Start 14-Day Trial Subscription

*No credit card required

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.

mh_cert_a0216_grand_master_iii.jpg

 

My reviews

Big Mother Triple IPA

Big Mother Triple IPA, Mother Earth Brewing Co.
Judges Rating:
93
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Big Mother Triple IPA by Mother Earth Brew Co. is a Double IPA and is being evaluated as a Double IPA (category 22A from the 2015 BJCP 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

Tropic King

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

Self-described as an “Imperial Saison," this Belgian-inspired beer showcases the expected saison phenolics, esters, and hops without the encumbrance of a heftier body or burdensome malt character of a higher-gravity beer. The aroma kicks off with prominent black pepper and a background of pear... Read More

Lucente

Lucente

Lucente, Attic Brewing Co.
Description 

Italian for bright & shiny, Lucente is brewed with Italian barley and dry hopped with German Tettnang hops. This pilsner is perfectly balanced and subtly complex. The earthy, citrus hops create a full flavor that beautifully compliments the malty sweetness.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
5.3%
Served at: 
38 - 45º F
Malts: 
Weyermann Eraclea pils
Hops: 
German Tettnang

 

 


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

Login / Subscribe

Not yet a subscriber? Visit the store now.
Options start for only $9.95!


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

Lucente by Attic Brewing Co. is an Italian-style Lager and is being evaluated as an International Pale Lager (category 2A in the 2021 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). International Pale Lagers are golden-colored lagers with less adjuncts than typical American lagers. The... 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

 

 


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

Login / Subscribe

Not yet a subscriber? Visit the store now.
Options start for only $9.95!


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

Yeti Imperial Stout

Great Divide Beer yeti imperial stout
Judges Rating:
94
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
20 / 20

This opaque black ale starts with an aroma of very strong roasted coffee and dark chocolate malts that surpass most Imperial Stouts in strength and complexity. Rich, dark caramel, treacle, molasses, and dried fruit complement the dark malt aromatics. The body is very full with a strong dextrin... Read More

Pages