Octoberfest: the Round of Four

Lowenbrau versus Hacker Pschorr

Coat of Arms and Passes: Hacker strode to the lists with with a noble robe of amber and a fine frothy crown. Lowenbrau looked timid in comparison. Appearances translated into taste. Lowenbrau was first, seeming fatigued and mildly skunked. The malts were present and were nice, but the hint of fatigued skunkiness was there. Hacker behaved as if this were its first round, with a fresh, nutty malt flavor. The lance is lowered with a confident force, and a fatal blow is landed!

Hacker is victorious!

Paulaner versus Summit City

Coat of Arms and Passes: Looking almost identical in appearance, they both exuded a calm glow, ready for war. A quaff of Paulaner...ahhh, the fine caramael-ish malts I have come to know and love. Summit City...so nice before, so transparent now...the slight burnt tones of flavor somewhat erasing the other flavors that should have come through...a hesitation of the sword if you will, and a fatal one. Paulaner lance has shattered; his foe is devastated!

Paulaner is victorious!

Octoberfest Round 2

Weihenstephaner versus Lowenbrau

Coat of Arms: Weihenstephaner comes to the field with a nobler appearance, its unique (compared with the other Octoberfests I've tried), sunlit cloudiness impressing the gallery.

Passes: Weihenstephaner casually trots out with a lemony arrogance, expecting to take down the somewhat dull looking Lowenbrau without much effort, but lo! Lowenbrau stuns again with a fuller-than-expected density to its flavor. The lemon stallion is out!

Winner: Lowenbrau

Octoberfest Round 2

Paper City Brewery versus Saranac

Coat of Arms: Both appeared well, the Massachusetts entry with a deep amber coat, the thoroughbred from the countryside of New York, lighter colored but equally compelling.

Passes: Both of these came out of the gate well, Saranac with a well-balanced set of flavors, Paper City with the maltier flavors that eventually won out.

WINNER: Paper City