Tavour is not a beer of the month club. They’re not a standard online retailer either. They have a unique model that works great with their product. You can create an account for free. Then you get a daily email detailing their latest craft beer release. The beer descriptions are detailed and usually include scores from sites like Beer Advocate and Rate Beer. They also note whether the beer is exclusive to Tavour. If you’re interested you reply to the email and let them know how many you want. You can also log into their site, or use their app, and select from a few recently released beers that are still available. The prices seem really reasonable for limited release beers that I can’t get in my area. They’re based in and ship from Seattle, Washington but the beers are from all over the country.

This brings me to my only concern when trying out Tavour: freshness. They’re sourcing from all over the country, then shipping via FedEx. It seems like a recipe for beer abuse. Apparently this is not a concern. All of the beers I received tasted perfectly fresh. I’ve certainly done worse at my local grocery stores. The breweries for my shipment are from Ohio, Maine, Oregon, Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois and they all tasted great. I got some big IPAs from Tavour that I feel like would be obvious if they were past their prime, but that was not the case.

Some brief notes on the beers I received from Tavour:

MadTree PsycHOPathy IPA

PsycHOPathy IPA has huge hop flavor and aroma, with average bitterness which I consider a winning combination. It is well balanced for an IPA with lots of citrus and floral hop flavor, and some really nice yeasty notes. I really liked this beer.

My Untappd Score: 4.75

Baxter Stowaway IPA

Stowaway IPA is a robust IPA with lots of malt flavor and lots of hoppy bitterness. You can taste all of those 69 IBUs. Not much head. Clear copper color. A bit muddied, with a somewhat harsh bitter finish…but hard to complain about this excellent IPA.

My Untappd Score: 4

Fort George Vortex IPA

Vortex IPA poured a beautiful golden orange. Lots of citrus hops, but not overly bitter. Extremely clean and smooth for 7.7% ABV and 97 IBU.

My Untappd Score: 4.5

Toppling Goliath pseudoSue Pale Ale

pseudoSue is light bodied and hoppy for a Pale Ale. I would call it an IPA.It is very crisp and smooth with lots of citrus hop flavors. I didn’t realize until I looked at the Toppling Goliath website that it is a single hop Citra beer. I’ve never liked single hop Citra, or Citra dominant beers. I find them to be too catty, but I liked pseudoSue.

My Untappd Score: 4.5

Zip Line Oatmeal Porter

I really enjoyed this beer, but it was the fifth of the night so I don’t have much for tasting notes. I think Oatmeal Porter is a great style and Zip Line didn’t disappoint.

My Untappd Score: 4.25

Ninkasi Ginger & Juice Ginger and Apricot Farmhouse Ale

The ginger and apricot compliments the farmhouse style of Ginger & Juice. Not too funky, with some clove flavor but not overpowering. Very refreshing. This is the only one of the group that I’ve actually seen on shelves.

My Untappd Score: 4.5

Breakside Salted Caramel Stout

Breakside Salted Caramel Stout was sweet, and a little boozy for 6.8%, but not in a bad way. It complimented the nice caramel flavor, and matched well with this very drinkable stout.

My Untappd Score: 4.25

Lake Effect Bitchin’ Blonde

There seems to be two types of Blondes. There are some that are essentially light colored amber ales, and there are some that highlight their Belgium yeast. Bitchin’ Blonde is the latter. Very smooth for 8%. Complex yeast and malt flavors that only got better as it warmed.

My Untappd Score: 4.5