Pubcast 262 – Blind ‘State’ Taste Test – APAs

This week we are back in the Brit and Yankee studios and we welcome 2 co-hosts, the Yankee Mike ‘Lingo’ Lingafelter and Church Street’s Chuck Fort, and Hopvine Brewing head brewer, Ken McMullen.

We also have a guest appearance by BJCP judge and ex-co-host, Mark Naski, who provides some technical perspective on pale ale brewing and the style, and while he chats to us, Phil is downing a Cigar City Invasive Pale Ale.

The Landlord has selected a brewing style, this time American Pale Ale, and arbitrarily chooses six beers from six states in the Midwest, namely Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. We want to see which state may come out on top, and so each of the beers were provided to the panel under the same conditions and they marked down their impressions and ratings for each of  the following categories – Appearance, Smell, Taste, Finish, Drinkability.

There’s a surprise ringer in the collection that Ken is familiar with, and we find out if he can spot it, plus it generates some discussion on a hot topic in the news.

What came out on top? Indiana’s 18th Street Brewing and their Velvet Cashmere, which was the overriding favorite of the panel.  Do you agree? Why not go out and try them and let us know!

There’s bonus beers at the end where we taste the new Church Street offering, Pils, and as an addendum Lingo has brought a real treat beer from 10 years ago, Stone’s 07-07-07.

The beers were as follows in order of presentation to the panel, followed by their final rating:

1. Indiana, 18th Street Brewing, Velvet Cashmere APA 4.5% – ranked #1
2. Michigan, Odd Side Ales, Hopgobbler, Session Pale Ale, 5% – ranked equal #5
3. Missouri, O’Fallon Brewing, Zekes Pale Ale, 5.1% – ranked #5
4. Minnesota, Surly Brewing, Xtra Citra Pale Ale, 4.5% – ranked #2
5. Illinois,  2nd Amendment Brewing, Gun Craft Tactical APA 5.5% – ranked equal #4

6. Wisconsin, Ale Asylum, Hopalicious APA, 5.7% – ranked #3

Play the show from our player below, or from the Podbean player…


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