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Phil Farrell
Circling the globe many times and educating his beer palate for nearly four decades, Phil is a former Vice President of the Beer Judge Certification Program, a Grand Master V level beer judge as well as a cider and mead judge. He has been homebrewing for over 25 years, winning medals and striking gold at the American Homebrewers Association national competition. As Brewmaster of Stillfire Brewing in Suwanee, GA, he has continued his winning ways in local and national competitions. He believes the perfect pint is out there waiting for him somewhere on planet Earth.
My articles
Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers first met in college, became friends, enjoyed brewing at home and later decided to do more than talk about starting...
Our writer caught up with Gabe Fletcher, a longtime participant in the Alaskan brewing scene, shortly after the official opening of his beautiful new...
In the second of two installments, the founders of Founders take on some more subjective topics.
Was there a first beer you remember that made you...
There are two large cities on the western shore of Lake Michigan that formed my previous impression of Wisconsin. One has a famous NFL team whose...
My reviews
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
A dark red-amber pour is topped by an off-white head that was low but had great retention with small bubbles that laced the glass. The aroma tilts toward complex caramel malt with a touch of resin and grapefruit. The flavor has even more malt character with a well-boiled caramelized sugar... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
40 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
This beer has an unmistakable aroma of Brettanomyces barnyard funkiness in all its glory. Once the beer warms there are typical saison light citrus aromas with a touch of pepper spice. The flavor is every bit as complex as the aroma. I initially taste barnyard, lemon citrus, earth, and pepper.... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
American Black Ale is an ever- changing category that was based on American IPA with added roast character rather than an American stout with IPA levels of bitterness. This beer’s aroma was dominated by complex roast malt of baker’s chocolate and coffee. Under the roast were notes of pine, earth... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
I smell a pleasant mix of resin and citrus followed by a little orange citrus, biscuit malt, and a touch of coconut/tropical fruit. I also detect some underlying generic spice. The flavor is fuller than the aroma suggests. I get a lot of resin flavors, some citrus, and a firm, bitter finish.... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
This is a deep, dark amber beer. Under a tan head, it is very hazy with evidence of a little debris floating around. The nose hits initially with resin, pine, light grass, and mild grapefruit all appearing. Despite the hop component, there is a toasty malt with a touch of caramel. The flavor has... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
This is a very pretty IPA. As you drink it, a foam residue of your progress is recorded on the side of the glass. An entire hop farm of pine, resin, wood and grapefruit hop aromas slowly arrive as the beer warms. There is some eventual grassiness, however the “hay” is more of a bonus than an... Read More