Side-by-Side - Have You Done One Recently?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by PapaGoose03, Mar 15, 2020.

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  1. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    A few days ago I saw some 2019 Founders Imperial Stout at one of my favorite stores, and since I hadn't had it in years I decided to pick up a 4-pack. Then today Dark Horse released their Plead the 5th at the brewery (bottled last week) , so I drove over there and picked up a couple of 4-packs. I don't normally have the same style of beer from different breweries in my fridge, especially highly regarded ones, so I decided to do a side-by-side comparison.

    It's been so long ago since I had the FIS that I couldn't remember how well I liked it, although I do remember liking it. Plead the 5th has been on my list as a regular, and I've considered it as my favorite in the style. My comparison is a probably a little bit biased because I'm more familiar with it, but I liked Pt5 just a little bit better.

    Both are similar with their "World Class" status here on BA, with FIS rated at 4.38 (97) and Pt5 at 4.32 (96) but they are quite different in their character. FIS is more mellow and has a creamier mouthfeel, plus it easily showed a head and retained most of it until the end; Pt5 had no head at all and a thinner mouthfeel. They had similar tasting notes (roasted malt and chocolate), but Pt5 was richer in its flavor and that's what swayed me. So, two very similar, yet somewhat different beers. It was an enjoyable experience. (Same price too @ $11.99)

    So I'm curious whether you've had a recent side-by-side with well-known same-style beers? Which one won?
     
    #1 PapaGoose03, Mar 15, 2020
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  2. eppCOS

    eppCOS Grand Pooh-Bah (4,570) Jun 27, 2015 Colorado
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I did Lawsons's Sip of Sunshine vs. RR Pliny the Elder just 2 weeks ago.
    Results were conclusive, for me at least, in that Pliny didn't have an off-note.
    I like S.o.S. but there's a weird floral-chemical thing to the taste that just puts me off.
    So, Pliny. the E. At least for me.
    It's always fun putting beers with equal freshness, same ABV, and in the same style up against each other. Who's next?
     
    #2 eppCOS, Mar 15, 2020
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  3. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,790) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    On January 5th I did a side-by-side of Bourbon County 2 Year Reserve Brand Stout (2019) and Bourbon County Brand Reserve Stout (2018). It's a vert, but really the beers differ enough that it's more of a side-by-side. I gave the edge to the 2018. And I was hammered, even taking a few hours drinking them.

    https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/posts/6756977/
     
    #3 bbtkd, Mar 15, 2020
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  4. jakecattleco

    jakecattleco Grand Pooh-Bah (3,749) Sep 3, 2008 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yep, same FIS against Expedition. I didn't do it soon enough to go buy more FIS before it sold out.
     
    #4 jakecattleco, Mar 15, 2020
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  5. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Don't keep us in suspense, which one won?
     
    #5 PapaGoose03, Mar 15, 2020
  6. Fermented-nate

    Fermented-nate Zealot (649) Sep 15, 2013 California
    Trader

    Not beer (hope you dont mind!) but I did a side by side with Blantons and Elmer T Lee the other day. ETL blew the Blantons out of the water.
    ETL has a fuller, vanilla forward aroma and flavor vs Blantons which tasted kind of bland. For lack of a better way to put it, the Blantons tasted like a "basic" bourbon. Still really good and very smooth, just boring compared to ETL.
     
    #6 Fermented-nate, Mar 15, 2020
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  7. mschrei

    mschrei Grand Pooh-Bah (5,137) Jul 4, 2014 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I did a King Sue and double dry hoped PseudoSue last weekend. DDH Pseudo won, but it’s one of my favorite beers ever, so I knew the winner going in.
     
    #7 mschrei, Mar 15, 2020
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  8. RichD

    RichD Pooh-Bah (2,318) Mar 18, 2012 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I visited Cigar City about 2 weeks ago and they had Huna 18 and 19 on tap. I grabbed a pour of both and tried them side by side. Both were excellent beers, but the 18 was smoother and had a more concentrated Marshall Zhukov taste, while the adjuncts were more prominent on the 19.
     
    #8 RichD, Mar 15, 2020
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  9. Junior

    Junior Pooh-Bah (1,883) May 23, 2015 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I did a King Sue versus Boss Tweed last year. It was to close to call.
     
    #9 Junior, Mar 15, 2020
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  10. jakecattleco

    jakecattleco Grand Pooh-Bah (3,749) Sep 3, 2008 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    My bad, for my palate and preferences it was FIS by a huge margin.
     
    #10 jakecattleco, Mar 15, 2020
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  11. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    The only time that I had Huna it FAR exceeded my expectations. Great Beer!!
     
    #11 PapaGoose03, Mar 15, 2020
  12. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Just curious, which is more expensive?
     
    #12 PapaGoose03, Mar 15, 2020
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  13. Fermented-nate

    Fermented-nate Zealot (649) Sep 15, 2013 California
    Trader

    Blantons was about $60 and the ETL was $35. However, Blantons is available fairly often in SoCal, but ETL is really hard to get.
     
    #13 Fermented-nate, Mar 15, 2020
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