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Sandy Cockerham

Sandy Cockerham's picture
Beer & Mead Judge

A native Hoosier, Sandy Cockerham is a Grand Master II BJCP judge who also holds a mead certification. She has been brewing beer since the late 80s and became a BJCP judge in 2007. Sandy serves as the BJCP’s Midwest Representative, a BJCP Assistant Exam Director and is a member of the American Homebrewers Association’s Governing Committee where she serves as co-chair of the Competition Committee. She has been a judge at the Great American Beer Festival for the past 2 years and the Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers (FoBAB) for the past 3 years. Most weekends will find Sandy judging beer, mead or cider somewhere.

While she enjoys traveling, wherever she goes there must be good beer! Past beery excursions occurred in China, England, Germany and the Czech Republic. She looks forward to new beer adventures abroad, as well as a little sightseeing.

Sandy is married and has 3 spoiled cats at home. She holds degrees in chemistry and law and works in research within the pharmaceutical industry. She also roasts coffee part-time at Bee Coffee Roasters.

 

My reviews

Judges Rating:
82
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
19 / 24
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Warped Wing Brewing’s Ermal’s Belgian-Style Cream Ale poured out medium gold and was lightly hazy with a fine, moderately sized white head that lasted a minute or two. The medium-low estery aroma was very inviting. I perceived a light note of sulfur and some light spicy tones that seemed like... Read More

Flyin' Rye IPA

flyin' rye ipa beer warped wing
Judges Rating:
83
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
18 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Warped Wing’s Flyin’ Rye India Pale Ale was moderately spicy with notes of rye and cereal. I also noted some bubblegum esters in the nose that didn’t quite seem to fit. The aroma included some medium-low floral hops and a light cracker malt character. The beer was orange-gold and fairly clear.... Read More

The Keel

Cape May Beer The Keel Sour
Judges Rating:
94
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Up front, this wine barrel-aged sour exhibited fairly clean lactic sourness and a whiff of oak. It had medium-low notes of toasty malt and dark fruit (plum and cherry mostly) and no hops in the nose.  As it warmed up notes of red wine grapes emerged and the wood aromas blossomed.  Very inviting... Read More

Judges Rating:
88
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20

This beer was presented to me as a 50/50 mix of grapefruit-flavored drink and premium German pilsner. Upon smelling it there was a moderate citrus/grapefruit aroma and a floral, perfumy hop aroma. I also smelled clean, pils malt aroma at a moderate level. It was lightly sweet. The radler was... Read More

Balloon Boy

Balloon Boy Burnt City Beer
Judges Rating:
92
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Burnt City Brewing’s Balloon Boy Farmhouse Wheat Ale started with an initial burst of sulfur & carbonic acid upon first sniff. Below that was banana with a bit of bubblegum and vanilla. Low peppery notes and a hint of earthy funk were there too. Medium low grainy/bready malt was in support.... Read More

Judges Rating:
84
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
34 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
16 / 20

Burnt City Brewing’s Face Melter Hibiscus IPA had close to a medium high level of peach and passionfruit hop aroma at the forefront. The floral tones of hibiscus intermingled at a moderate level. The beer also had a low, pleasant grassy tone. It was hard to tell if it was hop or hibiscus derived... Read More

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