Brewtopia Events LLC
www.ClassicCityBrew.com

Blind Tasting:
MIXED STYLES
Ales and Lagers

Our 10th Mixed Styles Evaluation!
05-30-2008

L-R: Nick Allen and Gail Graves compare colors of two pale ales.


Eric Johnson (left) is co-owner of Trappeze Pub in Athens, GA.
Sachin Patel (right) is owner of Athens' Five Points Bottle Shop and Aromas Wine & Beer bar.

Owen Ogletree (director of Brewtopia Events LLC) gathered together fellow beer lovers Nick Allen, Dean Graves, Gail Graves, Eric Johnson and Sachin Patel on May 30, 2008 at Aromas in Athens, GA to sample and comment on several mixed styles of ales and lagers from commercial and craft breweries from around the world.  This sampling was done as a "best of show" blind tasting where no one was aware of the brands that were being served.  Products were informally commented upon and ranked according to Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) style guidelines.  First, second, third places, and honorable mentions were awarded to the products we felt represented their individual styles in extraordinary fashion.  Drop Owen an email to share your comments and opinions.
Brewtopia Events LLC



 


More Blind Beer
Evaluations



Beer Guides to Cities
Around the World



BJCP

 


Brooklyner Weisse Beer
Brooklyn Brewery - Brooklyn, NY, USA
Weizen / Weissbier

FIRST PLACE
Aroma: Bubblegum, wheat, mild clove, mid banana.
Appearance: Medium gold, mild haze, nice white layer of foam.
Flavor: Fresh wheat yeast rolls, citrus hints, refreshing wheat flavors, round mouthfeel, a little bitter in the finish, hint of sweetness, quite malty.  Great example of the style.




Cascade Pale Ale
Stevens Point Brewery - Stevens Point, WI, USA
American Pale Ale
SECOND PLACE 
Aroma: Mild hop aromas, a touch of malt, light caramel, nice citrus, very subtle and clean.
Appearance: Copper, clear, white foam.
Flavor: Refreshing, dry, clean, tasty, citrusy, pine resin tones, hops are well balanced with malt, pleasant lingering bitterness.  A nice example of the style.  A very pleasing session ale.




Anglers Pale Ale
Uinta Brewing Company - Salt Lake City, UT, USA
American Pale Ale

THIRD PLACE 
Aroma: Piney, resiny, fresh hops, caramel malt.
Appearance: Clear.  Amber in color.
Flavor: Piney, nice, malt, moderately dry up front with hint of sweetness in the finish, nice hop flavor, moderate hop bitterness, high end of malt and hops for style, borders on an IPA.




Jever Pilsener
Friesisches Brauhaus - Jever, Germany
German Pilsner

HONORABLE MENTION 
Aroma: Wild honey, flowers, Saaz hops, mild citrus, orange peel hints, lots of noble hops.
Appearance: Clear, light gold, brilliant.
Flavor: Grainy, a touch hay-like, lingering bitterness, crisp, low hop flavor, very dry, malts are light and in the background.  Big hop bitterness is impressive.



Hook & Ladder Golden Ale
Hook and Ladder Brewing Company - Rochester, NY, USA
Blonde Ale

Aroma: Sweet malt, honey, slightly fruity, a touch of butter. 
Appearance: Very clear, straw yellow with a light stand of white foam.
Flavor: Light malt, slightly sweet, biscuity, mildly fruity, hops are earthy and very restrained, not bitter at all, honey notes, some diacetyl as it warms.



Garde Dog
Flying Dog Brewery - Denver, CO, USA
Biere de Garde

Aroma: Honey, wheat hints, mild citrus notes, subtle aromas, herbal hints.
Appearance: Golden, clear, white foam, light head.
Flavor: Medium dry, very little aftertaste, sweet malt flavors are all up front, very little finish, silky start with vanilla and honey, flavors fade quickly, hops are mild.



Horny Goat Wheat
GJS Sales - LaCrosse, WI, USA
Witbier / Belgian-style White

Aroma: Berries, fruit, melon.  Lacks coriander and orange character.  Some lactic notes.
Appearance: Light haze, gold, nice lacy white foam, not very cloudy.
Flavor: Berry, chamomile, honey, citrus, mild lactic hint, herbal notes, mildly sweet, too complex for style. Needs more clean coriander, wheat and orange peel character.



Old Thumper
Shipyard Brewing Company - Portland, ME, USA
Extra Strong / Strong Bitter (ESB)

Aroma: Fruity, malty, woody UK hops, cardboard hints, chemical note, butterscotch undertones.  Could be a bit old.  Muscat grape hint.
Appearance: Dark gold/light amber, very clear, mild white head.
Flavor: Woody, cardboard, lemon, pine, hint of butter, finish is nice - caramel malts and tannin/citrus flavors, nice hop profile.



Duck Rabbit Brown Ale
Duck Rabbit Craft Brewery - Farmville, NC, USA
American Brown Ale 
Aroma: Coffee, cocoa, toffee, fruit, candy, dark chocolate hints.
Appearance: Dark red / light brown color.  Tan head.  Heavily carbonated - too much for style.
Flavor: Malty, grassy, citrus, coffee notes, fruity, slightly acidic - could have a touch of infection.  Lactic hints, tart, nutty.  Hops toward finish - woody - nice, bitter hops at the end.




UFO Raspberry Hefeweizen
Harpoon Brewery - Windsor, VT, USA
Fruit Beer
Aroma: Artificial raspberry syrup notes, fruit extract, very perfumy and candy-like.
Appearance: Hazy with a slight pink rose color.  Light pink foam.
Flavor: Wheat hints, raspberry undertones, dry, spritzer-like character, cereal notes, very mild flavors.  A bit watery and thin.



Cottonwood Endo IPA
Carolina Beer Company - Mooresville, NC
, USA
American IPA 
Aroma: Sweet malt, citrusy hops, pine notes, fig, candied fruit, raisin.
Appearance: Amber color.  Nice head.  Off white foam with good head retention.
Flavor: Biscuity, toasted malt, fruit hints, dry, pleasant, clean.  Needs more hop aroma, flavor and bitterness.  More malt and mouthfeel would also be good for style.  Bitterness is good.



Jockamo IPA
Abita Brewing Company - Abita Springs, LA, USA
American IPA
Aroma: A bit syrupy with notes of dark fruit.  Very low hops for style, very fruity with notes of cherry and other light fruits.
Appearance: Amber with moderate carbonation.  Very clear.
Flavor: Berry, fruit, malt.  Needs more hop flavor to be a great IPA. There is clean malt with caramel notes.  This is a pleasant beer, but not quite an American IPA.



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