Brewtopia Events LLC
www.ClassicCityBrew.com

HEAD-TO-HEAD
BLIND BEER COMPARISONS
16 Beers - 8 Classic Styles
Conducted in April of 2010


 

Owen Ogletree (director of Brewtopia Events LLC) gathered together fellow beer lovers Kerri "The Beer Wench" Allen, Dean & Gail Graves, Sachin Patel, Will Nance and Charlie Meers in Athens, GA to sample and comment on eight pairs of classic styles of ales and lagers from commercial and craft breweries from around the world.  This sampling pitted two successful, commercial beers against each other in each style category and includes summary comments from the tasters. Each taster also voted for the beer in each pair that seemed to fit its style in the most tasty and memorable way.  Drop Owen an email to share your comments and opinions.






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Beer
Evaluations






MUNICH HELLES
  • both aromas are very close
  • both beers seem very close to style
  • almost identical in appearance
  • colors are great - good clarity as well

SPATEN PREMIUM

- notes of honey
- light grain aromas
- slightly malty in the finish

5 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.
WEIHENSTEPHANER ORIGINAL PREMIUM

- a bit dryer
- grain-like, cereal notes
- lingering, nice hop flavor

2 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.



HELLES BOCK / MAIBOCK
  • both are very clear
  • attractive appearance
  • nice, white heads
  • colors are within style guidelines
DUNDEE PALE BOCK LAGER

- very mild aroma
- hints of caramel malt and sweet toffee
- a bit too sweet for style?

2 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.
SIERRA NEVADA GLISSADE GOLDEN BOCK

- mineraly notes
- sulfur hints?
- hops are high for style
- smooth & drinkable
- complex for the style

5 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.



OKTOBERFEST / MAERZEN
  • both beers are very good
PAULANER OKTOBERFEST MARZEN

- slightly darker than the other beer
- mineraly, toffee notes
- Munich malt tones
- more German malt character than the other beer.
- toasty aftertaste - quite pleasant

2 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.
GORDON BIERSCH MARZEN

- mild aromas
- not extremely complex
- malty, pleasant finish that lingers

5 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.



BAVARIAN-STYLE HEFEWEIZEN
  • both are almost identical in color
  • both are quite spicy and clove-like
  • nice haze and great appearance for style
FLYING DOG IN HEAT WHEAT ALE

- aroma is cleaner on this beer
- mild clove, banana
- seems more authentic than the other brew

6 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.
SIERRA NEVADA KELLERWEIS

- phenolic hints a bit harsh
- dry and mineral-like
- a little more hoppy than the other beer

1 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.



SCHWARZBIER
  • both are clear with nice, dark color
ASAHI KURONAMA

- mild aromas
- fruity, malty in aroma
- caramel, toffee hint
- light flavor
- very subtle with a hint of cardboard

0 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.
SHINER BOHEMIAN BLACK LAGER

- mild aromas here too
- clean, roasty nose
- dry, roasty flavor
- light, subtle flavors

7 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.



INDIA PALE ALE
  • color of each beer is very close
  • copper, dark gold colors
  • both have a wonderful appearance
  • nice heads
NEW BELGIUM RANGER IPA

- great fresh hop aroma
- fruity with a good hoppy / malt balance
- hints of candy sugar

6 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.
FULL SAIL IPA

- hop aroma is citrusy
- corn hint?
- mild hop flavor
- mild malt and cereal notes

1 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.



PORTER
  • similar colors and foam appearance
  • rich, dark colors
FULLERS LONDON PORTER

- rich, coffee and cocoa aroma
- butterscotch notes
- biscuity with rich malt in flavor
- clean
- toffee and caramel character
- richer in flavor than the other beer

6 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.
THOMAS CREEK PUMPHOUSE PORTER

- a shade darker than the other beer
- fruity, light chocolate aromas
- clean with roasty malt and hop notes
- less body than other beer
- more dry and clean
- hints of burnt malt

1 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.



IMPERIAL STOUT
  • both have a beautiful dark color
SAMUEL SMITH'S IMPERIAL STOUT

- toffee, dark fruit aromas
- very subtle apple hints
- medium mouthfeel could be bigger
- complex fruity quality
- caramel notes
- complex malts

6 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.
VICTORY STORM KING IMPERIAL STOUT

- darker head than other beer
- hops seem a bit old in aroma
- lots of roasted malt
- hints of herbs and smoke
- American citrus-like hop character

1 = Number in the tasting panel who voted for this beer as the most impressive of the pair.


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www.ClassicCityBrew.com
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