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Jess is a BJCP National ranked beer judge, award winning cider maker, and Assistant Professor of Developmental Psychology at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. Jess studies how children (and adults!) use language (e.g., words) to describe their perceptual experiences (e.g., the things we see, smell, and taste). Judging beers, ciders, and meads allows her to combine her love of fermentation with her research interests -- Jess loves the challenge of using the precision of language to represent the complicated and intense experience of tasting, smelling, and seeing a brew.
Upland Petal to the Kettle Ale is a slightly sour ale with hibiscus, rose, and strawberry additions; it is being evaluated against category 29B: Fruit and Spice Beer (the fruit is the strawberry; the spice is the flower components).
Critically, core criteria for this style include a... Read More
Altered Beast IPA by Southern Prohibition Brewing was judged as an American IPA (category 21a).
The aroma is dominated by a sweetness, with a low lemony hop aroma. The hopping is obviously substantial, and has citrus and pepper notes. The hopping isn't quite in balance with the sweetness... Read More
Éphémère Sureau is a fruited white ale; it is being evaluated against Category 29: Fruit and Vegetable Beer. For this style, I look for the fruit addition to be prominently featured, and to be balanced with a well-executed base beer.
The aroma of this beer includes a strong fresh-... Read More
I am judging this beer as an American Pale Ale (BJCP category 18B).
The aroma of this beer was vibrant with clean lemon peel and grapefruit peel notes. The malt character was mild and every so slightly grainy. While the aroma was overall mellow and a hair low in malt complexity for the... Read More
I am judging this beer as an American Barleywine (BJCP category 22C) that has been Wood Aged (category 68).
The aroma on this beer was very compelling, and immediately revealed the beer to be a barleywine. There was a rich caramel aroma with low and pleasant butteriness that combined... Read More
I am judging this beer as a vegetable beer (30A), with the base style being Imperial Stout (20C).
The aroma began with complex malt-derived scents: licorice, coffee, chocolate, and anise. Under the malt complexity was a low level of black pepper and what I initially believed to be cayenne... Read More
