A client of mine kindly bought me a selection of beers that included one of the Aldi Anti-Establishment beers. We knew this was a cheeky imitation of Brewdog’s Punk IPA, so we thought we’d battle them head-to-head. And then we decided, why not battle a few of them to see who does beer better?
Before their demise, Brewdog were often heralded as one of the leaders of the craft beer revolution in the UK, while Aldi…well…they’re just being Aldi. That said, it is worth noting that the Aldi Anti-Establishment range is brewed by Williams Bros, an independent Scottish brewery that makes very good beer.
We’ve had all three of the Brewdog beers before, but none of the Aldi versions, so would we be able to tell which was which?
Blind tasting for fairness
We took it in turns to blind taste all the beers in three head-to-heads so we could rate them without bias.
Alex poured me half a can of each, without me seeing which was which. I shared my thoughts, said which I thought was best, and guessed which was Brewdog and which was Aldi, then he revealed which was which. Then I poured Alex’s, and he’d taste them (with his eyes closed so he couldn’t see the colour) and give his verdict.
This meant we were rating them based on taste alone to determine which we genuinely thought were the better brews.
Here are the results…
Punk IPA (5.4%) Vs Anti-Establishment IPA (5.4%)
Despite having had it before, neither of us could identify Punk IPA, and we both thought the Anti-Establishment was a better beer. It had a better body, mouthfeel and flavour. Even once we knew which was which, we both agreed the Aldi beer was superior.
Brewer’s note (Punk IPA): Punk IPA is the beer that kick-started it. This light, golden classic has been subverted with new world hops to create an explosion of flavour. Bursts of caramel and tropical fruit with an all-out riot of grapefruit, pineapple and lychee, precede a spiky bitter finish. This is the beer that started it all - and it’s not done yet.
Brewer’s note (Anti-Establishment): Anti-Establishment IPA is a genre defining craft beer. A classic gold pour delivers a burst of new world hops that create a cacophony of flavour. A hint of caramel gives way to giant tropical waves, while the exotic undertone dissolves into a bitter biting finish.
Winner: Anti-Establishment
Hazy Jane (5%) Vs Hazy Daisy (5%)
This was a much closer battle. I went first and really wasn’t sure. Eventually, I decided Hazy Jane was my preferred beer. However, when I poured Alex’s beers, his Hazy Daisy was far hazier than mine (he clearly got more of the sediment), had slightly more flavour, and he preferred it to the Hazy Jane.
Once we had revealed which was which, and I tried Alex’s, I was more on the fence about which was better. We both agreed it was a close result though.
Brewer’s note (Hazy Jane): The lower strength version of Hazy Jane which is now called Hazy O-G.
Brewer’s note (Anti-Establishment): Hazy Daisy New England IPA. Previously called Hazy IPA before rebranding
Winner: Draw (but results may have been skewed by the pour)
Elvis Juice (6.5%) Vs Memphis Blvd (6.5%)
Neither of us loves grapefruit, so this wasn’t our favourite head-to-head, but we both agreed the Aldi beer was much nicer. I thought the Elvis Juice tasted a bit soapy (hints of washing up liquid) and the Memphis Blvd was less bitter with a much nicer flavour.
Brewer’s note (Elvis Juice): An American IPA with a bitter edge that will push your citrus tolerance to the brink and back; Elvis Juice is loaded with tart pithy grapefruit peel. This IPA has a caramel malt base, supporting a full frontal citrus overload - grapefruit peel piled on top of intense U.S. aroma hops. Waves of crashing pine, orange and grapefruit round out this citrus infused IPA.
Brewer’s note (Anti-Establishment): Grapefruit Citrus IPA
Winner: Memphis Blvd
Brewdog Vs Aldi Anti-Establishment: Conclusion
The Aldi beers won 5 to 1 (and the 1 may have been down to me getting the top half of the can, which had slightly less flavour) so the Aldi beers were by far the better beers (in our opinion). We’d definitely opt for these over Brewdog any time.
The Anti-Establishment was our beer of the night. A decent supermarket beer and a worthy winner. Of course, there are far better IPAs out there, but if you want a couple of easy-drinking go-tos in your fridge, it’s worth picking a few cans up on your next Aldi shop.
Winner: Aldi (or more accurately, Williams Bros.)
