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

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by jonphisher, Jan 16, 2021.

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  1. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Have you ever tasted St. Bernardus Wit?

    Cheers!
     
    #241 JackHorzempa, Mar 21, 2021
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  2. Urk1127

    Urk1127 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,790) Jul 2, 2014 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Funny. I saw both bottles and cans I didn’t pick it up thinking it wouldn’t be readily available like the others. I’d be interested if i see it again
     
    #242 Urk1127, Mar 21, 2021
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  3. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It's really good. I love those cans, too, but I don't love the price :slight_frown:.
     
    #243 TongoRad, Mar 21, 2021
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  4. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I am with your there; too pricey unfortunately.

    Cheers!
     
    #244 JackHorzempa, Mar 21, 2021
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  5. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    If they ever release the Extra 4 in cans it'll probably be the same price; but at least with that one there are precious few alternatives.
     
    #245 TongoRad, Mar 21, 2021
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  6. Urk1127

    Urk1127 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,790) Jul 2, 2014 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I saw it for 11.99 for 4 pack cans. I would imagine for the alcohol percentage a 6 would be more approachable for that price.
     
    #246 Urk1127, Mar 21, 2021
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  7. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Luckily for the Belgians, american brewers have been busily driving up prices so a $12 4 pack now almost sounds like a bargain
     
    #247 unlikelyspiderperson, Mar 21, 2021
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  8. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah, but these are 12oz cans.
     
    #248 TongoRad, Mar 21, 2021
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  9. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Oof, well I guess the hypesters have some work to do. Maybe other half will make a wit soon
     
    #249 unlikelyspiderperson, Mar 22, 2021
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  10. Urk1127

    Urk1127 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,790) Jul 2, 2014 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Kane in jersey makes one but $16 and change for 4 tall boys is too much for me as well. And the 4 pack bottles of St. B wit is 17.99.
     
    #250 Urk1127, Mar 22, 2021
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  11. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    So this is a side by side of two new beers to me - 3 Floyds - Brian Boru and Phase Three - The Knot. Both are Irish red ales with Brian Boru checking in at 6.5% and The Knot checking in at 5%. Phase Three is a smaller, regional IL brewery.

    [​IMG]

    The Knot pours a dark chestnut color. Excellent clarity. A thick, frothy tan head forms on the beer, then slowly dissipates leaving just a thin mound of bubbly foam on top of the beer. Splotchy lacing coats the glass as the head recedes and as the beer is consumed. The aroma is very malty - rustic malt, grain, a touch of nuttiness and a very light woody, earthiness comes through on the nose.

    Taste follows the nose with lots of malty notes up front - bread mixed with more rustic malty notes, some lighter grainy notes and a slight nuttiness provide the initial impression. There is a moderate malty caramel sweetness to the beer that has an almost candied honey note to it. There is a subtle warming spiciness to the beer as you drink it that isn't initially noticeable, but in the cumulative does register. Some light grassy hops come through on the back end providing a different dimension to the flavor, but not a lot of bitterness. Feel is light to medium bodied, drinkable, crisp and smooth. Nice moderate carbonation with a drier finish.

    Brian Boru pours a much redder, auburn color. Its pretty cloudy. A thick off-white frothy head forms on the beer before steadily but slowly dissipating until just a thin layer of foam remains on the beer. Sticky layers of lacing coat the glass as the head recedes and as the beer is consumed. The aroma on this is immediately a tell tale sign that its a 3 Floyds beer - forget malts, this is a hop driven beer that punches you in the face with a blast of old school west coast hops - pine, pine-wood, grapefruit, and caramel malt notes waft across the nose.

    The flavor is more of the same. Hops dominate the flavor profile with notes of pine, grapefruit, wood, and sap with a caramel malt backbone providing a canvass for the hops. Someone asked the other day where all the red IPAs have gone? well here is one ... because this is not even remotely an Irish red ale. Feel is light to medium bodied. Oily and slick with moderate carbonation. A slight alcohol warming sensation is noted. Moderate bitterness on the finish.

    So, in terms of these beers and the style, the Phase Three The Knot beer was actually a reasonably good representation of the style. It hit all the markers of what Im expecting from an Irish red ale and is probably one of the better ones Ive had out of the admittedly sparse options out there.

    The 3 Floyds Brian Boru was an embarrassingly bad Irish red ale, mainly because it made no effort to actually conform to the style guidelines. Rather its just simply a red IPA that they slapped Irish red ale on and released at St Patrick's Day. In fact, its an absolute travesty that this beer is the #1 rated Irish red ale on Beer Advocate. All of that being said, if we take this as a red IPA or whatever you want to call it - Hoppy American Amber? this is absolutely delicious. Its got that old school piney bitterness on a nice caramel backbone and just hits all the right notes. So do with that what you will.
     
    #251 FBarber, Mar 22, 2021
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  12. cjgiant

    cjgiant Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,584) Jul 13, 2013 District of Columbia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Ok, time for yet another "battle" for Port City's Dunkel. I had forgotten I had done a tasting with Ayinger when I bought a six-pack of Hofbrauhaus Freising Dunkel, but oh well, we'll see how an aging Virignia Dunkel matches up with another from the old world.
    [​IMG]

    Even though the vessels are a little different (and reversed from relative place of origin), I do think the Freising has a darker body. It also seems to have a little more lacing.

    Toasted grain bread on the Port City's nose today, with accents of some spice and light brown sugar. Freising is a darker grained bread, but more lightly toasted, if that makes sense - it's a "toasted grain" bread vs PC's toasted "grain bread". Dark brown sugar and raisin act as accents.

    Tast of Friesing's beer is pretty spot on to the nose, with a little bit of an added mineral note. After a few sips, pumpernickel flavors start to linger on my palate. Port City is also close to the nose, though there's just a little bit of a fruit lean in the middle (if forced to choose, I'd say some combination of nectarine, fig but would emphasize it's more of a generic fruit note).

    Port City finished with a balancing bitterness, where the Freising sticks with the malt notes to the end. Port City has an easier feel thanks to the rounding off of the malt notes. Freising is a little fuller and smoother.

    There seemed a bigger difference between Port City and this German brew compared to the last tasting. I'm really torn today... I'm liking the flavors of the Freising, but the feel of the Port City... I guess flavor wins out a by a centimeter today.

    Oh, and I promise, no more Dunkel tastings for a while.
     
    #252 cjgiant, Mar 22, 2021
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  13. jonphisher

    jonphisher Grand Pooh-Bah (3,850) Aug 9, 2015 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    #253 jonphisher, Mar 23, 2021
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  14. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks! They're from Dancing Gnome in Pittsburgh.
     
    #254 FBarber, Mar 23, 2021
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  15. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Sounds like two very tasty beers there and IMO you should feel fortunate that you can purchase Hofbrauhaus Freising Dunkel. Hofbrauhaus Freising beers made a drop in my area (SEPA) a few years ago and it was unfortunately a ‘one and done’ deal. I suppose that Hofbrauhaus Freising did not sell well in my area?

    Cheers!
     
    #255 JackHorzempa, Mar 23, 2021
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  16. cjgiant

    cjgiant Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,584) Jul 13, 2013 District of Columbia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I’m glad I made the “mistake” of getting another German Dunkel. My GF grabbed one Saturday and simply said, “Mmmm” after her first taste.

    I didn’t pay attention if there were other beers by Freising to be had, but I’ll be sure to check next time.
     
    #256 cjgiant, Mar 23, 2021
  17. Urk1127

    Urk1127 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,790) Jul 2, 2014 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Is there a difference between “freising” and the normal hofbrau? Is it just their location ? Can’t find any info other than that.
     
    #257 Urk1127, Mar 23, 2021
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  18. jonphisher

    jonphisher Grand Pooh-Bah (3,850) Aug 9, 2015 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Two different breweries, hofbrauhaus in Munich is the one we all assume and think about. Freising is a different brewery in another city, freising. I may be missing something here but that is my understanding.

    hofbrauhaus is just a noun and isn’t the proper name, like brewery/beer hall. The location distinguishes them. Anyone feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.
     
    #258 jonphisher, Mar 23, 2021
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  19. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    #259 JackHorzempa, Mar 23, 2021
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  20. Urk1127

    Urk1127 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,790) Jul 2, 2014 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Ah ok. I figured Hofbrau was trademarked or something so I thought it was the same brewery I na a different location. Very similar packaging as well
     
    #260 Urk1127, Mar 23, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2021
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