This American IPA poured clear orange with a thick white head with modest retention. The aroma featured both malt and hops whose character combined floral and bitter notes rather than the citrus aromas that dominate many other American IPAs. The flavor profile featured fruity esters and the same... 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:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Blackbeard’s Breakfast by Heavy Seas is a Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter brewed with coffee and was judged as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (BJCP sub-style 33B). It poured very dark brown (opaque) into the glass, sporting a thick creamy tan head with moderate retention.
The nose featured dark... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Beyond the Clouds by Monday Night Brewing is a Brett IPA (BJCP sub-style 28A, Brett Beer, under American Wild Ale). In the glass it formed a, thick, white, well-retained head atop a golden-orange brew that became hazy with warming (much like a New England IPA). The aroma led off with profoundly... Read More
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
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
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