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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.
Kingston Black by Snow Capped Cider is being evaluated as a C1B, English Cider, per the 2015 BJCP Cider guidelines.
The nose on this is fantastic. Great apple skin and perfumy notes, green fruit and pleasant white wine aromatics. There's a freshness, but also an austerity that I really... Read More
Munich Dunkel (8A). The beer pours a deep red brown with a thin off-white head. There is a faint haze to the beer, but overall fairly attractive. The initial aroma is toasty and bread-like with a faint cocoa note. It's very fresh and Munich malt dominated, with minimal hop character, with the... Read More
Cà Phȇ by Urban South Brewery is a Vietnamese Coffee Stout that is being judged as 30A-Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer with 16A-Sweet Stout as the base style. In the aroma, this beer is definitely all about coffee. Fresh and clean with a high-quality coffee aroma. Notes of toffee and chocolate... Read More
Pulp Theory Hazy IPA by Odell Brewing Co. is being judged as a 21b Specialty IPA, specifically a Juicy/Hazy IPA, per the BJCP 2015 Style Guidelines.
The pour is hazy, obviously, bordering on turbid with a pale gold and touch of orange and a creamy white head that persists. The nose is... 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
The Russets by Snow Capped Cider is being evaluated as a C1A, New World Cider, per the 2015 BJCP Cider guidelines, though I'm not certain if that's totally correct. At any rate, it pours sparkling and clear in the glass with a slightly copper-tinged gold. Very attractive.
The nose has a... Read More
