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Dave has been brewing beer since 1983 and judging since 1985. He holds the BJCP rank of Grand Master II, and has served in the program as Exam Assistant Director, Exam Director, and Western Representative on the BJCP Board of Directors. Early in his brewing, while at the University of California pursuing a degree in Forestry, he met a young woman who worked in a world-class yeast lab (the Professor of the lab recently won a Nobel Prize), who helped him build a diverse yeast bank. He married her.
In addition to brewing beers regularly and evaluating beers wherever he goes, Dave likes to cook and dabbles in charcuterie and motorcycle racing. In his day job, he works as a wildland fire scientist for the State of California.
Dragon's Milk Reserve Coffee Chocolate by New Holland Brewing Co. was judged according to BJCP Category 33B, Specialty Wood-Aged Beer. The beer pours an opaque dark brown color with a creamy cap of tan foam that subsides quickly.
The aroma is strong and dominated by a dark roast coffee... Read More
This is an Imperial Rye ESB judged as English Barleywine BJCP #17D. My assistant greets me with a tall glass of copper colored beer capped with an inch of off-white dense foam, intoning “Imperial Rye ESB”. Hmmm. This presents a bit of a challenge for classification. Naturally, I look to the... Read More
Despite being billed as a Pale Ale, Mosaic Single Hop Pale by pFriem Family Brewers was judged as BJCP Category 21A, American IPA. Served at 44oF. The style was determined by my assistant based on by the beer's specification sheet. Specifically, the strong hop description coupled with strength ... Read More
pFriem Belgian-Style Dark Ale by pFriem Family Brewers is judged as Belgian Dark Strong Ale, aka BJCP Category 26D. Served at 49oF.
The beer is presented by my assistant in a Belgian tulip glass after a vigorous pour down the middle; color deep amber-brown estimated~12/13 SRM, with... Read More
Wolfsburg Helles by Reuben's Brews was judged as BJCP category 4A, Munich Helles, the classic malt-forward golden and dry lager of Southern German origin.
The nose is lightly floral with hops and faint crackery malt but lacking the predominant continental bready malt sweetness found in... Read More
Fogged Out Hazy IPA by FlyteCo Brewing was reviewed under 2021 BJCP Category 21C, Hazy IPA. The beer is served at 46o in a tall narrow krug after a heavy pour. The beer pours a milky dark yellow with a cream-colored head with a nice, fine texture and a good but not great foam stand.
The... Read More
