Start 14-Day Trial Subscription

*No credit card required

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.

 

cert_c0839_grand_master_iii.jpg       cert_c0839_mead_judge.jpg

My reviews

Hard Apple Cider

Hard Apple Cider

Florida
United States
Hard Apple Cider by 3 Daughters Brewing
Description 

Refreshingly crisp, this semi-sweet cider packs a big apple flavor perfect for the beach or wherever you chill. This is how Florida does apple cider.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
5.5%
Served at: 
50º

 

 


The rating and full judge's review for this product is available only to premium subscribers.

Login / Subscribe

Not yet a subscriber? Visit the store now.
Options start for only $9.95!


Judges Rating:
81
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
18 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
15 / 20

Hard Apple Cider by 3 Daughters Brewing is being judged as a C1A New World Cider. This Cider pours a quite clear pale straw color, fizzy with minimal head. Initial aroma is distinct fermented apple, but it does come across a bit apple sauce-like, lacking complexity of traditional ciders, leading... 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

 

 


The rating and full judge's review for this product is available only to premium subscribers.

Login / Subscribe

Not yet a subscriber? Visit the store now.
Options start for only $9.95!


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

 

 


The rating and full judge's review for this product is available only to premium subscribers.

Login / Subscribe

Not yet a subscriber? Visit the store now.
Options start for only $9.95!


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

Broad Blade

Broad Blade

Massachusetts
USA
Broad Blade, Shovel Town Brewery
Description 

Our rich, full-bodied, award-winning American stout answers the call with robust flavors of dark-roast coffee, chocolate, and a hint of caramel. The complex maltiness is accompanied by a heaping shovelful of American Chinook and Nugget hops.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
7.0%
IBUs: 
55
Served at: 
45º F
Malts: 
American Two-row Pale malt, British Crystal malt, German de-husked Carafa malt, British Chocolate Malt
Hops: 
Nugget, Michigan Chinook

 

 


The rating and full judge's review for this product is available only to premium subscribers.

Login / Subscribe

Not yet a subscriber? Visit the store now.
Options start for only $9.95!


Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Broad Blade by Shovel Town Brewery is being evaluated as a 20B American Stout. I'm pretty excited about this one, as American Stout is one of my all-time favorite styles of beer.

Into the glass, it pours a deep brown-black with a dark tan head. Big and creamy on top. The beer is virtually... Read More

Revive

Revive

Indiana
United States
Revive by Upland Brewing Co.
Description 

In our newest creation, Revive, we took a blend of Basis, our base blonde sour ale, and aged it on pineapple and chamomile. This unique combination of ingredients creates a beer that is mildly tart with prominent flavors and aromas from the pineapple. The chamomile adds a distinct herbal quality that perfectly balances the fruit character.

Beverage Profile
Served at: 
39-45º
Malts: 
Pale, Pilsner, Raw White Wheat, Bonlander Munich
Hops: 
Aged German Spalt

 

 


The rating and full judge's review for this product is available only to premium subscribers.

Login / Subscribe

Not yet a subscriber? Visit the store now.
Options start for only $9.95!


Judges Rating:
90
Appearance:
4 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

(American Wild Ale - Wild Specialty Beer - 28C) The beer presents in the glass a hazy straw color with minimal petillant character, even on arousal and with no head. The nose is a melange of cinnamon like spice due to the chamomile, with a vague fruitiness following. The aromatic acid comes... Read More

Judges Rating:
70
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
18 / 24
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
6 / 20

Floating Dock Light IPA by 3 Daughters Brewing is being judged as a 21B Specialty IPA-Session Strength IPA. This beer pours a pale gold in the glass with hints of amber and a billow off-white head. The nose initially is a bit grassy and vegetal, light citrus notes and faint sweet malt. It seems... Read More

Pages

Advertisement