Up front, this wine barrel-aged sour exhibited fairly clean lactic sourness and a whiff of oak. It had medium-low notes of toasty malt and dark fruit (plum and cherry mostly) and no hops in the nose. As it warmed up notes of red wine grapes emerged and the wood aromas blossomed. Very inviting... Read More
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Sandy Cockerham
Beer & Mead Judge
A native Hoosier, Sandy Cockerham is a Grand Master II BJCP judge who also holds a mead certification. She has been brewing beer since the late 80s and became a BJCP judge in 2007. Sandy serves as the BJCP’s Midwest Representative, a BJCP Assistant Exam Director and is a member of the American Homebrewers Association’s Governing Committee where she serves as co-chair of the Competition Committee. She has been a judge at the Great American Beer Festival for the past 2 years and the Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers (FoBAB) for the past 3 years. Most weekends will find Sandy judging beer, mead or cider somewhere.
While she enjoys traveling, wherever she goes there must be good beer! Past beery excursions occurred in China, England, Germany and the Czech Republic. She looks forward to new beer adventures abroad, as well as a little sightseeing.
Sandy is married and has 3 spoiled cats at home. She holds degrees in chemistry and law and works in research within the pharmaceutical industry. She also roasts coffee part-time at Bee Coffee Roasters.
My reviews
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
This beer was presented to me as a 50/50 mix of grapefruit-flavored drink and premium German pilsner. Upon smelling it there was a moderate citrus/grapefruit aroma and a floral, perfumy hop aroma. I also smelled clean, pils malt aroma at a moderate level. It was lightly sweet. The radler was... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Burnt City Brewing’s Balloon Boy Farmhouse Wheat Ale started with an initial burst of sulfur & carbonic acid upon first sniff. Below that was banana with a bit of bubblegum and vanilla. Low peppery notes and a hint of earthy funk were there too. Medium low grainy/bready malt was in support.... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
Burnt City Brewing’s Face Melter Hibiscus IPA had close to a medium high level of peach and passionfruit hop aroma at the forefront. The floral tones of hibiscus intermingled at a moderate level. The beer also had a low, pleasant grassy tone. It was hard to tell if it was hop or hibiscus derived... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
19 / 24
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
Burnt City Brewing’s Retrofit Lime Radler was a good summertime drinker. It began with a low note of bready wheat, followed by some low notes of lime. No hops were noted and fermentation character was very clean. There was a slight hint of papery character in the aroma.
The radler poured... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Solemn Oath’s The Snaggle Tooth Bandana American IPA started out with moderate hop aroma that was resinous with fruity overtones. Medium low bready malt was in support. As it warmed up in the glass the hop aroma opened up a bit and became tropical fruit forward.
Medium gold, nearly clear... Read More