Beverage Dynamics is the largest national business magazine devoted exclusively to the needs of off-premise beverage alcohol retailers, from single liquor stores to big box chains, through coverage of the latest trends in wine, beer and spirits.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/751263
www.beveragedynamics.com November/December 2016 • Beverage Dynamics 45 BEER SELECTIONS R E TA I L E R BEST BEERS OF 2016 FOR OUR LATEST ROUND of National Retailer Beer Panel reviews, we asked panelists to recall their favorite pours of 2016. These reviews include brief tasting notes and a rating. If you're a retail or off-premise professional who would like to learn more about participating in our panel, please contact Kyle Swartz at (203) 855-8499 ext. 2225 or kswartz@epgmediallc.com. The Beverage Dynamics National Retailer Beer Panel reviews the top brews of the past year. (99) Perrin No Rules. Bourbon barrel-aged im- perial porter with coconut and turbinado sugar. Pours a dark brown with a medium tan head. Aromas of coconut and bourbon. Flavors of co- conut and bourbon dominate. Great mouth feel. ABV is very well hidden. 15% ABV (99) Brasserie Cantillon Rosé de Gambrinus (1997). Dug this out of the cellar. Exquisite! Full, very dry, lingering, tart raspberry, cinna- mon, and yeasty goodness! Age has done it well. The fruit fl avors held up impeccably. (98) Rodenbach Alexander. Flanders red ale, partially aged in oak and with cherries, brewed again after a 17-year absence. Pours a deep red with a thin white head stained pink, cher- ries on the nose. Taste is a perfect balance of cherry jam and tar tness, highly drinkable. 5.6% ABV (98) Funky Buddha Wide Awake It's Morning. Imperial por ter with maple syrup, coffee and bacon. Pours dark black, with a thin tan head. Aromas of coffee, and maple sweetness. This beer is breakfast in a glass. Coffee and smoke compete with an almost over-the-top maple sweetness. 10% ABV (97) Trillium Brewing Company Double Dry Hopped Melcher Street IPA. As soon as you pop the top you are hit with aromas of trop- ical fruit. Like so many "New England" style IPA's, this pours opaque. The beer looks like unfi ltered orange juice. Aggressively hopped with Mosaic, and boy does that show. Tons of juicy tropical fruit dances across your tongue. There is also a wonderful dank bitterness for balance. This is the defi nition of a juicy IPA. 7.3% ABV. (97) Hair of the Dog Brewing Company Dog- gie Claws (2009). Red apple skin, ripe fi gs, candied stone fruits, cherry and strawberry fruit leather, fresh green hop fl avors, but light bitterness that's just enough for balance. Pow- dered chocolate, herbs, grapeseed, toffee, so incredibly complex. Medium-bodied and semidry in the fi nish. Not too big or cloying. Fantastic balance, solid carbonation, and ample acidity which cleans the sticky, sweet palate after every sip. This has held up insanely well and can probably age another 5+ years easily. One of the best beers I've had in a long time. (97) 2013 Dubuisson Scaldis Prestige Bel- gian Strong Pale Ale. Hazy, golden brown color with a thin white robe. Slightly nutty aromas, with a hint of dried apricot and spice notes. Sweet, malty caramel flavors and layers of dark chocolate and raisins, suppor ted by well-integrated, dry, tannic notes and a slightly vinous character from oak aging. Smooth and creamy texture that intensifies as the beer warms, yet finishes clean and dry. More depth than length, with excellent alcohol balance. An amazing, deli- cious "thinking man's" beer that developed well in the bottle over the last three years. 13% ABV, 26 IBU. (96) Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen Framboos (2014). A truly outstanding fruited sour form one of the world's greatest lambic producers. Pours a very hazy ruby red leaving almost no head what so ever. The nose on this beer goes forever: tons of raspberry jam and barnyard ★★★★★ Five Stars (93-100) A top-flight beer. Superior in taste and char- acter, providing an outstanding price/value relationship. ★★★★ Four Stars (86-92) A very good beer at an excellent value. A beer for which customers will keep coming back. ★★★ Three Stars (80-85) An above-average beer at a reasonable price point, which many consumers will enjoy. RATING SYSTEM