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Brian Eichhorn

Brian Eichhorn's picture
Beer, Mead & Cider Judge

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.

 

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My reviews

Chimay Dorée

Chimay Dorée, Abbaye de Scourmont
Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

An oddball beer that was given as a witbier, but with the option as a Trappist Single. Given that it's a Trappist beer and obviously a Belgian, Chimay Dorée by Abbaye de Scourmont was judged as a 26a-Trappist Single. It is worth noting that spicing is not typically appropriate in this style, per... Read More

Deepfake Non-Alcoholic IPA

Deepfake Non-Alcoholic IPA

Maryland
United States
Deepfake Non-Alcoholic IPA, Flying Dog Brewery
Description 

What on the surface might smell and taste like an IPA, is in fact, a masterful forgery engineered to trick the senses – a smooth drinking non-alcoholic brew bursting with delicious hop flavor.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
<0.5%
IBUs: 
10
Malts: 
Munich, Caramel Malt
Hops: 
Mosaic, Simcoe, Citra

 

 


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Judges Rating:
71
Appearance:
3 / 6
Aroma:
19 / 24
Flavor:
28 / 40
Mouthfeel:
5 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Deepfake Non-Alcoholic IPA by Flying Dog Brewery is a difficult one to review, so I'm evaluating it as a 21B Specialty IPA with a non-alcoholic aspect. On the nose, it's initially juicy and orange juice-heavy, with grapefruit lingering. Beyond this, however, I'm getting a buttery/butterscotch... Read More

Pickerel

Pickerel

Pickerel, Moniker Brewery
Description 

This is a collaboration beer with the brewery's neighbor restaurant of the same name.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
5.7%
IBUs: 
15
Served at: 
40 - 45º F
Malts: 
Flaked Rice, Cara Pils, Cara Foam
Hops: 
Saaz, Tettnang, Magnum

 

 


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Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Pickerel by Moniker Brewery is a Japanese Rice lager that I'm evaluating as a 1B American Lager. Into the glass it pours a pale straw color with the faintest of hazes and a persistent ring of fine white bubbles. Certainly looks the part.

The nose is quite interesting and almost perfumy... Read More

Key Lime Cider

Key Lime Cider

Florida
United States
Key Lime Cider by 3 Daughters Brewing
Description 

Hard apple cider blended with key lime juice for a uniquely Florida taste. The semi-sweet apple flavor is nicely balanced by the tart, zesty key lime juice. Serve cold for a refreshing break from the hot Florida sun.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
5.5%
Served at: 
55º

 

 


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

Key Lime Cider by 3 Daughters Brewing is being reviewed as a C2B Cider with Other Fruit. This cider pours a pale straw color with a thin fizzy head that dissipates and a fair amount of haze. On smelling the cider, it's clearly a lime one! Reminiscent of key lime pie, there are some faint floral... Read More

Stiegl Grapefruit Radler

Stiegl Grapefruit Radler

Grapefruit Radler, Stiegl
Description 

Real grapefruit juice gives this deliciously refreshing Radler (mixed beer drink) its amber natural cloudiness and pleasant tangy taste. The refreshingly fruity taste makes Stiegl-Radler Grapefruit a wonderful thirst quencher. Radler meana "a cyclist" as it was originally brewed as a quick refreshment after physical activity.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
2.0%
IBUs: 
9
Served at: 
43 - 46ºF

 

 


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Judges Rating:
82
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
18 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

While presented as a fruit beer, upon learning what the beer was, it really doesn't qualify under any BJCP category. That being said, I am judging based on overall enjoyability and representation of this outsider category.

The nose is big and fully about the grapefruit soda. The beer is... Read More

Cherry Bounce Berliner Weisse

Cherry Bounce Berliner Weisse

Louisiana
United States
Cherry Bounce Berliner Weisse, Gnarly Barley Brewing
Description 

Our Cherry Berliner Weisse pours a heavenly shade of deep pink. The base Berliner Weisse is a light and refreshing sour, a dynamic backbone of pale malts and wheat. The cherry purée provides a robust balance to the pucker factor for an exceptionally balanced experience. A beer as spirited as it is elegant!

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
4.6%
Malts: 
Pilsen, Flaked Wheat
Hops: 
Cascade

 

 


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Judges Rating:
84
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Cherry Bounce Berliner Weisse by Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. is being evaluated as a 29a Fruit Beer with 23a Berliner Weisse as the substyle and cherries as the fruit, per the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines. It pours into the glass an attractive pinkish-red with faint orange at the edges and pillow... Read More

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