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Brian started diving into the world of craft beer in 2004, tracking all of the beers he tasted online, with notes. He picked up homebrewing in 2008 and began judging in 2010. Taking pride in the opportunity to give feedback to brewers of all sorts, he has progressed through the BJCP, attaining the rank of Master in 2013. He formerly acted as an Associate Exam Director for the BJCP, as well as an exam administrator and proctor, and presently holds the rank of Grand Master IV, as well as Mead judge. To him, the most important aspect of judging is to know your limits and learn how to recognize them and expand them. To achieve that end, Brian has judged in over 100 competitions in 12 states and counting, including the Great American Beer Festival, and visits innumerable breweries. He also helps organize a few competitions each year, including the role of judge coordinator for the Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer (which you may know as FoBAB), the largest of its kind in the world.
The Cannibal by Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant was judged as a 25c Belgian Golden Strong Ale.
The beer pours a hazy gold that appears to have some suspended particulate, very fine with a frothy white head that persists. The nose is quite clean, though distinctly Belgian. Lightly... Read More
Rum-Barrel Aged Porter by pFriem Family Brewers is being judged as a 33B Specialty Wood-Aged beer, with an underlying style of Baltic porter. At any rate, in the glass, it's on the lighter side but still dark brown with a thin off-white head that persists. The nose is nice and complex, retaining... Read More
Mountain Glow Cider by Stowe Cider is being evaluated as C2F, Specialty Cider. The cider pours effervescent with a persistent stream of mixed bubbles. Good clarity and quite bright overall. The nose shows the ginger first and foremost along with some pleasant dessert apple notes and distinct... Read More
Naughty Girl Stout is a Mint Stout brewed by Right Brain Brewery and is being judge as a category 30A-Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer. Which is perhaps a shame, because it's a great stout that lacks for mint to really make it stand out! In the glass, it pours a deep and opaque brown-black with... Read More
Beyond Resin by Upland Brewing Co. was judged as a 21a American IPA.
This beer pours mostly clear with a light haze. Deeply golden with a persistent white head that's very attractive. The aroma initially is intensely hop forward, showing guava and mango, followed by some durian and onion... Read More
pFriem+Alesong by pFriem Family Brewers is being judged as a 33B Specialty Wood-Aged Beer, as it is an experimental beer modeled after the famed "old fashioned" cocktail – aged in Bourbon Barrels with aromatic bitters and citrus zest. I'll leave it at that, as I don't believe the "underlying... Read More
