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www.ClassicCityBrew.com
Mixed Styles 3
Blind Beer Tasting

(LtoR): Johnnie Sutherland, Lari Cowgill, David Boop, 
Matt Buley, Owen Ogletree, and Thel Melton.
Owen Ogletree (director of Brewtopia Events) gathered together some of his devoted beer loving friends in December of 2001 at Athens' Globe pub 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...

  
The Globe is widely regarded as one of the best and most sociable pubs in Athens, GA.  We gathered in the upstairs meeting room to evaluate our tasty brews.

The photo to the right shows David and Johnnie looking over the nice array of colors of our 14 beers included in this tasting.
Oerbier
Belgian Specialty Ale
De Dolle Brouwers, Esen, Belgium
FIRST PLACE
Aroma: Fruity, tart, sour-like, cherries, musty, spicy, pleasantly complex.
Appearance: A bit of haze, reddish color, nice head retention.
Flavor: Beautiful flavors of black cherries, sourness, earthiness, hops, malt, vanilla, cinnamon, wood.  Wow -- this is a delicious, complex beer.

Anchor Special Ale
Spice Beer
Anchor Brewing Co., San Francisco, CA, USA
SECOND PLACE
Aroma: Nutmeg, fruit, cinnamon, spice, syrup, roasted malt.
Appearance: Ruby red, opaque, beautiful.
Flavor: Nutmeg, malt, great balance of spice and malt, spruce-like, roasty, toffee, chocolate, dry with some hop presence, hint of coffee and allspice, very pleasant and complex.  A nice holiday beer that smells like a spice cabinet.

Santa's Private Reserve Ale
Specialty/Experimental
Rogue Ales, Newport, Oregon, USA
THIRD PLACE
Aroma: Sweet (yet hoppy), floral/citrus, caramel aromas.
Appearance: Clear, dark, reddish amber.
Flavor: Hops predominate, dry, caramel, toffee notes, wood, a hint of roastiness.  This is a really delicious ale for hop lovers.

www.rogueales.com

Petrus Old Brown
Oud Bruin Ale
Brewery Bavik, Bavikhove, Belgium
HONORABLE MENTION
Aroma: Complex with hints of raspberries, raisins, plum, sherry, mincemeat pie.
Appearance: Deep, attractive brown with a bit of murkiness.
Flavor: Malty, caramel, slight sourness, hop flavor is low, oak hints, wine-like.

Sunshine Wheat Beer
Witbier
New Belgium Brewing Co., Fort Collins, CO, USA
Aroma: Mild with hints of citrus and lemon.
Appearance: Almost clear and very light gold.
Flavor: Lemon, citrus, hint of coriander, no sourness, mild phenolic flavors and very low hop presence.

Sam Adams Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest/Maerzen
Boston Beer Co., Boston, MA, CO, USA
Aroma: Light toasted aroma with malt.
Appearance: Reddish amber with bright clarity.
Flavor: Low hops (good), honey notes with light toasted character.  Malty in initial flavor, but finishes a bit dry.

Harpoon Octoberfest
Oktoberfest/Maerzen
Mass. Bay Brewing Co., Boston, MA, USA
Aroma: Light toasted aroma with a hint of sulfur and a touch of hops.
Appearance: Amber and clear.
Flavor: A hint of sulfur, malt is low, hops are a bit high for style, body is somewhat thin and dry.  This is a very drinkable beer that does not fit the Oktoberfest style perfectly.

Caledonian Ale
Scottish Export 80/- / Pub Draught Can
Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Aroma: Very mild with hints of malt.
Appearance: Amber with a creamy, smooth head.
Flavor: Thin body, creamy texture, smooth, hints of caramel, very mild malty flavors, no smoke presence.

Castelain
Biere de Garde
Brasserie Benifontaine, Nord-Pas de Calaise, France
Aroma: Earthy, musty, malty, honey.
Appearance: Full gold color, pretty.
Flavor: Light caramel, honey notes, pleasantly sweet, medium/full mouthfeel, warming alcohol presence, silky, very appealing and elegant.

Fat Tire Amber
American Amber Ale
New Belgium Brewing Co., Fort Collins, CO, USA
Aroma: Butterscotch hints, overall aroma is light.
Appearance: Light copper, clear.
Flavor: Butterscotch (diacetyl), light body, moderate hops, a hint of caramel, slightly fruity, refreshing.
Wild Goose Amber
American Amber Ale
Wild Goose Brewery, Frederick, Maryland, USA
Aroma: Light aroma with hop notes.
Appearance: Reddish brown and clear -- attractive.
Flavor: Hoppy with hints of toffee, raisins, and malt.  Diacetyl is somewhat low.
Peachtree Pale Ale
American Pale Ale
Atlanta Brewing Company, Atlanta, GA, USA
Aroma: Smells dry-hopped with citrusy, fresh cascade-like hops, hints of grapefruit in the aroma.
Appearance: Medium gold.
Flavor: Citrusy hop flavor that is medium for style.  Malt flavor is moderate, and diacetyl is low.  This is a nice beer that is very close to style.

3 Floyds Alpha King Pale Ale
India Pale Ale
Three Floyds Brewing, New Ulm, MN, USA
Aroma: Butterscotch, hops, malt.  Hops smell like English hops (woody).
Appearance: Nice copper, good head retention.
Flavor: Woody, malty, nice malt/hop balance, medium/full mouthfeel, butterscotch, caramel.  Hops don't taste piney or resin-like.

Wild Goose IPA
India Pale Ale
Wild Goose Brewery, Frederick, Maryland, USA
Aroma: Slightly old hops.
Appearance: Medium gold, clear, a bit light for style.
Flavor: Honey, malt, nice hop flavor, hop bitterness is medium.  Hops taste piney like hops from NW America.  Spicy notes and good body.
Click here for more information on Athens' Globe pub!
 
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