Pale Ale Challenge (Sierra Nevada, Victory, Widmer, Keith's)

Pale Ale Challenge, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Oh what to do on a rainy Wednesday afternoon... I know, I'll blind taste four pale ales (two I know I like and two newbies).
#1- pale golden in color, nice head and retention...nice nose of bread and spice and fruit.... flavors of grain, spice and resiny hops.... mouth was medium in body with very active carbonation....nice bitter finish
#2- pale golden in color, better head than #1... similar nose with citrus added in for good measure...flavors mirrored the nose with a bready base and resin/citrus hops over top... rich feel, little bit more creamy than #1... clean long finish highlighting the complex hop flavors
#3- amber brown (this is a pale ale?), nice sticky head, similar nose to #2.... flavors were similar as well but the malt was more pronounced, this made for a fuller richer flavor.... feel was medium in body with good carbonation.... Finish was slightly sweeter than #1 and #2
#4- pale golden color, decent head (didn't last long)... Grain and corn on the nose, no real hops found?!.... Muted, sweet bread/malt with an adjunct overlay that I couldn't taste past....slick and somewhat still in the mouth...finish was yucky (technical beer term)
So, what did I like best?
(in order favorite to least favorite)
#2 Victory Headwaters Pale Ale
#3 Widmer Brothers Drifter Pale Ale
#1 Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
#4 Alexander Keith's Nova Scotia Style Pale Ale

It was no surprise to me that my favorite was the Victory, I'm a big fan. The Widmer was a surprise though, it was a close call between it and the Sierra. In the end I went with the denser, fuller Widmer (although I would be happy with either). I had never tried the Keith's before... I doubt I will ever again.
CHEERS!
-Mitch

Widmer Brews

In 1984 two brothers followed their dream and opened Widmer Brewery. Their shared passion for craft beer has translated into the production of many delicious European and American style beers. Located in Portland, Widmer Brewery offers a variety of brews including: Nelson Imperial IPA, Pitch Black IPA and their signature unfiltered Hefeweizen.

Widmer Nelson Imperial IPA has a strong hoppy characteristic matched with a hint of sweet malt. This imperial IPA will go well with an assortment of grilled meats. I recommend pairing it alongside a juicy buffalo burger with pepper jack cheese.

Their Pitch Black IPA is brewed with black malt, resulting in a bitter flavor similar to that of a dark stout. This unique beer pairs well with food that can hold its own. It would be perfect to serve with a thick cut of steak or spicy BBQ ribs.

The brothers’ most popular and decorated brew is a traditional Hefeweizen. This unfiltered gem is crisp and refreshing with a slight hint of citrus. It is an exceptional mate for grilled swordfish or Indian food.