Tales of ales from the heart of Ohio to the ends of the Earth
We start the contest off with quads brewed on this side of the pond. The truth is that it was not that easy to find beers to fill up this side of the bracket. Not too many American breweries make a quad. Firstly, to brew Belgian-style beers a brewery needs to develop the right strains... Continue Reading →
The cold days of winter are an ideal time for sipping strong, dark, hearty beers that warm you from the inside out. Strong malt-forward beers come in several different styles including Imperial Stouts, Barleywines, Doppelbocks and Old Ales, but one of the most interesting families of strong beers are the Quadrupel Ales (quads) that originated... Continue Reading →
At last we've come to the final round with Michigan clinging to a 1 point lead. Ohio needs to win in this round to even things up, any other result and Michigan wins. In this final round we have two bourbon barrel aged Scotch Ales. Wulver by Thirsty Dog (Akron, OH) – Thirsty Dog is... Continue Reading →
Still digesting Thanksgiving dinner? Nothing like a double hopped IPA to wash away the Pumpkin pie from your palate and shake you out your tryptophan induced slumber. In this round we pair up two variations on the basic IPA style, a double IPA against a wet hopped IPA. Bodhi by Columbus Brewing Co. (Columbus, OH)... Continue Reading →
In an unplanned twist the battle of the Christmas Ales hits the internet on Thanksgiving. This is not a subliminal message to go out start your X’mas shopping early, quite the opposite. On this cold wintery day sit back and enjoy some good Winter Warmers while you wait for the afternoon Turkey feast. Let’s meet... Continue Reading →
In round 4 the dark roasted malts were center stage. In round 5 we go to the opposite extreme with two beers where the juicy American hops dominate, completely overshadowing the malts: The Brew Kettle’s White Rajah vs. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale. White Rajah by The Brew Kettle (Strongsville, OH) – The Brew Kettle... Continue Reading →
Round four features a titanic matchup between two great beers: Founder’s Porter and what some consider the quintessential Ohio beer, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter by Great Lakes Brewing. Edmund Fitzgerald by Great Lakes (Cleveland, OH) – For people in the Midwest Great Lakes Brewing doesn’t need an introduction. According to the Brewers Association it is the... Continue Reading →
In round three we have a battle of two Rye PAs, a hoppy style of beer that is similar to an IPA but with rye added to the malt bill. The rye imparts a spicy twist and helps dry out the finish. If you’re interested to find out more about rye beers check out a... Continue Reading →
In round two we pit two variations on the Belgian Farmhouse Ale style against each other. Let’s start by meeting the contestants. Saison by Rockmill Brewery (Lancaster, OH) – Rockmill is a small brewery located in Lancaster, OH that makes Belgian style ales from organically grown ingredients. In a recent state-by-state guide to craft beer... Continue Reading →
In the opening round we start with two easy drinking Amber Ales. Let’s start by meeting the contestants. Bleeding Buckeye by Elevator Brewing (Columbus, OH) – We start with the most natural beer to represent Ohio State Football—Bleeding Buckeye by Elevator Brewing here in Columbus. Elevator Brewing is located in downtown Columbus in a beautiful... Continue Reading →
When late November arrives in Central Ohio one subject dominates the news, and takes center stage in the thoughts and minds of many residents. I’m not referring to Thanksgiving or the ridiculous shopping spectacle that used to occur the day after Thanksgiving, but now lasts longer than Bill Belichick’s tenure as head coach of the... Continue Reading →
This is the sixth and final video in the IPA Blind Taste Test Challenge. In this video the identities of the contestants are revealed to the judges, and the foundations of Amy's beer universe crumble in front of the camera. If you only watch one video in this series this is the one.
This is the fifth of six videos capturing the final round of the IPA blind taste test challenge (I recommend watching them in order). In this video Amy and I review contender #4, White Rajah by The Brew Kettle. As you will see this beer makes a strong impression.
This is the fourth of six videos capturing the final round of the IPA blind taste test challenge (I recommend watching them in order). In this video Amy and I review contender #3, Mystic Mama by Jackie O's.
This is the third of six videos capturing the final round of the IPA blind taste test challenge (I recommend watching them in order). In this video Amy and I review contender #2, Flower Power by Ithaca Brewing, Amy's all-time favorite beer. Her review is not to be missed.
This is the second of six videos capturing the final round of the IPA blind taste test challenge (I recommend watching them in order). In this video Amy and I review contender #1, Stone Enjoy by 11-12-13. As you'll see we were both impressed by this beer, but we were a little confused about which... Continue Reading →
This is the first of six videos that make up the final round of the IPA Blind Taste Test Challenge. The winners of Rounds 1 and 2, The White Rajah by the Brew Kettle and Mystic Mama by Jackie O's, are joined by two beers that were seeded into the final round: Flower Power by... Continue Reading →
Welcome to round 2 of the IPA Blind Taste Test challenge. For today’s round we had envisioned a showdown between some iconic west coast IPAs, but we had to modify the plan a little based on the difficulty in finding fresh beer here in Columbus. We planned to have Sculpin IPA in the mix, but... Continue Reading →
Our friends Amy and Kim from Syracuse, both of whom are certified hopheads, are visiting Columbus over the Columbus Day weekend. So it seemed the stars were aligned to carry out this blog’s inaugural blind taste test where we aim to identify the best beers without the biases of rarity, price, reputation, etc. This first taste... Continue Reading →
Pat's Pints 