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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

Yurei

Yurei

Yurei, Arches Brewing
Description 

This Japanese-style Pilsner was developed with a focus on quality ingredients and simplicity. The name Yūrei (幽霊) is the Japanese word for ghost, which comes from the primary hop used in this beer, called Grungeist, defined in German as "green ghost." It offers subtle notes of apricot and stone fruit which tickle the palate and finishes crisp and clean, a signature characteristic for a rice lager.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
5.1%
IBUs: 
33
Served at: 
40 - 45º F
Malts: 
Two Row Pilsner, Flaked Rice, Flaked Barley, Carafoam
Hops: 
Grungeist, Northern Brewer

 

 


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

Yurei by Arches Brewing is a Japanese-style 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... 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

Oak Aged Yeti

Oak Aged Yeti Beer Great Divide
Judges Rating:
86
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

The bomber bottle warns of a “massive” and “complex” opaque black ale with a huge dark brown head, and that's exactly the experience it delivers. The aroma is strong roasted chocolate and treacle with a light vanilla and a warm, toasted oak character to complement the malt. The flavor matches... Read More

Hazy 8 Double IPA

Hazy 8 Double IPA

Louisiana
United States
Hazy 8 Double IPA, Gnarly Barley Brewing
Description 

A Monumental Hazy Juicy DIPA with 8 layers of complexity. The fluffiness of this body is not to be outdone, with multiple layers including wheat, oats, and lactose making it one dense, pillowy foundation that lifts and accentuates the hop notes. We piled on the Nelson Sauvin for explosive tropicality, and nuanced white wine notes.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
8.7%
Malts: 
Two row, Wheat, Oats
Hops: 
Citra Cryo, Nelson Sauvin

 

 


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Judges Rating:
91
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Hazy 8 Double IPA by Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. is a Double Hazy 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... Read More

Judges Rating:
91
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Budweiser Harvest Reserve by Anheuser-Busch InBev is an American Lager and is being evaluated as an American Lager (category 1B from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). American Lagers are known for their light flavor profile, low bitterness and high attenuation. Harvest Reserve is brewed with... Read More

Villager

fort point beer ipa
Judges Rating:
81
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
6 / 10
Overall Impression:
14 / 20

This canned IPA is brewed with Jarrylo, Warrior and Centennial hops. The aroma is prominently hoppy with characters of floral, citrus, perfume and tangerine with very little malt to be found. The flavor is slightly less hoppy than the aroma with herbal, grassy, floral hops along with light... Read More

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