Beer Madness!

32 Brews Go Head-to-Head In Our Second Annual Showdown Of Suds

Ah, Selection Sunday. The day you've been waiting for is here at last. No, we're not talking about the announcement of teams for the NCAA's March Madness men's basketball tournament. That happens a week from now. Today we're revealing the 32 brews selected for the Sunday Source's second annual Beer Madness tournament. And who knows, this may be our last. After all, how many more times can we persuade The Post's top brass to pay the $600 bar tab for the tasting?

This year's selections represent 16 states and a range of styles, from lagers and pale ales to dark beers and fruity and specialty ales. We selected brews that would appeal to beer snobs (Dogfish Head 60 Minute India Pale Ale, anyone?) and some that would certainly offend them (sorry, Schlitz, but it had to be said). Then we paired them off in a bracket format and set the official judging in motion.

A few weeks ago, 10 panelists -- nine dedicated beer-drinking readers and Washington Post beer columnist Greg Kitsock -- gathered at the Brickskeller in Dupont Circle for a blind taste test. For every matchup, each taster was given two small unmarked cups of beer and asked to select his or her favorite. The responses were tallied, and the winning beer advanced to the next round. Sip by sip, our hardworking panelists eliminated brew after brew until only one remained.

Over the next few weeks, we'll reveal the round-by-round results, culminating with the announcement of the two finalists and the champion brew in the April 6 issue. To see this year's bracket, read descriptions of the beers and meet our panelists, turn to Page 4.