Golden Beer Styles Bingo - April 2016

Owen Ogletree gathered 22 craft beer fans on April 30, 2016 to taste eight mystery golden beers and try to match each one to a BJCP style. Even though each beer offered different aroma and flavor notes, matching each to its style turned out to be quite a challenging task. 

At the conclusion of the tasting, before each beer name was revealed, participants voted on their picks for "best of show" - a favorite beer that was close to perfection, based on its style description.

All these wonderful ales and lagers were poured at our 2016 Classic City Brew Fest in Athens, Georgia.

FIRST PLACE: Ritterguts Gose
Gose

A well-carbonated, slightly dry, fruity, pleasantly sour wheat ale with light notes of coriander and salt. Not bitter and hoppy at all. Reminiscent of sweet tarts and light citrus.

SECOND PLACE: Gnomegang 

Belgian Blond Ale

A moderately strong, Belgian ale with wonderful fruit, spice, clove and malt character. Fermentation character from Belgian yeast strains is appealing, and the finish is medium dry. Offers lemon hints and slight initial sweetness.

THIRD PLACE: Foothills Torch Pilsner

Czech-style Premium Pale Lager (Bohemian-style Pilsner)

Golden pilsner malt backbone supported by hefty doses of floral, spicy noble hops. A lingering hop finish and clean, non-fruity lager character. Beautiful hops and good bitterness for style.

Mother Earth Endless River

Kolsch

A crisp, light ale with appropriate malt/hop balance, light fruitiness and pleasant floral German hop bitterness. Offers a dry and refreshing finish.

Foothills Pilot Mountain Pale Ale

American Pale Ale

A beautifully balanced, hoppy pale ale with light fruity esters and citrusy, piney American hops. A classic example of the style.

Weihenstephaner Original Premium

Munich Helles

A classic, lightly malty German lager with a smooth, light malt sweetness, honey-like undertones and a soft, somewhat dry finish. Light spicy, floral/herbal hops keep the balance toward malt, but not too sweet. A gorgeous session lager.

Mother Earth Weeping Willow Wit

Witbier (Belgian White)

A refreshing, complex, elegant, light ABV wheat ale with wheat cereal grain notes, orange peel, coriander and subtle Belgian fermentation notes. This beer exhibits a wonderful balance of all the appropriate aroma and flavor components.

Lonerider Shotgun Betty

Weissbier

A wonderfully drinkable version of the classic German-style wheat beer with soft, creamy mouthfeel, moderately dry finish, and banana, clove and light bubblegum yeast complexity.