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Brian started diving into the world of craft beer in 2004, tracking all of the beers he tasted online, with notes. He picked up homebrewing in 2008 and began judging in 2010. Taking pride in the opportunity to give feedback to brewers of all sorts, he has progressed through the BJCP, attaining the rank of Master in 2013. He formerly acted as an Associate Exam Director for the BJCP, as well as an exam administrator and proctor, and presently holds the rank of Grand Master IV, as well as Mead judge. To him, the most important aspect of judging is to know your limits and learn how to recognize them and expand them. To achieve that end, Brian has judged in over 100 competitions in 12 states and counting, including the Great American Beer Festival, and visits innumerable breweries. He also helps organize a few competitions each year, including the role of judge coordinator for the Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer (which you may know as FoBAB), the largest of its kind in the world.
Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dopplebock by Seedstock Brewery was judged under 33b Specialty Wood-Aged Beer due to the use of a Bourbon Barrel.
It pours as a very attractive deep red-brown, with a persistent creamy off-white head. The barrel character is relatively restrained, which is very... Read More
Juicify by Lakefront Brewery is being judged here as a 21B Specialty IPA, using the underlying style as a juicy/hazy IPA.
In the glass, it is a somewhat hazy pale yellow with a thin white head that sticks around. Attractive enough. The nose shows as quite fruity, with cantaloupe, guava,... Read More
Peerless Barrel Aged Toasted Pilsner by Hometown Brewing Co. is being evaluated as a 33B Specialty Wood-Aged Beer, with a base style of 5D German Pils.
The beer presents as a faintly hazed deep burnished gold with a lot of larger bubbles escaping. The head collapses quite quickly to... Read More
This beer was judged as a 26C Belgian Tripel. In the glass, it's a very attractive gold with a frothy white head that persists, leaving lacing on the glass. The nose presents very akin to classic Belgian yeast, but has a saison twist to it. Loads of pepper, faint clove and low vanilla, along... Read More
Flensburger Dunkel by Flensburger Brauerei was judged as a BJCP style category 8A, Munich Dunkel.
Crystal clear deep copper color on the pour with a thin beige head. The nose is richly malty and melanoidin-heavy, making it delightfully bready. No caramel character, just a hint of cocoa.... Read More
Tears of My Enemies - Vanilla Barrel Aged by Monday Night Brewing is being judged as a 33B Specialty Wood-Aged Beer, an Imperial Milk Stout with coffee, vanilla and cacao nibs, all aged in a barrel used to age vanilla extract (presumably).
In the glass it's an opaque deep brown-black... Read More
