Original Beer VS Additive Variations

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by HeyItsThatGuy, Aug 10, 2016.

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  1. HeyItsThatGuy

    HeyItsThatGuy Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2016 Illinois

    Just lookin' to see what people like more; The original version of a beer they love, or a variation of that beer that's brewed or fermented with a certain additive.

    Example: Ballast Point Dorado vs. Watermelon Dorado

    Winner: Regular Dorado - A very decent Double IPA on it's own. Personally I think the watermelon flavor in the watermelon variation is just too upfront and artificial. Mostly tastes like watermelon Jolly Ranchers that I didn't particularly enjoy alongside the reduced hop profile.

    Example: Off Color Fierce Berliner Weisse vs. Off Color Fierce with Yuzu Fruit

    Winner: Off Color Fierce with Yuzu Fruit - Although the staple Fierce happens to be one of my all-time favorite Berliner Weisses, the addition of the Yuzu fruit brings forth more complexity in the form of various notes of citrus and slightly mellows out the sour streak of the original while allowing it a more lingering tartness.

    So how about you?! Do some beers with additives improve upon the original? If so, what are your favorites!?
     
    #1 HeyItsThatGuy, Aug 10, 2016
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  2. BWood

    BWood Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2015 California

    Regular Bourbon County > Coffee BCBS.

    Well at least this was the case for 2015.
     
    #2 BWood, Aug 10, 2016
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  3. CreekOfTheDead

    CreekOfTheDead Initiate (0) Jul 18, 2016 Texas

    I prefer almost all the variations of Prairie Bomb!. The BA version, birthday and pirate bombs all rock my world.

    I love the original though. :slight_smile:
     
    #3 CreekOfTheDead, Aug 10, 2016
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  4. HeyItsThatGuy

    HeyItsThatGuy Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2016 Illinois

    Amen :grinning:
     
    #4 HeyItsThatGuy, Aug 10, 2016
  5. TonyLema1

    TonyLema1 Pooh-Bah (2,890) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin over Sculpin
    Ska Modus Mandarina over Modus Hoperandi
     
    #5 TonyLema1, Aug 10, 2016
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  6. tylerstravis

    tylerstravis Pooh-Bah (2,487) Feb 14, 2014 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    I'll take Bible Belt any day though :slight_smile:
     
    #6 tylerstravis, Aug 10, 2016
  7. tylerstravis

    tylerstravis Pooh-Bah (2,487) Feb 14, 2014 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    I'll take Habanero Sculpin over Regular Sculpin... You can keep the rest of the variations though.
     
    #7 tylerstravis, Aug 10, 2016
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  8. CreekOfTheDead

    CreekOfTheDead Initiate (0) Jul 18, 2016 Texas

    Nothing can beat Apple Brandy Noir for me good sir. :grinning:
     
    #8 CreekOfTheDead, Aug 10, 2016
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  9. BWood

    BWood Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2015 California

    Bomb is one of my top 5 all time favorites. I have never had any variants thought. Seems like distro is light in CA.
     
    #9 BWood, Aug 10, 2016
  10. HeyItsThatGuy

    HeyItsThatGuy Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2016 Illinois

    If you see any, knab em'! They are amazing! :grinning:
     
    #10 HeyItsThatGuy, Aug 10, 2016
  11. mwa423

    mwa423 Initiate (0) Nov 7, 2007 Ohio

    I think it comes down to how the additives are done, whether the additive is subtle and compliments the flavor of the beer, or whether you're now drinking a beer that barely tastes like the original and just like a giant glass of blood orange/grapefruit/coffee/whatever.

    So, a few examples based on my opinions:

    BCBCS > BCBS, it's a great rich stout flavor and the coffee adds complexity and depth in flavor.

    Sculpin > Grapefruit Scuplin, Sculpin is a great west coast IPA, the addition of grapefruit is overly sweet and tastes like I'm drinking more of an overly sugared cocktail than a drinkable but heavily hopped ale.

    Bud Light > Bud Light Lime, not that there was a ton of flavor to begin with, but the flavor profile isn't fresh lime, it's lime syrupy and because there was little flavor to begin with, there isn't much left of the base beer in the flavor.

    Stone Enjoy By Tangerine > Stone Enjoy By, the heavy hop flavors mix well with the tangerine flavor, it's kind of a 60/40 split in flavor favoring the hops, so the tangerine adds a nice fruitiness to the beer.
     
    #11 mwa423, Aug 10, 2016
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  12. BWood

    BWood Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2015 California

    Interesting how people are so different. I prefer the exact opposite of everything you just said.
     
    #12 BWood, Aug 10, 2016
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  13. GreesyFizeek

    GreesyFizeek Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,026) Mar 6, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    It really depends on the beer. The variants I've had on A Night to End All Dawns by Kane, especially the Coconut variant, are better than (the admittedly awesome) base beer. Bourbon County Coffee is also better than the base. I also agree with OP in that Yuzu Fierce is better than regular Fierce.

    Also, I don't think there's anybody who could argue that the regular De Garde Bu Weisse is better than any of the million fruited variants of it that they do.

    However, all of the variations on Sculpin are monstrosities, and are an affront to the wonderful base beer. Adding fruit to an IPAs is a trend I cannot get behind.
     
    #13 GreesyFizeek, Aug 10, 2016
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  14. HeyItsThatGuy

    HeyItsThatGuy Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2016 Illinois

    For me, it's kinda a mid-point between you two. I DO normally prefer a nice balance between the additives and the original flavor of the beer. However, if the additive brings out a more over-powering flavor that I just happen to like then I just consider that a win :grinning:
     
    #14 HeyItsThatGuy, Aug 10, 2016
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  15. tylerstravis

    tylerstravis Pooh-Bah (2,487) Feb 14, 2014 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    That's not a Bomb variation good sir :slight_smile:
     
    #15 tylerstravis, Aug 10, 2016
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  16. theonegman

    theonegman Initiate (0) Apr 11, 2016 Michigan

    Pirate bomb is the best beer I have ever had. Also the choclate and coffee dragons milk was fantastic as well
     
    #16 theonegman, Aug 10, 2016
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  17. SteveSexton203

    SteveSexton203 Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2014 Connecticut

    Christmas Bomb > Bomb
    Igors Dream Madeira barrel > Igors Dream
    BCBCS > BCBS
     
    #17 SteveSexton203, Aug 10, 2016
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  18. CreekOfTheDead

    CreekOfTheDead Initiate (0) Jul 18, 2016 Texas

    Christmas Bomb! was ridiculous. The mint flavor was soooooooo good.
     
    #18 CreekOfTheDead, Aug 10, 2016
  19. JackHorzempa

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

    Another 'vote' for Grapefruit Sculpin > Regular Sculpin.

    Cheers!
     
    #19 JackHorzempa, Aug 10, 2016
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  20. HeyItsThatGuy

    HeyItsThatGuy Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2016 Illinois

    Your the first person I've ever heard say that about Christmas Bomb! lol
     
    #20 HeyItsThatGuy, Aug 10, 2016
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