Beer Lover’s Choice

Samuel Adams is currently having their Beer Lover’s Choice Contest where beer drinkers get to decide the next beer they brew.

The beers going head-to-head are:

Blackberry Witbier -

“We brewed a traditional witbier with orange peel and coriander, then added a hint of blackberry. The aroma has distinct blackberry notes with a subtle spice character. The flavor is very complex with malt and cereal notes, intense spice and citrus flavors and a smooth, sweet/tart berry finish.”

vs.

Coffee Stout -

“This stout is ‘dry beaned’ with coffee beans from Rwanda. Known as the ‘land of a thousand hiss’, Rwanda produces some of the world’s finest coffee due to its volcanic soil, high altitiude and plentiful rain. We start witha  clean dry stout, brewed with a bit of smoked malt and dark roasted barley, and then age it for one week on whole boffee beans – 3/4 of a pound per barrell. The result is rich and roasty with obvious coffee flavor and underlying notes of chocolate, toast and smoke. It finishes intense but smooth.”

I sampled both beers (click the link to find a tasting event near you) and both were extremely good. It was a tough decision. Ultimately, the Coffee Stout achieved victory in the late rounds, but it was a great battle!