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.