What’s the Difference? Share your Side-by-Side (2021)

Just some random info that you may already be aware of, but Dixie brewery actually rebranded to Faubourg Brewing Company earlier this year.

For 15 years they contract brewed out-of-state following damage to the brewery from Katrina in 2005 until 2019 when they re-opened in New Orleans before rebranding earlier this year.

 

No I wasn't but thanks for the info. I wish them well, then.

 

Ok, my afternoon cleared up, so I will attempt this comparison of a local brew both the GF and I really enjoy and my new most highly rated IPA. I'm curious how much I like each when compared to the other.

So, let's get into Ocelot's Jacks and Jokers vs. Heady Topper.


I am not doing this blind, so any biases I have may come into play. I state that outright, because I think Jacks and Jokers looks just a tad better than Heady in this comparison. Heady Topper is a little darker, and maybe slightly less hazy, but the head on the Ocelot beer is a little better formed.

Popping open both these beers together was a task that rewarded my olfactory sense. Even though Jacks and Jokers is just over a month older than the nearly month old Heady, it provides a nice aroma of fruit salad with a bit of white grapefruit. Heady has a little more malt coming through, and then a more grapefruit forward mix of hop fruits. Ocelot's brew is a little more floral with maybe a bit of a perfume feel to it, which weighs on it a bit. For strength of nose, Ocelot has it, but the quality of the scents has The Alchemist getting my vote.

Heady is clean and crisp, where Jacks is softer and lighter in feel. I like the feel of Heady more. The more soft water impression of the Ocelot brew leads into the opening flavor as well. There's a more sturdy, bakery-made form of bread in Heady versus the softer feel of a more mass produce, processed bread in Jacks. That isn't to convey the difference in quality of these breads equates to quality in these beers, it's just something my mind came up with.

Jacks and Jokers starts with a muted version of that fruit salad from the nose, but quickly starts veering bitter. Grapefruit rind and fresh grass further turns into full on grapefruit pith and then pine. The malts don't do much to stop this, but don't let it get out of control. The strength of the bitterness is what drew me to this comparison.

I'll note at this point, the GF indicated that she liked the shorter glass more. Her glasses were the same as mine.

The first sips of Heady Topper didn't bring about a challenge to Jacks. Perhaps The Alchemist beer wanted to let my local brew have a moment. Before the midway point of the glasses, though, Heady decided to show its wares. More grapefruit up front than the Ocelot brew, there's also a more herbal aspect and some unripe peach versus anything tropical.

The bitterness level in Heady is perhaps slightly less in perception than Jacks and Jokers, though the malt profile from the beers might have something to do with the relativity of that. Or maybe put another way, Heady's bitterness is a bit less abrasive than that of Ocelot's brew, and at least near as strong. Heady's bitterness does seem to hold with a nice, classic pine resin.

I rated Ocelot's beer about a quarter point below Heady, and that seems a little high but looking at each category, I can't say I'd change much. I do think Jacks and Jokers is a very good beer, maybe a bit of a mix between the newer IPAs** and old school west coast IPA.

From the first chance I got to try Heady Topper, I never considered it so much a "NE IPA" as I understood them at the time (Aslin being an influence here). My current preference for the more classic west coast form of India pale ales has Heady winning this one by more of a margin than I originally envisioned, though it wasn't at all a blowout in any sense.


** I've often compared them to Maine Brewing in makeup, although a bit less since the original brewer left; he's now at Vibrissa (formerly called Front Royal) Brewing, another one of my other favorite VA brewers

 

Well well well...side by side of two versions of a favorite style (fresh hop IPA), from a favorite brewery (Fremont), of a favorite beer (Cowiche Canyon).

Cowiche Canyon Fresh Hop Hazy IPA and Cowiche Canyon Fresh Hop Ale.

Appears: Obviously different. Orangy-amber and clear with a modest head that disappears politely versus hazy pale white with a big puffy head that collapses into clumpy chunks and lacing.

Smell: Hazy is much more aromatic. Lots of resin and pine and some vegetation with some honeysuckle and slight juiciness. Regular is milder, pinier, less fruity.

Taste: I get a lot of bubble gum out of the regular and a little out of the hazy. I get melon out of both of them, too, though it's a bit sharper in the regular. I think there's a strong resin in both of them, but it has a bite in the regular but it's brighter in the regular.

Mouthfeel: Regular is medium bodied and almost crisp. Hazy is fluffier, creamier.

Overall: These are both delicious. Absolutely delicious.

 

Well well well WELL...I have a second half of the crowler of the excellent Cowiche Canyon hazy, and a can of my 2021 season favorite Head Full of Fresh Hops (or so I think). Let's put them head to head!

Appearance: Second pour of the Cowiche is not as attractive, but still looks nice. I'll go by the last one, though -- it was pillowy, rocky, with great retention and lovely lacing. HFoFH is just slightly darker amber, still a light whitish-yellow. HFoFH's head is smaller and fades to a more even skin when it settles down. I would say the Cowiche was prettier on the first pour than the HFoFH is.

Smell: HFoFH is screaming pine and resin. Clear fucking winner there. Still loving the melon and bubblegum from Cowiche, though. Just not as much as the HFoFH.

Taste: I just told you about the lovely bubblegum and melon with bright resin notes in the Cowiche, so let me compare the HFoFH: Again, it is screaming pine resin, but with a beautiful counternote of honeysuckle.

Mouthfeel: Cowiche might feel the tiniest bit heavier. Both fluffy and soft.

Overall: Oh man, these are both so good, but the HFoFH is my clear winner. Not by a leap and a bound, but just an undeniable step, like the thickness of a fingernail.

 

Ok, my two favorite beers from our recent trip to VT, yet another side-by-side to see which I prefer more.


Double Sip is a tad more dark and orange, and a bit less hazy. Heady has a little more robust of a head. Double Sip smells a little more fruity and sweet in the nose, whereas Heady is a more herbal and slightly dank.

The GF noted blind that she liked Double Sip of Sunshine more.

The GF's choice, Double Sip brings a tropical fruit note up front with a bit of sweetness - but a non-sugary sweetness. It transitions at a moderate pace to citrus rind and then a reedy, herbal, and eventual piney bitterness. A transition like this is something I really enjoy in a beer.

Heady Topper starts with a more citrus pithy / herbal note mixed with the malt, making it a more bitter forward beer to me. It holds this level for a little while before turning piney and winds up much more bitter than where Double Sip ends up.

Heady is a bit of a softer feel, with Double Sip being what I consider crisper / cleaner (in a relative sense). I think I could enjoy a few Double Sip in a row, and at almost any time. I think Heady is a bit more interesting, but the bitterness might require a palate cleanse after a couple.

These are my #1 and #2 IPAs now (Focal Banger dropped ever so slightly after getting to have a few chances at it, while Heady increased, causing the current situation). This tasting doesn't make me think I'm off with that. So it comes down to the opening sweetness (which could be tamed a little bit) to the strong bitterness of Heady (ditto)...

Overall, I gotta think it's essentially a tie. In this particular tasting, with all the ambient factors involved, I gotta agree with the GF by the slightest of margins.

 

During the recent online Oktoberfest, I noted that I was (I thought) able to more fairly comment on the Festbier style if I considered it to be a strong Helles rather than to compare it against the Märzen style. I also commented (I think during the pre-tasting thread) that I’d eventually like to do a side-by-side of the same German brewer’s Festbier and Helles.

This will not be a review per se, since I won’t be rating these beers again here. Instead, I’ll just be comparing them as to how they are the same/similar/different without a value judgment.

Weihenstephaner Festbier & Weihenstephaner Helles Side-by-side
ABV: 5.8%_______________________ABV: 4.8%
IBU: 26__________________________IBU: 16



Look:
Look is almost identical. The Festbier is slightly darker (but not much) and more lightly carbonated. Head appearance is the same, but head retention is longer with the Helles, and the Helles has more lacing that remains throughout. The Festbier recedes to a ring with little to no lacing.

Smell:
The Helles aroma is a stronger and spicier, whereas the Festbier’s is weaker and more malty.

Taste:
The taste is similar, but still different, with the Helles being hoppier in flavor while also being less bitter, with some peppery-spicy notes. Also, the Helles flavor overall is a bit less intense, perhaps owning to its lower ABV. The Festbier has more prominent bittering through the middle and into the finish with an overall stronger flavor. The Festbier presents as maltier overall.

Feel:
While both are medium-bodied, the Helles is on the thin side of medium with more active carbonation on the tongue.

Overall:
Since this is not a review, I have no overall rating. I will say, however, that both are very drinkable and enjoyable with a dry finish. The slightly heavier-bodied Festbier fits in with the fall season, whereas the Helles fits well in the warmer months. But, the differences are subtle and not easily discerned (by me, anyway) in an open non-blind side-by-side.

 

In a more of an apples – apples comparison I did a side-by-side tasting of Weihenstephaner Festbier vs. Augustiner Edelstoff three years ago in a NBS thread:



https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-709.588887/#post-6187913

A conclusion I drew from that particular side-by-side tasting:

“These two beers are indeed quite similar. It seems to me that describing a Pale Oktoberfest as a more heavy duty Helles (i.e., a German Helles Exportbier) is a fair statement.”

Prost!

 

Glad you stayed with the same brewer. I’m curious how others would compare, like Paulaner or Jack’s Abby.

 

I wonder how Kellerbier would compare in a three way analysis. Say, Weihenstephan’s Festbier, Helles, and 1516 Kellerbier.

 

That would make for a tasty three-way.

My guess is that the 1516 would stand out from a hoppy flavor perspective. I discussed this beer 5 years ago in a NBS thread:



"Taste:

The flavors pretty much follows the nose. The bready flavors are at the fore but there are hoppy flavors of herbal as well."

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-582.407559/#post-4697030

Prost!

 

Maybe next year. I was thinking about doing a side by side with the two Paulaner's.

As to Jack's Abby, that would have to be by someone in their distribution area. But, in general, I don't trust American craft brewers to give enough of a damn about sticking to style to make the comparison meaningful (for my purposes anyway).

 

Good point.

 

I meant to post this here about a month back but forgot.
I’m too tipsy to put together a comprehensive review.
Essentially here’s the deal. Having had a couple of my favorite Cali pilsners on separate occasions I rated them similarly. I had a chance to try them side by side, and Reality Czeck dominated in every way.
From appearance to taste and smell for a classic pilsner category.

 

I just posted a side-by-side in the NBW thread:

Do you prefer it wet (and wild?)?




Do you prefer it wet (and wild?)?



Well, in this instance I am referring to wet-hopped vs. regular hopped beers.

The new beer today is Fat Head’s Wet-Hopped Head Hunter IPA. It is my understanding this is a new beer brand from Fat Head’s for 2021. I can report that I have never seen this beer before.

There always seems to be an annual thread/discussion on BA about “Fresh” vs. “Wet-Hopped” beers. The term of “Fresh” can be ambiguous but the terminology of “Wet-Hopped” is clear – it is a beer brewed using freshly picked hop cones which have not been dried (hence the word “wet”) and have been used in the brewing very soon after harvest (e.g., within 24 hours). Every year I homebrew what I brand as Harvest Ale using wet hops picked from my hop plant in my backyard. My friend Gary helps me with this batch and he picks the hops as I am boiling the wort. Those hops have been harvested only a few minutes prior to me adding them to the brew kettle (an end of boil aroma addition).

Below is how Fat Head’s describes their Wet-Hopped Head Hunter on their Tap Room website:

“WET HOPPED HEAD HUNTER IPA: 7.5% ABV 80 IBU 16oz: $6.50 Sample: $2.25 Growler ToGo: $20 Crowler ToGo: $10 Bright, green, juicy fruit aromas. Baked up with resinous, piney, grapefruit flavors. Medium-high bitterness with a balanced finish.”

It seems to be popular that breweries will describe their wet-hopped beers as having a “green” taste. I am familiar with the word green as being a color but I am uncertain what a green flavor is supposed to mean.

I also have regular Head Hunter IPA in my refrigerator so I figured it would be fun to conduct a side-by-side tasting here.

Below is how the regular Head Hunter is detailed on the Fat Head’s website:

“BREWER DETAILS

7.5% ABV 87 IBU

HOPS: SIMCOE, CENTENNIAL, EKUANOT, MOSAIC, CITRA, CHINOOK

MALT: PALE, C-15, CARA-PILS, FLAKED WHEAT

YEAST: AMERICAN ALE

BEGINNING GRAVITY: 16.8 PLATO

COLOR: DEEP GOLDEN”

Well, it appears that the Wet-Hopped and Regular versions are comparable in terms of ABV and IBUs. I wonder if the Wet-Hopped version uses the exact same hop varieties?

Served in my small Duvel tulip glasses:

Appearance:

Wet-Hopped Head Hunter: Golden yellow colored with a white head.

Regular Head Hunter: Ditto but with better head retention.

Aroma:

Wet-Hopped Head Hunter: Citrus in the forefront and pine/resin in the background.

Regular Head Hunter: A combination of tropical fruits plus some pine/resin.

Taste:

Wet-Hopped Head Hunter: The flavor very much follows the nose with a combination of citrus and pine/resin. On the mid-palate the pine/resin is quite prominent yielding a sticky sensation. There is a notable bitterness.

Regular Head Hunter: The flavors follow the nose with a combination of tropical fruits and pine/resin. In comparison there is no ‘stickiness’ to this beer. There is a notable bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Wet-Hopped Head Hunter: This beer is medium bodied with a dry finish.

Regular Head Hunter: Ditto but in comparison the finish is a bit drier.

Overall:

Wet-Hopped Head Hunter: I think this beer is very good – excellent.

Regular Head Hunter: I also think this beer is very good – excellent.

While these two beers have some similarities (e.g., appearance, amount of bitterness) the flavor profile does differ. FWIW my preference between the two is the Regular Head Hunter.

My wife was watching me as was conducting this side-by-side taste test. She requested a taste of both beers. I told her since I had an ‘extra’ beer she could have one. She selected the Regular Head Hunter.

Cheers!

@ljkeats

 

I did this with Paulaner a month or so ago. The Festbier is definitely beefier than the Original Munich Lager, with a more pronounced malt aroma and flavor.

 

This would be interesting with the Original, which might be closer regarding flavor profile to the Festbier. Although I still think the differences would be subtle.

 

Ok, another not-too-scientific side-by-side for me. This is the last of a box my friend sent me from AZ compared to two local of similar style. My friend used to live in the area, so is he getting better stuff (in this particular "style") or is he missing out? Let's see.

So we have, in the local category, Port City's German Pilsner and Ocelot's Sunnyside Dweller, both of which have won GABF medals in the Kellerbier category. The other is Wren House's Big Spill Pils - a dry-hopped Pils. I see @ChicagoJ reviewed a Nelson version of this in NBS 784, and he gave it a fairly average rating. I am not sure as of typing this what hop might have been used in this can, if it's not Nelson.


So, all three beers poured with a nice head (even if it's sorta hidden in the Ocelet glass in my pic). In fact, after things settled as I type, the head of Ocelot's Sunnyside has held up best. Ocelot's brew is also the most hazy, with Port City and Wren House about the same.

The GF is (blindly) mocking the Wren House at this point, saying it has a burnt rubber smell. She says the taste avoids it, maybe. Shit, she's becoming a more advanced reviewer, now

Let's quality control her thoughts (don't tell her I said that).
Ok, she's crazy (don't tell her I said that, either).

I'll admit, I gave an advantage in smell to the local brews with vessel choice. But the labels had meaning for my side-by-side. The Wren House is in a pilfered Pilsner glass (actually, it's the last object I think I've stolen in my life) from a now defunct college (where I met my friend) hangout.

That aside, I think the Wren House (WH) and Port City (PC) smell vaguely similar, with Ocelot's Pilsner having less aroma. I will note here that the ages of these beers go Ocelot > WH > PC, each about 3 weeks from the next. Grass, hay and some bread in WH and PC, and a light bread and lemony note from Ocelot.

Sunnyside Dweller (SD) is still pretty solid to me. Light bready note with a mix of grass and citrus. I've confirmed my purchase of this for a fridge staple whenever I can.

Port City German Pilsner also has some bread, but the hops are more aggressive. It's also the youngest. There's a slight metallic note to the bitterness as well, but has an herbal to pseudo-dank edge to it that makes it more acceptable to me, somehow. A litle more aggressive, but I'm liking it a bit more than Sunnyside tonight.

Wren House, (the one new beer in this review) what you got?
It's softer, for one. SD comes closer than PC, and I'm torn between the harder PC and softer WH here with regards to overall preference.

So, there's a light bread to more crackery impression to Big Spill. It's feels a bit lighter on top of begin softer. I get an ever so small mix of sweet citrus and melon before bitter notes counter. Dry grass to hay evolve slowly and nicely into earthy herbs. It's a nicely subtle shift that I think your attention has to have a little patience for.

I will say, if Nelson dry-hopping is involved in this one, I wouldn't be surprised.


So, at the end of the day?
GF didn't think SD had much taste to go with its non-smell. Then she didn't like the "burnt rubber" of the WH beer. I almost kinda got what she was talking about at one point, but I think I was stretching. So, she liked Port City the most.

Though she's not handing back any of the beers to me, she felt they weren't in a style she likes (well, she got that right). I have to agree with her tonight. I liked the strength and "less soft" feel of Port City German Pilsner. I am enjoying the Wren House brew about as much as Ocelot's though for slightly different reasons.

I expected this to be long, but wow! I hope y'all don't mind if I include the GF thougts in these, but I find it interesting to have a different perspective (usually blind), and feel a need to share that perspective with y'all, especially when counter to mine.

Cheers to having the ability to compare because you have a friend across the country!

 

Great review as always @cjgiant . I believe the canned WH version is brewed with Nelson, as it’s in the description on untapped, and the other listings have a specific hop identified in the name. (I use Untappd solely for beer names and listings, but don’t have an ID there).

There were hints of Nelson, but not much in terms of aroma or taste. Would have liked to compare to one brewed with Nobel hops, but that wasn’t an option. I didn’t note any flaws, including burnt rubber, it was slightly above average for a Pils.

Wren House is ok to good, was the most recommended Phoenix brewery. I think Phoenix’ beer scene is well behind Vegas in terms of breadth and quality, despite the huge population advantage. Liked Mother Road in Flagstaff, ok to good as well. Didn’t like the AB Four Peaks beer I tried (Kilt Lifter).

Hope your friend is able to find good beer there, and will continue looking for your reviews to note anything worth seeking in the future.

 

@ChicagoJ - find your take on Vegas interesting b/c I couldn't find a NV beer in Vegas last time I was there (though it's been 5-ish years since I was there). My last state was NV, even, and it accidentally happened with BA's IPA Fest.

I had Kilt Lifter before the takeover, and found it fine enough. That said, my setting was the golf course where I can easily enjoy a Coors Light (not that I'm trying to equate the two beers here).