This beer was presented as a White Sour Ale with blackberries and blueberries. It poured clear and pink with modest head retention. At first whiff the aroma announced that this was a serious sour ale with plenty of brett funk in the nose. The berries played a background role in both the aroma... Read More
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Michael McGuire
Beer Judge
Mike started homebrewing in 1983 in Baton Rouge, LA. He subsequently continued brewing when life took him to Grayslake, IL, Lancaster, PA, Vienna, VA, and Raleigh, NC. He was a founding member of the Lancaster County Brewers homebrew club, and later a member of the Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP), Wort Hogs, and Cary, Apex, & Raleigh Brewers of Yore (CARBOY) clubs.
He took the BJCP exam in 2000, became certified in 2002, and achieved National rank in 2005. In addition to judging in many regional and national AHA-sponsored competitions since 2000, he has judged in several state-specific competitions for professional breweries (e.g., the Virginia Craft Beer Cup and the Maryland Governor’s Cup).
My reviews
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Queen’s Weiss by Arches Brewing is a Hefeweizen and was judged as a Weissbier (BJCP sub-style 10A). It poured orange and cloudy into the glass where it quickly displayed a thick and fairly lasting white head. Its aroma included citrus and more pronounced clove notes.
The flavor profile... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Fistful of Cake by Monday Night Brewing was described as an “opera cake-style coffee vanilla imperial stout,” but as instructed was judged as an Herb/Spice/Vegetable beer (BJCP sub-style 30A). In the glass it formed a thick tan long-lasting head atop an opaque black brew. The aroma began, and... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Alpha Abstraction, Vol. 14 by Wild Leap Brew Co. is a Double IPA and was judged as such (BJCP sub-style 22A). It poured slightly hazy and golden into the glass, forming an impressively dense white head with excellent retention. Its aroma showcased the prominent floral hoppiness expected for... Read More
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Rainbow Smiggles by Pontoon Brewing is a mixed-style beer and was judged as such (BJCP sub-style 34B). Berliner weisse is the base style, with rainbow candy, fruit cereal, pineapples and strawberries added. It poured a hazy light gold into the glass, forming a thin white head with little... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
This beer poured clear orange with a thick white head that held steady until late in the tasting. The aroma was hop-forward with floral notes backed by a solid malt base. The taste too featured both significant maltiness from base and caramel malts and plenty of floral hop notes. This medium-... Read More