Blonde Saison Brett by Holy City Brewing is a Saison brewed with brettanomyces yeast (brett) and lactobacillus and was judged as a Wild Specialty Beer (BJCP sub-style 28C). This hybrid beer has lots going on, and virtually all of it is good. For starters, it poured light pale and mostly cloudy... Read More
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Michael McGuire
Beer Judge
Mike started homebrewing in 1983 in Baton Rouge, LA. He subsequently continued brewing when life took him to Grayslake, IL, Lancaster, PA, Vienna, VA, and Raleigh, NC. He was a founding member of the Lancaster County Brewers homebrew club, and later a member of the Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP), Wort Hogs, and Cary, Apex, & Raleigh Brewers of Yore (CARBOY) clubs.
He took the BJCP exam in 2000, became certified in 2002, and achieved National rank in 2005. In addition to judging in many regional and national AHA-sponsored competitions since 2000, he has judged in several state-specific competitions for professional breweries (e.g., the Virginia Craft Beer Cup and the Maryland Governor’s Cup).
My reviews
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
6 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Strewzü by Reformation Brewery is a Berliner Weisse with strawberries and yuzu (an aromatic Asian citrus fruit) (judged as a Fruit Beer - BJCP sub-style 29A). In the glass it formed a sparse, shortly-retained white head atop a clear orange brew with pink highlights. The aroma began with an... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Bright Pineapple Sparkling Ale by Devils Backbone Brewing Co. is a blonde ale with pronounced pineapple flavor. It was judged as a Fruit Beer (BJCP sub-style 29A). It poured light golden into the glass where it set up with a very mild haze and a medium and short-lived white head. Its aroma was... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Micro Giant by Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. is a Belgian-style dubbel and was judged as such according to the BJCP 2015 guidelines (sub-style 26B). It poured a translucent mahogany into the glass, forming a thin white head with modest retention. The aroma led off with an... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
This English Old Ale poured a clear, dark reddish-brown with a moderately creamy head that dissipated fairly quickly. The aroma was strongly malty with dark fruit (raisin, fig) notes and noticeable alcohol from oxidation (age) up front. The flavor, too, started off “hot” with plenty of rich malt... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Light 'n Social by Social Fox Brewing is an “American pilsner” and was judged as an American Lager (BJCP sub-style 1B). It poured clear and golden into the glass where it set up with a very thin white head with only modest retention. Its aroma led off with notes of lager yeast, sweet corn and... Read More