This week of third round matches came and went, quicker than we even realized.  Today was a close match for sure, and here’s how it was decided:

Brad: I want to vote for both of these so badly and for legitimate reasons. When it comes down to it, the Dortmunder is incredibly unique and ultimately a truly classic beer. The Allagash Tripel is a sophisticated beer a la the Founder’s Porter, and it is also a very unique brew. Nobody does what Great Lakes does better, but my vote today has to go to the Allagash Tripel, a complex, balanced, drinker-friendly beer that barely edges out the Dortmunder. Congrats to both for sure.

John: At the end of the day, I simply couldn’t find any reason to vote against either of these two beers.  In what was close to a coin flip for me, I ultimately decided in favor of the Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold, primarily due to the fact that it simply seems to have a trait about it that makes it stand out from the pack.  It might be worthy of gold in my book (maybe), but I’m wondering what everyone else has to say on the subject…

Fans: Today’s match had a slightly wider gap than yesterday’s, with an almost two-to-one margin in favor of the Allagash Tripel!  65% of you helped seal the deal for a Fermented Four spot for Allagash.

Since today was the final fourth round match, the second of the Fermented Four pairing has now been determined – Founder’s Porter vs. Allagash Tripel!  This match will take place one week from today, on 3/24/2011!  Voting will open shortly after this post goes live, so make sure to jump on over to the Current Matches page to make your voice heard!  Vote early, vote often, and enjoy the long weekend!  I’m sure we’ll be back to recap the fourth round and to preview the upcoming Fermented Four!

Starting with the beer I didn’t vote for in the last round, as well as stating it’s full name for the first time, the Allagash Tripel Reserve is a great beer despite my record. As I taste today I realize that this beer is like the Founder’s in terms of sophistication. Last round I voted for the blue-collar option but that wasn’t to say that this beer isn’t amazing with its organic sugar flavors blended with earthy hops to create an overall impression of a very natural beverage that doesn’t feel trumped up with synthetic sugars or flavorings. There is something truly special about a beer that has this unique earthy quality all the way through to the smooth mouthfeel that just lets you know that Allagash methodically selected the hops and barley and yeast specifically to create this particular natural beer experience, and they have hit a home run with this one.

And we have the final beer with a chance to make the Fermented Four, the Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold. You all have had a large hand in getting the Dortmunder to this level as it hasn’t swept every round, but there’s a reason you love this brew. Like I said in the last round, you have to have a passion for this particular style of brew to make it, as Wikipedia shows that this beer is one of the only Dortmunders crafted in the United States. Speaking to its weakness, I basically retract what I said about its inability to pair with food. Allow me to clarify by saying that it doesn’t fight food, but it doesn’t do anything special to bring out the flavors of food beyond what your typical beer would, which makes it ok not “bad” as I had previously said. The passion exhibited by the brewers today is very apparent and I consider us here at Brewlimination privileged that we had the opportunity to see this match as we have really the only big name Dortmunder crafter putting their brew against a very well-crafted Tripel from Allagash. It’s anyone’s guess as to who will win but you will certainly have a huge hand in the decision today.

UPDATE: Click Here for Match Results!

You came out strong today, we’ve been approaching record levels the past few days. Let’s keep up the enthusiasm and move straight into the vote breakdown for today:

John: Today I will be voting for the Founder’s Porter.  In the end, these two porters are well-matched as far as their score in almost every category. But I simply felt as if the folks at Founder’s told a better, more complete story from start to finish with the flavor profile.  Earning it the win today in my book.

Brad: Not only is it a grown-up beer, but the Founder’s Porter represents exactly what I expected when we sat down as the tournament was starting and looked over the bracket. We knew a stronger brew should come out of the division, and once I tasted the decanted Founder’s, I was almost convinced this was the one. No offense to Southern Tier, as they always make incredible beers, but the Founder’s Porter is simply a unique classic.

Fans: Like we said, you came out in force for both breweries, but when it came down to it, there were just more powerful pushes made for the Founder’s Porter. A beer that has had strong support throughout the tournament, it moves on in a sweep 57%-43%.

This post will be short, as I think both of these beers speak for themselves quite clearly.  Today features two beers that are similar in my capacities, yet strikingly different at the same time. The end result (other than two absolutely delicious porters) is an very difficult match to decide. Here’s how I summed up both beers on the table today:

The Founder’s Porter is: smooth and highly drinkable, a fantastic example of a porter, and surprisingly complex with a wonderful interaction of flavors.

The Southern Tier Porter, on the other hand, is: chocolaty and delicious with a wonderfully creamy mouthfeel, and with an equally impressive interaction of flavors on the tongue.

I enjoy both of these beers, and they might have worked their way into my fridge from now on as my “go to” porters. Having said that, I think I’ve finally made up my mind.

UPDATE: Click Here for Match Results!

We’ll start the 3rd of Four matches this week with a beer that gets a fresh start because I finally came around and voted for it last round: the Founder’s Porter. When I think of Founder’s, I think of the finer things, a good cigar, a nicely aged wine, an elegant yet still robust beer. The one thing I must stress if you are going to drink this brew is that you pour it slowly and give it a minute to get some air, otherwise the flavors bunch together and you get that plain, root beer flavor. If you allow it to open up you get rich flavors that don’t come with other beers: Ginger, a little pepper, very rich caramel, and a cappuccino coffee flavor  all in a smooth and doughy mouthfeel that is simply outstanding. I think to put it as easily as I can, this is an adult beverage. This is the high life, this is sophistication, this is Founder’s.

Well anything that follows that is gonna seem like I’m putting the Southern Tier Porter at the kid’s table (Note: Brewlimination does not advocate putting beer at the kid’s table, this is a metaphor). It may not be the height of sophistication but it is insanely delicious. If you want some background, check here for more on the flavors. This is a chocolate-forward beer that has a thicker mouthfeel, as porters should have, yet it takes advantage of the possibility of a well-carbonated porter that makes for an airy and bubbly chocolate that is like mousse. Accent that with some lighter coffee flavors, some toffee notes, a little hoppy spice for balance, and you have a more dessert-minded beer that is airy enough to be consumed by anyone at any time. Founder’s is going to have to beat the champ to advance, and that is much easier said than done as the champ is bringing it strong. I don’t know who will win but it will be very exciting to find out.

UPDATE: Click Here for Match Results!

The SweetWater IPA! Here’s what the two of us thought, as well as how the voting turned out:

Brad: Today I’m taking the SweetWater IPA because this is simply a phenomenal beer. I know I talked about the orchard effect that Bell’s has but when it comes down to it, SweetWater matches it pace for pace, and has that pure beer flavor to it that makes it one of the ultimate beers we’ve sampled thusfar. My thanks go out to Bells as does my advice that they take pride in making a truly classic beer.

John:  Favorite match of this tournament.  Period.  In my opinion, if these two beers had started out in opposite divisions, I could see them meeting in the Championship round.  But due to how they were ordered in this tournament, one of them must meet the end of their run today.  I’m voting for the Bell’s Two Hearted Ale today, it’s simply a phenomenal stylistic example in my book.  While I can’t really support voting against the SweetWater, I can’t support voting against Bell’s even more (if that makes any sense).

Fans: It wasn’t quite a 2-to-1 ratio, but it was close.  The final tally was 65% in favor of the SweetWater IPA, securing it the victory today.

Two of the Fermented Four beers have now been chosen – the Terrapin Rye Pale Ale and the SweetWater IPA.  These two beers will square off in the first Fermented Four match, one week from today (on 3/22/2011).  After all, we have to keep with our standard of having all matches open for one week.  Remember, you can vote once per day, so vote early and vote often! (The before-mentioned match will be available on the Current Matches page shortly after this post goes live).

We’ll see you tomorrow as we decide the fate of the Division 3 Champion, who will win? Porter or Porter?

Well today I’m simply clueless, the tasting I’m doing right now will have to make up my mind because these are two brews that I am simply in love with. The Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale had been a strong competitor all along, leaving little doubt in our minds that this tournament we have found the beers Bell’s brews best. This orchard beer is one you are simply going to have to experience to truly appreciate, as I can only explain the deep fruit flavors so many times before it just doesn’t register. The deep fruit flavors and rich pine spice make for a fantastic “two-hearts” if you will and really allow for wonderful balance and flavor. As for mouthfeel, this beer is not overly doughy nor is it overly carbonated, just a down the middle yeast that stays out of the way of these truly outstanding flavors.

In the other bottle, a brew that is equally as touted, outstanding, and incredible, the SweetWater IPA. I called this beer flavorful yet tempered, and then prematurely called it a definite contender for the ultimate brew. So much for impartiality haha. Today really is a rough one as all of the positive things about the SweetWater, fruit flavors balanced by an organic hop note and smooth yeast flavors, can be said of the Bell’s. I go back to the distinguishing factor from the last match, that SweetWater knows it is making a beer. That works for an against it as the “beery” flavors do make this more the stronger of the two beers but we have seen how at times that can work against the brews in question. I’m more perplexed than ever as both of these brews certainly deserve to move on but as always only one can.

Make your voice as loud as you can, bring your friends because I want us to hit the threshold where reviewer votes are nullified and we go solely on fan support. You can get there!

UPDATE: Click Here for Match Results!

Well the site is almost becoming formulaic in that our reviewers cannot make up their minds and the fans come to the tiebreaking rescue. Here’s how the voting went down for today’s match:

Brad: I simply don’t know, but today I think it’s going to be a case of I voted for the other beer from this brewery in round 1, and I think today the Terrapin Rye Pale Ale is the better beer because both of these beers have outstanding flavor with the Boulder being slightly better, but the Terrapin Rye is more consistent. I was detecting different flavors every time with the Boulder which is fun for the seasoned taster but could be off-putting to someone who expects a certain beer and gets something slightly different. For once I’m not going to undervalue the importance of consistency and throw a vote to the Terrapin and we will see which brew makes it into the Fermented Four.

John: After much deliberation, I have decided to vote for the Boulder Hazed & Infused.  The Terrapin brew has grown on me over the previous rounds, possibly into one of my favorite beers of this entire bracket.  But at the same time, I simply couldn’t vote against the solid stylistic example set on the table by the folks at Boulder.  If you haven’t had either of these beers, I highly recommend them both – if only so you can tell me whether or not I made the right call!

Fans: You showed up big for both breweries and we truly appreciate all of the support. If you ever questioned whether or not your vote mattered hopefully today’s results will show you that your votes put your favorite, the Terrapin Rye Pale Ale, into the fermented four by a tally of 65%-35%.

The fourth round – the round of the Final 8 – is where things really started getting interesting during the last bracket.  These beers have all faced some impressive competition along the way, and one could easily argue why any of these eight brews should sit atop the Brewlimination podium when all is said and done.

In keeping with the method I used during the last tournament, I will once again switch things up in this round.  I will try to summarize each contender in as few as words as possible in an effort to make my decision.  My posts might be somewhat short in this round, but that’s that at least somewhat my goal.

The first beer I opened today was the Terrapin Rye Pale Ale, a beer that has grown on me considerably as the tournament has progressed.  This beer is visually appealing, complex, light on the tongue, and unexpectedly balanced.  I love the way the flavors intermingle from  citrus to rye to a basic earthiness.

The Boulder Hazed and Infused, on the other hand, is a fantastic stylistic definition, and has a fantastic aroma, a wonderfully enhanced taste profile, and a subtle malty core.

It’s difficult to come up with any major negatives when discussing either of these two beers, which makes this choice rather tough.  Still, from my comments in the previous rounds and my words above, I think I’ve made up my mind…

Maybe…

UPDATE: Click Here for Match Results!

Hard to believe we are finally here, the time to pick the Fermented Four brews and the chance for someone to hoist the coveted Brewlimination Championship plaque is upon us!
Today we have two very stellar brews, starting with the Terrapin Rye Pale Ale, a beer I didn’t vote for despite giving a very solid review. I called this brew “the most consistent beer in the tournament”, what more do you need to want to vote for this one? This beer is very basic and a perfect example of what a rye ale should be: spicy hops tempered with a carbonation to smooth out the spiciness, and a sweet caramel flavor that really takes this beer to the next level. This beer may not boast 50 hop flavors and 20 malt flavors but it doesn’t need to. The folks at Terrapin have found the formula for a superb rye ale and they don’t dress it up, they just give the drinker what they want which is to be commended.

In the other glass is a beer that just keeps rolling on, bad pun intended, the Boulder Hazed & Infused. I could fill the page up with links to its sweeps, and sweeps, and strong fan turnout, but I will let my remarks speak for themselves. Where the Terrapin uses carbonated smoothness, the Boulder uses doughy yeast to create an earthy smoothness that brings out the hops a little more but that works well with this brew. The citrus spices are different from the typical spice rack spices and have more of a lemon-wine sauce flavor to them. Combine that with just the faintest hint of malt flavors that give the beer a slight taste of plain beer and sweetness to the spice and you have a beer that is tough to match.

I apologize ahead of time for our shorter reviews this week as we try to be impartial and just give our comments, allowing you to make your own vote. If I rattle on and on it would eventually just turn into cheering and rallying so I will keep these reviews brief. Thanks for stopping by our little corner of the ‘net, hope you enjoy it!

UPDATE: Click Here for Match Results!