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Sal Mortillaro II

Sal Mortillaro II's picture
Beer & Mead Judge

Sal has been homebrewing since 2010 and has been a certified judge in the BJCP program since 2012 where he currently holds the rank of Grand Master 2. He has won several awards and medals during his time homebrewing and he currently serves as a BJCP exam proctor, exam grader, exam admin, and the Regional Representative for the Southern Region.  Sal has served as a Best of Show judge for the Alabama Craft Beer State Championship and Montana Brewery of the Year State Championship and has judged at the Great American Beer Festival, Aro Rojo, and Arizona Craft Brewers Guild commercial competitions.  Sal is one of the first ten educators in the United States for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Award in Beer Level 1 and Level 2 certifications.  He is a regular guest on the NOLA Drinks radio show & pod cast and contributor to Louisiana Craft Beer Magazine.

Sal is a member of the Mystic Krewe of Brew Homebrew Club where he serves as the Educational Director and occasional Vice President. He is also a founding board member of The Bayou State Homebrew Competition Circuit. He is the competition coordinator for the New Orleans On Tap, Bayou Beer Fest, and Larry Fest charity beer events. He has served as a “Beer Geek” in the local area for a well-known, national chain of natural grocery stores reviewing and recommending beers to their customers.

Sal enjoys brewing all styles of beer, but thoroughly enjoys venturing into the weird and wild, discovering beers that utilize non-traditional ingredients and brewing techniques. He appreciates drinking all beer styles, but particularly enjoys malty or sour beers.

BJCP Grand Master II Certificate

 

My reviews

2016 IPA

Southern Prohibition beer 2016 IPA cicada series
Judges Rating:
91
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This Session IPA pours a hazy and opaque deep gold with a dense, mousse-like head that leaves nice lacing as the beer throughout sampling. Lovely, light, and airy hop aromas of tropical fruits, pineapple, tangerine and grass interplay with a very slight malt graininess. Low hop flavor of sweet... Read More

Nitro Vanilla Porter

Nitro Vanilla Porter
Judges Rating:
80
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
19 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
14 / 20

This Nitro Vanilla Porter pours a very dark brown color with clear clarity.  The pour creates beige colored beautiful, creamy, and everlasting head.  The overall aroma of this beer is very muted with the most prominent note in the aroma is a candy like malt sweetness at the front.  Wisps of... Read More

High Tea

High Tea, Streetside Brewery
Judges Rating:
86
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

High Tea by Streetside Brewery is being judged as a Wild Specialty Beer (Category 28C in the 2015 BJCP Guidelines).

This beer pours a dark gold with an orange hue with hazy clarity and a very thin white head that quickly fades but leaves a persistent ring around the edge of the glass. The... Read More

Judges Rating:
83
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
19 / 24
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20

Thunderstruck Coffee Porter by Highland Brewing Co. is being judged as a Spice, Herb, Vegetable Beer (Category 30A) with an American Porter (Category 20A) base per the 2015 BJCP Guidelines.

This beer pours with a dark brown appearance with slightly hazy clarity when held to the light with... Read More

Tie 9 On

Tie 9 On

Georgia
United States
Tie 9 On, Monday Night Brewing
Description 

Tie 9 on is a 13% ABV barrel-aged strong ale with a 50/50 mix of Madagascar and Ugandan vanilla beans. It’s an expression of the most exquisite barrel-aged beers we have in our wood cellar. Brewmaster Peter Kiley and Wood Cellar Manager Tim McDonnell hand-selected 19 unique barrels consisting of 9 different base beers. The result is an unforgettable blend with flavors of bittersweet chocolate, toasted marshmallow, charred oak, and raisin. This is what nine years of practice looks like.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
13.0%
Served at: 
45 - 55ºF

 

 


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Judges Rating:
91
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Tie 9 On by Monday Night Brewing pours a dark black color with opaque clarity. A sudsy mocha-colored head of large bubbles is persistent almost the entire time the beer was consumed. The initial aroma consists of a medium-high sweetness, which is quickly followed by medium barrel lactones of... Read More

Psychedelic Rabbit Transcendent IPA

Psychedelic Rabbit Transcendent IPA

Georgia
United States
Psychedelic Rabbit Transcendent IPA, New Realm Brewing
Description 

If you go, chasing rabbits, may you find yourself in a new realm wonderland juicy-hop filled bliss. Feed your head with this Transcendent IPA using Cascade, Cashmere, Mosaic,
Azacca and Citra hops along with the new Thiol-active Star Party yeast designed to provide an atomic burst of Passion fruit, Pineapple, and Tangerine juiciness that will blow your mind… go ask Alice, I think she'll know.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
6.5%
Served at: 
38 - 45º F
Hops: 
Cascade, Cashmere, Mosaic, Azacca, Citra

 

 


The rating and full judge's review for this product is available only to premium subscribers.

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Options start for only $9.95!


Judges Rating:
90
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Psychedelic Rabbit Transcendent IPA by New Realm Brewing is being judged as an American IPA (Category 21A) per the 2021 BJCP guidelines.

This beer pours a golden color with a slight chill haze. An off-white, dense, mousse-like head of small bubbles persists during the entire time the beer... Read More

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