New Beer Weekend #99

Do you prefer it in the can!?!

Last month I started a thread asking: Are there some beer brands you prefer in the bottle vs. cans?

https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...ands-you-prefer-in-the-bottle-vs-cans.666904/

In that spirit I will today be drinking the same beer Saison Dupont from both a can (a new drinking experience for me) and a bottle.

There are differing stories on the bottle vs. can labeling:

Bottle: “Brewed at one of Europe’s last farmhouse breweries, Saison Dupont is a 4-star, world classic example of the Belgian Saison style. Blond in color with a big rocky head. Saison Dupont is dry and refreshing. Great with all grilled foods.”

Can: “Brewed at one of Europe’s last farmhouse breweries. A classic example of the Belgian Saison style. Golden blond in color with a thick creamy head. Dry, yet refreshing, leaving you wanting more – sip after sip.”

Different but essentially the same.

If you want to read more about the Saison beer style and Saison Dupont:

https://www.morebeer.com/articles/Saison_Beer

Before I start the drinking aspect, I will first discuss a few topics which may be ‘confounders’ to this side-by-side tasting:

Age of the beer

The bottle has a date of L21143A. My Little Orphan Annie decoder doesn’t completely work with the Saison Dupont secret code. The best I know is this beer was bottled in 2021 from the “21” portion of the code.

The can has a date of L21476C which means this beer was canned sometime in 2021.

Beer storage conditions & handling

I can report that both of these beers were stored in my basement/cellar after I purchased them but what conditions they experienced during the long supply chain from Belgium to my local beer retailers is a mystery to me. I think it is fair to say they would have been subjected to differing conditions. How resilient is Saison Dupont to high temperature exposure/storage and rough transport?

Bottle/can conditioning

I know from past knowledge/experience that Brasserie Dupont conducts a bottle conditioning process for their bottled products. In the bottle conditioning process the beer undergoes a secondary fermentation within the bottle to achieve carbonation. Since an actual secondary fermentation occurs within the bottle other sensory qualities could be expected beyond just the carbonation aspect.

All that is stated on the can is “Unfiltered” which I suppose could imply they can condition this beer? Or maybe it just means that did not filter this beer prior to canning?

One thing I will be attuned to when tasting these two beers is whether I can perceive a difference in the beer’s mouthfeel. When I homebrew my beers I choose to bottle condition since this provide a superior mouthfeel for my palate; a result of the secondary fermentation I discussed above.


Whew, that’s a fair bit a ‘jibber-jabber’ which is making me thirsty but before I really get into it, I will ask my lovely wife to help me with conducting a triangle taste test of these two beers. As a reminder the purpose of the triangle taste test is to pour the same beer into two cups and the other beer in the third cup and see if the taste tester can determine the ‘odd man’ out. In the below photograph two of the cups were marked with A on the bottom and one with B on the bottom. I normally would use small opaque plastic cups but since this is the same beer I will use small glasses this time but with instructions to my wife to ‘fix’ the glasses to ensure they have similar head appearances (thanks to Chris (@zid) for the suggestion here). Will I be able to distinguish one Saison Dupont from the other via blind taste test? Will mouthfeel differences exhibit itself in these small glass pours?



A took some sniffs of the three beers. The beer in the middle had a very similar aroma to the other two glasses but there was a bit ‘more’ to this beer. That was an indication to be that the middle beer was the ‘odd’ beer but I figured tasting would be more definitive here. Boy, I was mistaken here since all three beers tasted very similarly to me. I stuck with my initial ‘reaction’ from sniffing and said to my wife: the middle beer is the ‘odd’ beer to which she replied “correct”. She then went further and asked: “So, which beer is which” and I very confidently (which I wasn’t) responded: “The middle beer is the bottled beer”. And she replied: “correct”.

I have conducted this triangle test a number of times in the past and so far I have been “correct” every time. I probably just jinxed myself for my next triangle taste test.

I will conduct the side-by-side non-blind so here we go!

Appearance

Can: Golden colored, very slightly hazy with a white head

Bottle: Ditto

Aroma

Can: A combination of spicy (phenols) and fruity (esters).

Bottle: Ditto to above but with what I will describe as being a bit more complexity (perhaps just a bit more intensity to the aromas?).

Taste:

Can: The flavor follows the nose with a pleasant combination of spicy (phenols) and fruity (esters) flavors. There is low-moderate bitterness.

Bottle: Ditto

Mouthfeel

Can: Medium body with a dry finish.

Bottle: Medium body, with a softer mouthfeel in comparison to the canned version, with a dry finish.

Overall

Can: Very good – excellent.

Bottle: Ditto

These two beers taste very much the same but there are some differences in other sensory qualities as detailed above. Given that I had these two beers in a side-by-side tasting the subtle difference of the two are more evident with a personal preference towards the bottled version but I will have no difficulty whatsoever in consuming the remaining three cans of the four-pack I purchased.

I discussed above my wondering on whether the canned version of Saison Dupont is canned conditioned I decided to take one more step: pour the last ½ ounce (or so) of the two beers into a small glass to see if I can detect yeast sediment. Below are two photos of this exercise with the first photo just of the bottle’s last bit of beer and the second of the can’s last bit of beer (and the bottle’s for additional reference). I am uncertain how well this appears in the photos but the bottle’s last portion is decidedly murky while in contrast the can’s is only slightly hazy. Is this an ‘acid test’ situation? I don’t know, but I will state with some confidence that both from the sensory evaluation and the visual appearance of the dregs that the canned version of Saison Dupont is not can conditioned.

Cheers!

@KOP_Beer_OUtlet @rotsaruch @RobH

 

I am very excited to try this beer. It has a beautiful black color with touches of brown, featuring a light-brown foamy umbrella that quickly fades. The smell outside of my house had strong notes of farm, so I took this beer inside. The smell exploded as I entered my kitchen. Very strong vanilla, with complimentary odors of fudge, oak, rye, and light coffee. The flavor is primarily vanilla, right on the edge of being too much, but still within the ideal range. Fudge and rye stand tall on the back end. There is a lingering finish of graham cracker. The mouthfeel is oily, thick, smooth, and full, with medium carbonation. Overall, this is a great addition to the Central Waters Brewing Brewer's Reserve series. Some of those beers are great ideas that do not meet high expectations, but this one definitely does!

 

You go dark to light, while I always (ALWAYS) go light to dark.

We are definitely two wild and crazy beer nerds.

 

Saturday chores completed, time to kick back. My new beer is a New York beer, Gather House from Drowned Lands. It is a wit beer with an ABV of 4.8%.

The beer is a hazy pale orange color. It has a large white head that stayed around for a while, and a bit of lace.
Spicy aroma, some fruit.
Taste of coriander, clove, vanilla, a little lemon. Peppery.
Crisp mouthfeel, the pepper lingers.

 

Well, as I discussed above I am of the opinion that the canned version of Saison Dupont is not can conditioned.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is bottle/can conditioned and last year Chris (@zid) started a thread discussing his experience in drinking the can and bottle in a side-by-side tasting. It was quite an interesting post (and resulting thread discussion):

https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...vs-cans-vs-draught-style.659756/#post-7293399

Cheers!

 

My offering today is a highy unsessionable Monumental Dark Ale from Hoppin Frog called Gavel Slammer clocking in at a paltry 17.4%........ and yeah, I think this is an Imperial Stout, not a brown Ale, but WTF do I know.....


4.35/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois

4.25/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois

Pours a thick'n chewy almost black, the small khaki head fades quickly, no lacing left behind, none expected, but it does leave an "oily film" on the glass. I'm not one to bitch about "heat" from BA beers, but this one has it. Aroma is booze from the get go, them we get some heavy roast aroma, malt, chicory some chocolate, molasses, all those flavors coat the tongue. I like big, boozy beers, and this is among the booziest yet. This is a sipper for sure!

EDIT: This is listed as a brown Ale, but IMHO, it's an Imperial Stout.....

 

I am a big fan of this series. For this edition, the color is blood orange, with a thick white foam pinnacle. The smell is very strong with tangerine and pineapple. There is also a light bready lemon scent. The taste immediately screams Stone Brewing WCIIPA, but the tangerine and pineapple flavors clear the wrestling ring after a hot tag. There is a bitterness that blends well with the fruit flavors. The mouthfeel is full-bodied, highly-carbonated, classic WCIIPA. Overall, this is a good addition to this series. This is the perfect time of year to drink this beer!

 

At 17.4% ABV this beer is indeed outside the range for a Brown Ale.

Maybe request a change?

Cheers!

@FBarber

 

I just got back from the supermarket doing some grocery shopping. I strolled through the beer section with the hope of finding a fresh IPA (I was not successful in this endeavor). I did see this beer on the shelf and while it did indeed meet the fresh criterion with the price tag it had I just kept on walking.

Cheers!

 

Stayed tuned @Roguer my beer for today is a locally brewed can conditioned Hefeweizen.

 

So, that beer is carbonated within the can via the can conditioning process (i.e., exactly the same as bottle conditioning but using a can vs. bottle)?

Cheers!

 

According to Tonewood yes. It is their Hefeweizen I mentioned last week…it was canned 4/15 but not ready to sell till now I’m assuming because it took that long to carb. I reached out to them last week and was told the “cans need a little more time” and now they’re ready so, naturally I grabbed a four pack.


https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/46284/605893/

 

I picked it up, put it in my shopping cart, put it back, contemplated, then decided to purchase the six-pack of this beer. I don't get every edition of the series. I am glad I got this one. Here was the math that occurred to me: NBW, Father's Day, my birthday at the Milwaukee Brewers game, Phil Anselmo from Pantera's birthday, July 3rd fireworks, July 4th grilling, all before the deadline. Math made my decision.

 

To quote Uncle Jed (referring to Jethro): “Whew doggie, look at that boy cipher!”

Cheers!

 

"This beer was naturally conditioned in package with fresh wort, a traditional german technique called “speise”. We are thrilled with the results of this process and excited to share this delicate and beautiful beer with everyone."

Kudos to Tonewood for taking this 'extra' step.

On a related note, some (most?) German breweries use a lager yeast when they bottle condition their Hefeweizen beers. I have heard two things for why they do this:

• By not using their Hefeweizen yeast strain for bottle conditioning they protect their house yeast strains from yeast wranglers.
• Lager yeasts promote a more shelf stable product.

Maybe a combination of both of the above?

Next time I am chatting with Eli Facchinei I will ask him what yeast strain they use to can condition their Hefeweizen beers.

Cheers!

 

Going with the Goose Island theme this weekend, coordinated around my two gift beers received last Saturday. Both come from a recent variety pack.

Before I jump in with the Saturday selection, just want to link a podcast I serendipitously listened to last evening while catching up with The Beer Temple Podcast back catalog.

https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-b...-222-talkin-barrels-with-mike-siegel-87727087

This episode featured the Head Innovation Brewer, Mike Siegel, at Goose Island the past decade, They cover BCBS for the first 90 minutes, and historical beers the remainder of the episode. @Beer_Economicus

Tropical Beer Hug is one of the beers Mike mentioned they are experimenting with to brew enough ales required to create the ale yeast needed to brew BCS (starts at the 42 minute mark), after transitioning much of the ale production to AB Breweries (formally brewed at their Fulton Brewery). They need to brew 20,000 barrels of lower gravity beers to harvest yeast to brew BCBS @JackHorzempa

Goose Island Tropical Beer Hug



Can Notes: 12 ounces canned with a Best By September 18, 2022, so assuming an 180 day difference, or a March 22 canning date. 9.9% ABV Imperial IPA, brewed in either Chicago or Fort Collins, Colorado (perhaps the can code DC1211 unlocks this mystery). A Beach Vacation For Your Tastebuds. Gift beer from my brother.

Appearance: Single pour into a nonic glass. Clear golden bronze base, generous bright white head, leaving significant lacing as I enjoy the beer. 4.0

Aroma: Nice hop aroma, getting stone fruit, mango, citrus and pineapple, the sweetness balanced by a nice pine bitterness. Aroma burst from the can open forward, enticing. 4.25

Taste: Taste even stronger than the aroma, leading with a nice pine bitterness I appreciate in WCIPAs. Getting a grass backing, followed by the tropical fruit (mango, grapefruit and pineapple). Would consider this a modern fruity take on the traditional IPA style, though this one is more to my liking than most I come across with the pine bitter hop profile asserting its authority, the light caramel malt and fruit providing support and balancing well, but not overstepping. 4.5

Mouthfeel: Nice dry bitter profile, ABV strong and pleasurable, be prepared. Light carbonation, bold flavors, light dry aftertaste. Kicking it old school with this one. 4.0

Overall: This is a very good Imperial IPA, the best brewed at an AB plant, and one of the best from a large beer brewery. Flavors bold and enjoyable, nice pine bitterness I really enjoy, tropical flavors in proper balance and providing a nice complement. Would definitely order / purchase this beer down the road. Thank you Andy! 4.25

Not sure if I will like the Haze Beer Hug as much tomorrow, hoping to be pleasantly surprised.