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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

Citra Bend

Citra Bend Golden Road Beer
Judges Rating:
90
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This beer is likely to be enjoyed by both hop heads and by those with a less hoppy beer preference. The hops come across prominently in the aroma as an approachable apricot and passionfruit character, compared to the more aggressive hop character in other hoppier beers. A bready wheat character... Read More

Redux Kenspeckle Scotch-Style Ale

Redux Kenspeckle Scotch-Style Ale

California
United States
Redux Kenspeckle Scotch-Style Ale, Garage Brewing Co.
Description 

Buffalo Trace Barrel Aged Scotch Ale with notes of Sweet Toffee, Molasses, and Toasted Oak.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
10.9%

 

 


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Judges Rating:
93
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Redux Kenspeckle Scotch-Style Ale by Garage Brewing Co. is a bourbon barrel-aged Scottish ale and is being evaluated as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (category 33B from the 2021 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Specialty Wood-Aged Beers are aged in spirit barrels and should... Read More

Riegele Noctus 100

Riegele Noctus 100, Brauhaus Riegele
Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Riegele Noctus 100 by Brauhaus Riegele is an Imperial Stout and is being evaluated as an Imperial Stout (category 20C in the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines). Imperial Stouts are the strongest of the stout family and are noted for their strength and complexity with a myriad of dark malt flavors... Read More

Steel Toe Milk Stout

Ska beer steel toe milk stout
Judges Rating:
93
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
24 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Aromas of roasted chocolate, espresso, toast, treacle and a hint of anise invite the drinker into the first sip. Luscious, pitch black and creamy are the obvious first impressions regarding this beer's apperance. The creaminess and semi-sweetness are derived from the lactose but they fall short... Read More

KEREL Stout

KEREL Stout

KEREL Stout, Verbeeck-Back-De Cock Brewery
Description 

All stouts are dark and mysterious, but the VBDCK brewers deepen its typical roasted flavors even further by lightly hopping the brew or adding coffee or chocolate during the brewing process for a sweet mocha touch.

Taste: Deep, dark and rich with coffee and pure chocolate flavors, rounded off by modern hops.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
4.5%

 

 


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Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

KEREL Stout by Verbeek-Back-De Cock Brewery is a Belgian Stout and is being evaluated as a Foreign Extra Stout (category 16D in the 2021 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Foreign Extra Stouts are moderately strong stouts with the typical black, opaque appearance and dark... Read More

Lundi

Lundi, Monday Night Brewing
Judges Rating:
94
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Lundi by Monday Night Brewing 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 and are most typically citrusy, piney or resiny in... Read More

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