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Jason Johnson

Jason Johnson's picture
Beer Judge

Jason Johnson has been homebrewing since 2000 and a ranked judge with the BJCP since 2005. He currently holds the rank of National Judge. Jason was the Co-founder and Co-Host of Brewnology: The Podcast where they explored all avenues of Beer Judging for their listeners. Although the show had a good 2 year run, they ran out of judging content at 50 shows and had to call it quits. Past episodes of Brewnology can still be found on YouTube. Jason is also the author of an e-book titled Roasted: A Homebrewer's Guide to Homeroasting Grain.

Although currently an independent homebrewer no longer active in a local club, Jason was a member of the Manty Malter's homebrew club in, Wisconsin. Jason has held several officer positions within the club including president as well as lead the club's judging education program. He also has a set of free BJCP Prep classes on YouTube to help judges who may not have a nearby club to supplement their self-study. He also helps these people by answering questions via messages. So far the course has been fairly popular and helped some judges in other countries study for their exams.

As a brewer, Jason mostly likes to brew traditional classic styles. He brews a lot of American ales (America Pale Ales, American IPA, and American Pre-Prohibition Lager). Other styles he likes to brew are Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, Belgian Wit, Saison, Dubbel, and Cream Ale to name a few. As far as craft beer goes, he enjoys tasting and Judging the full gambit of the beer spectrum.

My articles

23 Low-Calorie Beer Options
There is an exciting trend occurring in craft beer right now for those looking to shed a few pounds and still enjoy their craft beer obsession: craft...
How to Cellar Beer
If you have been involved in the craft beer community for any length of time, I’m sure you have seen or heard of someone bragging about enjoying a...

My reviews

Brett Noir

Brett Noir

Connecticut
United States
Brett Noir, Area Two Experimental Brewing
Description 

This beer’s label may be mostly black and white, but its flavor is vivid color. Brett Noir is fermented with pinot noir grapes and Brett “B” yeast, and then aged nine months in red wine barrels sourced from a venerated Napa Valley vintner. The result of this blockbuster is a complex thriller with funky fruit and matured grape notes.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
7.0%

 

 


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Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Brett Noir by Area Two Experimental Brewing was judged as category 28A in the 2015 BJCP guidelines, Brett Beer. This is the catch-all category for beers fermented with Brettanomyces bruxellensis. It can be any style of beer, which in this case, would be fruit beer with what I assume is just a... Read More

Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This beer pours a mildly hazy gold with a full off-white head that lasts for just about the whole pint. The aroma is solidly in the hoppy camp -- as an IPA should be. The aromas are fairly traditional, with a lot of bright pine and grapefruity citrus, but in the background there are other... Read More

Judges Rating:
94
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
24 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

The beer pours a nice, clear, dark copper-red hue, and has a khaki-colored, long-lasting head. The aroma is great. There is some stone fruit, mostly cherry for me, and you can pick up some soft caramel malt. I know the guidelines say the beer shouldn't be acidic or vinegar-like in the nose, but... Read More

Stone Tangerine Express

Stone Tangerine Express

California
United States
Stone Tangerine Express by Stone Brewing Co.
Description 

An india pale ale packed with whole tangerine & pineapple and a tropical IPA that transports you to a hop-induced state.

Imagine the tropical haze of a lazy afternoon- into-evening. Your official duties for the day have been to maybe take a hike to a secluded waterfall, perhaps grill something, definitely chill with plenty of sand between your toes…and crack a phenomenal beer to complete the experience. Check, check, check again and…pfffft…check.
Welcome to our vacation transportation express!

This ain’t no just-add-juice approach. This one is for adults. We use bountiful whole tangerine purée, which brings pithy, crisp bitterness to the citrus flavor. In addition to the complexities of the tangerine — the likes of which you can only get by using the whole fruit — we judiciously employ just a hint of whole pineapple for a backnote (you’d likely not even pick it out of the mix if we didn’t tell you it was there). We’re not looking for a sweet concoction to appease the “I want my beer to taste like fruit juice” crowd. This is Stone. We like our IPAs to taste like IPAs. Big, bold and not for kids.

22oz bottles & draft

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
6.7%
IBUs: 
75
Hops: 
Citra, Centennial, Sterling, Azacca, Mosaic

 

 


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Judges Rating:
87
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

This beer is going to be judged in the fruit beer category because it’s and example a classic style (21A) with fruit added. This beer would not be considered specialty IPA (21B) because  that category is reserved for variations of the IPA style (Session, Black IPA, Red IPA, etc.).

The... Read More

Spruce Tip IPA

Spruce Tip IPA, Goodwood Brewing Co.
Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Spruce Tip IPA by Goodwood Brewing Co. was judged as a 30A, Spice/Herb/Vegetable beer with IPA as the base style.

Off the aroma I get juicy hops, a lot of grapefruit and pine as I would expect in an American IPA. I get the spruce for sure and it's not overdone. The malt aroma is cracker-... Read More

Kujo

Kujo

Maryland
United States
Kujo, Flying Dog Brewery
Description 

A savage beast summoned from the depths of Satan’s petting zoo, Kujo has been reincarnated in the form of a cold brew coffee porter using Colombian La Caturrita beans from our devious friends at Vigilante Coffee Co. Nutty, roasted malts steeped in sweet, chocolate-forward coffee give Kujo its trademark cold brew smoothness and velvet cocoa finish.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
6.0%
IBUs: 
15
Malts: 
Black, Chocolate, Roasted Barley
Hops: 
Perle

 

 


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Judges Rating:
91
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

The beer is billed as an American Porter with locally sourced cold brewed coffee. Kujo by Flying Dog Brewery was judged as a Spice/Herb/Vegetable beer with American Porter (BJCP Category 20A) as the base style. What we should expect in this beer based on description is a “substantial, malty dark... Read More

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