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Michael Heniff

Michael Heniff's picture
Beer Judge

Mike brewed his first few homebrew batches in college in 1994 and began regularly brewing in 1997.  Since then, he has brewed over 150 batches of beer, mead, and cider.  He has won over 200 medals and numerous major awards in competitions across the country.  His highest accomplishments include winning the Templeton Award (most points) of the Dixie Cup (one of the largest single-site homebrew competitions in the world) a record four times, Gulf Coast Homebrewer of the Year, and Lone Star Circuit Homebrewer of the Year.  He has had his recipes brewed at commercial breweries seven times.

Mike particularly enjoys traveling to find new beers.  He has made numerous travels abroad to find great beer, most frequently to Belgium and Germany.  He has logged over 6800 beers in his tasting journal, including over 620 beers from Belgium alone.  Mike has had brewing and beer travel articles published by Brew Your Own and Zymurgy magazines.

Mike is a current member of the Houston Foam Rangers Homebrew Club where he has held numerous officer positions.  He was also the founding President of the Lone Star Circuit and a former long time officer. He currently ranks as a Grand Master III BJCP judge.  He has judged in over 70 competitions across the United States, frequently serving on Best of Show panels.

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My reviews

Double Sunshine

Double Sunshine

Double Sunshine, Lawson's Finest Liquids
Description 

Double Sunshine is our American Double India Pale Ale which is packed with juicy, lush fruit character and dank herbal aromas, thanks to the abundance of U.S. grown hops.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
8.0%

 

 


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Judges Rating:
93
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Double Sunshine by Lawson’s Finest Liquids is a double IPA and is being evaluated as a double IPA (category 22A in the 2021 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). The focus of the double IPA style is hops, hops and more hops. Additionally, despite being a high-alcohol content... Read More

Oh, Sure

Oh, Sure

Ohio
United States
Oh, Sure, Land-Grant Brewing Co.
Description 

Land-Grant Brewing Company is excited to announce new mainstay IPA, Oh, Sure, amid a flurry of new, limited, and experimental brews. With a recipe that has been constantly refined over the past two years, this IPA is drenched in hop flavor with a name and can design that reflects Land-Grant's DIY, can-do ethos—It's an IPA poised to carry the baton for the brewery in 2020 and beyond.
“We have been tinkering with this recipe for 2 years now, and Oh, Sure has become the IPA that embodies our customer's favorite pieces from each IPA we’ve brewed” ​says Land-Grant Brewing’s Head Brewer, Dan Shaffer. “Over multiple iterations, we pulled some levers back (overripe tropical fruit, honey sweetness) and pushed others up (resin, citrus) until we had something that was intensely hoppy, but drinkable enough to keep you reaching for another. In the end Eureka, Comet, Simcoe, and Cashmere hops provided a very balanced Tangerine, Mango, and Hard Candy flavor profile. We're very satisfied with the results, and think it was worth all the (delicious) hassle.”
Oh, Sure will be assuming a year-round spot on the shelves of Ohio craft beer retailers and will be readily available throughout the Columbus Market. “With Dan taking the helm over a year ago and pushing our creative boundaries as a brewery and implementing new ideas, techniques and recipes with-in the brew team, it was time to put those ideas and techniques into a new IPA” says Land-Grant Brewing’s President and Co-Founder, Adam Benner. “We really listened to our customers on this recipe and have created an amazingly balanced, and enjoyable IPA that we’re certain will become your new favorite beer.” Remember, the next time someone asks if you want a beer, all you have to say is...Oh, Sure!

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
6.4
IBUs: 
42
Served at: 
45º F
Malts: 
Goldpils Vienna, Two Row Pale, White Wheat
Hops: 
Eureka, Comet, Simcoe, Cashmere

 

 


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Judges Rating:
90
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Oh, Sure by Land-Grant Brewing Co. is an American IPA and is being evaluated as an American IPA (category 21A from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). American IPAs are hop-forward beers typically expressing American or new world hop characters that are most... Read More

Judges Rating:
91
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Primordial Imperial IPA by Mother Earth Brew Co. is a Double IPA and is being evaluated as a Double IPA (category 22A in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). The focus of the Double IPA style is hops, hops, and more hops. Additionally, despite being a high-alcohol content style, Double IPAs are... Read More

Velvet Rooster

Velvet Rooster Tripel Tallgrass Beer
Judges Rating:
89
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Wow! A strong Belgian-style beer in tallboy cans – what a wonderful world it is that we live in! This crystal clear, golden ale starts with a prominent bready maltiness with a background of pear and melon esters and white pepper phenolics. The bready malt character is again in the forefront of... Read More

Tierra Madre

Tierra Madre

California
United States
Tierra Madre, Mother Earth Brewing Co.
Description 

Thirst-quenching, crisp & snappy are all adjectives that come to mind when drinking this fresh, light Mexican-style lager. We use Vienna malt and corn to give the malt profile just enough oomph to separate this beer from its mass produced imported and domestic counterparts. Authentic lager yeast and cold fermentation ensure it ends up a dry, even-keeled session beer. A beer for all reasons.

 

 

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
4.5%
IBUs: 
20

 

 


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Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Tierra Madre by Mother Earth Brew Co. is a Lager and is being evaluated as an International Pale Lager (category 2A in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). International Pale Lagers are golden-colored lagers with less adjuncts than typical American lagers. The malt is... Read More

Judges Rating:
91
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Old Fashioned Extraction by Sun King Brewery is a barrel-aged Belgian-style Quad with fruit and spices and is being evaluated as a Mixed-Style Beer (category 34B in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines).  Mixed-style beers are combinations of multiple styles from the BJCP guidelines; these... Read More

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