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Round One
Game Five: Bell’s Oberon v. 21st Amendment Bitter American
9. Yeah, I know. If I hate wheat beers so much, why do they keep ending up in the competition? I don’t know either, so there. Bell’s is a terrific brewery, and Oberon was one of the first varieties I tried during my 100 Beers 2011 challenge, and I liked it – best wheat beer I can ever remember drinking. My first Oberon was almost exactly two years ago. And today? It starts with a nostalgic summer beer aroma, only a slightly cloudy pale yellow hue, and a bright crisp flavor with just a tang of pungency at the end. How is this a witbier? Better yet, why aren’t all witbiers like this? Delish, refresh, and a perfect session beer for today’s “sunny and seventy-five” weather.
10. Ah, the Bitter American – another favorite that has been worth purchasing several times in the past. (I remember my first time with this one, too. I had been debating Tea Party politics with a friend earlier that day, and the name of this ale seemed to speak to me.) I found it odd that this very different ale is identical in appearance to Oberon. But the pleasant hops aroma and crisp IPA flavor set it apart, and there’s a stark bitterness at the back of the tongue. Bitter American is an Extra Pale Ale that is about as highly-hopped as I ever like it; a good beer to satisfy my occasional IPA desire.
*** Winner: This was a very, very close battle. I had so much trouble picking one over the other that the game went into extra innings. Finally, after exhaustive analysis, I declare Oberon by the narrowest of margins – and now I can drink all the rest of the Bitter American now that it has been knocked out of the tournament! What? Are you saying that may have biased the call?
Game Six: Sweetwater Brown v. Highland Little Hump Spring Ale
11. Sweetwater Brown. Well, it is brown. Also clear, with very little head or lacing, and a nice little old-style beer aroma. The first sip gives you a much stronger punch than you expect, with a hint of bitterness at the back. A pleasant and not overtly strong dark beer. It’s an odd turn that brings the Brown from Sweetwater (a brewer most known for a solid line of IPAs) up against the…
12. Little Hump Spring Ale from Highland (a brewery I most associate with their oatmeal stout); sort of like playing weak sister against weak sister. Little Hump is a bright yellow, hoppy and refreshing ale. Completely unexpected, with a clean highly drinkable mouthfeel and almost no aftertaste despite the weedy style of hops.
*** Winner: Little Hump Spring Ale. I have high expectations for the Highland varieties because of their dark beers, and thought a light summer style would be out of their reach, so Little Hump was more than I had hoped for. Sweetwater Brown just wasn’t very interesting in comparison, even though it’s a good beer that’s very enjoyable and is always welcome in my frig.
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