Grant's Mandarin Hefeweizen?

[steveh]

Okay, who are the Grant folks stuffing the ballot box?

Not that I've ever tried it, so I can't comment, but I also had never really heard of it until I saw the BoB brackets.

The fact that it beat Widmer Hefeweizen pretty handily yesterday, and is leading the pretty popular New Belgium Abbey today has grabbed my attention.

Orange flavored beer associated with golfing?

S.

[Payson]

I've tried it and was not too pleased. It's not a happy marriage in my opinion. Too baby aspiriny.

[steveh]

I can't help thinking of Mandarin Chicken, or those sickly-sweet, orange jelly candy slices.

Hmm, 55 to 45 over New Belgian's Abbey (which I have had, and found to be a great brew), closer - but I still smell a fix - a very citrusy fix.

S.

[Beaver]

I'm bummed about the Abbey losing. It's a quality brew!

[ryannosaurus]

I took a nap and missed the first two rounds, so I am blameless (nice to see my Bourbon Blackwatch nominee made it this far w/o my help).

I've tried the Grant's, and I definitely like it as a "change of pace" brew, but like all fruit beers, it's not something I'd drink every day. Definitely more unique than the raft of berry weizens, which typically strike me as cloying, and almost on par with Pyramid's Apricot Ale. I'd be interested seeing the mandarin orange flavor applied in a porter, but then I'm a dark beer nut.

The Orange would have had my 1st round vote, as Widmer Hefe is a yawner. Wouldn't have gotten my vote in the 2nd over Abbey, and I probably vote Orange in round 3, even though it's going against a dark, as I don't care for Alaskan Smoked Porter

[batkins]

All I can say about the Madarin Hefe............yack...............!!

[crlighthall]

Hey, I live in Yakima and I can safely say that their orange beer is not my fav either. The one thing I CAN say about it is they can't seem to make enough. They keep doubling production every month or two and there is no end in sight so SOMEBODY must really like it. As far as "a fix" or something, this contest is hardly set up to be fair, it all depends on what people and breweries decide to promote the contest. Last year, every time I walked into Grants, they reminded me to go to the web and vote for their Scottish Ale (which is one of my all time favorites, I have at least 15 years of drinking that beer under my belt, er, over my belt)

Don't forget, Grants was one of the first microbreweries on the scene and is reputed to be the first brew pub established after prohibition, they have MANY followers, even if they don't have many retailers...

I had to add this, Yakima is the nation's leading producer of hops, if you have never walked a field of hop trellises, come to Yak and give it a try, also, stop by Grants and sample their many fine brews.

[steveh]

Originally posted by crlighthall
...vote for their Scottish Ale (which is one of my all time favorites, I have at least 15 years of drinking that beer under my belt, er, over my belt)

Don't forget, Grants was one of the first microbreweries on the scene and is reputed to be the first brew pub established after prohibition, they have MANY followers, even if they don't have many retailers...

I have the utmost respect for Bert Grant and the brewery he established - and would vote for the Scotch Ale in a minute, have had it many times and always enjoyed it. I just don't understand the "sudden" phenomenon of Orange Crush Brew, and it sounds as though those around here who have tried it aren't very favorable.

S.

[Caffinehog]

Let's put it this way: If it gets to the finals, something's really messed up. I'm sure it's a fine brew, but orange juice should NOT win the battle of the beers.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Caffinehog
but orange juice should NOT win the battle of the beers.

I'll second that. Looking over reviews at BA and Rate Beer, the Mandarin doesn't seem to be really taking the beer community by storm as a must-drink brew. In fact, someone actually said that they thought it tasted as though OJ concentrate was used in it!

So where'n the heck are all of those voters who cast for Alaskan Smoked Porter last year? The Mandarin has taken a long lead.

S.

[crlighthall]

C'mon now, we all know this is a popularity contest and not a taste test.

And on that note, I just proudly voted for my local brewery even though I really prefer Grants Scottish or their Imperial Stout (or a black and tan made from those two) over the Mandarin. I wonder how the Alaskan would do if they actually put a little bit of salmon in with the beer, ewww, bad idea.

I think it's the chicks voting the Mandarin as well, they seem to like it more than the typical male dark beer fiend does.

[crlighthall]

Don't flame me too bad for the Salmon bit... I can't hardly envision the words "Alaskan" and "smoked" without thinking about a big chunk of smoked Alaskan salmon.

[Caffinehog]

I was going to smoke a salmon, but I couldn't find a Zig-Zag big enough.

[steveh]

Originally posted by crlighthall
Don't flame me too bad for the Salmon bit... I can't hardly envision the words "Alaskan" and "smoked" without thinking about a big chunk of smoked Alaskan salmon.

I take it you've never tried an Oyster Stout either?

S.

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by steveh
I take it you've never tried an Oyster Stout either?

S.

The perfect combination...a inhibition remover with an aphrodisiac built in!

Actually, I just had Dogfish Head's this past weekend..it wasn't bad at all.

The mandarin thing is a bit of a puzzle; but the silver lining - I've yet to sample any of Bert Grant's brews; but after reading this thread, I believe the Scottish and the Imp. Stout may be on my next shopping list.

[ryannosaurus]

Originally posted by BluesHarp
The mandarin thing is a bit of a puzzle; but the silver lining - I've yet to sample any of Bert Grant's brews; but after reading this thread, I believe the Scottish and the Imp. Stout may be on my next shopping list.

If it's available where you're buying beers, Grant's IPA is also one to consider adding to the shopping list. And the Imperial Stout is to die for.

[steveh]

Originally posted by BluesHarp
Actually, I just had Dogfish Head's this past weekend...

You did? ;)

The mandarin thing is a bit of a puzzle; but the silver lining - I've yet to sample any of Bert Grant's brews; but after reading this thread, I believe the Scottish and the Imp. Stout may be on my next shopping list.

Grant's really does have a reputation for good brews, but the whole mandarin thang just seems too gimmicky. Too much like Leinie's Berry Weiss - blech.

S.

[Beaver]

Do we possibly have some Mandarin Hefe-cheaters? :D

We think we have an Elite Eight in the Battle of the Beers, but just to make sure we've decided to postpone voting for the Final Four until next Tuesday.

We appreciate how much Realbeer.com regulars care about the competition, but as we get deeper into the tournament we've found that some care more than others. As a result, some of you have gone out of your way to vote an extra time (or three). And as we've made changes to block those votes, other visitors have received a message that says "You have already voted" when they haven't.

In order to make sure all the votes are counted, but counted just once, our guys behind the scenes are going to make some changes - but means we have to delay bracket championship voting until next Tuesday.

In the meantime, they'll also be looking at a bunch of stuff they understand and we don't to make sure that Tuesday's totals are accurate. A nice thing about computers is they record all sorts of information if you are willing to look a little deeper. While the tech guys are doing that we will be sampling members of the Sweet 16 and suggest you do the same.

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by ryannosaurus
If it's available where you're buying beers, Grant's IPA is also one to consider adding to the shopping list. And the Imperial Stout is to die for.

...thanks; I will try them both, my local has most of the Grant's lineup (sitting right next to Bear Republic...this will get expensive)

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by steveh

You did? ;)







...yeah, and the next thing you know, these two women...oh, wait... that's right..never mind!

[hopjack13]

i treid the mandarian hef this weekend, served out of the ice chest in a pint glass with a slice of orange.
when i first poured it it smelled like orange marmalade (sp?)
and nice and cold with a slice of orange it was quite refreshing (im not one for fruit beers, but it was in the low 90s this weekend) so out in the hot sun i found it quit drinkable. and actually not bad at all. however if at a pub or at home with a meal it wouldn't be my first choice.

[ryannosaurus]

Originally posted by BluesHarp
...thanks; I will try them both, my local has most of the Grant's lineup (sitting right next to Bear Republic...this will get expensive)

ahh, that reminds me, I need to do some arm twisting and see if I can get Bear Republic to appear in the local beer case... I've not had the pleasure, and any beer that can knock off SNPA is certainly worthy of notice

[Stodbrew]

Bear Republic's beers are great. If and when you get a chance to try them, you won't be disappointed.

[BluesHarp]

The BR Hop Rod Rye is one of my favorites...and at $3 a bomber, not a bank breaker either; perhaps one of the best values I've found.

[chazwicke]

The Racer 5 is on tap at Hard Times's Herndon location most of the time. All the way out here in Virginia!