For years, I have always liked the method of tasting wines of the same type. For example, I would taste some of the better Cabernet Sauvignons form California. I would also like to taste them from different areas (Napa, Sonoma, Alexander Valley and within Napa, those from Rutherford) Now with beers, I used to drink one on its own and record its merits. Lately, I have been trying to match up somewhat-like beers. For example, I recently had a tasting of Heady Topper with DogFish Head 120. Both being 120 ibus, I figured that would be a good tasting. I was so wrong, since those beers are light years apart. So now I am doing things like DogFishhead 90 with Sixpoint Resion, along with Dogfishhead 60 minute with Sixpoint Bengali Tiger. Or Green Flash Double Stout with Founders Breakkast Stout I have always found that side by side tastings with wine always worked... Now I am tyring to do the same with beer. Anyone have suggestions or ideas to improve upon this?
I have yet to have HT but I have drank my fill of 120. I have yet to have a beer that is similar to it. The thing I do is try to match the different beers as close as possible by style. If its hop forward match it with another one that's hop forward. 90 and resin to me are two different styles even though they are both DIPAs. I find 90 to be on the malty side while resin an in your face hop assault. I have done tasting like these before, I just think it comes down to what you are going to enjoy. Most of my tastings now mainly involve imperial Stouts. A couple examples from my experience. Ipa/dipas Scuplin vs head hunter, ruination vs perpetual, 90 vs maharaja, alchemy hour vs bodhi ect.
I honestly don't like this method of putting one beer against another. There is no way to try all similar beers of the same style at one time. Instead just chip away at beers, one at a time. My approach is to try and break it down. For example, deconstruct IPAs so that you can figure out your favorite hops, etc. Otherwise its just way too daunting of a task.
I agree. When its just me, I like to go one at a time and take notes. I was referring to a tasting group setting.
Comparing members of a certain style of wine is like comparing grapes to grapes. Comparing members of a certain style of beer is like comparing apples to oranges. Beer styles run a huge spectrum and since a lot of styles overlap (and thus brewers can call their creations one of a few styles) you never know if you are even comparing the right kinds of beers.
