The "session" style is a nice alternative to the hop and alcohol bombs that many breweries seem to be throwing around these days. A beer that's lighter in alcohol has its own challenges, too: Lower alcohol means less goods there to mask flaws and provide an interesting experience. As a Session ... Read More
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S J Klein
Beer Judge
Picking up homebrewing on a bicycle trip across Australia in the 80's, S J. became the official brewer of his dorm in college. Turning an obsession into a profession, he attended the Siebel Institute long program, and started and ran the Borealis Brewery for 7 years, after which he became serious about judging. S J doesn't have a favorite style of beer, so much as he appreciates a beer that is well made. He's looking for balance, character, and "something to knock my socks off". He lives in Anchorage, Alaska, which from time to time has more breweries per capita than any other city in the world.
My reviews
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
19 / 24
Flavor:
32 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Blood Orange is an interesting addition to a beer. I was afraid this beer would either be soda-poppy, or too dry to hold up to the fruit that was added to it (fruit sugars in beer tend to ferment completely out, leaving fruit essence but no fruit flavor), but I was happily impressed. The nose is... Read More
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
18 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20
Its a hazy copper in the glass, with a vanishing white head. The nose is rich with honey, pine. A fair bit of alcohol is evident in the nose as winey notes. The beer has a sharp hop bite and is quite alcoholic. Its rich and malty, to the point of being slightly syrupy. There is little hop... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
20 / 20
A lot of brewers have gotten into the white IPA style lately, with a wide idea of what makes it "white." This Double White IPA embraces the concepts of a witbier with really nice results. The nose is full of grapefruit with some horseblanket. There is no notable malt in the nose, and when you... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
This beer is thick and black with a dark brown head. The nose is rich with molasses and toffee. Just a hint of oak or bourbon. In the mouth it's drier than the nose led me to believe. It's not terribly sweet, which is a nice surprise. It's got a dry bitterness too, the result of generous roasted... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
This is an incredibly big version of a pilsner. The nose has hints of grapefruit and sharp matchstick, which is totally appropriate for the style. You get a mouthful of hops before it even hits your lips. This beer is thick and cloying, but it hits all the right notes: Light corn up front, then... Read More