Start 14-Day Trial Subscription
*No credit card required
Jim is a Grand Master beer judge and former Associate Exam Director for the Beer Judge Certification Program. He began enjoying good beer in the mid aughts and started homebrewing shortly thereafter. Regardless of style, Jim is always on the lookout for breweries that are good at what they do.
Barrel-Aged Brownie Batter Blend #2 Base by Pontoon Brewing was judged as BJCP Category 33B, Specialty Wood-Aged Beer.
This beer's aromas are rich and legion. They are a mixture of dark and dried fruits, oak and ethanol, punctuated with vanilla and becoming sweeter as the beer warms. It... Read More
Fruit Lambic is a variable style, with some examples being predominately fruity and others retaining traditional Lambic character complemented by a fruit addition. This example falls squarely into the former category. It is dominated by a fresh cherry character in both aroma and flavor,... Read More
Alpha Abstraction Vol. 20 by Wild Leap Brew Co. was judged as BJCP Category 22A, Double IPA. Viewed in light of the rise in various specialty IPAs -- especially New England-style Hazy IPAs -- the Double IPA is a throwback to simpler times in the mid-to-late aughts when scaling up an IPA recipe... Read More
Subtle spicing is the theme of this Christmas Ale. Behind nutty, toffee, and chocolate aromas lies a pleasant dose of something herbal and spicy. A low phenol, slightly clove-like, comes out as it warms. This beer looks as it should: dark reddish-brown, clear and with a moderate, off-white head... Read More
Tasty IPA by Manhattan Brewing Co. was judged as BJCP category 21A, American IPA, per the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines.
This beer has a classic American hop aroma, with resin, pine and light citrus notes. It's prominent but not overpowering. Underneath there is a clean malt base with very... Read More
The aroma of this Double IPA shows itself to be distinctive right away. Absent are the citrus fruit hop aromas that have come to be expected in this style; instead, It is peppery, earthy, herbal, and musty. Low caramel maltiness supports this powerful hop aroma, along with generic, sweet esters... Read More
