Sommer Fling by Smartmouth Brewing Company is a hefeweizen judged as a weissbeer (BJCP sub-style 10A). It poured a pale straw color into the glass where it set up distinctly cloudy with a thick white head that dissipated quickly. The aroma featured both intense banana esters and grainy wheat... 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:
22 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
Combustible Pineapple by Pontoon Brewing is an IPA brewed with pineapple, and was judged as a Specialty IPA (BJCP sub-style 21B). This beer poured pale orange and mostly clear but with a light haze into the glass, where it formed a thin white head with average retention. Its aroma led off and... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Irrationally Exuberant by Cape May Brewing Co. is a Golden Sour Ale that was judged as a Wild Specialty Beer (BJCP sub-style 28C). In the glass it formed a thin white head without much retention atop a murky dark golden brew. The aroma was dominated by profound (probably lactic) sourness... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
English Pale Mild Ale by Wallenpaupack Brewing Co. is an English Ordinary Bitter and was judged as such (BJCP sub-style 11A). It poured deep golden and slightly hazy into the glass, forming a thick, modestly-retained white head. Initial aromas before warming included... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
6 / 10
Overall Impression:
13 / 20
Pucker Up by Low Road Brewing is a “straight sour beer” made with green apples and was judged as a Mixed-Fermentation Sour Beer (BJCP sub-style 28B). It poured green and mostly clear into the glass, forming a thin greenish-white head with low retention.
The... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
This American IPA poured a pretty orange color with a thick, creamy and well-retained white head. The aroma evinced plenty of malt and citrusy hops -- as expected for the style. An initial whiff of animal mustiness proved very transitory. The taste led off with those hops and fruity esters... Read More