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Michael Heniff

Michael Heniff's picture
Beer Judge

Mike brewed his first few homebrew batches in college in 1994 and began regularly brewing in 1997.  Since then, he has brewed over 150 batches of beer, mead, and cider.  He has won over 200 medals and numerous major awards in competitions across the country.  His highest accomplishments include winning the Templeton Award (most points) of the Dixie Cup (one of the largest single-site homebrew competitions in the world) a record four times, Gulf Coast Homebrewer of the Year, and Lone Star Circuit Homebrewer of the Year.  He has had his recipes brewed at commercial breweries seven times.

Mike particularly enjoys traveling to find new beers.  He has made numerous travels abroad to find great beer, most frequently to Belgium and Germany.  He has logged over 6800 beers in his tasting journal, including over 620 beers from Belgium alone.  Mike has had brewing and beer travel articles published by Brew Your Own and Zymurgy magazines.

Mike is a current member of the Houston Foam Rangers Homebrew Club where he has held numerous officer positions.  He was also the founding President of the Lone Star Circuit and a former long time officer. He currently ranks as a Grand Master III BJCP judge.  He has judged in over 70 competitions across the United States, frequently serving on Best of Show panels.

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My reviews

Pre-Pro Lager

Pre-Pro Lager

California
United States
East Brother Beer Pre-Pro Lager, East Brother Beer Co.
Description 

A Prohibition-era lager recipe with a crisp Cluster hop presence, a bit of corn and barley flavor, and a clean finish.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
5.2%
Served at: 
38° F
Malts: 
Admiral Maltings Six-Row Barley Malt
Hops: 
Cluster

 

 


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Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Pre-Pro Lager by East Brother Beer Co. is a pre-Prohibition Lager and is being evaluated as a Historical Beer: Pre-Prohibition Lager (category 27 in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Pre-Prohibition Lagers are golden-colored lagers that were frequently brewed with... Read More

Judges Rating:
93
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Cloud Catcher Milkshake IPA by Odell Brewing Co. is a New England-style hazy IPA and is being evaluated as a Specialty IPA (category 21B in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines, referencing the working version of New England IPA style guideline on the BJCP's development website). New England IPAs... Read More

Judges Rating:
90
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This beer pours an opaque black with an aroma of complex chocolate, roasted, and toasted malt character with a complementing cinnamon, vanilla, and a very coconut-like bourbon. The flavor uniquely melds the roasted and chocolate malt with the vanilla and bourbon for a complex flavor with a... Read More

Sigman Stavecation

Sigman Stavecation

Georgia
United States
Sigman Stavecation, Pontoon Brewing
Description 

Over a year in a single Blanton barrel (mash bill #1, barrel #409, warehouse H, Rick #2) with a triple mash and incredibly long boil (28 hours) to get to 42 Plato, with a 20 Plato final gravity.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
13.9%
Served at: 
50 - 55º F

 

 


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Judges Rating:
94
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Sigman Stavecation by Pontoon Brewing is a barrel-aged Imperial Milk Stout and is being evaluated as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (category 33B from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Specialty Wood-Aged Beers are aged in spirit barrels and should have a harmonious... Read More

Tears of Our Enemies

Tears of Our Enemies, WestFax Brewing Co.
Judges Rating:
90
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Tears of Our Enemies by Westfax Brewing Co. is a Scottish Ale and is being evaluated as a Wee Heavy (category 17C from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). The Wee Heavy style is noted as being a rich, full, malty Scottish ale with strong, rich caramel malt flavors and occasionally a faint... Read More

Judges Rating:
94
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Considered one of the early prototypes of the American Amber style (and still one of the “Classical Examples” of the BJCP Style Guidelines), Rogue continues to nail this style. The color is the expected amber with excellent clarity and a light tan head with excellent head retention. The aroma is... Read More

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