Passion Project by Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. is a Berliner Weisse brewed with passion fruit and was judged as a Fruit Beer (BJCP sub-style 29A, with consideration of its base style BJCP sub-style 23A). It poured a light gold-orange color with some haze into the glass,... Read More
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Michael McGuire
Beer Judge
Mike started homebrewing in 1983 in Baton Rouge, LA. He subsequently continued brewing when life took him to Grayslake, IL, Lancaster, PA, Vienna, VA, and Raleigh, NC. He was a founding member of the Lancaster County Brewers homebrew club, and later a member of the Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP), Wort Hogs, and Cary, Apex, & Raleigh Brewers of Yore (CARBOY) clubs.
He took the BJCP exam in 2000, became certified in 2002, and achieved National rank in 2005. In addition to judging in many regional and national AHA-sponsored competitions since 2000, he has judged in several state-specific competitions for professional breweries (e.g., the Virginia Craft Beer Cup and the Maryland Governor’s Cup).
My reviews
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Pouring orange with a thick white head, this beer’s aroma is heavily redolent of Belgian yeast with plenty of orange in the nose, and a bitter spiciness from rye, brewing spices and bittering hops. The promise of the aroma is fulfilled in the flavor profile, which is full of fruity esters and... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Strawberry Margarita Gose by Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. is a gose with strawberry and lime. It was judged as a Fruit Beer (BJCP sub-style 29A).
This beer poured light pink into the glass where it set up slightly hazy, topped by a... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
This American IPA poured clear orange with a thick white head with modest retention. The aroma featured both malt and hops whose character combined floral and bitter notes rather than the citrus aromas that dominate many other American IPAs. The flavor profile featured fruity esters and the same... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Blackbeard’s Breakfast by Heavy Seas is a Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter brewed with coffee and was judged as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (BJCP sub-style 33B). It poured very dark brown (opaque) into the glass, sporting a thick creamy tan head with moderate retention.
The nose featured dark... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Beyond the Clouds by Monday Night Brewing is a Brett IPA (BJCP sub-style 28A, Brett Beer, under American Wild Ale). In the glass it formed a, thick, white, well-retained head atop a golden-orange brew that became hazy with warming (much like a New England IPA). The aroma led off with profoundly... Read More