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I don't need to. It'd get me into trouble anyway.

Actually, I had similar thoughts[/url:2s0jotr4]on Hansa stuff myself, but perhaps not phrased so eloquently! <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

So, ran a small blind tasting in work this evening. Totally blind. I intended revealing the beers after people had rated them, and then getting them to try and match the brand to the beer, but I forgot and revealed the order too soon.

Still, it was interesting, and the nine volunteers found it tough I think. Mainstream Pilsners tend to be a bit dull to my mind, but there were certainly differences. The results will be revealed next week on my blog if anyone cares to look <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

Next time I plan an Alt blind tasting.

So, next tasting is going to be a rauchbier tasting (assuming the beer arrives in time) not alt. The thing is, most of the tasters have never had rauchbier, and the beers will be rauchwizens, märzens and lagerbiers. So, I'm thinking this isn't worth doing blind, but will be rather a slow introduction to the pleasures of smoke. Maybe get people to grade the smokiness and choose their favourite types as last time. Brand awareness is not likely to be an influencing factor in this one <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

Here are the results[/url:3g9ofn51] of the last blind tasting by the way.

Are you sure you aren't going to frighten them? You are jumping from Pils to a pretty extreme style.

Yeah. It's great fun. <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

In fairness, the 8 people who have signed up so far were told what the style is going to be, and the responses have been pretty positive. I expect to have 10-12 at this one. Of course I sent invites to the most likely beer adventurers.

I haven't decided on whether to pour everything in advance, or introduce them one by one, stepping the smoke up from pretty gentle up to Schlenkerla Maerzen. I think a blind taste [i:1wptxte0]would [/i:1wptxte0]scare them <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

[size=75:1wptxte0](it could also be seen as a winnowing excercise if I was really cruel ;o))[/size:1wptxte0]