(This post comes courtesy of Pat Sullivan – thanks for taking the notes!)
February’s meeting kicked off with a tour of MakeHaven, led by Mara. The space is packed with tools for printmaking, embroidery, laser printing, pottery, ham radio, woodworking, jewelry, metalworking, and a compact but functional brewery.
The brewery setup is a single-vessel Spike system with a 14-gallon conical fermenter. Glycol chilling comes from a converted AC unit, and beer is served via two kegs hidden inside a video gaming cabinet. Mara & Liam are expanding the cabinet to increase compact storage while maintaining easy access for small-batch brewing.
After the tour, we moved upstairs for the tasting and judging portion.
Judged Beers
While we focused on aroma, flavor, and balance… there may or may not have been a faint note of fried chicken in the air.
11B – Best Bitter – Andy (40/50)
Aroma 10/12 | Appearance 3/3 | Flavor 15/20 | Mouthfeel 4/5 | Overall 8/10
A very drinkable, well-executed Best Bitter with balanced malt and hops and a pleasant toffee note. Clean, balanced, and solidly within style — an enjoyable example of the classic English pub ale.
23C – Oud Bruin – Pierre (35/50)
Aroma 11/12 | Appearance 3/3 | Flavor 12/20 | Mouthfeel 3/5 | Overall 6/10
Aroma showed layered sour character with notes of raisin, sherry, cherry, and a subtle peppery nuance. Fine bubbles with light tan lacing. The aroma suggested more acidity than was present in the flavor, indicating a beer that is likely still developing. Slightly young and not yet fully integrated, but showing promising complexity. With additional aging, this beer could evolve nicely.
26B – Belgian Dubbel – Michael (37/50)
Aroma 11/12 | Appearance 3/3 | Flavor 14/20 | Mouthfeel 3/5 | Overall 6/10
Approximately three years old, with honeyed malt character and nutty notes along with a gentle warming alcohol presence. Flavor leaned slightly sweet with lingering malt richness. Additional phenolic character and slightly higher carbonation could help further lift the profile and enhance the mouthfeel.
20C – Imperial Stout – Andrew (28.5/50)
Aroma 6/12 | Appearance 2/3 | Flavor 12.5/20 | Mouthfeel 2/5 | Overall 6/10
Aroma featured dark chocolate with fruity notes reminiscent of cherry and blueberry. As the beer warmed, alcohol became more prominent with a slight solvent edge. Flavor leaned somewhat sweet (almost banana), and mouthfeel was lighter than typical for the style. Brewer noted fermentation began warmer than intended, which likely influenced the final profile.
2A – Italian Pilsner – Pierre (38/50)
Aroma 9/12 | Appearance 3/3 | Flavor 15/20 | Mouthfeel 4/5 | Overall 7/10
Light floral hop aroma with a faint corn note that became slightly more noticeable over time. Golden yellow appearance with fine bubbles and excellent clarity. Flavor balanced hop character with a touch of corn sweetness, with bitterness slightly elevated. Very drinkable and visually excellent. Note: the beer was served somewhat warm; consensus was that at a colder serving temperature it would likely present an even crisper profile and could score even higher.
Coffee Blossom Hydromel / Pétillant Mead – Liam & Mara (41/50)
Aroma 9/10 | Appearance 4/6 | Flavor 20/24 | Overall 8/10
Honey-forward with floral and fruity aromatics. Excellent balance of sweetness, tannin, and acidity — per Andy T. the classic “golden triangle.” Fermented with winemaker yeast D117 in a keg; beautifully structured and highly drinkable.
Smoked IPA – Mike D. (Not officially Judged)
Mike shared his experimental beer which he poured at the 12% Competiton. Brewed with beechwood smoked malt. Faint smoky aroma with a golden/light amber color. Smoke-forward flavor balanced by lingering bitterness — a fun and unique beer. Would pair especially well with chili or other hearty dishes.
Chest Freezer Bonus Round 🍻
After the meeting several stayed behind for a sampling a variety of MakeHaven creations from the chest freezer — including ciders, kombucha, sour ales, IPAs, and other house experiments. A relaxed and fun tasting session in the storage area – sitting on boxes or leaning up against storage racks. A blast!
