A very nice version of the style that pours a lovely amber, copper color with a huge cream-colored head and fine bubbles that last forever. There is a big citrusy floral hop aroma with hints of toasty caramel malts and pleasant pear and apricot-like fermentation esters that all follow through ... Read More
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Susan Ruud
Beer Judge
Susan Ruud is a Grand Master IV BJCP judge and holds a mead certification. She has been judging and making beer, mead and cider since 1996 and assisted in creating the Mead judge exam for the BJCP and was the assistant exam director from 2006 to 2013. Susan was on the American Homebrewers Association Governing Committee from 2000 to 2017 and has held the office of secretary for this organization for many years. She has been a judge for the Great American Beer Festival since 2000.
Susan is married with two children and three grandchildren and works at North Dakota State University doing agricultural research in potatoes and canola. She has been there since 1990 and hopes to retire in the next year or so to work full time at the Meadery her husband and her have opened, Prairie Rose Meadery.
My reviews
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Hints of toasty, melanoidin malt blended with spicy hops in both the aroma and flavor. The finish had plenty of bittering hops that lingered forever, leaving a slightly harsh finish. This was a beautiful beer, reddish-brown in color with a nice, creamy head. A wonderful beer to enjoy with... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
This beer was judged as an American Pale Ale - BJCP 2015 Category 18B. The color was a beautiful deep golden color with rays of amber throughout with a white head that was long-lasting and quite clear. There was a huge upfront aroma of citrus and tropical hops blended with a soft grainy malt... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
37 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Mai Tai PA by Alvarado Street Brewery was judged as an American IPA, BJCP category 21A. When pouring this beer you see a golden ale with a huge white head, and as the head drops, it leaves beautiful lacing on the glass. As you bring this beer up to your nose you receive a huge tropical hop aroma... Read More
Appearance:
5 / 6
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
35 / 40
Mouthfeel:
8 / 10
Overall Impression:
17 / 20
Pinner Throwback IPA has a pleasant blend of spicy, citrus and floral hop aromas and flavors surrounded by plenty of pale and toasty malts, yet has plenty of bittering hops to avoid being overly sweet. Aroma and flavor both have low levels of fermentation esters in the background that give this... Read More
Appearance:
6 / 6
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
39 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
19 / 20
Wow! This is a beautiful beer all the way around. It started out with a lovely pour: nice foam and a reddish-brown color that was extremely inviting. This Oud Bruin had an intense sour flavor and aroma with hints of sweet malt tied in to balance throughout sampling. Each sip of this lovely brew... Read More