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Michael McGuire

Michael McGuire's picture
Beer Judge

Mike started homebrewing in 1983 in Baton Rouge, LA.  He subsequently continued brewing when life took him to Grayslake, IL, Lancaster, PA, Vienna, VA, and Raleigh, NC.  He was a founding member of the Lancaster County Brewers homebrew club, and later a member of the Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP), Wort Hogs, and Cary, Apex, & Raleigh Brewers of Yore (CARBOY) clubs.

He took the BJCP exam in 2000, became certified in 2002, and achieved National rank in 2005.  In addition to judging in many regional and national AHA-sponsored competitions since 2000, he has judged in several state-specific competitions for professional breweries (e.g., the Virginia Craft Beer Cup and the Maryland Governor’s Cup).

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My reviews

Strewzü

Strewzü, Reformation Brewery
Judges Rating:
86
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
6 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Strewzü by Reformation Brewery is a Berliner Weisse with strawberries and yuzu (an aromatic Asian citrus fruit) (judged as a Fruit Beer - BJCP sub-style 29A). In the glass it formed a sparse, shortly-retained white head atop a clear orange brew with pink highlights. The aroma began with an... Read More

Bright Pineapple Sparkling Ale

Bright Pineapple Sparkling Ale

Virginia
United States
Bright Pineapple Sparkling Ale, Devils Backbone Brewing Co.
Description 

What’s a sparkling ale? Well, it’s an ale, first of all. But the “sparkling” describes the dry, effervescent, and bubbly mouthfeel. It’s also packed with delicious, all-natural pineapple flavor, low in carbs, and only 85 calories soaking wet. So you can enjoy it without undoing your workout. Or…even if you didn’t get a workout in and you’re just spending your afternoon counting the hot air balloons that float over the Blue Ridge Mountains, this bubbly brew won’t weigh you down!

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
4.1%
IBUs: 
3
Malts: 
Pilsner, Pale Wheat, Acidulated Malt
Hops: 
Amarillo

 

 


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Judges Rating:
86
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Bright Pineapple Sparkling Ale by Devils Backbone Brewing Co. is a blonde ale with pronounced pineapple flavor. It was judged as a Fruit Beer (BJCP sub-style 29A). It poured light golden into the glass where it set up with a very mild haze and a medium and short-lived white head. Its aroma was... Read More

Hiya Gourdie

Hiya Gourdie

Florida
United States
Hiya Gourdie, Motorworks Brewing
Description 

Hiya Gourdie® is hazy auburn-colored with a medium body and well-rounded with prominent sweet, pumpkin pie flavors derived from pumpkin puree and fresh galangal, an Asian ginger-like root, and heady aromas of mint and fresh, spicy cinnamon.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
6.5%

 

 


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Judges Rating:
83
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20

Hiya Gourdie by Motorworks Brewing is a pumpkin ale brewed with additions of galangal root, a ginger-like root vegetable, and was judged as an Autumn Seasonal beer (BJCP sub-style 30B). It poured dark amber with moderate clarity into the glass, forming a thin white... Read More

Lovely, Dark and Deep

Ommegang Beer Lovely Dark Deep Stout
Judges Rating:
87
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
18 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This beer poured black with a thick tan head with adequate retention. The aroma, however, was fairly neutral even after warming, with only a slightly dark and base malt nose. The style came alive, appropriately, in the flavor profile, which consisted of slightly sweet dark malt (without... Read More

Party Punch

Party Punch

Louisiana
United States
Party Punch, Gnarly Barley Brewing
Beverage Profile
ABV: 
5.0%
Malts: 
Pilsen, Wheat, Pomegranate, Cranberry
Hops: 
Mosaic

 

 


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Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Party Punch by Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. is a Berliner Weisse with cranberry and pomegranate. It was judged as a Fruit Beer (BJCP sub-style 29A).

This beer poured pinkish-red into the glass where it set up slightly hazy topped by an extremely dense head with solid retention. Its aroma led... Read More

Watermelon Gose

Terrapin Beer Watermelon Gose
Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This Watermelon Gose poured a pale yellow color with a huge (2-3”) white head of tiny bubbles that dissipated quickly; the beer itself was relatively clear for a Gose with only a slight haze. The aroma was notably tart with plenty of watermelon and a bit of breadiness in the nose. The flavor was... Read More

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