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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

Golden Road Hefeweizen

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

This Hefeweizen is very true to style -- highlighting the classical flavors of esters, phenolics, and malted wheat while restraining hops throughout. The aroma begins with a nearly even balance of medium-light bubblegum ester, clove phenolic, and bready wheat. Sporting a typical Hefeweizen haze... Read More

Bomb Cyclone

Bomb Cyclone

Georgia
United States
Bomb Cyclone, Pontoon Brewing
Description 

After surviving the 2019 Bomb Cyclone at CBC, we needed to make homage with a super fluffy, low IBU hazy IPA. This white IPA has lots of white wheat and flaked oats, and over 5lbs per barrel of Belma and Strata hops, to give notes of young strawberry, lush melon, ripe passion fruit with very mild and refined bitterness on the backend. Soft, light, and fruit-forward from the hops.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
6.5%
Served at: 
45 - 50ºF

 

 


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Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Bomb Cyclone by Pontoon Brewing is a white IPA and is being evaluated as a specialty IPA: white IPA (category 21A in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). White IPAs are essentially a cross between an American IPA and a witbier. White IPAs have a lighter color, lighter... Read More

Piranha Dealer

Piranha Dealer, Monday Night Brewing
Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Piranha Dealer by Monday Night Brewing is a New England IPA with fruit and spices and is being judged as a Fruit and Spice Beer (category 29B in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). New England IPAs are known for their juicy/tropical fruit/citrusy hop forward character, hazy appearance, and... Read More

Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Cardigans of the Galaxy by Monday Night Brewing 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

True Blonde Ale

Ska beer True Blond Ale
Judges Rating:
94
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

This beer is labeled as a blonde ale but that name only is appropriate for the description of the beer’s color; this hoppy ale is WAY too assertive for that boring “Blonde Ale” category! In the aroma, the hops are readily apparent as herbal, spicy, and floral for a character somewhat like noble... Read More

Hopkeeper

Hopkeeper

Virginia
United States
Hopkeeper, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Description 

Hopkeeper is Double IPA brewed with Falconers Flight hops and a healthy dose of Virginia wildflower honey. Using Falconers Flight Hops provides a punch of pineapple and orange zest aromatics that compliments the subtle mead like qualities offered by the honey added to the beer in a secondary fermentation process. Virginia owned Murphy and Rude Malting Company provided pale and pilsner malts as well as malted wheat and oats. Bitterness is relatively low at 30 IBU in this well balanced 8.5 % Double IPA.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
8.5%
IBUs: 
30
Served at: 
45º F
Malts: 
Pale Malt, Pilsner Malt
Hops: 
Falconer's Flight

 

 


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

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Options start for only $9.95!


Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Hopkeeper by Hardywood Park Craft Brewery 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... Read More

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