Pontoon Barrel-Aged German Chocolate Cake by Pontoon Brewing is a barrel-aged imperial stout and was judged as a specialty wood-aged beer (BJCP 2021 style 33B). Imperial stout is the base style with various additions including chocolate, coconut, pecans and lactose to reproduce the classic... 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:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
This unabashedly complex beer was presented as a Specialty Wood-Aged Mixed-Style Beer: a Belgian Tripel and Double IPA aged with Brett in red wine barrels. A very ambitious order to fill, but this beer does so in spades. Beginning with an appearance that combines a well-retained rocky white head... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Marsh Madness by Low Road Brewing is a Fruit and Spice beer and was judged as such (BJCP sub-style 29B). It poured gold and clear into the glass, forming a thick, white, short-lasting head.
At first the aroma featured intense lactic sourness followed by fainter raspberry notes. Not... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Inshore Slam IPA by Coastal Empire Beer Co. is an IPA and was judged as an American IPA (BJCP sub-style 21A). It poured dark gold into the glass where it set up mostly clear with only a slight (chill?) haze and a modest short-lived white head. The aroma featured some caramel malt notes and hops... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Devil’s Harvest Breakfast IPA by Southern Prohibition is a session-strength IPA and was judged as an American IPA (BJCP sub-style 21A). It poured very light, with a straw-like color and mostly clear into the glass, where it displayed a modest white head with moderate retention. Its aroma led off... Read More
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
30 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
12 / 20
Pocketwatch by Urban Artifact was described as including Concord grapes, red plums and black currants, was listed on the can as a Midwest Fruit Tart, and was judged as a Fruit and Spice Beer (BJCP sub-style 29B). In the glass it formed an extremely thin white head with virtually no retention... Read More