Sunday, March 23, 2008; N02

And then, beer lovers, there were eight. The judges in the Sunday Source's second annual Beer Madness battle sipped their way through the Sweet 16 and started making the really difficult choices to determine the quarterfinalists. Every pairing in this round came down to a single vote, but thankfully no superbeerdelegates were required. Let's get to the results, with commentary from the 10 judges:

Last year's champion Brooklyn Lager ended its repeat bid, losing to Flying Dog Old Scratch and its "slight malty finish" in this first showdown in the Lager bracket. In the other matchup, Pittsburgh's Penn Pilsner ("tastes like a keg-party beer") fell to the "smooth" Raven Special Lager, a Baltimore brew.

The Ales bracket featured a battle of microbrew heavyweights as the "yummy" and "nice, drinkable" Stone Pale Ale knocked out Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA. And Tr¿egs HopBack Amber Ale, with its "interesting, different taste," sent Harpoon IPA packing.

In the Specialty and Fruit bracket, Ommegang Hennepin ("it has more flavor") edged out Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat ("it tastes like licorice"), while the "vibrant and bright" Oxford Raspberry Wheat beat Rogue Juniper Pale Ale.

Finally, in the Dark Beers bracket, Samuel Adams Honey Porter ("a really good flavor that I can't place") knocked off Abita Turbodog, and Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale ("hoptastic while still being delicious") fell to Hook & Ladder Backdraft Brown ("I want this one in my coffee pot in the morning").

-- Joe Heim

NEXT WEEK: We announce the Final Four.

ON WASHINGTONPOST.COM/BEERMADNESS:

¿ Interactive bracket: Read descriptions of all 32 beers and vote for the beers you would have

advanced.

¿ Online chat: Read the transcript of readers'

discussions with Sunday Source's Joe Heim and Post beer columnist Greg Kitsock.

¿ Comments: Post your opinions on all things beer.

¿ Photo gallery: See the judges in action.