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Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Specialty Beers

What Makes You So Special?

Flavored Lager

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

94 Black Giraffe Coffee Lager, Burleigh Brewing Co. (Australia). 5% ABV (9/10)
Very dark brown color. Rich and dimensional-roasted coffee, bakers chocolate and dried fruit aromas and flavors with a dry, zesty medium-full body and a long, pure and pervasive barista-approved finish. A superb coffee beer with a solid caffeine kick.

92 Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock, The Boston Beer Co. (MA). 5.5% ABV (3/09)
Deep reddish mahogany color. Lovely aromas of artisan chocolate, caramel and raisin toast follow through on a satiny entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with mellow chocolate covered apple and nectarine flavors and a super smooth finish. A delightful and highly drinkable chocolate beer.

90 Coney Island Albino Python Lager, Shmaltz Brewing Company (NY). 6% ABV (9/10)
Lightly hazy old gold color. Aromas and flavors of ginger, dried orange and thyme honey on toast. Round and frothy with a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body. Crisp and nicely balanced on the moderately long, creamy polenta and fennel-accented finish. A very nice spicy flavored lager that is eminently drinkable.

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