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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.
Harpoon Brewing Co, in collaboration with Kissmeyer Beer and Brewing, and Cambridge Brewing Company, has successfully brewed a fine Saison upon which they have then added their own stamp.
Harpoon’s 100 Barrel Series #54 Nordic Saison is a very approachable Saison perfect for summer... Read More
Holy Simcoe, Batman! by Bhramari Brewing Co. is something rather unusual for commercial offerings – a SMaSH IPA (Single Malt and Single Hop). As such, it is an excellent way to evaluate the character of a particular hop in a brew – in this instance, Simcoe. This is being evaluated as a 21A... Read More
Southbound Brewing Co’s. Picture of Nectar could either be considered a big Fruit Beer with very assertive, dank hopping, or as a Double IPA with fruit. Either way, it's a Specialty beer, and it is also quite special. This golden-colored, slightly hazy ale with an assertive stand of head... Read More
Göller Original by Brauerei Göller in Zeil am Main, Germany, is being evaluated as a BJCP Category 5D German Pils as per the 2021 BJCP style guidelines. This style is a classic with a distinct bright, crisp and clean character delivered by the pils malt in combination... Read More
This very hazy, golden-colored brew has a small head of white-colored bubbles that dissipates rather quickly, which is expected for the style. Brett dominates the fermentation character of the aroma, delivering a complex woody, corky, leathery and earthy funkiness alongside a lemony tartness,... Read More
Geräuchert Smoked Helles Lager by Moniker Brewery is a traditional example of the BJCP 32A Classic Style Smoke Beer, as per the 2021 BJCP guidelines, with the base style being a Helles. As such, there is no mistaking that this brew fits the style very well!
The... Read More
