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Joseph Formanek
Beer Judge
Joe Formanek started homebrewing in 1987 as an undergraduate in Microbiology at the University of Minnesota. He was bitten by the brewing bug after taking a tour of Summit Brewing Company within a year after they had opened in St. Paul in 1987, and he has been going ever since. Joe later went to Graduate School at the University of Illinois and helped found the Boneyard Union of Zymurgical Zealots (BUZZ) Homebrew Club. He currently resides in Bolingbrook, IL, is a Director for a food ingredient company in Itasca, IL, and is a proud member of the Urban Knaves of Grain Homebrew Club. Joe holds a National Judge ranking with the BJCP, and is a previous Midwest Regional Rep and Vice President of the organization.
Over the years, Joe has received many honors related to homebrewing. He has won numerous BOS awards at local and regional competitions, is a 6 time winner of the Midwest Homebrewer of the Year award (1999, 2001-2004, 2007) and won the American Homebrewers Association Meadmaker of the Year award in 2004. Joe is a 2 time winner of the American Homebrewers Association Ninkasi Award (2000, 2006) for winningest brewer in the final round of judging, and was honored as being named one of the two homebrewer winners of the 2011 Sam Adams Longshot American Homebrewing Competition with his Russian Imperial Stout, which was distributed nationally in the 2012 Longshot multipack.
My articles
AB InBev unveiled a commercial during Super Bowl LIII that focused on the differences between its Bud Light and MillerCoors's Miller Lite and Coors...
In the more than 30 years I have been a homebrewer, I’ve seen remarkable progress in both the homebrewing knowledge base as well as available...
My reviews
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Concrete Dinosaur Brown Rye IPA by Right Brain Brewery is a great example of a well-crafted very flavorful Rye IPA with amazing balance and drinkability, and should be a definite go-to brew if available in your area. Due to it being a Brown Rye IPA (combination of Brown IPA and Rye IPA), this is... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
24 / 24
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
Flayrah by Upland Brewing Co. is one of their offerings in the Bourbon Barrel aged beer craze – this one is a Wee Heavy. This one does have a solid backbone, but some of the malty richness associated with the base style was reduced, presumably due to this aging process. This beer is being... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
C’mon Sunshine by Birds Fly South Ale Project is labeled as a Farmhouse Ale, but technically should be evaluated as a BJCP Category 29A Brett Beer with a Cat 25B Saison base. As such, it is a nice marriage of characters of the two styles that works quite well!
The typical horse blanket... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
32 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Hop Rising Double IPA is a good effort, though it is lacking in certain aspects that would make it great. The aroma has a light to moderate level of woody and citrus hop aroma with a touch of background spiciness. This brilliantly clear, amber-colored brew has a solid lingering white head, but... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
24 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Apple Crumble by Miel Brewery & Taproom is being evaluated as a Category 34B Mixed-style Specialty Beer with a Category 27 Historical Beer – Gose base as per the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines.
The aroma has a moderate tart green apple character along with a... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Lazy Magnolia’s Heirloom Ale is a complex American Sour ale aged on Pinot Noir oak chips. The wine character delivered by this aging is quite assertive, tending to overwhelm the base beer in some aspects.
This brew pours a clear reddish-amber, with a head stand that dissipates rather... Read More