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Garrick van Buren
Beer Judge
Garrick is a National Judge as ranked by the BJCP and a Certified Cicerone®. He started training his beer palate and vocabulary in 2012. You can find him in his suburban Minneapolis garage brewing a long-forgotten historical beer style or another medal-winning Belgian-style beer.
My articles
As Mythbusters' ballistics expert, Adam Savage, has said: "Remember kids, the only difference between screwing around and science is writing it down...
My reviews
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
24 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
6 / 10
Overall Impression:
14 / 20
The pale ale is as straightforward as the label on the bottle. Huge piney and floral hop aromas introduce the beer and are supported by light notes of bread and caramel. Pour this beer into a glass and contemplate how such a stunningly still, beautiful, brilliantly clear, amber body can support... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
14 / 20
Assertive grainy malt sweetness and bold citrus hops combine with some moderate pear esters for an inviting aroma. The appearance is a hazy gold -- likely from dry hopping -- with a dense, persistent, white head. A nice-looking beer to be sure, but it's in the flavor where this beer excels; the... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
The aroma of this beer is complex and intriguing; huge notes of toast, toffee and light chocolate combined with equally large notes of grapefruit and grassy hops are all laced together with a hint of strawberry esters. It has a brilliantly clear, brown body with amber highlights and a rocky,... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
32 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
14 / 20
The Oktoberfest style may not be the Oktoberfest you remember. For two decades now, German brewers have exported a historic version of Oktoberfest to the U.S. The bold, rich, malty, amber Oktoberfest you might remember – that I certainly remember – has long been replaced. The modern German... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
6 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
The White Cap is in the nascent White IPA style, a merging of the American IPA and the Belgian Wit styles, though this example is of "Session" strength.
White Cap's aroma and flavor both provide huge citrus notes of orange and grapefruit along with apricot and blueberry, hints of clove... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Hinterland Grand Cru is a very fun beer. It amplifies the caramel notes you'd expect in a Belgian Strong into something bigger, bolder and more complex. The low, dense, persistent, beige head is supported by a brilliantly clear copper body. The aroma offers a complex blend of caramel, honey,... Read More