Roughtail’s Everything Rhymes With Orange is a very hop flavor-centric example of the American IPA style. This slightly hazy, golden-colored brew maintains a solid creamy small head with quite attractive lacing. The assertive aroma delivers a huge citrus and Citra hop character along with a... Read More
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Joseph Formanek
Beer Judge
Joe Formanek started homebrewing in 1987 as an undergraduate in Microbiology at the University of Minnesota. He was bitten by the brewing bug after taking a tour of Summit Brewing Company within a year after they had opened in St. Paul in 1987, and he has been going ever since. Joe later went to Graduate School at the University of Illinois and helped found the Boneyard Union of Zymurgical Zealots (BUZZ) Homebrew Club. He currently resides in Bolingbrook, IL, is a Director for a food ingredient company in Itasca, IL, and is a proud member of the Urban Knaves of Grain Homebrew Club. Joe holds a National Judge ranking with the BJCP, and is a previous Midwest Regional Rep and Vice President of the organization.
Over the years, Joe has received many honors related to homebrewing. He has won numerous BOS awards at local and regional competitions, is a 6 time winner of the Midwest Homebrewer of the Year award (1999, 2001-2004, 2007) and won the American Homebrewers Association Meadmaker of the Year award in 2004. Joe is a 2 time winner of the American Homebrewers Association Ninkasi Award (2000, 2006) for winningest brewer in the final round of judging, and was honored as being named one of the two homebrewer winners of the 2011 Sam Adams Longshot American Homebrewing Competition with his Russian Imperial Stout, which was distributed nationally in the 2012 Longshot multipack.
My reviews
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20
Clausthaler Original by Radeberger is being evaluated as per the 2021 BJCP Guidelines as a Category 2A – International Pale Lager, though this is a non-alcoholic version of this famed brew.
Clausthauer Original is one of the old-school examples of a premium... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Soul Shakedown Party by Sun King is a Rum Barrel Aged Scotch Ale, and is being evaluated as a wood aged (2015 BJCP Category 22C) offering according to BJCP guidelines. For this style, characteristics from both the barrel as well as from what the barrel originally contained (Rum) should be... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Bent Hop Golden IPA by Bent Paddle Brewing Co is a rather subtle yet clean IPA. This one goes against the grain when it comes to most recent IPAs as it will not knock you over the head with over-the-top hop character. However, hops are still the star of the show in this one, due to the malt... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Maui Waui IPA by Altamont Beer Works is a quite dank rendition of the BJCP 21A American IPA style, with the hop character being perhaps a bit on the high end of the style. Nonetheless, this is still a well-crafted and enjoyable brew.
Dank hop aromas (Citra, Mosaic) are well noted upon the... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Southbound Brewing Co’s. Loving Cup is an interesting take on the traditional Saison style. This light golden-colored slightly hazy brew with an impressive head exhibits the appearance and the Belgian fermentation character that's expected of the style. A mildly earthy and slightly tart... Read More