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canyonwalkerFinally I got around to a beer showdown I've been waiting to make happen for a few months. It's a showdown of two beers in the Maibock category, also known as helles bock. BTW both terms are German and not terribly useful in literal translation: May (style) dark and light dark. Or more literally May (style) goat and light goat. Anyway, the two beers here are Estrella Reserva 1906 and Abita Mardi Gras.
Both of these beers have fared well in past taste tests. Both are delicious and are already on my short list. Moreover both have beaten all comers so far. But now it's like the finals: two undefeated competitors enter, only one leaves undefeated. Ding, ding!
First I appreciated the look of the beers. Both have great amber hues that are indistinguishable. 1906 has a lighter head. Mardi Gras looks foamier in the glass but that's partly because it's actually a larger pour of beer. The 1906, being produced in Spain, is the Euro standard 330 mL (11.2 oz) versus the Mardi Gras' US standard 12 oz. (355 mL).
Next I sipped the beers without food. 1906 was first and, wow, it reminded me, "This is what a good beer tastes like!" It's rich and malty and neither overly sweet nor tart. It's no wonder 1906 has defeated every comer so far. I'd have made it my house beer already except supply is spotty here in California and the price is bit elevated.
Mardi Gras comes from Abita brewery in Louisiana. My experience with their beers actually goes back 25+ years, though I only saw their Maibock variety a few months ago. That said, it came out swinging, hard, when I first tried it. In this comparison it brought the fight. It is very close to 1906, the difference between the two coming down to minor dimensions of taste. The 1906 has a more tart, malty flavor; while the Mardi Gras Bock is sweeter. I could go either way on which I prefer overall.
Next I tried the beers with food. I tried them both with a snack of lightly salted cashews and a meal of grilled steak. Here I thought the 1906's maltier flavor would excel, but to the contrary the Mardi Gras Bock pulled ahead. The 1906's flavor remained what it was opposite the food. It tasted like 1906 every sip. The Mardi Gras, by contrast, remained rich and enjoyable but melded better with the flavors of the food. It's like a talented pianist who accompanies a violin player beautifully in a duet versus one who tries to show them up. Again, though, this is a fine distinction. Both are great piani— I mean, Maibocks.
Bottom line, Mardi Gras Bock wins by a nose.
Both of these beers have fared well in past taste tests. Both are delicious and are already on my short list. Moreover both have beaten all comers so far. But now it's like the finals: two undefeated competitors enter, only one leaves undefeated. Ding, ding!
First I appreciated the look of the beers. Both have great amber hues that are indistinguishable. 1906 has a lighter head. Mardi Gras looks foamier in the glass but that's partly because it's actually a larger pour of beer. The 1906, being produced in Spain, is the Euro standard 330 mL (11.2 oz) versus the Mardi Gras' US standard 12 oz. (355 mL).
Next I sipped the beers without food. 1906 was first and, wow, it reminded me, "This is what a good beer tastes like!" It's rich and malty and neither overly sweet nor tart. It's no wonder 1906 has defeated every comer so far. I'd have made it my house beer already except supply is spotty here in California and the price is bit elevated.
Mardi Gras comes from Abita brewery in Louisiana. My experience with their beers actually goes back 25+ years, though I only saw their Maibock variety a few months ago. That said, it came out swinging, hard, when I first tried it. In this comparison it brought the fight. It is very close to 1906, the difference between the two coming down to minor dimensions of taste. The 1906 has a more tart, malty flavor; while the Mardi Gras Bock is sweeter. I could go either way on which I prefer overall.
Next I tried the beers with food. I tried them both with a snack of lightly salted cashews and a meal of grilled steak. Here I thought the 1906's maltier flavor would excel, but to the contrary the Mardi Gras Bock pulled ahead. The 1906's flavor remained what it was opposite the food. It tasted like 1906 every sip. The Mardi Gras, by contrast, remained rich and enjoyable but melded better with the flavors of the food. It's like a talented pianist who accompanies a violin player beautifully in a duet versus one who tries to show them up. Again, though, this is a fine distinction. Both are great piani— I mean, Maibocks.
Bottom line, Mardi Gras Bock wins by a nose.
