Joel wrote:
....

They can call it what they like. However, if you line up
a bunch of "real" Maibock beers along with Rogue Dead Guy Ale,
could you pick out the one that didn't belong?

Assuming you filter them down to fit the AHA description of pale,
hoppy, and dry-ish, and chuck the dark ones to the side.

I don't think
I'd any difficulty doing so, same as if you lined up a bunch
of German pilsners along with Miller Lite (a "True Pilsner
Beer").

Dead Guy Ale is like Miller Lite? Why so much hate in your heart
Joel? What did John Maier ever do to you?!? ObSmiley: :-O

Another analogy would be to compare Schwarzbier with porter or
stout or whatever. They have similar grain bills--or can have,
anyway--but use different yeasts. Spot the outlier! (Yes, I know
Köstritzer don't try to market their Scharzbier as a "porter".)

Or, like how a brewery in Karlsruhe brews a porter with lager
yeast. Line it up with Black Butte and a few other great porters
and spot the differences.