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Garrick van Buren

Garrick van Buren's picture
Beer Judge

Garrick is a National Judge as ranked by the BJCP and a Certified Cicerone®. He started training his beer palate and vocabulary in 2012. You can find him in his suburban Minneapolis garage brewing a long-forgotten historical beer style or another medal-winning Belgian-style beer. 
 

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My articles

A must have for every brewer, the hydrometer measures the gravity of beer. (Photo by Daniel Spiess)
As Mythbusters' ballistics expert, Adam Savage, has said: "Remember kids, the only difference between screwing around and science is writing it down...

My reviews

Take 5

Judges Rating:
78
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
32 / 40
Mouthfeel:
6 / 10
Overall Impression:
14 / 20

The brilliantly clear gold body and bright white head give off a complex aroma dominated by resiny hops and supported by light caramel, honey, grapefruit, orange, and some light strawberry esters. It has a light water cracker-esque body with hints of caramel and moderate carbonation. The hop... Read More

Grand Cru

Rodenbach Grand Cru Beer
Judges Rating:
90
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This is a full, satisfying Flanders Red. The dark cherry fruitiness and tartness dominates both the aroma and flavor. This fruitiness is well supported by a complex blend of dark chocolate, raisin, vanilla, orange, and caramel. The brilliantly clear amber body has a firm head of beige bubbles... Read More

Framboise Boon

Framboise Boon Brouwerij
Judges Rating:
83
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
14 / 20

This clear, medium-brown beer with a low persistent head of dusty pink bubbles has a huge, enveloping bouquet of freshly harvested raspberries and rich black cherry. The barnyard notes common in the aroma of other lambics are not present here. The complex aroma leads into a light body, low... Read More

Raspberry Tart

Raspberry Tart
Judges Rating:
76
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
28 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
12 / 20

The persistent, rocky, dusty pink head throws off a huge tart raspberry & strawberry fruity aroma with just a touch of raisin and fig. The brilliantly clear, bright red body with garnet highlights is dominated by a blend of freshly-harvested sweet strawberries, sour tart raspberries laced... Read More

Packerland Pilsner

Hinterland Beer Packerland Pilsner
Judges Rating:
80
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
32 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
12 / 20

This brilliantly clear, copper-colored beer with a tight, quickly dissipating white head has a caramel and toast aroma supported by moderate notes of corn and an inviting blend of both citrusy and floral hops. The same complex blend of caramel, toast, citrus, floral, and corn-like notes persist... Read More

Saison Farmhouse Ale

Hinterland Beer Saison Farmhouse Ale
Judges Rating:
80
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
30 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
14 / 20

The rocky, persistent white head of this beer throws off huge, delicious notes of lemon, orange peel, biscuit, black pepper and coriander. These notes persist through the flavor where the piney and citrusy hop-forward balance and dry finish amplify a lemon tartness. The lemon, wheat, and... Read More

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