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Jessica Sullivan

Jessica Sullivan's picture
Beer and Cider Judge

Jess is a BJCP National ranked beer judge, award winning cider maker, and Assistant Professor of Developmental Psychology at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. Jess studies how children (and adults!) use language (e.g., words) to describe their perceptual experiences (e.g., the things we see, smell, and taste). Judging beers, ciders, and meads allows her to combine her love of fermentation with her research interests -- Jess loves the challenge of using the precision of language to represent the complicated and intense experience of tasting, smelling, and seeing a brew.

 

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My reviews

Smooth Sail

Smooth Sail, Heavy Seas Beer
Judges Rating:
79
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
17 / 24
Flavor:
31 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Smooth Sail by Heavy Seas Beer is an American Wheat Beer brewed with citrus peels. Because it is brewed with fruit, I will judge it as a Fruit Beer (29A), assuming the base beer to be an American Wheat Beer (1D). 

The aroma hit me with an overwhelming sweetness with hints of honey and... Read More

L'Attitude

L'Attitude, Cape May Brewing Co.
Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20

I am judging L'Attitude by DC Brau and Cape May Brewing Co. as an American IPA. 

The aroma hits you with a strong pine and spruce hop aroma, followed by generic hop spiciness and a more unexpected pink peppercorn aroma. There is a low, honey-like aroma that is layered on top of a bready... Read More

Unicorn Farm IPA

Unicorn Farm IPA, Back East Brewery
Judges Rating:
90
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Unicorn Farm IPA by Back East Brewing Co. was judged as a BJCP 21A (American IPA).

The aroma is immediately enticing. Big tropical fruit notes (passion fruit, guava), with a light hint of white grapes, and a punch of young pine. There is a slight hint of orange in the aroma, also. The... Read More

Lavender Ale

Lavender Ale, Motorworks Brewing
Judges Rating:
78
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
19 / 24
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
13 / 20

Lavender Ale by Motorworks Brewing is being judged as a Spice, Herb, or Vegetable beer (BJCP cat 30A), with a base style of Scottish Ale (BJCP Cat 14).

When I tasted this beer, I did so completely blind to both style and addition, and then re-tasted with information about style and... Read More

Cheetah

Cheetah, Rhinegeist Brewery
Judges Rating:
89
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Cheetah, from Rhinegeist Brewery, is being judged as a Style 1B: American Lager. 

The aroma was refreshing, with clean fermentation characteristic, a very low grainy aroma, and the faint smell of spicy aroma hops. This reminded me of the beers my dad would drink as a child, although the... Read More

Knowledge

Knowledge, Rhinegeist Brewery
Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Knowledge by Rhinegeist Brewery is being judged as a Category 22A (Double IPA). 

The aroma had complex and strong hop presence, with lemon, grass and pineapple hitting up front. This was followed by a low crackery biscuit malt presence. There were no obvious fermentation characteristics;... Read More

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