Just from looking at the bottles one can tell these beers are going to be quite different stylistically. We’ll start with the “tamer” of the two, though there is little tame about it, the SweetWater IPA. As we recall, SweetWater managed to pull of a huge sweep of a DogFish Head Timed IPA and it is looking to ride that momentum to the Fermented Four and beyond. I don’t know how to describe this beer but I can tell you I am a fan. I may not know words but I know beer, and I love beer. The SweetWater is flavorful yet tempered, like a fruit but not as sharp as an actual fruit would be. I said that before but I’m trying to elaborate on it here because it is the key to this IPA’s excellence. The SweetWater IPA and the folks at SW remember that they are first and foremost making a beer, not flavor jambalaya, so through all of these flavors this beer still tastes like a beer. That is so critical because, after all, this is the quest for the ultimate BEER. The flavors accentuate the beer itself and make it better but the incredibly strong base that the flavors build on makes this beer truly a classic. I say “go SweetWater, keep on rollin!”

Of course I say that without yet trying the behemoth, the Stone Arrogant Bastard Oaked Ale. I’d better like this beer, my vote combined with the fans’ put it here. Where SweetWater remembers it is a beer first, the Arrogant Bastard is a tour de force of some of the best flavors in all of the alcohol world, compacted into a brew so that if you can’t do shots or wine gives you a headache, its only a sample in a beer. The deep fruits remind me of a nice merlot, the wooden flavors a well-aged scotch, with an overall crisp and clean body that rivals the finest lagers. This brew simply has everything and I am struggling to find a better or more in-depth way to describe it but this beer has everything in the world of alcohol rolled into one. It does pack a punch though, so I guess it may not win in the broad appeal category. And the flavors are a hidden underneath the surface a little so the novice taster may not enjoy the flavors as much but my goodness, once you unlock the potential of this masterful oaked ale… I don’t know which to pick today. It is such a difficult call with two stylistically different beers that each may be the best in the bracket at what they do.

Tune in at 4:30 to see how the votes come down!

UPDATE: Click Here for Match Results!

Wow, what an incredible match! The voting was back and forth, the reviewers were back and forth, but everything seemed to fall the same way today, here’s how the voting went:

John: After much deliberation, I finally came to a conclusion. Both of today’s beers have a very similar drinkability and “wow” factor, but such an accomplishment is to be expected from any of our Final 16 beers. The Centennial had the ever-so-slight edge in the category of balance today, but that wasn’t enough to decide the match. I’ll be voting for the Bell’s Two Hearted Ale. Many IPAs either fall short of the true expectations for the style or far surpass them, both equally off-putting traits in my opinion. The Two Hearted hits the nail right on the head, and is a smooth-drinking, anytime type of IPA. And that’s why I’m voting for it today. (But don’t get me wrong – Founder’s hit the nail on the head today as well, it’s just that Bell’s hit slightly harder.)

Brad: Today’s match cemented my opinion that if you want a cigar and a beer, or you want a beer in a lounge while you are kicking back and relaxing you want Founder’s. They will be your brewery as all of their beers fit their category well. However today was a very difficult match for Founder’s as it ran into a beer with equally as deep of flavors with less of a detraction for newbies, the Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale. My vote today is rich but crisp and balanced which, as I said before, allows it to excel at any time to any drinker, and that basis alone makes it worthy of consideration for an Ultimate Beer, and then its flavor and detail pushes it into the “brew-to-beat” position.

Fans: You came out in droves and rallied in both directions, but one brewery saw a few rallies beyond the 50/50 split to propel it to a near double-digit win in favor of the Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale, 59%/41%.

Matches like these make me glad we don’t review 7 days a week, my brain would explode from trying to pick. We’ll start today with a beer that has been a bit of a surprise thusfar, the Bells Two-Hearted Ale.  I don’t know how long I can get away with calling this brew surprising as I’ve been fawning over it in my reviews and it has moved on virtually unchallenged thus far. The Two-Hearted Ale is unparalleled in terms of deep, rich fruit flavors. That said, the beer is not at all overwhelming because the deep flavors are cut by hoppy pine and floral scents which round the beer out very nicely. I thought about trying to find a season to describe this beer and really the only thing I could say is it is an all-season, all-person, all-pairing beer. Just give it a shot and you’ll discover what I mean. This beer is a strong contender tucked away in a carefully crafted beer by a meticulous brewery.

And in the Blue Fridge today, hailing from Founder’s Brewing Co., the Founder’s Centennial IPA. A brewery with tremendous fan support, 2 beers in the Sweet 16, and a good rapport with these tournaments, one could consider their beers to be heavily favored at this point. Then again, I voted against this beer the last round so we will see if it can change my mind. I decided to take a different approach to this brew and let it decant for a few minutes. I’ve admitted that it is a stronger beer, and if you took a Barolo or a stronger wine you would let it breathe. Perhaps with some air this beer opens up nicely, giving it a niche as a pool-playing beer or a shooting the breeze beer. Sure enough, if you give it some time, the smoky flavor opens up and replaces the bitterness which is followed by a rich caramel flavor and a scotch-like finish. Grab a cigar, some friends, rack ‘em up, and enjoy this fantastic IPA. It may not be for everyone but if it is for you it will be one of if not your favorite brew.

UPDATE: Click Here for Match Results!

At this point, we know the remaining brews bring an exceptional level of quality to the table, and it’s time to start digging deeper to find any weaknesses.  II tend to find a more direct “side by side comparison” helps at this stage in the game, so that’s what I”ll be sticking to (for the most part).  The second match of the third round brings us an extremely interesting pairing, one which I’ve been looking forward to since these two beers were determined.  Two fantastic IPA’s square off today, and it’ll be interesting to see which one claims the victory for Michigan. Today’s breweries – Bell’s and Founders – are  practically only a stone’s throw from one another.

The Founder’s Centennial IPA and the Bell’s Two Hearted Ale have very similar visual appearances, with only a slight variation in coloring, although I did notice a bit more carbonation visible in the Two Hearted.  It’s almost difficult to compare the two aromas of these beers, as they are both so “powerfully delicious.”  What I mean in saying that is that the aroma of both of these IPAs is packed full of hops, and while the compositions of said aromas are different, they are equally as impressive and memorable.

The taste of these beers is likewise similar, with a citrus sweetness present in both beers.  The Two Hearted Ale, however, has a more floral character in my opinion, while the Founder’s brew is heavier on pine.  Finally, the finish of the Two Hearted Ale results in a crisp and surprisingly smooth drinking IPA, while the intriguing aftertaste of the Centennial simply keeps you coming back for more.

With two beers that have such a high drinkability and memorability, this is by no means an easy match to decide.  And I’ll be honest – these two breweries are near the top of my “current top breweries” list, which doesn’t make this decision any easier.

UPDATE: Click Here for Match Results!

Well, in what can only be termed an upset SweetWater has cemented its place as one of the elite beers in the tournament if not the overall favorite. It seems to have captivated our judges and rallied all of you in record numbers, here’s how today’s votes went:

John:  Balance and an unexpected complexity.  Those were the two deciding factors today in determining which beer gets my vote.  That beer?  The SweetWater IPA.  My reviews earlier said what I think they needed to: the SweetWater had the balance of sweetness to rival the hops overload, and the pleasant and surprising complexity of hop characters.  It goes down smooth, and that’s why it earns my vote today.

Brad: Like I said in my review, if I don’t vote for a beer in a round, it absolutely must blow me away in order to change my mind. The DogFish Head could not satisfy the test. Not only that but I am incredibly high on the SweetWater IPA today as its flavors are fruity enough to be a summer beer but rich enough to be a winter beer. I’m endorsing the SweetWater as much as I can, it is just that good.

Fans: What can I say other than SweetWater IPA: The beer more than 2/3rds of our audience approves! In all seriousness, High praise indeed to the SweetWater IPA that managed to roll up DogFish, 67%-33%

Sweet Water sounds better to me than a Fried Dog Fish so I’ll start today with the SweetWater IPA which, as you recall, had a very deep flavor particularly for an IPA. Beers like these are among some of the greatest around because you wouldn’t think “deep” and “pale” could be used to describe the same beer, leaving a pale to be a lighter brew but that is clearly not the case. The SweetWater moves to the next level in the flexibility that the flavors have. The fruit flavors, while rich, do not taste as acidic as, say, eating an actual fruit would, so they have a better ability to pair with a wide variety of food or even just be quaffed solo. Not a big fruit fan? Well fortunately SweetWater hit the aftertaste out of the park too, using spicier hopped flavor to temper the fruit so that it doesn’t linger, which also adds to its overall drinkability. Seasoned drinkers and newcomers alike can all find something to love about this brew, it is truly a great ale to have in the tournament.

Then there’s the powerhouse, the DogFish Head 60 Minute IPA. As I will recall for you, I did not vote for this beer in round 1, I like it as a measuring stick for newcomers, but the seasoned drinkers may find this beer not as polarizing as they would like. This beer has a wealth of hop and malt flavors that each are very pronounced which does make for a good beer, I’m just missing the qualities that would make it a great IPA. I want this beer to change my mind because it has the potential to be a great brew in either direction: there is so much malt potential and hop potential, but I feel like they are sacrificed in favor of balance. Ultimately, the 60 Minute IPA will not step on anyone’s toes and will not blow anyone away with bitterness or molasses, but I think to become a truly classic beer it needs to take the risk of scaring some off in favor of stronger flavor (like the 90 Minute does with its malted sweetness).

UPDATE: Click Here for Match Results!

Today started with an hour for me, the 60 Minute IPA from Dogfish Head.  From what I remember from the initial round (as well as the several times before my first round tasting), this beer is a quality IPA.  The visual appearance was exactly as I remembered it – clear, copper colored with a red hue, with a rather large, bright-white head that slowly recedes.  The aroma is packed full of hops, both citrus and pine, and invites you in with the full expectation that this beer will be a straight shot stylistic definition of an IPA.  The taste verifies that claim, with delicious hops notes packing a punch from start to finish.  Speaking of the finish, it’s neither overly dry nor overly bitter – simply a well-rounded conclusion, which makes for a very memorable IPA.

The SweetWater IPA comes into this match as somewhat of an underdog in my mind.  After all, this is only my second ever tasting of this beer, and I am well experienced with the competitor.  But, that’s the point of this competition isn’t it? To objectively review brand new brews in hopes of finding the ultimate beer?  I love the visual appearance of this IPA.  It displays very similar to the beer above, except with the increased level of carbonation which I mentioned last time.  I’m a huge fan of the sweetness in this beer, as it works very well to balance out the expectedly high dosing of hops.  Speaking of hops, the complexity of hops in the aroma is incredibly inviting, adding a new dimension to the typical IPA style.

This match isn’t easy, but I think I have my mind made up.  Stay tuned for Brad’s thoughts a little later, and remember that you can vote until 3PM!

UPDATE: Click Here for Match Results!

The Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard!  Here’s what we all thought today:

Brad: While I can appreciate and respect a powerful beer as much as anyone, I feel that balance makes for a better ultimate beer because ultimately you want a master of all trades, not just one. So my vote today goes to the Stone Arrogant Bastard Oaked Ale which I thoroughly enjoyed. Arrogant, because it deserves to be, this Bastard is unique, and raises the bar for any beer it goes up against. This brew is a formidable competitor and I’m eager to see if anyone can take it down.

John: I’ll be voting for the Great Divide Titan IPA today.  It’s a fantastic IPA and a great stylistic definition, and while I voted for the Stone brew last time around, I simply couldn’t justify taking a vote away from the Great Divide.

Fans: The final tally was 61% in favor of the Stone Arrogant Bastard Oaked Ale. To be honest, we were a bit surprised by the gap in the voting, as I think we both thought these beers were fantastically matched.

Tune in tomorrow – this week of Brewlimination is just getting started!

I took the opposite approach of Brad today, by first starting with the Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard.  I remember really liking this beer the first time I had it, and was anxious to return once again.  In fact, I had been looking forward to this match itself since compiling the second round schedule.  The aroma was just like I remembered it, with the citrus core and subtle smoked oak flavoring on the side.  I would definitely say that the aroma of this beer simply draws you in and begs a first taste.  The taste is a far more enhanced version of the aroma.  Pairing the two together, it’s somewhat like going to see a concert and being surprised by an amazing opening act, followed by the even more amazing main act.  Finally, I will echo what I said last time with regard to this beer – the first one was good enough on its own, and had no need to beg for a second serving.

Finally, I get to return once again to the Great Divide Titan IPA.  This beer was an old favorite for me that fell by the wayside long ago.  The first round match made me realize just what I had been missing, and I was once again pleased to return.  I’m a huge fan of the visual presentation of this beer , as it screams IPA from ten-feet away.  Once you get close enough and catch the aroma, there’s no mistaking that there’s a huge dose of hops in this beer, primarily the pine and citrus for me.  Of course, the taste is heavy with the same hop notes, but they are ever-so-slightly balanced out by a hint of malts in the background.  For such a powerful IPA, this brew really does have a wonderful finish, and it’ll keep you coming back for more.

UPDATE: Click Here for Match Results!

My advice to anyone playing along, give yourself a little time after this one because these brews pack a whallop. Nothing like a good buzz to start your week off right. Anyway, medalists take the honors and today we begin with the Great Divide Titan IPA, a beer that caught me off-guard in round one as we’d had a few days of softer beers. For you lighter quaffers out there, grab some spicy buffalo wings to temper the smack of the hops from Great Divide (yeah, I know you usually use the beer to temper the wings but trust me here). The Titan lives up to its billing, making it a slow sipper and a bit more filling than many of the other beers but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you’re watching a game/fight/race, you wanna watch it, you don’t wanna be running back and forth because you downed your Bud Lite in 30 seconds. The best thing I can say about the Titan is it’s a man’s beer. A sit-down-in-the-man-cave-and-watch-sports beer. Despite its power it is the best at what it is, and that deserves praise.

Of course what is a good strong ale matchup without Stone? They pack the hops in and even throw a little twist in with their Stone Arrogant Bastard Oaked Ale. Wow I had forgotten about this beer until I tried it again and it is strong but in a totally different way. Where the Titan has knockout hop power the Arrogant Bastard has staying power that keeps this beer fresh sip after sip, bottle after bottle (I didn’t get to more than 2 bottles). Normally I detest barley wine as it takes the worst part of beer and the worst part of wine and jumbles it together, yet somehow Stone has managed to do just the opposite. This beer has the wooden and fruity advantages of the wine while still maintaining the spicy and carbonated body of a good beer. The result is a must-try that is unique and amazing, complex without being snobby, and flavorful without being overwhelming. I welcome your comments on this fantastic match below, as I’m sure by voting for one of these some people will feel slighted.

UPDATE: Click Here for Match Results!