Pulse
Brew battle
By Chris DeVille & John Ross
WILL SHILLING PHOTO
For last year's Coldest Beer in Columbus competition, we measured beer temperatures at 15 bars around Columbus and published all the results in a single issue that neither of us remembers very well.
Such a contest was a great idea — it just didn't allow us to drink on company time long enough. (Yes, all beers are expensed.)
This year, we decided to stretch out the competition for five weeks, with a tournament-style bracket that pitted bars nominated by readers in weekly head-to-head competition. We divided our contenders into four regions, seeded them according to reputation and reader enthusiasm and, eagerly, went to town.
WILL SHILLING PHOTO
In case you don't remember last year's bulletproof beer science, there is a strict procedure at work. We submerge a beverage thermometer into a draft of light-style American lager. It's usually Bud Light or Miller Lite — beers that, unlike snootier varieties, should be served as cold as possible.
We measure until the temperature bottoms out and begins to rise; the lowest reading is recorded. Also, we never order on a patio and always begin measuring within 30 seconds of receiving the beer from a server.
To ensure accuracy and precision, we revisited the bars for every round. This year, one lucky break would not a champion make.
Other than Dub Pub, last year's clear winner, we had little idea who would emerge with the chilliest brews. All we knew was that we wanted to get paid to drink. And drink we did, making 30 trips total over four weeks.
Round One started predictably, with only one major upset: Capital University hangout Leipzig Haus toppled Roosters, a favorite among nominators. As we saw last year, a handful of rogue bars serving beers in the (gasp!) 40-degree range had entered into the mix. Most of them were quickly dispatched.
Frost factors
Through research and experience, we found that numerous variables affect beer temperature, including:
Ambient temperature
Busyness of bar
Refrigeration system
Type of container
Time of day
Day of week
Container temperature
Size of container
Distance between keg and tap
With the patsies out of the picture, Round Two found most contenders stepping up their game with colder pours. Not so Leipzig Haus, which scraped by thanks to warm competition. Most shocking was the elimination of perennial favorite Johnnie's Tavern, closed for renovations and regrettably disqualified.
The semifinal round — known as "The Final Pour" — found two clear favorites emerging from the remaining competitors. Defending champion Dub Pub topped Merion Village favorite Jimmy V's, while Polaris-based Cheeseburger in Paradise trounced Leipzig Haus.
The stage was set for an epic brew battle, a showdown the likes of which Columbus hadn't seen since its frontier days. An upstart newcomer stood to face a fearless, frosty juggernaut.
The day of reckoning came on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at dusk. Dub Pub served their coldest beer of the contest, clocking in at 32 degrees flat. But Cheeseburger was not to be outdone. Beer from the Jimmy Buffett-themed island paradise measured a contest-best 30.2 degrees.
Congratulations to Cheeseburger in Paradise, Alive's 2008 Coldest Beer in Columbus champs.
Here's a look at the final four and the complete field of competitors. And to watch our beer science in action, check out the Beerometer video at ColumbusAlive.com.
Alive TV
Click here to watch video of the judging process
August 14, 2008
Copyright ? 2008 Columbus Alive, Inc. All rights reserved.
