Analysis of the Stout Category – GToCG 2012

Final Results
Gold Medal – Central Waters Satin Solstice
Silver Medal – Bells Expedition Stout
Bronze Medal – Founders Breakfast Stout

Board of Director Results
1st Place – Bells Expedition Stout
2nd Place – Great Divide Yeti
3rd Place – Founders Breakfast Stout

Analysis
This was similar to the porter category in that as soon as I tasted Expedition I knew it was my favorite.  I am such a sucker for balance in stouts and there is no beer that does that better than Expedition.  We were all a little shocked that Yeti came in second amongst the Board of Directors, it was the only beer I had not tried before.  I love that this beer carries a little booziness with it.  I was very critical of Founders Breakfast Stout because it is so zoned in on coffee, but that is such a good beer.  Satin Solstice was just a step below Expedition and to me it was all about the smoothness and balance.  Third Tier Ten Stout is our homebrew and this beer just wasn’t ready yet.  It was only 6 weeks post brew date and probably shouldn’t have been submitted.  Now that we are a few months out this beer has already made some really great strides, but this was a star studded line-up.  Most shocking of all is how terrible Ten Fidy is.  I had a few ounces of this beer a couple weeks before and was blown away.  When compared to others there are too many competing flavors because they are all so big, plus it is just too syrupy

My Ballot
1. Expedition
2. Yeti
3. Satin Solstice
4. Third Tier Ten Stout
5. Breakfast Stout
6. Oskar Blues Ten Fidy

The Takeaway
Once again those two smooth, well balanced beers are back on top.  Satin Solstice doesn’t have as complex of a flavor, which is why it most likely won in the larger group.  Expedition is much more intense and I even noted on the Satin Solstice that something was missing.  And at this time, there is absolutely nothing to say about Founder’s Breakfast Stout because it has earned its reputation.  The homebrew did come in ahead of Ten Fidy, but I am not calling that any accomplishment at this point.

For full results, check out: Great Taste of Cottage Grove 2012 Results