Taste Test – Desert Island Pale Ale at The Mason Lounge

The Mason Lounge wanted to know which pale ale you would choose if you were stuck on a desert island, so they held a blind taste test.  This was an unofficial Madison Craft Beer Week event.

Date: 5/3/16
Location: The Mason Lounge
With: John and Ellen

Tasting Notes:

1. Deschutes Brewery – Red Chair

• One of the darkest. Malty with slightly minty hops.
• Rating: B

2. Rush River Brewing Company – Scenic

• Resiny, slightly dank with minor notes of melon.
• Rating: B

3. Epic Brewing Company – Copper Cone

• Amber color. Floral, mint, and minor melon hops.
• Rating: C+
• I guessed this one correctly.

4. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company – Pale Ale

• Spicy and floral hops. Low maltiness with bubblegum at the end.
• Rating: C

5. Karben4 Brewing – Dragon Flute

• Golden. Dank, with minor sweat sock (in a good way).
• Rating: B+
• I guessed this one correctly.

6. Door County Brewing Company – Pete

• Cloudy with a soft mouthfeel and clean bitterness.
• Rating: B+

7. 3 Floyds Brewing Company – Space Station Middle Finger

• Richer malt, piney hops.
• Rating: B+

8. Next Door Brewing Company – Kalideospoke

• Watery, notes of cheese and pepper.
• Rating: D+
• I guessed this one correctly.

Observations:

• I thought I would be able to tell which beer was Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, but my perception of the beer didn’t match the reality in this tasting.