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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

Last Will & Testament

Last Will & Testament

Last Will & Testament, Monday Night Brewing
Description 

Last Will And Testament is a straightforward, adjunct-free English old ale that has been aging away in bourbon barrels for fourteen months. With Maris Otter as a backbone and plenty of dark malts, this boozy 12% ABV ale has notes of caramel, raisin, and tobacco. This unapologetic liquid pulls delightful notes of vanilla and oak from the barrels, combined with the slow-sipping qualities of a fine port.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
12%
IBUs: 
40

 

 


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Judges Rating:
94
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Last Will & Testament (Blend No. 1, 2018) by Monday Night Brewing is a bourbon-barrel aged old ale and is being evaluated as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (category 33B from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines).  The best Specialty Wood-Aged Beers have a "harmonious blend" between the base beer... Read More

Ethos IPA

Ethos IPA Tallgrass Beer
Judges Rating:
94
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Intense hops abound with prototypical American IPA “C hops” leading the way, evincing aromas of resins, citrus, and piney hop character. The moderate-strong hops are supported by a background of light bready malt before all balance gives way to an aggressive, lingering bitterness. This beer is... Read More

Night Nurse

Night Nurse

Maine
United States
Night Nurse, Fogtown Brewing Co.
Description 

American stout; brewed with chocolate malt, organic Maine-grown rolled oats & a touch of brown sugar, balanced with nugget and cascade hops. Rich, complex and not too sweet.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
7.1%
Served at: 
45 - 55ºF
Malts: 
Maine-Grown Pale, Rolled Oats, Patagonia Chocolate Malt, Perla Negra, Roasted Barley, Dark Munich
Hops: 
Nugget, Cascade

 

 


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Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Night Nurse by Fogtown Brewing Co. is an American Stout and is being evaluated as an American Stout (category 20B in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). American Stouts are mid-range gravity with roasted and chocolate malt flavors like the rest of the stout family. ... Read More

Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Bourbon Barrel-Aged Concrete Ship by Cape May Brewery is a barrel-aged Imperial Stout and is being evaluated as a Wood-Aged Beer (category 33A from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Imperial Stouts are the strongest of the stouts frequently displaying flavors of roasted, chocolate, and ... Read More

Park

fort point beer ipa
Judges Rating:
93
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Billed by the brewery as a “modern interpretation of the witbier style,” this golden ale promptly punches you in the nose with an unexpected abundance of hop aromas that are resiny, piney and peachy. The body again is a welcoming abundance of hops with flavors of resiny, piney, spicy and peachy... Read More

Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Barleywine

Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Barleywine

Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Barleywine, pFriem Family Brewers
Description 

Apple Brandy Barleywine is highly spirited, yet nuanced, with notes of bourbon, toffee and creme brûlée. It’s aged in American Oak with sturdy tannins and a robust ABV for the most analog of pleasures—like chit-chatting with friends or sauntering old cobblestone streets aglow in romance.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
11.8%
IBUs: 
45
Served at: 
40 - 45º F
Malts: 
Simpsons Golden Promise
Hops: 
Chinook, Cascade

 

 


The rating and full judge's review for this product is available only to premium subscribers.

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Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Barleywine by pFriem Family Brewers is being evaluated as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (category 33B from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Specialty Wood-Aged Beers are aged in spirit barrels and should have a harmonious blend between the... Read More

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