Prairie Artisan is renowned for brews with amazing complexity. Ape Snake, their dry-hopped Dark Farmhouse Ale, delivers on this promise to a certain extent, but less so than with other offerings. This deep brown-colored brew has a huge tan-colored head of small bubbles that maintains its... 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:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
99Xperiment by Mutation Brewing was reviewed as a BJCP Category 5D, German Pils, per the 2021 BJCP style guidelines. This beer demonstrates the creativity that craft brewers are able to accomplish. This beer is considered to be a West Coast pilsner according to the... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Culture Two by Fulton is labeled as a Golden Ale aged in oak barrel. It was evaluated as being a 28C Wild Specialty Beer in the 2015 BJCP Guidelines. As such, there should be a marriage of flavors from the wild fermentation as well as from the wood aging. In this case, the wild fermentation... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Upslope Citra Pale Ale by Upslope Brewing Co. is an extremely dank rendition of the BJCP 18B American Pale Ale style. Interestingly, while it is advertised as being Citra hopped, the hop character comes out more as a Simcoe-dominant offering.
Hop aromas leap from the glass upon the pour,... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
24 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
White Rascal by Avery Brewing Co. is a classical interpretation of the BJCP 24A Witbier style. Wheat, Spice, Citrus – yup, all there, without any additional complexities, which is a perfectly fine way of brewing this style. Though there are minor quibbles, Avery did a great job with this one! ... Read More
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
When you feel that first nip of fall in the air you know that Pumpkin Ale time is right around the corner! Post Road Pumpkin Ale is a mild brew in most all respects, yet exemplifies the style quite well. The quickly dissipating head of this very clear amber-gold brew falls away to reveal aromas... Read More