Blind Tasting Reveal Time!

For the last five Fridays I've been featuring unnamed blind taste tested session beers, and now it's time to reveal which one was which. Did I guess any correct? And more importantly, which one did I and the rest of the group think was the best?

Beer #1 - We all enjoyed this one, it had a good grapefruit note to it and a solid amount of bitterness. I scored it a 71, compared to the group score of 67.25, and I took a guess, based on the grapefruity profile and high IBU level that this was the Stone Go-To IPA... it turns out that beer #1 was... the Founders All Day IPA! I'm 0/1 so far, but I've been drinking a lot of All Day IPA this football season, so I'm glad to know I scored it well even drinking blind.

Beer #2 - Another good one, but we all scored this one a little lower than Beer #1. I had it at a 67, compared to the group score of 64.5. My guess for this one was the Terrapin RecreationAle, being the only "pale ale" in the group of IPAs... and I was right! That makes 1/2 so far, but three more to go.

Beer #3 - This was the first of two that we didn't enjoy much, with a pungent and funky flavor that didn't hold up to the hops in the first two brews.  I scored it a 50, and it had a group average of 53.75.  I guessed at the Southern Tier Farmer's Tan, mostly because it was one that I didn't know much about and hadn't tried before. Beer #3 actually was... the Sierra Nevada Nooner. This was a bit of a surprise, I really expected better from the good people at Sierra Nevada.

Beer #4 - This is the one we all agreed was the best of the 5, with powerful grapefruit hop bitterness throughout. I scored it a 77, and it had a group average of 71.25. My guess was that this was the Founders All Day IPA, but we now know that that beer was #1, so I'm down to 1/4, and Beer #4, the winner of the day, was actually the Stone Go-To IPA. So, congrats to Stone Brewing! 

Beer #5 - And that leaves Beer #5, one that I thought was a little on the sweet side and a little boring.  It scored a 55 on my sheet, and a 57.5 with the group.  Process of elimination leads to the Southern Tier Farmer's Tan, but I had incorrectly guessed that this was the Sierra Nevada, leaving me 1/5 on the day.  

Most important though, our blind taste test ranks:

1. Stone Go-To IPA (71.25)

2. Founders All Day IPA (67.25)

3. Terrapin RecreationAle (64.5) 

4. Southern Tier Farmer's Tan (57.5)

5. Sierra Nevada Nooner (53.75) 

I'm not surprised that we picked Stone #1, but I am a little surprised at Sierra Nevada bringing up the rear. That's why we tasted them blind though, to eliminate that prejudice and judge solely on the beer. 

Feature Beer Friday! - Blind Session Tasting #5

We've made it to the last of the 5-part blind session beer tasting, check back soon for the big reveal and more thoughts on all five beers. As part of the Me & My Big Mouth recording a few months ago, the 4 reviewers listed below decided that we should take on a blind taste test of five session ales.  All were either session IPAs or APAs, but the main point was that we were going to try them all blind, offer up our reviews, and even take a guess as to which beer was which.

The five on the table, arranged so we didn't know which was which by Teresa Day of I Eat BR, were the Stone Go To IPA, Founders All Day IPA, Terrapin RecreationAle, Sierra Nevada Nooner, and Southern Tier Farmer's Tan.

Up now, blind taste test #5...

Reviewers: Eric Ducote (BR Beer Scene), Brenton Day (The Ale Runner), Chuck Pierce (Me And My Big Mouth), and Buddy Ethridge.

Serving: Presented in a Chattanooga Brewing Company pint glass.

Appearance: Clearish, deep amber, probably the darkest of the session beers.

Aroma: Bubblegum fruitiness. 

Taste: Sweet and fruity... where are the hops?

Mouthfeel: Nothing bad, but nothing good either.

Overall: I found this one to be pretty boring overall, and it scored a 55 with me, for the second lowest score of the group. I wasn't certain what this one was, but the only one left was Sierra Nevada... I would expect better things from them, but we ended up with two beers that disappointed (#3 and #5) and none of these breweries should be putting out disappointing beer.

Check back on Tuesday for the blind tasting reveal!

Overall Rating: 57.5
My Rating: 55

Feature Beer Friday! - Blind Session Tasting #4

And now it's time for part 4, the second to last in the Feature Beer Friday! blind session beer tasting. As part of the Me & My Big Mouth recording a few months ago, the 4 reviewers listed below decided that we should take on a blind taste test of five session ales.  All were either session IPAs or APAs, but the main point was that we were going to try them all blind, offer up our reviews, and even take a guess as to which beer was which.

The five on the table, arranged so we didn't know which was which by Teresa Day of I Eat BR, were the Stone Go To IPA, Founders All Day IPA, Terrapin RecreationAle, Sierra Nevada Nooner, and Southern Tier Farmer's Tan.

Up now, blind taste test #4...

Reviewers: Eric Ducote (BR Beer Scene), Brenton Day (The Ale Runner), Chuck Pierce (Me And My Big Mouth), and Buddy Ethridge.

Serving: Presented in a Bulldog pint glass.

Appearance: Light amber color, pretty typical for an IPA.

Aroma: Strong grapefruit aroma, really very nice. 

Taste: Grapefruit rind bitterness. This beer is heavy on the grapefruit flavors for sure!

Mouthfeel: More grapefruit, and that's not a bad thing.

Overall: We all really enjoyed this one, and I ended up scoring it 6 points higher than Session Beer #1 for the highest score yet. My guess was that this was the Founders All Day IPA, but whichever one it ends up being, it's a beer I'll be on the lookout for in the future.

Overall Rating: 71.25
My Rating: 77

Feature Beer Friday! - Blind Session Tasting #3

Welcome to part 3 of this 5-part blind tasting series... as part of the Me & My Big Mouth recording a few months ago, the 4 reviewers listed below decided that we should take on a blind taste test of five session ales.  All were either session IPAs or APAs, but the main point was that we were going to try them all blind, offer up our reviews, and even take a guess as to which beer was which.

The five on the table, arranged so we didn't know which was which by Teresa Day of I Eat BR, were the Stone Go To IPA, Founders All Day IPA, Terrapin RecreationAle, Sierra Nevada Nooner, and Southern Tier Farmer's Tan.

Up now, blind taste test #3...

Reviewers: Eric Ducote (BR Beer Scene), Brenton Day (The Ale Runner), Chuck Pierce (Me And My Big Mouth), and Buddy Ethridge.

Serving: Presented in an Abita Brewing pint glass.

Appearance: Very clear, bubbly, with a bit of an orange hue.

Aroma: Pungent and funky. 

Taste: Weak, not a lot of flavor going on in this one. 

Mouthfeel: Lingering funkiness, not much bitter at all.

Overall: I was not a big fan of this one at all compared to the first two, although it scored above 50 for us.  My initial guess was that this was the Southern Tier Farmer's Tan, but that could certainly be wrong... check back in a few weeks to find out.

Overall Rating: 53.75
My Rating: 50

Feature Beer Friday! - Blind Session Tasting #2

This Feature Beer Friday! and the next 3 following it are going to take on a bit of a different feel... as part of the Me & My Big Mouth recording a few months ago, the 4 reviewers listed below decided that we should take on a blind taste test of five session ales.  All were either session IPAs or APAs, but the main point was that we were going to try them all blind, offer up our reviews, and even take a guess as to which beer was which.

The five on the table, arranged so we didn't know which was which by Teresa Day of I Eat BR, were the Stone Go To IPA, Founders All Day IPA, Terrapin RecreationAle, Sierra Nevada Nooner, and Southern Tier Farmer's Tan.

Up now, blind taste test #2...

Reviewers: Eric Ducote (BR Beer Scene), Brenton Day (The Ale Runner), Chuck Pierce (Me And My Big Mouth), and Buddy Ethridge.

Serving: Presented in a NOLA Brewing pint glass.

Appearance: Slightly hazy, a lighter tone than beer #1.

Aroma: More faint than #1, with the malt coming through a little stronger. Brenton also noted it as less hoppy than the first offering. 

Taste: More bitter than the aroma would indicate, closer to #1 on the taste profile than the aroma, but still a little more on the balanced side. 

Mouthfeel: Lingering bitterness, but more full than the first beer.

Overall: I didn't like this one quite as much as Session Beer #1, and the scores across the board reflected a similar opinion. Still, it was a very respectable offering and one I'd drink again. My guess was that this was the Terrapin RecreationAle, which is why it was a little less hoppy than what I guessed was the Stone Go To IPA in glass #1. We had also recently tried the Terrapin offering in a non-blind taste test, where I scored it a 78.  This one received a little lower marks, so if it is the same beer, it just goes to show how varied scores can be and perception can be, especially tasting blind and comparing to other similar beers.

Overall Rating: 64.5
My Rating: 67

Feature Beer Friday! - Blind Session Tasting #1

This Feature Beer Friday! and the next 4 following it are going to take on a bit of a different feel... as part of the Me & My Big Mouth recording a few months ago, the 4 reviewers listed below decided that we should take on a blind taste test of five session ales.  All were either session IPAs or APAs, but the main point was that we were going to try them all blind, offer up our reviews, and even take a guess as to which beer was which.

The five on the table, arranged so we didn't know which was which by Teresa Day of I Eat BR, were the Stone Go To IPA, Founders All Day IPA, Terrapin RecreationAle, Sierra Nevada Nooner, and Southern Tier Farmer's Tan.

This week, blind taste test #1...

Reviewers: Eric Ducote (BR Beer Scene), Brenton Day (The Ale Runner), Chuck Pierce (Me And My Big Mouth), and Buddy Ethridge.

Serving: Presented in a Forge Racing pint glass.

Appearance: Clear amber.

Aroma: Big time grapefruit hoppy IPA notes. All of us noted the grapefruit presence of this one.

Taste: More bitter than expected for a session IPA, but it mellow out fast. Just a huge amount of up front hops.

Mouthfeel: That hoppiness from the taste mellows out pleasantly, and then lingers for a while, reminding you of each delicious sip.

Overall: Very bitter, but still tasty, I'd drink more of this one for sure. At this point, we all took a guess as to which beer we were drinking.  My guess, based on the up front hop profile, was the Stone brew... check back to see what we thought about the others, and to see if I was right. 

Overall Rating: 67.25
My Rating: 71

Feature Beer Friday! - Terrapin RecreationAle

Alright alright alright, Terrapin Brewing is back up on Feature Beer Friday! for the second time. About a month ago we featured the Terrapin Hopsecutioner, their flagship IPA, and it received generally good scores, with a 77 from yours truly. Terrapin has been one of my favorite additions to the Louisiana market in recent years.  I find that their year-round beers are all worth buying and I've for the most part enjoyed their seasonals and special releases.

Up today is their RecreationAle, which they describe as a "Session Ale" without labeling it as an IPA or pale ale.  I guess it's really up to you as to how it fits, but I'd consider it a pale ale personally. Most importantly, it's only 4.7% abv, which is ideal for tailgating season! In fact, I think it's become my tailgating beer of choice, with affordable 12-packs of cans available around Baton Rouge.

Enough blabber, let's review...

Reviewers: Eric Ducote (BR Beer Scene), Brenton Day (The Ale Runner), Chuck Pierce (Me And My Big Mouth), and Buddy Ethridge.

Serving: 12 oz. can.

Appearance: Deep golden, a little more hazy than Hopsecutioner I think. Hopsecutioner probably gains a little clarity through a longer secondary dry-hopping? Just a guess...

Aroma: Hoppy, with grapefruit and citrus dominating.

Taste: More hoppy, with those grapefruit notes still coming through. There is a little malt base sweetness, but at only 4.7% there really shouldn't be too much.

Mouthfeel: Ridiculously easy drinking.

Overall: An excellent session pale ale/IPA. I imagine this being in my tailgating rotation for years to come.

Overall Rating: 72.5
My Rating: 78

NOLA Brewing Launches Rebirth Pale Ale to Benefit Roots of Music

Hey readers... I know I've been slacking lately.  I have no good excuses, just a bunch of lame ones, but here's some good news for all you Louisiana beer fans!  NOLA Brewing will be releasing their latest creation, the Rebirth Pale Ale, next Wednesday the 16th at the brewery tasting room.  Cans in 6-packs will be following sometime this summer, just in time for canoeing and tailgating I hope!  Plus it has a pretty badass tap handle... picture below.

Update: I have confirmation from NOLA's publicist that this beer should be hitting taps in Baton Rouge about a week after the initial release, so late April.  That's exciting!  

Here's the full press release:

BEER & BRASS

NOLA Brewing Introduces Rebirth Pale Ale Benefiting The Roots of Music

Official Release Party Wednesday, April 16

For the past five years, NOLA Brewing Company has been bringing the history and tradition of beer back to New Orleans. Founded on the concept of helping rebuild and develop commerce in post-Katrina New Orleans, the NOLA based brewery offers a variety of beers made with the finest available hops, malts and unique yeast blends.

Continuing in this tradition, NOLA Brewing is proud to unveil its latest brew – Rebirth Pale Ale on draft – benefitting The Roots of Music.  The company’s first pale ale pays tribute to the Rebirth Brass Band while supporting music education for New Orleans’ youth through the non-profit organization, co-founded by Rebirth drummer, Derrick Tabb and Allison Reinhardt.

“We decided to name the brew Rebirth for a number of reasons,” explains Kirk Coco, CEO of NOLA Brewing. “A big part of the meaning comes from the rebirth of the city post-Katrina and being a part of that process. Another is that the Rebirth Brass Band is a shining example of music from our city. We wanted to give back to the community with our beer, and The Roots of Music was a perfect fit – helping kids in the city where music education is vital, and supporting the music everyone at the brewery loves!”

Derek Tabb adds, “We're excited and honored that NOLA Brewing would pick us to represent them in its latest beer, while also supporting an organization that's most near and dear to our hearts.” 

In celebration of the release, the brewery invites imbibers to sample the new beer on Wednesday, April 16 at 5 p.m. in the taproom at 3001 Tchoupitoulas Street.  Admission is free and open to the public (21+up) and will feature complimentary light bites, live entertainment
and $3-$7 beers. In attendance will be the talented kids from The Roots of Music Marching Crusaders along with Derrick Tabb and members of the Rebirth Brass Band.

Rebirth Pale Ale is a sessionable, American-style pale ale that uses five different malt varieties and desirable hops including Cascade, Simcoe and Citra. The pale ale is wonderfully balanced
and its flavorful hop taste and aroma allows for more than one indulgence at a time, coming in at only 5% ABV.

To help raise money for The Roots of Music’s mission to teach, support and empower New Orleans’ youth through music education, a portion of all beer sales at the release party, as well as a portion of ongoing retail sales of Rebirth Pale Ale, will be donated to the organization. Stay tuned for a soon-to-be released 6 pack 12 oz. can set of the Rebirth Pale Ale to debut this summer. For more information on NOLA Brewing visit www.nolabrewing.com.

Interviews with NOLA Brewing or Roots of Music are available upon request.

About The Roots of Music

Co-founded in 2007 by Rebirth Brass Band drummer Derrick Tabb and Allison Reinhardt, with programming beginning in 2008, New Orleans-based non-profit organization, The Roots of Music’s mission is to teach, support and empower New Orleans’ youth through music education, academic support and mentorship, while preserving and promoting New Orleans’ unique musical and cultural heritage.  The Roots of Music provides year-round free music education to low income kids 9-14 years of age aiming to teach students the necessary skills to continue New Orleans’ unique musical tradition.  Free academic and musical instruction is provided, as well as all instruments, transportation and daily hot meals.  The Roots of Music annually serves more than 100 children living all across Orleans Parish and attending over 40 different schools. www.therootsofmusic.org