I’ve been looking forward to today’s match for all of 15 minutes, as I had forgotten about both of these beers until today. The Weyerbacher Merry Monks has to be one of my favorite names in the tournament, with a beer that backs up the praise heaped on the name. The Merry Monks is itself a merry beer with a refreshing summer vibe to it that is balanced with a malted sweetness. This beer is an example of how a good beer can be balanced and refreshing simultaneously as this beer is a bit of a hop hound, with good carbonation and a lighter overall impression, that is balanced by a slight thickness of mouthfeel that doesn’t make it taste overly carbonated and soda-like. I enjoy the Merry Monks and view it as a strong competitor as it does not have any overly glaring weaknesses.

As I recall, the Allagash Dubbel is a great beer that is balanced and delicious without being overly complicated/confusing, which is good for a beer that promises 7 distinct malt flavors (yikes). This brew takes a different approach to balance from the Monks, using a wooden/smoky flavor to thicken up some of the hoppier floal and pine flavors to achieve a little of both words. Personally, as a self-proclaimed BBQ buff, I always enjoy the smokier beers. The flavor does not seem easy to contain, let alone do well, yet somehow Allagash makes it look effortless. The two beers today are very similar yet quite different which makes the decision hard. Will it be the down home BBQ beer or the hop-loaded summery brew?

UPDATE:  Click Here for Match Results!