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Pat Mulloy

Pat Mulloy's picture
Beer, Cider and Mead Judge

Pat is a National BJCP Judge with mead certification. Pat grew up in Midland Michigan. He has been drinking beer for half a century and from the start he pursued small local and regional brands and anything he hadn't seen before. He brewed his first home brew in the mid 60's - a complete flop and then dabbled a little during the 70s. A three month trip to England (2 weeks) and Amsterdam (2 1/2 months) in the early 70s was an eyeopener to the world of beer. He followed that up with 4 years in Toronto during grad school in the 70s when the major Canadian brewers there produced a much broader range of brands and he drank every one of them. At the end of the decade, a trip to Portland introduced him to the first vestiges of craft beer.
 
Settling into Minneapolis in 1979 the lack of beer diversity rekindled his interest in Homebrewing and he brewed around 300 batches between 1980 and 1990. By 1990 craft beer had spread enough where he could feed his craft beer habit without spending the entire weekend in his basement. During the 90s frequent road tips through Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan were at times required to ensure sufficient diversity in beer but by the dawn of the new century it required far less travel to find good craft beer.
 
Pat publishes a monthly newsletter Romancing the Foam about the enjoyment of good beer and has just launched a website at www.romancingthefoam.com. If you do not see him biking around Minneapolis to the various craft breweries and excellent craft beer bars, he is either in his garden sampling craft beer or siting on his computer adding to his website. It is a great time to love beer.

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My reviews

Blackberry Sourbet

Blackberry Sourbet

Michigan
United States
Blackberry Sourbet, Austin Brothers Beer Co.
Description 

A fruited kettle sour with a Ton of Blackberry added during fermentation (literally!). Blackberry Sourbet pours out a deep maroon with a pillowy collar of pink foam, and delivers a jammy, fruity, tart release of flavor with each sip.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
5.5%
IBUs: 
10
Served at: 
44º F
Malts: 
Two-Row, Acidulated, Flaked Oats, Flaked Wheat
Hops: 
Michigan Mittelfruh

 

 


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Judges Rating:
83
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Blackberry Sourbet by Austin Brothers Beer Co. was judged as BJCP 2021 style 28C, Wild Specialty Beer.

Cracking the can releases a tart, fruity aroma laced with tropical fruit, mango and some berry notes. There is not much funk or wild yeast character and not a lot of malt or hop presence... Read More

Cherry

Cherry by Upland Brewing Co
Judges Rating:
95
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Stick your nose into a bowl of fresh tart cherries and imagine the pie they will become. Add some oak, a hint of funk and some cherry pie spice and that’s how this beer smells. A hazy pink effervescent circus fills the glass with a pink tinted white crown floating on top. It starts sweet tart... Read More

Labatt Blue Citra

Labatt Blue Citra, FIFCO USA
Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
3 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Labatt Blue Citra by FIFCO USA is an International Pale Lager, and was judged as such according to style category 2A of the BJCP's 2015 Guidelines.

This beer has the look of an International pale lager. The aroma is not huge but my first sniff and sip of this and I thought 1970s kit car... Read More

Heavy Seas 25

Heavy Seas 25

Maryland
United States
Heavy Seas 25, Heavy Seas Beer
Description 

In celebration of our 25th year brewing forward thinking, fearless, bold and independent beers, we decided to first look back on what we’ve learned. We studied the recipes that define Heavy Seas and we took bits and pieces from these beers to create something new. This massive tribute to our 25 years of brewing is a strong ale brewed with English hops and aged, not once, but twice in barrels. The beer was first aged in bourbon barrels and then finished in Rye barrels. This double barrel aging adds significant complexity to this layered, extreme beer. With notes of toffee, caramel, vanilla and earthy hops, this beer is as ambitious as starting a craft brewery in 1995 was.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
15.5%

 

 


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Judges Rating:
89
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Heavy Seas 25 by Heavy Seas Beer was judged as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer, style category 33B per the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines.

Savoring the aroma of this bold, over-the-top strong ale reveals some rich caramelly dark malts, traces... Read More

Sumo Sumatra Imperial Stout

Sumo Sumatra Imperial Stout

Sumo Sumatra Imperial Stout, Austin Brothers Beer Co.
Description 

A 4 hour boil to build a strong body, this Imperial Stout is rested on Sumatra Coffee Beans, Cacao Nibs, and Madagascar Vanilla Beans post fermentation. The outcome is a beer that is sneaky smooth and highly drinkable for the ABV, with all of the additions coming through.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
11.4%
IBUs: 
60
Served at: 
49º F
Malts: 
Chocolate, Black, Roasted Barley, C-120, Biscuit, Rolled Oats, Two-Row
Hops: 
Michigan Magnum

 

 


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Judges Rating:
91
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Sumo Sumatra Imperial Stout by Austin Brothers Beer Co. was judged as BJCP 2021 style 30A, Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer.

This imperial stout is rested on Sumatra coffee, cocoa nibs and Madagascar vanilla beans and provides rich, alternating coffee, cocoa and roasty vanilla aromas that... Read More

pFriem Flanders Blonde

pFriem Flanders Blonde by pFriem Family Brewers
Judges Rating:
95
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

This beer is reviewed as a BJCP 28B (Mixed-Fermentation Sour Beer). This beer captures an interesting Brett at an interesting stage and its worth buying a bottle to participate in the event. Wet leather, light fruit, light cigar box, old basement, traces of balsamic, and a hint of butter aromas... Read More

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