The great comparison---beer against beer duels

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Brutaltruth, Jul 13, 2014.

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  1. Brutaltruth

    Brutaltruth Grand Pooh-Bah (3,539) Mar 22, 2014 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    Usually me and the little lady will have similar beers in similar styles and compare which ones we like best. Last night was an exceptional night with 2 beers brewed in 2 different breweries, both a collaboration. Seventh Son brewing and Rockmill brewing companies Urban Cowboy Belgian style stout. It was a TREAT. Best with two or more people, it has always seemed entertaining to see what everyone's taste perceptions are when comparing beers of the same nature. Over the years I have done this same taste test with different stouts, barley wines, and Belgians with mixed opinions from various people who share our love of great brew.

    THE QUESTION----what are the more interesting beers you have tried WITHIN styles that have proven enlightening in SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISONS? Has it changed your tune on which ones you like?

    For example, being a stout lover we have compared Arcadias Russian Imperial versus Victory Brewing Company's Storm King and finally Old Heathen from Weyerbacher. The winner (for us that is) was Arcadia which was a shock since Old Heathen was one of our favorites.
     
    #1 Brutaltruth, Jul 13, 2014
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  2. BoardwalkBock

    BoardwalkBock Pooh-Bah (2,041) Aug 18, 2012 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    Did a blind taste at Coopers on Thursday with Peekskill Higher Standard and Other Half Green Diamonds. I had never had either before so it didn't surprise me but Green Diamonds won the race. I always love doing side by side comparisons, especially blind tests
     
    #2 BoardwalkBock, Jul 13, 2014
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  3. Shroud0fdoom

    Shroud0fdoom Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 Maryland

    I've compared a lot of beers. The more memorable one is when I thought Golden Monkey was a pretty good Tripel. Then I had Tripel Karmeliet. Let's put it this way, I haven't visited another American brewer attempts at the Tripel style.
     
    #3 Shroud0fdoom, Jul 13, 2014
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  4. Brutaltruth

    Brutaltruth Grand Pooh-Bah (3,539) Mar 22, 2014 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    Funny----just a few hours ago I had and reviewed Golden Monkey on growler (way better than in a bottle!).
    As far as good American Belgian styles----there are a lot of them, and many are VERY nice...that said I understand the comparison....Karmeliet is an excellent brew. Can not point to a good one to compare to Golden Monkey from Belgium.
     
    #4 Brutaltruth, Jul 13, 2014
  5. fredmugs

    fredmugs Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2012 Indiana

    When I first had BCBBW I thought it was one of the best beers I ever had. i got to drink it side by side with King Henry and it only confirmed my opinion.
     
    #5 fredmugs, Jul 13, 2014
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  6. Yellolab2010

    Yellolab2010 Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2014 Pennsylvania

    Love zombie dust but side by side with pseudo sue not close! (just my opinion which don't mean much)
     
    #6 Yellolab2010, Jul 13, 2014
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  7. jrnyc

    jrnyc Grand Pooh-Bah (3,012) Mar 21, 2010 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    That's a good one! Love both of these beers.
     
    #7 jrnyc, Jul 14, 2014
  8. Dreizhen

    Dreizhen Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2013 District of Columbia

    Rochefort 10, Wesvleteran 12, and St. Bernardus Abt 12. #ROCHERFORT104EVAYALL
     
    #8 Dreizhen, Jul 14, 2014
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  9. leantom

    leantom Initiate (0) Nov 20, 2011 Indiana

    Two-hearted vs. Stone IPA.

    Both great, IMO. Two-hearted slightly better, but not by much.
     
    #9 leantom, Jul 14, 2014
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  10. DWheeler379

    DWheeler379 Zealot (747) Jun 15, 2012 Colorado

    Did a side by side with two Belgian Tripels that I hadn't had before: Westmalle and St. Bernardus. I thought St. Bernadus was way better, with balance and that true to style flavor, even though I think Westmalle actually commercialized the style. Thought Westmalle was boozy and the flavors didn't mesh. It left me wondering what it'd taste like with a year or two of age on it, as it was clear it had potential.

    IPAs are always fun taste tests. I'm always surprised at how one tastes vs. another. What I need to do is a blind taste test. I'm so particular about my favorites that I'm the one to pick out the beers and blind test.
     
    #10 DWheeler379, Jul 14, 2014
  11. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Group settings unfairly favor the loudest.

    (I still enjoy a good side-by-side)
     
    #11 zid, Jul 14, 2014
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  12. Immortale25

    Immortale25 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,775) May 13, 2011 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    You just made me seriously ISO some Pseudo Sue
     
    #12 Immortale25, Jul 14, 2014
  13. Bosoxfan20

    Bosoxfan20 Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Missouri

    I once did a side by side with a 2010 Huna and an orange wax Bomb! It was my first time to try Huna, but I had tried Bomb! many times prior. Not sure if it was the Huna that made the Bomb! taste so great, or the Bomb! that made the Huna taste so average, but it was Bomb in a landslide.

    Blind tasted an Enjoy By with Double Sunshine. Close, but the edge went to Enjoy By for me. Wife chose DS.
    Also did a Black Butte and Edmond Fitzgerald with a slight edge to Black Butte.
     
    #13 Bosoxfan20, Jul 14, 2014
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  14. dar482

    dar482 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,063) Mar 9, 2007 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    Really cool blind tasting and thanks for sharing your results. I would've loved to do that.

    I've done a bunch on my channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/dar482/search?query=battle+beers

    I try to stick to same style. The biggest surprise was my VT DIPA episode, with me incorrectly picking Abner as Heady Topper.
    Double Sunshine > Abner >> Heady Topper.
     
    #14 dar482, Jul 14, 2014
  15. reaganrvltn

    reaganrvltn Pundit (817) May 24, 2014 Georgia

    I just tried the Straffe Hendrik over the weekend and I will say that is a damn good quad that "might" be up there with the big three. Just my 2 cents.
     
    #15 reaganrvltn, Jul 14, 2014
  16. Brutaltruth

    Brutaltruth Grand Pooh-Bah (3,539) Mar 22, 2014 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    Agreed----never seen Pseudo Sue but I looking for it now. It is somewhat odd how highly rated some of the single hop beers are, yet Zombie Dust was excellent on tap.
     
    #16 Brutaltruth, Jul 14, 2014
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  17. Brutaltruth

    Brutaltruth Grand Pooh-Bah (3,539) Mar 22, 2014 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm watching some of the episodes now---nice!!!!
     
    #17 Brutaltruth, Jul 14, 2014
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  18. Dreizhen

    Dreizhen Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2013 District of Columbia

    I'll have to try it. And while it's definitely different, Boulevard's BBQ is an absolutely incredible take on the style. Have yet to do a side by side with it and Rochefort,but I might have to do that in the near future.

    Also, Go Dawgs.
     
    #18 Dreizhen, Jul 14, 2014
  19. mnredsoxfan69

    mnredsoxfan69 Initiate (0) Dec 27, 2013 Minnesota

    It's funny, but I tried Pseudo Sue at the TG taproom in Decorah and didn't care for it. Maybe I need to go to IA and try again.
     
    #19 mnredsoxfan69, Jul 14, 2014
  20. JeremyDanner

    JeremyDanner Zealot (679) Dec 20, 2005 Missouri

    I'd suggest going with The Sixth Glass as a more accurate comparison to more traditional Belgian quads.
     
    #20 JeremyDanner, Jul 14, 2014
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