Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/413994
november 2014 / the tasting panel / 1 13 SPEED TASTING REPORT Lions and Ciders and Beers! W ith breweries, bottle shops, home brewing stores and beer bars around just about every corner, it doesn't take long to realize that you have entered beer country while driving through the laid-back streets of San Diego. Since it has a strong affection for liquid bread, we could think of no better backdrop than the Beer & Spirits EPPS in late August at Tapatini Tapas & Martini Bar, located in the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. After an independent blind tasting of nine beers, ciders and malt beverages, we heard from the brands themselves about what each of their expressions brings to the glass. Our very first Blind Beer Speed Tasting panel: Back row, left to right: Joshua Nees, Category Specialist for Beer, Walgreens, Chicago; Emily Coleman, Associate Editor, THE TASTING PANEL Magazine; Scott Shumate, Beverage Specialist, Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina; Steve McGinty, Category Manager for Beer and Liquor, Giant Eagle, Cleveland; and Scot Blair, owner, Hamilton's Tavern, San Diego. Front row, left to right: Vicki Venables, Buyer for Wine and Beer, Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Dallas; and Marcus Zimmerman, Category Manager for Beer, Walgreens, Chicago. OUR VERY FIRST BLIND BEER SPEED TASTING AT TAPATINI TAPAS & MARTINI BAR IN SAN DIEGO Oh My! by Emily Coleman / photos by Leigh Castelli