I am initially hit with a strong roast character that's full of burnt toast, ash and coffee grounds. This slowly gives way to a subtle bread crust and graininess with a bit of caramel notes to follow. The caramel amplifies as the beer warms, strongly affecting its body and balance. The beer... Read More
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Mike Castagno
Beer Judge
Mike was born and raised in the Philadelphia area before going to school at Furman University in Greenville, SC for Chemistry. There he discovered craft beer from all of the local and nearby Asheville breweries. After moving back up north to Wilmington, DE, Mike stumbled upon an AHA Rally at a local brewpub and discovered that people were making high quality beer at home. He quickly jumped into the hobby and developed a passion for beer making. He’s been brewing since 2005 and has won a number of awards over the years. He relocated to Atlanta in 2007 and works in the field of polymer research & development. He loves to apply his chemistry and engineering knowledge to his brewing set up, always testing and optimizing. He decided to begin beer judging in 2009 to help make better beer and with dedication he has advanced to the rank of Master Beer Judge.
My reviews
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
18 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20
Lactic acid, sulfur dioxide and isovaleric acid are the initial aromatics here with lemon, grassy hops, and a winey Sauvignon Blanc character to follow. Brilliant clarity allows the straw-yellow color to radiate. There is a strong flavor of tetrahydropyridine, which presents in the form of bran... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
With the first tasting, there was an exaggerated, obvious ruby red grapefruit aroma, almost seeming to be artificial in nature. The second tasting, however, provided a much more natural hop character: generically “citrusy” with notes of grapefruit, orange and a bit of lime. There was a... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
With a Tripel, you are looking for a dry finish with a rocky head, moderate creaminess and a good balance between spicy phenols and fruity esters. In this example, isovaleric acid (sweaty) is prominent in the beginning with strong sulfur notes to follow. These issues dissipate over time. After a... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
As the name would suggest, your senses will be immediately stimulated with huge hop vapors of pungent resin, pine and spruce – as evergreen-type hops dominate the initial perception. These slowly give way to a citrus hop character with notes of tangerine, grapefruit as well as nectarine and even... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
30 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20
When evaluating a beer like this, a judge needs to look at two things: the quality of the base style (in this case an American Strong Ale) and how the added ingredient(s) are expressed in the beer. I give credit here for originality, as the unusual addition of sweet potato creates a gently sweet... Read More