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Phil Farrell

Phil Farrell's picture

Circling the globe many times and educating his beer palate for nearly four decades, Phil is a former Vice President of the Beer Judge Certification Program, a Grand Master V level beer judge as well as a cider and mead judge.  He has been homebrewing for over 25 years, winning medals and striking gold at the American Homebrewers Association national competition. As Brewmaster of Stillfire Brewing in Suwanee, GA, he has continued his winning ways in local and national competitions.  He believes the perfect pint is out there waiting for him somewhere on planet Earth. 

 

Phil Farrell BJCP Certification

My articles

Founders Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers
Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers first met in college, became friends, enjoyed brewing at home and later decided to do more than talk about starting...
Anchorage Brewing Co. Founder Gabe Fletcher (Photo Courtesy of Anchorage Brewing)
Our writer caught up with Gabe Fletcher, a longtime participant in the Alaskan brewing scene, shortly after the official opening of his beautiful new...
Founders Logo
In the second of two installments, the founders of Founders take on some more subjective topics. Was there a first beer you remember that made you...
New Glarus Brewery
There are two large cities on the western shore of Lake Michigan that formed my previous impression of Wisconsin. One has a famous NFL team whose...

My reviews

Shake Chocolate Porter

Shake Chocolate Porter
Judges Rating:
89
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

A deep coppery brown, this beer serves up lots of chocolate aromas. The aromatics combine chocolate roast, a little coffee and notes of milk chocolate. The flavors are every bit as complex on the chocolate side. There is a touch of earthy hop and caramel macchiato coffee but this is mainly a... Read More

The Cask

The Cask

Maryland
United States
The Cask RavenBeer Poe
Description 

The Cask, named for the Poe short story The Cask of Amontillado. A dark, smooth, sweet, full-bodied & robust beer that warms the insides from its 8% alcohol. Serve in a snifter glass. The Cask is a higher alcohol, malty beer. As such, it "ages" well. Try setting aside a few for 6 months in a cool dark place. Then come back give them a taste.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
8.0%
IBUs: 
28
Served at: 
60° F
Malts: 
Two-Row Pale, Dark Munich, Vienna, Blackprinz
Hops: 
Hersbrucker

 

 


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Judges Rating:
90
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

I am presented with a very dark amber yet crystal clear beer with a low off-white head that dissipates quickly. The aroma is very rich and complex. It leads with a toasty malt backbone with layers of dark, dried fruit, clean ethanol perfume and toasted bread crusts underneath. It even has a... Read More

Wookey Jack

Wookey Jack Firestone Walker Beer
Judges Rating:
98
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
20 / 20

As I lean in to check out the garnet highlights and thick tan head, I get hit with the Pacific Northwest in all its hop glory. Loads of grapefruit and pine with a nuance of citrus zest and spice dominate the aroma. After it warms, there’s a whiff of chocolate roast. The flavor is as good as the... Read More

Session IPL

Session IPL Devils Backbone Noda Brewing Beer
Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

This nice-looking pint feature a gold, fairly clear, low, white head with good retention and lace. Lots of pleasant hop aroma jumps out of the glass at me. I smell fresh grapefruit, pine, resin, zest, spice and a bit of tropical fruit. There is a little bit of the dankness many newer hop strains... Read More

Session Fest

Session Fest
Judges Rating:
87
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Brilliantly clear orange-amber with consistent off-white foam, this beer’s aroma is extremely clean and features toasty malt. As the beer warms, the hint of floral hops is superseded by pine and a touch of citrus. The flavor is the same pleasant contradiction of clean European toasty malt and... Read More

Another State of Kind

Another State of Kind Devils Backbone Sun King
Judges Rating:
86
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This clear, yellow beer displays a low, white head with tight bubbles and great retention. Some corn, biscuit and a noticeable pine resin are first encountered in the aroma. The hop aroma level is about half of what you would expect from most IPAs, similar to what you would expect in a Pale or... Read More

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