Golden Growlers
Wheatfish Hefeweizen (Great Northern Brewing) Doug Mosher, head brewer: ?An American-style wheat beer which is quite refreshing with a light body and mild hoppiness.? Hold the beer nuts, things just got a little interesting. The Wheatfish impressed all the way around the table, earning ?best-so-far? honors; many drinkers asked for refills. In perhaps the most important category, drinkability, the Wheatfish was honored with an average score of 4.4, highest in the entire taste test. Comments: ?This beer slides down slicker than a Louisiana oyster?; ?Take me to a beach and leave me there with a couple kegs and I?ll die a happy man in about two days.? Judges say: Golden Growler
Slurry Bomber Stout (Glacier Brewing Company) Hardy: ?A smooth dark beer that is almost a crossover between a porter and a stout.? Nothing beats drinking a Slurry Bomber Stout when actual slurry bombers are flying overhead. This dark beer was one of the last tasted on a smoky afternoon, but scored well enough to clear the air, including the highest score of the day (38) from one drinker. The only area where the Bomber bombed was its strange, hazy aftertaste (?Post-swallow it tastes like a drunken pilot?), but in categories such as mouthfeel, attitude and drunkenness it scored a direct hit. Comments: ?A good beer to drink out of a fire boot;? ?Tastes like the bottom of a chocolate bunt cake;? ?Not for the faint of heart.?Judges say: Golden Growler
Cold Smoke Scotch Ale (Kettlehouse Brewing) Sherry: ?One of our most popular beers. It?s rich and malty with hoppiness kept to a minimum. Great beer served with a roast.? Hurray for beer! Our tasters favored the darker beers overall, and the Cold Smoke Scotch Ale was a crowd-pleasing kilt lifter. It scored dry for hunkiness?or high for drunkenness?with an alcohol content of 6.5 percent; everyone gave it the highest possible score in the category. And that didn?t intimidate anyone?it also did well with drinkability, proving, if nothing else, that we don?t like to mess around when we drink. Comments: ?The ecstasy of beers; the spittle of God;? ?This beer holds its power in the alcohol content;? ?Not really a summer beer?it?s meant to warm you up without filling you up.? Judges say: Golden Growler
Sawtooth (Bitter Root Brewing) Tim Bozik, owner: ?Blonde ale with a crisp, dry flavor.? Two in a row! This blonde followed the Wheatfish with its own impressive, unique taste. The Sawtooth received the highest single score among the lighter colored beers (36) and no score below 21. Comments: ?I fear I could put way too many of these away?; ?I could drink this until my liver fails?; ?I?m going to buy this beer the first chance I get.? Judges say: Golden Growler
Doublehaul IPA (Kettlehouse Brewery) Sherry: ?Our most bitter and hoppiest beer. An homage to the Cascade Hop.? This beer is hoppy like a jackrabbit, but drinkers didn?t find it overly bitter. The Doublehaul scored big in obvious categories?drunkenness for the 6.5-percent kick, visual appeal for the dark look and mouthfeel for the rich taste?and didn?t take a hit on drinkability or compatibility. The one category that showed the range of our drinkers was aftertaste?every score, ?1? through ?5,? received a vote. Comments: ?Big, bad and it?ll fuck you up?; ?Starts out aggressive but wins your heart quick?; ?Such a strong aftertaste that it?d be good if I could only have one beer.?Judges say: Golden Growler