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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.
Broad Blade by Shovel Town Brewery is being evaluated as a 20B American Stout. I'm pretty excited about this one, as American Stout is one of my all-time favorite styles of beer.
Into the glass, it pours a deep brown-black with a dark tan head. Big and creamy on top. The beer is virtually... Read More
Hard Apple Cider by 3 Daughters Brewing is being judged as a C1A New World Cider. This Cider pours a quite clear pale straw color, fizzy with minimal head. Initial aroma is distinct fermented apple, but it does come across a bit apple sauce-like, lacking complexity of traditional ciders, leading... Read More
Monk's Cafe Grand Cru by Brouwerij van Steenberge is being judged as a 23B Flanders Red Ale.
The beer pours a hazy deep brown-red. The nose on this is fantastic. Strong cherry notes with a faint acetic background note that stops short of vinegar. Bright acid pops out as well, along with... Read More
Vieux Bois by Bozeman Brewing Co. is being evaluated as a 23F-Fruit Lambic. In this instance, it is made with plums, though the variety of which is not declared. This is a style that is based in history through use of specific Belgian processes to achieve a complex, wine-like beverage. This one... Read More
Excelsior Imperial Apple by Schilling Hard Cider is being evaluated as a C1A New World Cider (per the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines), as that seems the best fit.
This cider pours a deep burnished gold with a faint haze to it. Collapsing head here. Nose is super clean and expresses a deep... Read More
(American Wild Ale - Wild Specialty Beer - 28C) The beer presents in the glass a hazy straw color with minimal petillant character, even on arousal and with no head. The nose is a melange of cinnamon like spice due to the chamomile, with a vague fruitiness following. The aromatic acid comes... Read More
