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Michael Heniff

Michael Heniff's picture
Beer Judge

Mike brewed his first few homebrew batches in college in 1994 and began regularly brewing in 1997.  Since then, he has brewed over 150 batches of beer, mead, and cider.  He has won over 200 medals and numerous major awards in competitions across the country.  His highest accomplishments include winning the Templeton Award (most points) of the Dixie Cup (one of the largest single-site homebrew competitions in the world) a record four times, Gulf Coast Homebrewer of the Year, and Lone Star Circuit Homebrewer of the Year.  He has had his recipes brewed at commercial breweries seven times.

Mike particularly enjoys traveling to find new beers.  He has made numerous travels abroad to find great beer, most frequently to Belgium and Germany.  He has logged over 6800 beers in his tasting journal, including over 620 beers from Belgium alone.  Mike has had brewing and beer travel articles published by Brew Your Own and Zymurgy magazines.

Mike is a current member of the Houston Foam Rangers Homebrew Club where he has held numerous officer positions.  He was also the founding President of the Lone Star Circuit and a former long time officer. He currently ranks as a Grand Master III BJCP judge.  He has judged in over 70 competitions across the United States, frequently serving on Best of Show panels.

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My reviews

Saturnine Feline

Saturnine Feline

Pennsylvania
USA
Saturnine Feline, Attic Brewing Co.
Description 

We teamed up with Philly Metal Band Crypt Sermon to craft a beer, and we could only go one route...dark. Saturnine Feline is a brilliant nod to the darkest style of German lagers, the Schwarzbier. Brewed with German malts and hops, this dark lager's smooth roasted character is complemented with notes of dark chocolate and slight caramel sweetness that finishes clean and dry.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
5.0%
Served at: 
41 - 48º F
Malts: 
Weyermann Pils, Weyermann Munich, Simpsons Roasted, Simpsons Chocolate
Hops: 
Hallertau Mittelfruh

 

 


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Judges Rating:
86
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Saturnine Feline by Attic Brewing Co. is a Schwarzbier and is being evaluated as a Schwarzbier (category 8B in the 2021 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Schwarzbiers are black German lagers with light to moderate roasty/chocolatey malt flavors, smooth mouthfeel and... Read More

Maple Barrel Aged Barleywine

Maple Barrel Aged Barleywine

Maple Barrel Aged Barleywine, pFriem Family Brewers
Description 

What happens when you set a brewer loose in a brand new barrel facility with a mission to blend a Union-exclusive Distiller's barrel aged libation of unique distinction? Maple Barleywine; a cozy, snowed-in log cabin for the senses. That's what.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
11.4%
IBUs: 
35
Served at: 
45 - 50ºF

 

 


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Judges Rating:
93
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Maple Barrel Aged Barleywine by pFriem Family Brewers is a barrel-aged Barleywine and is being evaluated as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (category 33B from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Specialty Wood-Aged Beers are aged in spirit barrels and should have a... Read More

Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Cardigans of the Galaxy by Monday Night Brewing is a Double IPA and is being evaluated as a Double IPA (category 22A in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). The focus of the Double IPA style is hops, hops and more hops. Additionally, despite being a high-alcohol content style, Double IPAs are... Read More

Oak Aged Yeti

Oak Aged Yeti Beer Great Divide
Judges Rating:
86
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

The bomber bottle warns of a “massive” and “complex” opaque black ale with a huge dark brown head, and that's exactly the experience it delivers. The aroma is strong roasted chocolate and treacle with a light vanilla and a warm, toasted oak character to complement the malt. The flavor matches... Read More

Hopkeeper

Hopkeeper

Virginia
United States
Hopkeeper, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Description 

Hopkeeper is Double IPA brewed with Falconers Flight hops and a healthy dose of Virginia wildflower honey. Using Falconers Flight Hops provides a punch of pineapple and orange zest aromatics that compliments the subtle mead like qualities offered by the honey added to the beer in a secondary fermentation process. Virginia owned Murphy and Rude Malting Company provided pale and pilsner malts as well as malted wheat and oats. Bitterness is relatively low at 30 IBU in this well balanced 8.5 % Double IPA.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
8.5%
IBUs: 
30
Served at: 
45º F
Malts: 
Pale Malt, Pilsner Malt
Hops: 
Falconer's Flight

 

 


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Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

Hopkeeper by Hardywood Park Craft Brewery is a Double IPA and is being evaluated as a Double IPA (category 22A in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). The focus of the Double IPA style is hops, hops and more hops. Additionally, despite being a high-alcohol content... Read More

Motorworks Oktoberfest

Motorworks Oktoberfest, Motorworks Brewing
Judges Rating:
87
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Motorworks Oktoberfest by Motorworks Brewing​ is a Marzen and is being evaluated as a Marzen (category 6A from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines).  Marzens are known for being rich, malty lagers with the malt character focused on bready and toasty flavors. 

This Marzen pours amber in... Read More

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