Dateline 07/16/2012, by Radon86
Blind Taste Test - Miller High Life vs 50 Back American Lager vs NOLA Blonde
This test pits three beers against one another in a blind taste test. These three beers are technically of three different styles, (American Macro Lager, American Blonde Ale, American Pale Lager) but their flavors were fairly close. In fact, I'm not sure this test really cleared anything up as these three beers were closer in flavor and enjoyment than anticipated, plus things changed during the test as the brews warmed up, further muddying the waters.
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Two of these beers were pretty close in color while the third had an orangish tinge to it.
Miller High Life - The beer that turned out to be Miller High Life was the beer that was the lightest in color. Not only lightest in color, Miller High Life turned out to have the lightest flavor of the 3 beers in this test plus the thinnest mouth-feel as well. In fact when the beers were cold, this beer had very little flavor compared to the other two. On the plus side, this beer was the cleanest tasting.
50 Back American Lager - The beer that turned out to be 50 Back American Lager was close to Miller High Life in color, but a shade darker. It obviously had more flavor than Miller High Life (although still light on flavor) but was also a little dirty tasting. It did have a little sweetness though as well.
NOLA Blonde Ale - The beer that turned out to be NOLA Blonde Ale was the darkest of the 3 beers. This beer also had the most flavor from the get go; but most doesn't mean best and I must say, this beer's flavor was the dirtiest as well as the least smooth. Some of the 'dirty' I'm tasting may actually be bitter and I'd definitely add that this was the most bitter of the three beers in this test.
So, which beer did I like the best,... This was a tough one, for a couple reasons;... First, although of three different styles, the flavors were much closer than one would think. Second, I actually got different impressions of the beers as they warmed which clouded things a bit further as to which one I liked the best. But, I suppose the beer I'd choose would be 50 Back American Lager. For second I'd choose Miller High Life, which leaves NOLA Blonde Ale taking up the rear. However, it should be noted that this was a close run deal that wasn't solid from the get go, but the situation was fluid right up to the end. In the beginning, the beer that turned out to be Miller High Life was clearly the least flavorful and I liked it the least at the start. However, as things warmed up, dirtiness in the other two beers became more prominent leading me to like the fairly flavor free Miller High Life more and more as things warmed. NOLA Blonde has a bitterness/dirtiness that I liked less and less as the beer warmed which caused it to fall to the bottom of this pack. This leaves 50 Back American Lager with a victory, but sad to say it wasn't an inspiring one, more of a victory by default. At any rate, always remember, the best beer is the beer you like best.
Cheers!
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