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Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Specialty Beers

Exploring the Foamy Fringe of Beer

Flavored Beer

The Flavored Beer category has some potential overlap with Specialty Beer, and the determination of category is the brewery’s decision. Entries in this category are beers flavored with either conventional (fruit, honey, chocolate) or sometimes unconventional ingredients (chilies, peanut butter). The base beer may be related to almost any classic beer style, and the union of the base beer’s character with the flavoring element is a critical aspect of the beer’s success.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range Quality Band
96-100 points Platinum
90-95 points Gold
85-90 points Silver
80-84 points Bronze
Less than 80 Not Recommended
Legend
  • = Brewpub
  • ABV = Alcohol by volume
  • Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

88 Cypress Honey Lager, Granville Island Brewing Co. (Canada). 4.5% ABV (8/07)
Brilliant golden amber color. Creamed honey and toast aromas are very attractive. A round, frothy entry leads to a dry-medium body of toasty honey nut, baked lemon and dark meringue flavors. Finishes with a touch of piney bittering hops and caramel. Very tasty and refreshing.

86 Carpe Noctum Belgian Chocolate Stout, Bastone Brewery (MI). 6% ABV (9/09)
Opaque, murky, particulate brown/graphite gray color with a wispy tan head. Roasted nut, unsweetened chocolate and chicory aromas follow through on a round, supple entry to a dry-medium body with a smooth texture and hint of fruit wood on the gentle finish. Not very well defined, but pleasant.

86 Pumpkin Lager, Lakefront Brewery (WI). 5.8% ABV (8/07)
Medium amber color. Sweet Christmas spice and mint aromas. A frothy entry leads to an off-dry medium-to-full body of intense cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and candied yam flavor on a nutty, wheat toast palate. Finishes with a drier spice and light toffee fade. A nicely balanced spice beer with some oomph for the holidays.

84 Spyhopper Honey Brown Ale, Vancouver Island Brewery (Canada). 5% ABV (9/09)
Brilliant clear amber color. Very pleasant aromas of honeyed raisin toast follow through on a soft, satiny entry to a dryish medium body with toasted grain, light molasses and straw-like hops on the relaxed finish. An easy going, mellow beer to chill with.

84 Capsaiced Chili Beer, Bastone Brewery (MI). (9/09)
Golden yellow color. Bright roasted and pickled jalapeño aromas follow through on a dynamic entry to a dryish medium body with lots of hot pepper and pepper jelly on wheat toast notes. Finishes with a lingering tingling fade. A fun, peppery treat. Pair with tamales.

82 Cherry Lager, Lakefront Brewery (WI). 5.3% ABV (8/07)
Scarlet amber color with a frothy, white head. Lovely aromas of tart cherries and wildflower honey. A frothy entry leads to dry, attenuated, light-to-medium body of tart, sour cherries and burnt toast flavors. Finishes with a lightly phenolic and bitter cherry pit and scorched aluminum fade.

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