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Michael Heniff

Michael Heniff's picture
Beer Judge

Mike brewed his first few homebrew batches in college in 1994 and began regularly brewing in 1997.  Since then, he has brewed over 150 batches of beer, mead, and cider.  He has won over 200 medals and numerous major awards in competitions across the country.  His highest accomplishments include winning the Templeton Award (most points) of the Dixie Cup (one of the largest single-site homebrew competitions in the world) a record four times, Gulf Coast Homebrewer of the Year, and Lone Star Circuit Homebrewer of the Year.  He has had his recipes brewed at commercial breweries seven times.

Mike particularly enjoys traveling to find new beers.  He has made numerous travels abroad to find great beer, most frequently to Belgium and Germany.  He has logged over 6800 beers in his tasting journal, including over 620 beers from Belgium alone.  Mike has had brewing and beer travel articles published by Brew Your Own and Zymurgy magazines.

Mike is a current member of the Houston Foam Rangers Homebrew Club where he has held numerous officer positions.  He was also the founding President of the Lone Star Circuit and a former long time officer. He currently ranks as a Grand Master III BJCP judge.  He has judged in over 70 competitions across the United States, frequently serving on Best of Show panels.

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My reviews

Buffalo Sweat

Buffalo Sweat Tallgrass Beer
Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

This opaque, jet black beer begins with prominent roasted, chocolate, and burnt dark malt characters with a supporting toasted malt. The flavor continues with the dark malt focus with flavors of roasted, charred, and toasted malt with a subtle sweetness from lactose milk sugar and a silky smooth... Read More

A Stout of Mind

A Stout of Mind

Georgia
United States
A Stout of Mind, Pontoon Brewing
Description 

Happiness is a Stout of Mind with this THICC Imperial Milk Stout! Our original collaboration with Wild Leap Brew Co., Man Overboard, was a Dolly Bar inspired Milk Stout that went through a triple mash and 18 hour boil for a sweet treat. We put it on Jameson Select barrels for 13 months and threw in a ton of coconut, graham cracker, cinnamon, vanilla and caramel. Tons of honey and caramel notes come through from the barrels to complement the sweet notes in this collab!

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
12.1%
Served at: 
50 - 55º F

 

 


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Judges Rating:
90
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

A Stout of Mind by Pontoon Brewing is a spiced and barrel-aged Imperial Milk Stout and is being evaluated as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (category 33B from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Specialty Wood-Aged Beers are aged in spirit barrels and should have a... Read More

Urban Lumberjack

Urban Lumberjack, WestFax Brewing Co.
Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Urban Lumberjack by Westfax Brewing Co. is a New England IPA and is being evaluated as a Specialty IPA (category 21B in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). New England IPAs are known for their juicy/tropical fruit/citrusy hop forward character, hazy appearance, and lighter than typical... Read More

Humulus Terreux

The Bruery Humulus Terreux beer
Judges Rating:
95
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

The Humulus Terreux series from The Bruery is known for its various use of hops and Brettanomyces strains, and this beer doesn’t miss on either of these two elements. The Brett is immediately apparent in the aroma with characteristic cherry pie and leather elements along with a little barnyard... Read More

Yurei

Yurei

Yurei, Arches Brewing
Description 

This Japanese-style Pilsner was developed with a focus on quality ingredients and simplicity. The name Yūrei (幽霊) is the Japanese word for ghost, which comes from the primary hop used in this beer, called Grungeist, defined in German as "green ghost." It offers subtle notes of apricot and stone fruit which tickle the palate and finishes crisp and clean, a signature characteristic for a rice lager.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
5.1%
IBUs: 
33
Served at: 
40 - 45º F
Malts: 
Two Row Pilsner, Flaked Rice, Flaked Barley, Carafoam
Hops: 
Grungeist, Northern Brewer

 

 


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Judges Rating:
94
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Yurei by Arches Brewing is a Japanese-style Lager and is being evaluated as an International Pale Lager (category 2A in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). International Pale Lagers are golden-colored lagers with less adjuncts than typical American lagers. The malt... Read More

À Tout le Monde

À Tout le Monde, Unibroue
Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

À Tout le Monde by Unibroue is a Saison and is being evaluated as a Saison (category 25B in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Saisons are typically well-carbonated, well-attenuated beers with a complex balance between phenolics, esters and hops. À Tout le Monde is produced in collaboration... Read More

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