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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).
Paradise Park Lo-Cal IPA by Urban South Brewery was judged as a Specialty IPA (BJCP sub-style 21B). It poured straw to light gold with a slight haze into the glass, producing a thin white head with moderate retention.
The aroma initially featured fruity/juicy... Read More
This beer poured a clear orange color with a thick, white head and emanating a complex aroma redolent of fruity esters, malt sweetness and hops. Following this auspicious beginning, the beer really shone with its flavor profile; in addition to a Belgian yeast character and lovely maltiness... Read More
Judge’s Review: Desert Dawn by Southbound Brewing Co. is a Belgian Style Saison Ale brewed with elderberries and was judged as a Specialty Fruit Beer (BJCP sub-style 29C). It poured reddish-purple into the glass where it set up somewhat hazy with a modest white head consisting of small bubbles... Read More
Corrosion by Cape May Brewing Company is a Kettle-soured IPA and was judged as a Mixed-Fermentation Sour Beer (BJCP sub-style 28B).
It poured brilliant gold and very slightly cloudy into the glass, where it formed a moderate white head with moderate to poor retention, which was not... Read More
Woodbreaker by Urban Artifact was described as a black cherry lemonade and a “Midwest Fruit Tart” with sweet dark cherries, lemon juice and vanilla beans, and it was judged as a Fruit and Spice Beer (BJCP sub-style 29B). In the glass it formed a mildly fizzy white head with virtually no... Read More
NITRO Cali Creamin’ by Mother Earth Brew Co. is a nitrogenated cream ale with vanilla and was judged as a Spice, Herb, or Vegetable beer (BJCP sub-style 30A).
It poured light gold and slightly hazy into the glass, forming a thick, long-lasting white head formed by the gas used to... Read More
