Old Style
I'm not sure if it's possible to get more 'old school' than the combatants in Macro Smackdown XIV. In spite of its name, Old Style Beer is a relative newcomer (1902) compared to Hamm's (1865). I've been looking for Old Style for a while now and finally found a can in a roadside convenience store in Illinois. Little did I know that it's available in Des Moines. Lucky me. Pale maize with an impressive number of fine bubbles leading up to a barely off-white head that isn't great and isn't lousy. It's amazing how similar these two look. Other than a slightly better head texture and minimally more lace with this one, they're identical. The noses are pretty close as well. Old Style is pleasant in its own way. It's pure, simple and freshly grain-like with a whiff of hops. Unlike the appearance, I think the difference is enough in this case to warrant different scores. These are both pretty good macro lagers. Unlike just about everything coming from BMC, there's no hint of nastiness to my palate. To be safe, though, I'd still drink them on the cold side. The flavor profile follows the nose directly. Untoasted grain with a light sweetness, floral hops with a light spiciness. The mouthfeel in both cases is exactly as it should be. I'm pleased to see that, despite their lightness, they don't descend into wateriness on the finish. A spirited amount of carbonation keeps the mouth party humming and keeps the grain-flavored burps coming fast and furious. Against all odds, I like both Old Style and Hamm's. I know, I know, they can't hold a candle to just about anything coming out of Belgium, but then it's unfair to judge them alongside beer that is so vastly different in construction and purpose. Old Style Beer is the winner of Macro Smackdown XIV by a nose (literally). Hamm's, however, has nothing to be ashamed of. Well done Pabst.