Haze Dipper by New Realm Brewing is a wonderful example of a full-flavored impactful IPA that is still approachable and quaffable, which is quite the trick for examples of this style! This brew is being evaluated as a BJCP 21B Specialty IPA – New England IPA style as... Read More
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Joseph Formanek
Beer Judge
Joe Formanek started homebrewing in 1987 as an undergraduate in Microbiology at the University of Minnesota. He was bitten by the brewing bug after taking a tour of Summit Brewing Company within a year after they had opened in St. Paul in 1987, and he has been going ever since. Joe later went to Graduate School at the University of Illinois and helped found the Boneyard Union of Zymurgical Zealots (BUZZ) Homebrew Club. He currently resides in Bolingbrook, IL, is a Director for a food ingredient company in Itasca, IL, and is a proud member of the Urban Knaves of Grain Homebrew Club. Joe holds a National Judge ranking with the BJCP, and is a previous Midwest Regional Rep and Vice President of the organization.
Over the years, Joe has received many honors related to homebrewing. He has won numerous BOS awards at local and regional competitions, is a 6 time winner of the Midwest Homebrewer of the Year award (1999, 2001-2004, 2007) and won the American Homebrewers Association Meadmaker of the Year award in 2004. Joe is a 2 time winner of the American Homebrewers Association Ninkasi Award (2000, 2006) for winningest brewer in the final round of judging, and was honored as being named one of the two homebrewer winners of the 2011 Sam Adams Longshot American Homebrewing Competition with his Russian Imperial Stout, which was distributed nationally in the 2012 Longshot multipack.
My reviews
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
24 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
A rich, sweet, caramel malt nose shares the aroma with a complex blend of earthy, citrusy and piney hop characteristics. There is also some light fruity esters evident. The beer is a light copper with great clarity and a solid, rocky, off-white head of small, white bubbles that leaves lacing on... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20
Trooper by Robinson’s Family Brewers in the UK is a somewhat non-descript rendition of the Extra Special Bitter (ESB) style. While there is not much that makes it stand out from its competition, this offering is quite clean and approachable, which is fortunately a critical aspect for a beer of... Read More
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Chariot by Urban Artifact is an assertively cherry fruit-forward offering that demonstrates a well-crafted solid marriage of tart cherry and Gose beer character. This beer is being evaluated as a Category 29A Fruit Beer with a Category 27 Historical Beer – Gose base as per the 2015 BJCP Style... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Hypnic Jerk by Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. is a well-crafted rendition of the 17D American IPA style from the 2015 BJCP guidelines, delivering a very enjoyable overall package.
Upon popping the bottle, you are greeted with a sweet cotton candy-like aroma with some caramel notes in the... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Upland Teddy Bear Kisses is a solid, full-flavored Imperial Stout that exemplifies the style quite well. The aroma has a strong chocolate malt or cocoa character backed by a slightly burnt black malt bite. Visually, this lightly carbonated brew is an opaque, deep brown/black with a tan head that... Read More