What exactly lead to a panel beer test at a recent birthday party is too long of a story to get into, though sufficient to say, we gathered six people to try a wide array of beers to find a winner. The main goal was to wean one of the participants off Kokanee Gold. If we succeeded or not is unknown, but the results of the beer-off was surprising, particularly seeing most of the jurors didn’t consider themselves “beer people.”
| Juror | Bud Light | Kokanee Gold | Dogfish H. 60 IPA | Rogue Choc Stout | Red Hook ESB | N.L. Crystal Bitter | Black Butte Porter | Laughing Dog Cream |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juror 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Juror 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Juror 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Juror 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Juror 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Juror 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 8 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 |
Which means:
1. Rogue Chocolate Stout
2. Laughing Dog
3. Red Hook ESB (#1 in the tie breaker)
3. Black Butte Porter (#2 in the tie breaker)
3. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA (#3 in the tie breaker)
3. Kokanee Gold (#4 in the tie breaker)
7. Northern Light Crystal Bitter
8. Bud Light
The science here is questionable, obviously. But it’s interesting to see how a wide array of people with different interest in beer judge a wide array of beer, and kind of surprising seeing the Rogue on top. What does it all mean? Probably nothing. But it’s a good excuse to drink beer.