appreciation of the majestic bespoke suds we clamor for. 

Have heart, and stay sharper than an elephant's tusk. Keep watch for the diacetyl. 

Cheers from The Beer Connoisseur!

As we plot a course for the uncharted waters of 2017, it's important to remain hopeful. Having something to look forward to is essential to health and happiness, and when you time it right, beer is as powerful a motivator as William Wallace's pre-battle speech in Braveheart.

We've got a host of places to go, people to meet and bottles to seek. 

But before we begin our journey into the unknown with heads and pints held high, we're going to remember the good times. That's right, The Beer Connoisseur's Top 100 Beers of 2016 are here, with enough superlative clout to keep you going for at least one senate term. We'll also drink in The Beer in Review, featuring Best in Show styles as reviewed by our judges, and other fun categories like Best Name. We can't forget the people behind the magic, either -- we'll rank the brewers who made everything okay in 2016 with our Brewery of the Year review.

That's just the tip of the Carlsberg. We'll introduce you to the most mysterious and often nefarious man in the brewing world, tell a "tail" for the ages, take you out west, give you some pointers for what's good drinking when the light on the snow is twinkling and cap it all off with an organic healthy serving of knowledge.

Join us as we take a deep breath, engage our retronasal capabilities and become one with the esters. Everything's gonna be okay. Exhale as you imbibe. Repeat. Happy 2017 from The Beer Connoisseur!

Beer has long been a tool for greasing the hinges of communication – from first dates to the founding of the USA. In a time where divides feel greater and smiles seem harder to come by, its important that we not forget to appreciate the fact that any of us can sit around and share a beer at all. Especially during the holiday season.

To that end, we've got a host of sensory experiences, transcribed to transport you both outward -- to Sweden for a Great Taste Adventure, to Le Roeulx Belgium to Rediscover St. Feuillien, and inward for tales of palate exploration with our story on Gueze: The Champagne of Craft Beers, Spruce Beer, and of course, our industry-leading Beer Review. 

You'll hear the roar of a barrel char in our final act of The Art of Coopering, and the delicate, sensual tones of The New Most Interesting Man in the World, who was kind enough to pour a bit of wisdom into our glass. Of course, we've got plenty more wisdom of our own to give you -- a treatise on the state of beer styles, a look at Oregon's Pfriem Family Brewers, and more news than you can shake a yule log at.

As always, we want to stress the importance of beer as a means for togetherness, inclusion and enjoyment of life. At the end of the day, beer is beer and people are people. We hope you enjoy the Holiday Issue of The Beer Connoisseur! 



The autumnal shift is right around the bend, and as the hues of leaves skew brighter, the beers get darker. Easy-sipping ales with whiffs of lemon and mango give way to bold browns and hearty porters, and long nights under lights with lagers cede to fireside stouts as the days grow shorter. 

No matter how technologically advanced we become, we are reliant on living, breathing nature. Brewers may be especially aware of this fact – all grains, hops and yeast are or were, at least in some stage of the beermaking process, alive. The intrinsic connection of beer to nature is enescapable. Just ask The Mixed-Culture Master, Chad Yakobson. The Crooked Stave founder goes to great lengths to ensure the organisms living in his barrels thrive, but don't run rampant. For more on foeders, the large barrels in which these micro-organisms work their magic, check out The Art of Coopering Part II.

For a different look at how nature can inspire, we'll talk with Red Hare co-founder Bobby Thomas to find out how Chasing the Rabbit put a new hop in his step, and enjoy specially prepared seafood and beer pairings with award-winning Chef Erin Coopey. 

Our thirst for knowledge leads us to do some Drinking in the French Countryside with Owen Ogletree, before sniffing out the difference of two harvest-time favorites in Oktoberfest vs. Marzen. Meanwhile, Jonathan Ingram lays down the law regarding Why Beers Need Packaged On Dates, and we keep you covered with all the news, events, and more expert reviews than you can shake a snifter at, with Brewer Q+A's to boot.

Here's to the joy that comes with opening a bottle, can or (digital magazine), and savoring every last droplet (of knowledge). We hope you enjoy the Fall Issue of The Beer Connoisseur! 

Summer always seems to be the perfect time to enjoy the glorious beverage that is beer. Temperatures are up, inhibitions are down and the finest suds are just an arm’s length away… what more could you ask for? Well, how about the 25th issue of The Beer Connoisseur!

Hazy, New England-style IPAs are trending, and we get the scoop with one of their originators Nate Lanier of Tree House Brewing. Then we travel to the Lone Star state for a chat with wild ale expert Jeffrey Stuffings, founder and head brewer at Jester King Brewery.

For our cover story, we delve into the history and artistry of coopering, which is the craft of making and maintaining spirit barrels. Also in this issue, Jonathan Ingram interviews "the mayor of Hinchtown," craft beer and indy car racing legend James Hinchcliffe, Dave Clark takes a trip to the desert to visit Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co., Lucy Corne’s South Africa story charts the rise of craft beer in a macro-dominated landscape, and Sherry Dryja is back with a beer picnic that’s sure to make even the dullest family gathering a raucous occasion.

All of the usual coverage is here as well: Our expert, single-blind beer reviews featuring a whopping 49 beers with scores of 91 and above along with corresponding Q & As, the lowdown on terrific beer fests nationwide and many tasty summertime new releases to wet your whistle.

So pop open a cold one and pop a squat by the pool with phone or tablet in hand and enjoy this, the Summer Issue of The Beer Connoisseur!

This issue, we decided to dig a little deeper into the brewniverse to uncover some lesser-known yet bustling beer scenes: We journey north to Grand Rapids, home to far more than just Founders, venture all the way to the Baltic for a look at the up-and-coming Estonian craft beer scene, stop in Poland for some traditional recipes and pairings straight from the heartland, and enjoy a change of pace in the fresh air and earthy vibe of Wyoming's Grand Teton Brewing with head brewer Rob Mullin.

We'll also chat about the cultural effect craft is having on the world with an American beer icon, Bob Leggett, who has been bringing the US some of the world's best beer for over four decades with Arisanal Imports.

In keeping with our global theme, we've got expert reviews for styles that span the globe along with corresponding Brewer Q & As from some of the finest minds in brewing.

So whether you're on a flight or sipping a flight, enjoy the 24th issue of The Beer Connoisseur!

Busy bees, fizzy beers, Spring is here, and with it comes another issue of The Beer Connoisseur.

We'll make contact with an extra-beerestrial in our Innovators Series, featuring the Flying Saucer and Meddlesome Moth’s resident “Beer Guru” Keith Schlabs, before striking west to hear from one of Utah's most experienced brewers to see how he stays busy in the “Beehive state." 

Jonathan Ingram talks craft beer billionaires and tracks down the head of Breckenridge Brewery to discuss its recent acquisition by AB InBev. The journey continues in Buckeye Country, where Kevin Gray explores an Antebellum-era brewery that makes beer “the really hard way.” Sherry Dryja spices it up with a Tex-Mex Beer Brunch, and Greg Nagel jams with The Brews Brothers: Coffee and Beer. We also ask our friends in the beer industry: “What is a Beer Connoisseur?” 

As usual, we have our expert Beer Review, Brewer Q & A and a "tun" of other great content. Skip the allergies this spring and sip a scrumptious craft brew instead with the 23rd issue of The Beer Connoisseur!
- See more at: https://beerconnoisseur.com/articles/spring-2016-issue-23#sthash.GITa9C6Y.dpuf

New Year, New Brews. But first, we take a look at the Top 100 Beers of 2015, along with over a hundred more from our Beer Review. Brewers weigh in on their high-scoring beers, and we test the waters of the Mallorcan beer scene before docking in Charleston for a divine tour of the old city's bustling beer scene.

Sherry Dryja brings you recipes to wow and woo with pairings to boot, and Jonathan Ingram delves into pairing whiskey while researching the holy origins of chocolate malt. You'll hear from venerated brewing luminaries behind some of the top U.S. breweries and see what they're doing to stay above water in an ocean of competition. We've got more content than you could wave a Crooked Stave at, but you've got all year to read. Sit back with your favorite six-pack and enjoy!

In our Holiday issue we survey the ever-changing brewing landscape from macro to micro. Jonathan Ingram examines where passion comes into play for big brewers in Connoisseur's Corner, and we look at the bigger picture in Macrophobia. Not counting out the "little guy," Jay Brooks brings us an exclusive history of how Stone co-founder and CEO Greg Koch went from managing bands to managing brands, and we talk with Ska Brewing founder Dave Thibodeau before hopping across the pond to tour the charming Long Man Brewery.

On the festive front, Sherry Dryja brings us delicious Holiday Cheer, we toast to yuletide ales in Secret Sláinte, and count down the Twelve Days of Christmas in our Beer Lover's Gift Guide.

In this issue we hit all corners of the globe, traveling to Bolivia, where Martin Thibault will teach you about the little-known art of brewing chicha, before chatting with Gabe Fletcher of Anchorage Brewing, who brews some of the best Bretts in the West. Owen Ogletree breaks down Belgian Golden Strong Ales and Fruit Beers in Style Studies, and from there we march up to the U.K. for some trans-continental brewing collaborations.

Winter 2023

Holiday 2022

Fall 2022

Summer 2022

Fall 2017

Summer 2017

May-June 2017

Spring 2017

Winter 2017

Holiday 2016, Issue 27

Fall 2016

Summer 2016, Issue 25

May - June 2016

Spring 2016, Issue 23

Winter 2016, Issue 22

Holiday 2015

Fall 2015, Issue 20

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