Matt Likes Beer – Episode 23 – Tactical Brewing Dali Hole

Episode 23 of Matt Likes Beer features Dolly Hole, a hazy IPA collaboration between Tactical Brewing and Sideward Brewing, two of Matt’s most frequently visited and personally meaningful Orlando-area breweries. Gifted to Matt by a fellow homebrew club member, the beer marks the first local brewery review of 2026, setting the stage for more hometown highlights throughout the year. Matt opens the episode by explaining his approach to note-taking, clarifying that while the show is unscripted, he keeps minimal reference notes to ensure accuracy—especially when discussing unfamiliar breweries or beer descriptions. That leads into a discussion of Tactical Brewing’s intentionally minimal website descriptions, which prompted Matt to dig slightly deeper than usual, confirming that Dolly Hole was a recent rebrew rather than an older release. The beer itself is evaluated strictly under BJCP Category 21C: Hazy IPA, eliminating the ambiguity that often surrounds modern IPA substyles. Appearance-wise, Dolly Hole pours an opaque, butter-yellow color with a dense, mousse-like head, though Matt notes that the haze borders on murky, a technical fault under BJCP guidelines. Aromatically, the beer bursts with orange rind, citrus juice, and tropical fruit, supported by subtle esters and a faint herbal note. While expressive and inviting, the aroma lacks sufficient malt presence, costing it points in the judging process. Flavor-wise, the beer leans heavily into sweet, candy-like citrus, fruit punch, and lemon-lime soda character, with only a fleeting bitterness appearing late in the finish. The mouthfeel is one of the beer’s strongest attributes—soft, silky, and medium-bodied, perfectly aligned with the hazy IPA style. However, excessive sweetness and minimal bitterness ultimately hold the beer back from higher marks. Matt scores Dolly Hole 32 out of 50, placing it in the “Very Good” range while emphasizing that the score reflects stylistic evaluation—not overall enjoyment. With no one-star reviews to read, the episode transitions into a detailed breakdown of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). Matt explains what the BJCP is, how judging works, and demystifies the certification process—from the notoriously difficult online entrance exam to the tasting exam and the various ranking levels. He also shares how becoming a BJCP judge has made him a better brewer and more thoughtful beer drinker. The episode closes with an invitation for listeners interested in judging or learning more to explore structured study resources, reinforcing one of the podcast’s central themes: beer appreciation improves with education, curiosity, and community involvement.