Final Results
Gold Medal – Ale Asylum Contorter
Silver Medal – Founders Porter
Bronze Medal – O’So Night Train
Board of Director Results
1st Place – O’So Night Train
2nd Place – Founders Porter
3rd Place – Tyranena Devil Made Me Do It!
Analysis
Night Train was the resounding favorite amongst the Board of Directors and I have been very open about my love for this beer. Great roasted warmth, late bitterness balanced by a touch of sweetness. My only note on that beer was “winner” because I knew right away it was my favorite. I had a really hard time choosing between Edmund, Founders, and Contorter. Those 3 were your typical porter with nice coffee flavor, I was just voting on smoothness and balance. I was the only judge that disliked DMMDI. To me it was too one note with the coffee overwhelming the flavor and it wasn’t what I was looking for, but a solid beer still.
My Ballot
1. Night Train
2. Contorter
3. Edmund Fitzgerald
4. Founders
5. Devil Made Me Do It
The Takeaway
Ale Asylum and Founders were far ahead of the rest of the pack. Everyone seemed to like a milder coffee flavor. From my notes, those were two of the smoothest porters. This was the first category and it seemed like everyone had a hard time deciding. Overall a really great grouping of beers.
For full results, check out: Great Taste of Cottage Grove 2012 Results