Start 14-Day Trial Subscription

*No credit card required

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.

mh_cert_a0216_grand_master_iii.jpg

 

My reviews

Hop Savant

Hop Savant
Judges Rating:
86
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
24 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Brewed with 100% Brettanomyces and Australian Galaxy hops, this IPA showcases these two complementary components. Hop-forward, the aroma is inviting with prominent blackcurrant, passion fruit, and mango. An underlying Brett orange zest with a hint of cedar complements a slightly nutty supporting... Read More

La Baie Sauvage

La Baie Sauvage

Oregon
United States
La Baie Sauvage, pFriem Family Brewers
Description 

This tart and untamable fruit is not cultivated anywhere in the world. Our berries, foraged in NW forests, are added to our 2-year-old, Lambic-Inspired Ale to create a fruit-forward brew with notes of lemon zest and pineapple. La Baie Sauvage invites you, adventurous drinker, to take a walk on the wild side. Who’s your huckleberry now?

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
7.3%
IBUs: 
10
Served at: 
45º - 50º F
Malts: 
Gambrinus Canadian Pilsner, Weyermann Wheat, Rahr Raw White Wheat
Hops: 
Aged Czech Saaz

 

 


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

Login / Subscribe

Not yet a subscriber? Visit the store now.
Options start for only $9.95!


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

La Baie Sauvage by pFriem Family Brewers is a sour ale brewed with huckleberries and is being evaluated as a Wild Specialty Beer (category 28C in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Wild Specialty Beers are sour or funky beers with fruit or spices and are typically... Read More

Drift Racer

Drift Racer, Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Judges Rating:
91
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Drift Racer by Bear Republic Brewing Co. is a Double IPA and is being evaluated as a Double IPA (category 22A in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). The focus of the Double IPA style is hops, hops and more hops. Additionally, despite being a high-alcohol content style, Double IPAs are fairly... Read More

Zombie Monkie

Zombie Monkie Robust Porter Tallgrass Beer
Judges Rating:
87
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

This beer pours pitch black in color, almost opaque, with a finely beaded tan head. The first impression reveals a potent roasted barley character more reminiscent of a stout with complementing dark chocolate and espresso. The body is thick, rich and slightly sweet; again showcasing a prominent... Read More

Snowmelt Hard Sipper House Punch

Snowmelt Hard Sipper House Punch

Colorado
United States
Snowmelt Hard Sipper House Punch, Upslope Brewing Co.
Description 

Cocktail Hour is about to get a lot cooler. Who said we have to keep drinking the same drinks everyone else is drinking? And who said a great cocktail has to be so complicated? Let’s keep it casual. That’s why we set out to create a craft cocktail our way, with our Spiked Snowmelt base and fresh ingredients. Kick back with a drink made without the pretense, without the puffery, and without the pain in the ass mixologist. A drink you’d enjoy with friends, with your feet up and the laughter rolling.
Hard Sipper is a 12% ABV cocktail-inspired libation. These high-octane creations are intended to be sipped slowly and are best enjoyed over ice. House Punch is made with our Spiked Snowmelt, sugar, lemon juice, hibiscus, black tea, and nutmeg.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
12.0%
IBUs: 
0
Served at: 
34 - 38º F

 

 


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

Login / Subscribe

Not yet a subscriber? Visit the store now.
Options start for only $9.95!


Judges Rating:
87
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Snowmelt Hard Sipper House Punch by Upslope Brewing Co. and is being evaluated as a Fruit and Spice Seltzer based on The Beer Connoisseur's 2022 Hard Seltzer Style Definitions & Judging Guidelines. Fruit and Spice Seltzers are noted for the harmonious balance of... Read More

pFriem Pêche

pFriem Pêche, pFriem Family Brewers
Judges Rating:
93
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

pFriem Pêche by pFriem Family Brewers is a fruited “lambic inspired ale” and is being evaluated as a Fruit Lambic (category 23F from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Lambics are known for their sourness and wild characters that are naturally (or “spontaneously”) imparted by airborne yeast... Read More

Pages