From the Editor

A word from Managing Editor Chris Guest about what to expect in this issue.

What Role (if any) Did Hazy IPAs Play in the Current Craft Beer Downturn?

Hazy IPAs go on trial in this look at whether craft beer’s juiciest crowd-pleaser helped fuel the downturn, or simply became the easiest suspect in the room.

Getting Over Your Fear of Commitment: Why We Should Be More Loyal to the Beers We Love

This ode to reliable beer favorites makes the case for ignoring FOMO, revisiting old friends, and remembering that a great pint does not need to be brand-new.

The “Stone Age” Tech Holding Back Modern Brewing

This story digs into beer filtration’s ancient backbone, where diatomaceous earth still does the dirty work despite real questions about waste, water, worker safety, and sustainability.

How Pinthouse Brewing’s Electric Jellyfish Captured America’s Palate Without Leaving Central Texas

Pinthouse Brewing’s Electric Jellyfish gets a proper look as the Austin IPA that became a Texas calling card: hazy, citrusy, deeply local, and famous without needing to be everywhere.

Craft Beer Conglomerates: The New Middle Tier Reshaping American Craft Brewing

Craft beer conglomerates enter the spotlight as the industry’s messy middle tier: bigger than indie, smaller than Big Beer, and complicated enough to make every pint philosophical.

The End Of Automatic Price Hikes In Beer

Beer’s old pricing playbook finally hits the wall in this look at rising costs, shrinking patience, and why value may matter more than brand swagger now.

From Lifeline to Liability: The Looming Crackdown on THC Beverages

THC beverages go from lifeline to liability as breweries face regulatory uncertainty, a looming federal deadline, and one more reminder that fast-growing categories rarely stay simple.

World Class Beer Highlight: Firestone Walker Wookey Jack

Firestone Walker’s Wookey Jack gets its due as one of Black IPA’s great standard-bearers: gnarly, rye-spiced, roast-kissed, and happily back from the dead.

World Class Beer Highlight: Brewery Ommegang Rare Vos

Brewery Ommegang’s Rare Vos gets the World Class Beer Highlight treatment as a strange, elegant Belgian-style classic: spiced, smooth, quietly complex, and built for time, conversation, and one more return to the glass.

Brewer Q&A

Meet the brewers behind our highest-rated beers.

Official Review

Single-blind reviews from our panel of experts. Featuring Sky Meadow by Sapwood Cellars (pictured) and more!

We hope you enjoy the Early Summer edition!

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The Beer Connoisseur®

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