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
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Michael McGuire
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).
My reviews
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20
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
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
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
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Blonde Saison Brett by Holy City Brewing is a Saison brewed with brettanomyces yeast (brett) and lactobacillus and was judged as a Wild Specialty Beer (BJCP sub-style 28C). This hybrid beer has lots going on, and virtually all of it is good. For starters, it poured light pale and mostly cloudy... Read More
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