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Mixed Styles 4
Blind Beer Tasting

(LtoR): Christina Garrett, Samantha Purcell, Gail Graves, 
Dean Graves, and Kerri Allen (photo by Owen Ogletree).
Owen Ogletree (director of Brewtopia Events) gathered together some of his fellow beer enthusiasts on April 24, 2002 at Athens' Copper Creek Brewing Company brewpub to sample and comment on several mixed styles of ales and lagers.  This beer sampling was done as a blind tasting where no one was aware of the brands that were being served.  Beers were informally commented upon and ranked according to American Homebrewers Association (AHA) style guidelines.  First, second, third places, and honorable mention were awarded to the beers we felt represented their individual styles in extraordinary fashion.  Drop Owen an email to share your comments and opinions.
Brewtopia Events

Commercial Beers -- Blind Tasting Comments...

More beer destinations on our Brewtopia Events webpage...

  
Copper Creek Brewing Company was nice enough to host our evaluation of these beers.

Copper Creek is Athens' only brewpub and offers outstanding house-made beers and food.  It is located in the center of downtown Athens at 140 E. Washington Street.
Paulaner Original Munich Lager
German Pilsner
Paulaner Brewery, Munich, Germany
FIRST PLACE
Aroma: Floral, malty, light and appealing.
Appearance: Straw colored with a medium gold glow.
Flavor: Bready, malty, floral hops, very nice for style.  Bitterness is perfect and hops are smooth and pleasant.

Frankenheim Alt
German Altbier
Frankenheim Brewery, Duesseldorf, Germany
SECOND PLACE
Aroma: Oak, caramel, malt, chocolate -- very pleasant.
Appearance: Dark amber and clear.
Flavor: Slight roast, caramel, bready notes, dry.  This is a delicious example of an Alt that is very smooth yet complex.

Hobgoblin Ale
Strong Bitter / English Pale Ale
Wychwood Brewery, Witney, Oxfordshire, UK
THIRD PLACE
Aroma: Light floral aroma, hints of tea and malt.
Appearance: Amber brown -- dark end of style.
Flavor: Medium body, malty, fruity, tea, wood, malt.  Hops are in the background, but well balanced with malt.  This is a malty, complex ale.

Burning River Pale Ale
American Pale Ale
Great Lakes Brewing Company, Cleveland, OH
HONORABLE MENTION
Aroma: Grapefruit-like, citrusy hops.
Appearance: Clear, copper colored with a beautiful glow.
Flavor: Big, malty body with American hops that are covered a bit by the rich malt.  This is a pale ale with more body than most.  Hops are moderate, but in balance.  Bitterness and hops become more apparent with each sip, however.  This is a great, satisfying ale.

Mirror Pond Pale Ale
American Pale Ale
Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR
HONORABLE MENTION
Aroma: NW hops, piney, fruity, malty.
Appearance: Dark gold/copper in color.
Flavor: Piney, citrus, resin flavors from American hops.  Medium-bodied with a great malt/hop compliment.  This is a well balanced, clean example of the style.  Bravo.

Dinkel Acker CD-Pils
German Pilsner
Spaten Brewery, Munich, Germany
Aroma: Malty with hints of sulfur?  Floral hops are mild and pleasant.
Appearance: Light straw in color, very clear.
Flavor: Good body with a rich malt character and good bitterness.

McEwan's India Pale Ale
Strong Bitter / English Pale Ale
Scottish and Newcastle, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Aroma: Slight malt, caramel, wood-like hops, hint of vinegar?.
Appearance: Clear dark copper.
Flavor: This is not bitter enough to be a true IPA, but suits the category of English Pale Ale well.  This beer is slightly bitter, dry, and hoppy.  Very close in flavor to many milder cask Pale Ales in England.

Fiddler's Elbow
Strong Bitter / English Pale Ale
Wychwood Brewery, Witney, Oxfordshire, UK
Aroma: Fruity, pineapple hints.
Appearance: Slight haze, dark gold.
Flavor: Resiny hops that taste more American than English.  Citrusy hops give a nice character.  Malt is restrained.

McSorley's Black and Tan (Stout and Lager)
Specialty Beer
McSorley's Brewery, La Crosse, WI
Aroma: Like an American Lager with hints of caramel, interesting.
Appearance: Dark brown with ruby hints -- beautiful.
Flavor: Sweet with honey and maple hints.  Corn notes are also present with light caramel.  Hops are not noticeable.

McSorley's Ale
American Pale Ale
McSorley's Brewery, La Crosse, WI
Aroma: Sweet aroma of malt and honey.
Appearance: Nice, golden, clear and brilliant.
Flavor: Wine-like, fruity, pineapple, apple, floral clover honey notes, malty.  Hops are not noticeable.  This is a flavorful beer, but hops are too light for this category.

Kelpie Seaweed Ale
Specialty / Experimental / Historical Beer
Heather Ale Brewery, Scotland, UK
Aroma: Chocolate and brine.
Appearance: Dark in color with a deep brown hue.
Flavor: Chocolatey, dry, slightly smoky with hints of salt and minerals.  This is a rich, remarkable ale, but the seaweed character is really not very noticeable.

Abita Turbodog
Brown Porter
Abita Brewing Company, Abita Springs, LA
Aroma: Slightly fruity with a very light aroma.
Appearance: Dark brown with great head retention.  Ruby red highlights are attractive.
Flavor: Nice medium, creamy mouthfeel with very mild flavors of fruit, mild toffee and hints of caramel.


Road Dog Scottish Porter
Brown Porter
Flying Dog Brewery, Denver, CO
Aroma: Sweet cream and light fruit.
Appearance: Very dark with red notes.
Flavor: Hop dryness, light malt, sharp flavors from dark malts, caramel, hints of chocolate syrup.  This is a tasty beer with a good mouthfeel and depth of character.

Rogue Oregon Golden Ale
American Blond Ale
Oregon Brewing Company, Newport, OR
Aroma: Slight resiny/citrusy hops with a hint of butterscotch.
Appearance: Slightly hazy with a nice golden color.
Flavor: American NW hops, citrusy, fruity, nice mouthfeel.  Hop aroma, flavor, and bitterness are the main components here.  A nice, light ale for folks who enjoy hops.		 
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