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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.
Situational Ethics - Mezcal by Monday Night Brewing is being judged as a 33b- Specialty Wood-Aged Beer due to the use of spirits barrels, with a base style of 30a- Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer due to the inclusion of cocoa nibs, vanilla, chili peppers and cinnamon.
The beer pours with a... Read More
Rhubarbebier by Bozeman Brewing Co. is being evaluated as 33A Wood-Aged Beer. The base styles are Fruit Beer, 29A & Berliner Weisse, 23A. This is a Berliner Weisse with Rhubarb & Raspberry, aged in French Oak Barrels. With that out of the way, the beer pours petillant into the glass, a... Read More
This beer was reviewed as a Wood-aged Imperial Stout (Category 33A with 20C as declared base style) under the 2015 BJCP guidelines. A big and brash base beer aged in wood is the expectation, and it is certainly met!
Upon presentation, the beer is a deep reddish brown, just shy of black,... Read More
Deduction by Taxman Brewing Co. is a Belgian Dubbel that is being judged as 26B-Belgian Dubbel. This Dubbel presents pretty true to its Belgian form, but does seem to have some American inspiration as well. Aromatically, it is distinctly fruity and forward, with stone fruit and cherries leading... Read More
Dr. Juice by Parish Brewing Co. is being judged as a 21b Specialty IPA, specifically of the hazy or New England iteration.
The beer initially shows in the glass as a hazy pale yellow, nearly turbid beer with a fluffy and sticky head of shaving foam that sticks until the end.
The... Read More
Trop Tail by Social Fox Brewing was evaluated as a 21B Specialty IPA of the NEIPA/Juicy/Hazy variety. This pours hazily into the glass, though not terribly turbid-looking. A persistent creamy white head adds an attractive topper to the golden-hazed body. On the nose, you're hit with a tropical... Read More
