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Josh Weikert

Josh Weikert's picture
Beer Judge

​Josh Weikert took up homebrewing in 2007 as a means of staying sane during graduate school, and even though school is over, the brewing continues! He is a founding member and past president of the Stoney Creek Homebrewers, has medaled in every BJCP beer style, is a BJCP Grand Master Judge and Certified Cicerone, and is a two-time Eastern Pennsylvania Homebrewer of the Year.  He is also the author of the Beer: Simple blog (beer-simple.com).

Josh is a professor and lecturer in political science, specializing in political communication and political psychology. He lives in Collegeville, PA with his wife, Barbara (also an award-winning brewer), and their dog Biscuit (who has yet to win any medals, but is remarkably happy to watch on brew days).

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My articles

The Origins of Pumpkin Beer
I don’t know that there’s a beer more pathologically, frequently and substantively misunderstood than pumpkin beer. I’m not talking about the...
Top Emerging Beer Styles for 2019
So much beer, so little time. It almost makes one nostalgic for the days when there were only a handful of craft breweries and even fewer that...
The Pros and Cons of Pumpkin Beer
If you were looking to start a craft beer bar brawl and could only ask one question, you could do a lot worse than, “So, how about those pumpkin...
What Determines the Color of Beer?
Did you know all beer is red? We don’t perceive all beer as red, of course, but deep down in its molecules, it is. Since all beer is red, what...
How to Host the Best Beer Tasting Party
There is arguably no better way for both new and veteran beer geeks to learn about beer than to host a beer tasting party. Not only does it provide...
The Difference Between Sour and Wild Ale
Sour and Wild Ales have become increasingly popular, both within The Beer Connoisseur community and without. While they have substantial differences...
A Primer on Bottle-Conditioned Beer
Beer is alive. Well, not all beer, and technically I suppose it isn’t the beer that’s alive but rather that there are living things in the beer, but...

My reviews

Squall IPA

squall ipa dogfish head beer
Judges Rating:
78
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
19 / 24
Flavor:
31 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20

Squall IPA isn't a bad beer, but it definitely isn't a good IPA. The overall impression is that of a caramelly, bready, alcoholic beer rather than a bright, hoppy IPA that I was expecting.  

The beer pours a dark gold with a slight haze, and a thin white head that dissipates fairly... Read More

Grateful Pale Ale

Grateful Pale Ale by Starr Hill Brewery
Judges Rating:
95
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Grateful Pale Ale by Starr Hill Brewery is an American Pale Ale (BJCP category 18B) that hits on all cylinders: this is an excellent beer that you can drink for days.

It pours a brilliant gold with a low but persistent white head, and the initial aroma is of rich grain and grassy, piney... Read More

Brekle's Brown

Brekle's Brown Anchor Brewing Beer
Judges Rating:
86
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Brekle's Brown is an American Brown Ale in the sense that it's brown, and made in America. While not a bad beer, it's much more like a brown porter than an ABA, with a heavy dose of nutty and molasses-like aromas and flavors, and relatively little of the citrus hop punch that Anchor suggests is... Read More

Raincloud

Foolproof Beer Raincloud Robust Porter
Judges Rating:
84
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
32 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

This beer is a solid attempt at a Robust Porter, and doesn't give in to the temptation to overload it with hops to make it "big" enough to catch folks' attention.  

It's a pretty beer: mahogany with ruby highlights and a low tan head. The initial aromas initially reminded me of popping... Read More

Whitewater

Great Divide Whitewater Beer
Judges Rating:
91
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Everyone has their favorite summer sunshine beer -- this one might well be mine. Light but very flavorful, this is an easy-drinker that still tastes like a very cared-for beer!

Whitewater pours gold with a slight haze and a wispy white head. The aroma is characteristic of Pilsner malt... Read More

PsycHOPathy

PsycHOPathy by MadTree Brewing Co.
Judges Rating:
80
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
19 / 24
Flavor:
31 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

PscHOPathy (judged as BJCP Category 21A, American IPA) from Mad Tree is a solid but unremarkable member of an ever-expanding universe of American IPAs.

The beer pours gold with a slight haze (OK, given the likely hopping rate), with a fluffy white head that's moderately persistent. The... Read More

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