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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

Judges Rating:
96
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
20 / 20

Brouwer’s 14th Anniversary by pFriem Family Brewers is a fruited “lambic inspired ale” and is being evaluated as a Fruit Lambic (category 23F from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Lambics are known for their sourness and wild characters that are naturally (or “spontaneously”) imparted by... Read More

KSA

KSA
Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20

This delicately balanced style is well known for being crisp and refreshing with a fine balance of malt, hops and esters. This Kolsch hits on all three of those balanced elements. The aroma highlights bready, grainy malt, light herbal hops and a hint of pear esters. The malt and hops balance the... Read More

Rustic Ridge IPA

North Carolina
United States
Rustic Ridge IPA, Highland Brewing Co.
Description 

Brewed at the peak of harvest season, this ever-evolving IPA highlights the best of our annual hop selection.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
6.7%
IBUs: 
65

 

 


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Judges Rating:
89
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Rustic Ridge IPA by Highland 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

Piraat

Piraat, Brouwerij Van Steenberge
Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Piraat by Brouwerij Van Steenberge is a Belgian Golden Strong and is being evaluated as a Belgian Golden Strong Ale (category 25C from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Belgian Golden Strong Ales are noted for their deceptive strength, light color and simple malt profile as well as prominent... Read More

King Tett

King Tett by Grist Brewing Co.
Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Measuring up at 7.0% abv and 30 IBU, this beer pours a light golden color with a huge, fluffy, white head.  The aroma exhibits a crackery pils malt with a moderate herbal hops and a hint of DMS.  In the flavor, the moderate crackery pils malt and the herbal and spicy noble hops take on a an even... Read More

Klieg Kölsch

Georgia
United States
Klieg Kölsch, Arches Brewing
Description 

Klieg is a light, golden, beer that is top-fermented and well-lagered. Expect doughy pilsner malt up front and a crisp hop finish.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
5.0%
IBUs: 
22
Malts: 
Barke Pilsner
Hops: 
Tettnang

 

 


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

Klieg Kölsch by Arches Brewing is being evaluated as a Kölsch (category 5B in the 2021 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). The Kölsch style is a German ale that has a delicate balance of malt, hops and esters.

Klieg pours golden in color with excellent clarity and a... Read More

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