An Excellent Educational Resource

Have you got your Latitude 48 Deconstructed 12 pack yet? No? Go, get it, I'll wait here.

OK, now. Much of the world's finest hops are grown near the 48th parallel(s,) and Latitude 48 IPA uses 5 hop varieties from 3 principal regions: Hallertau Mittelfruh from Germany, (the signature variety in Boston Lager,) East Kent Goldings from (duh) Kent, and Zeus, Simcoe, and Ahtanum from the Pacific Northwest. Digression: there is another 48th parallel, and they are growing and developing some mighty fine varieties, as well.  Anyway, I think a parallel (heh) tasting is in order. Get yourself 6 tasting glasses per person. You're alone? Get help, this is too much beer for one person, and we'd rather you didn't waste any. The 12 pack contains 2 bottles each of the Latitude 48 IPA, and 5 additional versions of the same basic beer but with only one of the 5 varieties, so pour some of each one into a glass, compare, contrast, learn! Can you guess which one Mr. Cicerone does not care for?

Kudos to Boston Beer for a great and affordable learning aid!