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Brian started diving into the world of craft beer in 2004, tracking all of the beers he tasted online, with notes. He picked up homebrewing in 2008 and began judging in 2010. Taking pride in the opportunity to give feedback to brewers of all sorts, he has progressed through the BJCP, attaining the rank of Master in 2013. He formerly acted as an Associate Exam Director for the BJCP, as well as an exam administrator and proctor, and presently holds the rank of Grand Master IV, as well as Mead judge. To him, the most important aspect of judging is to know your limits and learn how to recognize them and expand them. To achieve that end, Brian has judged in over 100 competitions in 12 states and counting, including the Great American Beer Festival, and visits innumerable breweries. He also helps organize a few competitions each year, including the role of judge coordinator for the Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer (which you may know as FoBAB), the largest of its kind in the world.
Situational Ethics - Maple Cognac by Monday Night Brewing was judged as a 33b-Specialty Wood-Aged Beer due to the use of a spirits barrel. In addition, the base style falls under 30a Spice, Herb or Vegetable beer due to it's use of hazelnuts, pecans, cocoa nibs and vanilla.
The beer shows... Read More
Focal Banger by The Alchemist was evaluated as a standard-strength Hazy IPA under BJCP Style 21B, Specialty IPA. The beer pours an opaque straw color with a frothy white head that slowly collapses. The nose is super fresh with candied tangerine, mango, light resin and graham cracker driving... Read More
Sunday Gold Lager by Flying Lion Brewing was judged as an American Lager (Style 1B per the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines), but it's a bit too characterful for that style. It feels closer to a pre-prohibition lager in some ways, though all malt.
Pours a deep gold with a persistent ring of... Read More
Fruit Beer - Fruit & Spice Beer - 29B (Base beer is American Pale Ale - 18B) This beer is an interesting take on a fruit/spice beer, using an APA as the base and adding in pineapple and coconut. Presented as a Tropical Pale Ale, the initial blast, before even looking at it, is certainly... Read More
Exemption by Taxman Brewing Co. is a Belgian Tripel with spices that is being judged as 26C-Belgian Tripel. This example of the old world Abbey Tripel brings some new world character along with it. In the glass, it is faintly hazed and a pale gold with a persistent frothy head. The nose gives... Read More
Situational Ethics - Mezcal by Monday Night Brewing is being judged as a 33b- Specialty Wood-Aged Beer due to the use of spirits barrels, with a base style of 30a- Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer due to the inclusion of cocoa nibs, vanilla, chili peppers and cinnamon.
The beer pours with a... Read More
