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Pat Mulloy

Pat Mulloy's picture
Beer, Cider and Mead Judge

Pat is a National BJCP Judge with mead certification. Pat grew up in Midland Michigan. He has been drinking beer for half a century and from the start he pursued small local and regional brands and anything he hadn't seen before. He brewed his first home brew in the mid 60's - a complete flop and then dabbled a little during the 70s. A three month trip to England (2 weeks) and Amsterdam (2 1/2 months) in the early 70s was an eyeopener to the world of beer. He followed that up with 4 years in Toronto during grad school in the 70s when the major Canadian brewers there produced a much broader range of brands and he drank every one of them. At the end of the decade, a trip to Portland introduced him to the first vestiges of craft beer.
 
Settling into Minneapolis in 1979 the lack of beer diversity rekindled his interest in Homebrewing and he brewed around 300 batches between 1980 and 1990. By 1990 craft beer had spread enough where he could feed his craft beer habit without spending the entire weekend in his basement. During the 90s frequent road tips through Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan were at times required to ensure sufficient diversity in beer but by the dawn of the new century it required far less travel to find good craft beer.
 
Pat publishes a monthly newsletter Romancing the Foam about the enjoyment of good beer and has just launched a website at www.romancingthefoam.com. If you do not see him biking around Minneapolis to the various craft breweries and excellent craft beer bars, he is either in his garden sampling craft beer or siting on his computer adding to his website. It is a great time to love beer.

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My reviews

Cauldron

Cauldron by Upland Brewing Co.
Judges Rating:
90
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This beer was reviewed as a BJCP 28C, Wild Specialty Ale. This smells like a rich, moist, dark tart cherry cake with some figs and dates, spice, and a hint of wet horse blanket and oak. It is a lightly red tinted brown in the glass under a moderate light tan cap with fair retention. The beer has... Read More

Riegele Dunkel

Riegele Dunkel, Brauhaus Riegele
Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Riegele Dunkel by Brauhaus Riegele was judged as BJCP category 8A, Munich Dunkel. This beer’s rich malt aromas and flavors remind me of Nutella on lightly toasted bread with the sweetness toned down. The rich malt is soft and complex with bread crust, hints of chocolate, nuts and a clean... Read More

Situational Ethics - Maple Scotch Barrel-Aged S'mores Imperial Stout

Situational Ethics - Maple Scotch Barrel-Aged S'mores Imperial Stout

Situational Ethics - Maple Scotch Barrel-Aged S'mores Imperial Stout, Monday Night Brewing
Description 

Our Situational Ethics series comes to an end this year with three dessert-inspired imperial stouts. This variant is our take on s’mores. Maple scotch barrels bring in smoky flavor while Ghirardelli milk chocolate, Ugandan and Madagascar vanilla beans, graham crackers, marshmallows, cinnamon and coffee transforms this stout into your favorite gooey, campfire treat.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
13.8%
Served at: 
45 - 55ºF

 

 


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Judges Rating:
91
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

Situational Ethics - Maple Scotch Barrel-Aged S'mores Imperial Stout by Monday Night Brewing was reviewed as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer, BJCP style 33B per the 2015 guidelines.

This beer is over the top. It smells like a bakery with a wood-fired oven in the back, exuding aromas of... Read More

Throw Back Vibes

Throw Back Vibes

Louisiana
United States
Throw Back Vibes, Urban South Brewery
Description 

Throwback Vibes is a modern spin on the classic west coast IPA. We brewed this beer with Galaxy, Citra, and Simcoe hops for toned-down bitterness and amplified softness.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
6.0%
IBUs: 
45
Hops: 
Galaxy, Citra, Simcoe

 

 


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Judges Rating:
90
Appearance:
3 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Throw Back Vibes by Urban South Brewery was judged as a BJCP Style 21A, American IPA.

The brewer describes this as a West Coast IPA but it lacks the assertive West Coast bitterness, which, in this case is not a bad thing. Hoppy, citrus and tropical fruit fill the aroma with less pine that... Read More

Darken

Darken by Upland Brewing Co.
Judges Rating:
93
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

This beer was reviewed as a BJCP 23C, Oud Bruin. It smells like someone poured a shot of expensive balsamic on figs and dates with a shake of black pepper and some anise. Faint chocolate, a hint of barnyard and medium low malt aromas lurk in the background. The deep dark brown to black hue... Read More

Dolce Mio

Dolce Mio, Baxter Brewing Co.
Judges Rating:
86
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Dolce Mio by Baxter Brewing Co. was reviewed as a Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer (Style Category 30A) according to the BJCP 2015 Style Guidelines.

This has an intriguing ingredient list - cacao, vanilla bean, lactose, and lemon that in the wrong hands can go off the rails. An initial... Read More

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