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Mixed Beer Styles I
Tasting Comments
Owen Ogletree (director of Brewtopia Events) gathered together some of his fellow beer lovers at Athens' Globe Pub to sample and comment on several commercial beers available in Georgia in the spring of 2001.  This beer sampling was done as a blind tasting where each style was revealed, but no one was aware of the brand that was being served each time.  Beers were informally commented upon and ranked according to American Homebrewers Association (AHA) style guidelines.  This sampling was conducted in April, 2001.  First, second, and third places (best of show) were awarded to the beers we felt best represented their 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...

  
Beers were presented in five ounce samples on top of white paper for note-taking.  Each beer was judged according to published style guidelines.
(L to R): Martha DeHart, Jeff Rapp, Joanne Maki, Mark King, Lari Cowgill, and Owen Ogletree (not pictured).  We'd like to thank The Globe for hosting us!
Fuller's London Porter
Chiswick, UK
FIRST PLACE
A wonderful Brown Porter that is deep, dark ruby when held to the light.  This beer is malty and rich.  It exhibits mild mocha and mild coffee flavors and aromas.  There is medium hop bitterness.  An extremely flavorful beer.

Franziskaner Hefeweizen
Munich, Germany
SECOND PLACE
A very spicy beer with loads of complexity and effervescence.  This beer fits the description of a classic Bavarian wheat beer.  It is spicy with esters of clove, vanilla and banana.  Refreshing and complex.

Spaten Oktoberfest
Munich, Germany
THIRD PLACE
This lager beer is malty, toasty, and has low hops.  It has a very good medium body and is true to Oktoberfest style.  There is a terrific balance here.  This beer is quite clean and satisfying -- a wonderful example of style.

Dinkel Acker Dark
Munich, Germany
HONORABLE MENTION
This lager is dark amber with a caramel color and flavor -- beautiful.  Dry, but balanced with malt.  There are mocha undertones here with a nutty (not burnt) chocolate-like sweetness in aroma and flavor.  A superb beer in regard to the depth of character in the malt.

Wieckse Witte
Maastricht, Holland
Wheaty with hints of citrus and clove.  Nice tartness and carbonation.  Slightly sweet with notes of spice and honey -- quite good for a refreshing Belgian White beer.

Strongbow Dry Cider
Hereford, UK  
This cider has a light body and nice apple flavor without being too sweet.  It is very clear and dry with a light body and apple juice character.  There is no foam in the glass.  Very refreshing and fruity.

Fuller's Extra Special Bitter (ESB)
Chiswick, UK  
Beautiful copper color with a malty, fruity, rich, complex character.  There is a hint of butterscotch in the flavor as well.  The malt in this beer is fantastic.

Flying Dog American Pale Ale
Denver, CO  
This is a well balanced beer with nice hops and malt.  There is a floral character to the aroma that is nice and a touch of grapefruit aroma to the hops.  This ale is clean with a radiant amber color and a bouquet of flavors and aromas.
Harpoon India Pale Ale (IPA)
Boston, MA  
Wow -- this IPA has hints of oak, vanilla, and fruitiness that are impressive.  There is medium body with high hop character.  The hops are resiny, pine-like American hops.  Quite a flavorful brew.
Grozet Gooseberry Wheat Beer
Scotland, UK  
This fruit beer has a pleasant, sweet aroma.  It is spicy in flavor with a flavor of berries and ginger.  It is refreshing and medium-light in body.  This is a very good fruit beer with lots of complexity and character.
Mackeson XXX Stout
London, UK  
A Sweet Stout with sugary, chocolate-caramel flavors and a creamy texture.  This is a dessert beer that would go well with any chocolate treat.  A rich beer that seems to lack depth.
Weihenstephan Dunkel Weizen
Freising, Germany  
This dark version of a Hefeweizen (discussed above) is dark in color due to the use of caramelized malts.  There is a bit of toasted maltiness and perhaps some chocolate-like undertones.  This beer does not seem to be as complex in flavor as the Hefeweizen listed above -- there is not a huge amount of spiciness or aftertaste.  A very nice beer, but it lacks complexity in some ways.

Click here for more information on Athens' own Globe Pub!
 
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