Chattering-Magpie-blog
It's beginning to taste a lot like Christmas.
Holiday ales is dangerous territory. These winter warmers tend to be heavier on the malt and much higher in alcohol. Caution is advised. Beers for sipping and enjoying slowly, not chugging.
That said, here’s the beers I and my cohorts sampled over two days.
12/05/09
Hair of the Dog
Portland OR
Jim 2009
Strong Blend
9% alcohol
Sweet but not cloying, with a rich velvety mouth-feel. The flavors play in the middle of the palate. A hint of hops in a lingering aftertaste. With a high alcohol content, best savored in small doses. Karen says, “It tastes like Christmas.”
Golden Valley Brewery
McMinnville OR
Tannen Bomb
Winter Warmer
6.1% alcohol
35 IBUs
Aging in oak barrels give it a hint of Oregon’s famous Pinot Noir. Smooth and gentle, not too sweet or too heavy. A nice accompaniment to a good meal.
Bear Republic Brewing Co
Cloverdale CA
The Grizz Barrel-Aged with Blackberries
Aromatic and tart, something different for winter. The taste of blackberries dominates all other flavors. Try it instead of port after dinner.
Vertigo Brewing
Hillsboro OR
Arctic Blast
Vanilla Porter
5.7% alcohol
25 IBUs
Like cookies with your beer? This porter combines two great flavors in one. Like crumbling vanilla wafers into Porter. Additional coffee and chocolate flavors make this a nice dessert beer.
Bear Republic Brewing Co
Cloverdale CA
Imperial Stout
Baba Yaga
11.4% alcohol
110 IBUs
Will put hair on your chest. Thick mouth-feel, creamy with espresso overtones. You can taste the high alcohol content, so watch out. The aftertaste takes a gentle hold on the sides of the tongue, keeping a firm grip.
Collaborator
Portland OR
Sled Crasher
Winter Warmer
6.8% alcohol
42 IBUs
Hoppier than most winter brews, but with a decent dose of malt for warmth. A refreshing, palate cleansing alternative to many over-malted winter beers. Overall a good balance, especially for the hop-obsessed Northwest palate.
Widmer Brothers Brewing
Portland OR
Cherry Oak Doppel Bock
Doppel Bock
9% alcohol
35 IBUs
Fruity with specific hints of cherrywood in the aftertaste. Well-balanced, flavorful, all-around good dubbel. A reliable winter beer.
Laht Neppur Brewing
Waitsburg WA
Winkle Warmer
Spiced Holiday Ale
8% alcohol
46 IBUs
The spice must flow. But perhaps not so much. This winter ale is rather heavy on the cloves. A bit of hops give it balance, but it’s still a specialty beer. You have to really like the taste of cloves and other spices usually found in pumpkin pie.
Not sure which brewer
Stout, maybe
Some beer that E found and he can’t remember where. Thick and sweet, with heavy chocolate and espresso overtones. Black as night, sweet as sin. To be savored slowly, in front of a roaring fire on a blustery night. A classic stout, whoever makes it.
12/06/09
Upright Brewing
Portland OR
Holy Herb
Farmhouse Winter Ale
6.9% alcohol
18 IBUs
A strong initial hit of mint fades out to a generally medicinal aftertaste. No wonder, given this ale is brewed with hyssop. I’ve never heard of it either. An acquired taste that is a refreshing alternative to the typically heavy sweet ales of winter.
Fort George Brewery
Astoria OR
North III Tripel
Belgian Style Tripel
8.8% alcohol
50 IBUs
Very foamy, thick, black, and bitter. Lays heavily on the breadth of the tongue.
New Belgium Brewing Co
Fort Collins CO
Trip II
Belgian style
Spicy and sweet with flavors of cardomon and orange. Lingers at the upper back of the palate. Slight bitterness clings to the sides of the tongue.
Ninkasi Brewing Co
Eugene OR
Unconventionale
Imperial Stout
10% alcohol
70 IBUs
Black and foamy as espresso, hints of flowery herbs. Thick and sweet with an aftertaste that drops off quickly to a long gradual finish. With a high alcohol content, best savored slowly.
Oskar Blues Grill & Brew
Longmont CO
Mama’s Little Yella Pils
Pilsner
5.3% alcohol
35 IBUs
When you need a break from heavy winter brews, this fizzy little pilsner is just the ticket. Very refreshing but with sufficient gravitas for the season.
Deschutes Brewery
Bend OR
Lost Barrels of Mirror Mirror
Barley Wine
10.7% alcohol
51 IBUs
Breathe in the heady aroma of grain, then a sip of sweetness. Tastes of oak and bourbon.
Redhook Ale Brewery
Woodinville WA
Roggenhammer
Imperial IPA
8.1% alcohol
57 IBUs
Big headed and hoppy, flowery, but a bit sweet. A suitable IPA for winter.
Stone Brewing Co
Escondido CA
Bourbon Barrel Arrogant Bastard Ale
American Strong Ale
7.2% alcohol
Strong, yes, with a mystery flavor. Slightly bitter with almost medicinal overtones. Plenty foamy. A slight hint of spice or minerals.
Cascade Brewing
Portland OR
Drie Zwarte Pieten “Sang Noir”
Sour Red Ale
10.2% alcohol
5 IBUs
Tart, tangy, with a high alcohol content; drinks as much as a wine as a beer. Fruity with a bare hint of sweetness.
Anchor Brewing Co
San Francisco CA
Old Foghorn
Barleywine
9% alcohol
Maltiness gives it a rounded mouth-feel. The sweetness of the malt subsides in the most gradual manner, leaving a barely perceptible bitterness on the palate. For the most part, the flavor circulates at the back of the palate.
Comment [1]
Chattering-Magpie-blog
Chaos theory of beer.
A serious beer aficionado would approach an event such as the Oregon Brewers’ Fest with a plan, perhaps focusing on beers of a particular style, or following a path from malt to hop.
Whatever plan I originally had went by the wayside as soon as we started on Saturday. My plan turned into what’s nearby and has an interesting name.
No beer in particular stood out this year, overall the field was a good representation of the craft. At least it wasn’t as crowded as last year.
I promise I did not drink a full 4oz of each beer tasted. I had some help from E and our friends Gene and Gary.
7/25/09
Terminal Gravity Brewing
Enterprise OR
Festivale
British strong ale
8.3% alcohol
73 IBUs
First impression: it tastes brown, whatever that means. Pretty high IBUs for a winter beer. Nice body, a goodly amount of hops to avoid overly sweet maltiness typical of winter beers. Pleasantly bitter aftertaste.
Track Town Ales
Eugene OR
200 meter
IPA
7.5% alcohol
90 IBUs
If you want a break from overly hopped IPAs but don’t want to give up that hoppy taste, this is the ale for you. Rich golden color, plenty of hops without being overwhelming. Particularly refreshing.
Caldera Brewing
Ashland OR
Hibiscus Ginger Beer
Specialty
4.9% alcohol
Very fizzy, refreshing, and dry. Flavors are present but subtle. It doesn’t drink like beer, almost like a dry rose champagne. Ginger hits underneath the sides of the tongue.
Lost Coast Brewery
Eureka CA
Great White
Witbier
4.8% alcohol
11 IBUs
A very refreshing wit, not as strong on the orange and cardomon as other wits I’ve had. But plenty of fizz and balance. A good summer beer.
Fifty Fifty Brewing Co
Truckee CA
Manifesto
Pale ale
5.5% alcohol
35 IBUs
Reddish in color, appropriate to the name. E likes it. I’m indifferent. Reminds E of a London- style ale, using, as it does, a London ale yeast. A decent all-around beer.
Double Mountain Brewery
Hood River OR
India Red Ale
Red ale
6.5% alcohol
65 IBUs
Another nice all-around beer. E is not impressed. Hoppier than you usually get with red ale. Perhaps a bit on the sweet side but not overly so.
New Holland Brewing Co
Santa Rosa CA
Golden Cap
Belgian
6.6% alcohol
Typical Belgian-style flavoring, well-balanced, but not so sweet as Belgian beers can often be. A nice light touch on the malt. Sour finish, refreshing.
Three Creeks Brewing Co
Sisters OR
Stonefly Rye
Specialty
4.6% alcohol
28 IBUs
Another refreshing summer beer, with some body and flavor and balance.
Boulder Beer Co
Boulder CO
Flashback Anniversary Ale
Brown ale
6.8% alcohol
65 IBUs
Good body, almost meaty, with a rich flavor. Nice malt and enough hops for balance. More of a autumn quaff than a summer libation.
Widmer Bros. Brewing Co
Portland OR
KGB
Stout
9% alcohol
70 IBUs
Inky black and rich with overtones of chocolate and espresso. There’s a little something else in aftertaste that I can’t quite put my finger on. Keeps it from being overly cloying.
Port Townsend Brewing Co
Port Townsend WA
Hop Digiddy IPA
IPA
5.6% alcohol
70 IBUs
Ah, the flowery aroma of hops. Milder than a lot of IPAs, with a more rounded flavor profile. A little sweet for an IPA.
Elysian Brewing Co
Seattle WA
Loser Pale Ale
Strong Ale
7% alcohol
54 IBUs
Pretty mild for a strong ale, so-called. In fact, it’s pretty malty after the initial hit of hops. Sweet, cloying malt flavor lingers on the side of the tongue long after each sip. Perhaps more appropriate for winter. Or maybe it’s just not to my taste.
Oregon Trail Brewery
Corvallis OR
Oregon Trail Wit
Witbier
4.5% alcohols
28 IBUs
Bright and refreshing, as a good wit should be. Classic Belgian flavorings of orange and cardomon are subtle. Goes down easy on a summer’s day.
Chuckanut Brewery and Kitchen
Bellingham WA
Dortmunder
Lager
5.5% alcohol
25 IBUs
A classic lager, familiar to the American palette, but with more flavor. An easy beer to to drink.
7/26/09
Bridgeport Brewing Co
Portland OR
Stumptown Tart
Belgian
7.5% alcohol
17 IBUs
Red cherries give this unusual version of a Belgian-style beer its rosy color. The flavor is distinctly bright and dry, definitely sour. An aftertaste of cherries predominates. A refreshing summer brew, but not one to drink in quantity.
Alaskan Brewing Co
Juneau AK
Alaskan White Ale
Wheat
5.3% alcohol
15 IBUs
The aroma is promising, but doesn’t deliver. It’s plenty fizzy, but the flavor profile is flat. Not a lot of interest here, not even much of aftertaste. A little too subtle for even a white beer.
Bear Republic Brewing
Cloverdale CA
Crazy Ivan
Hybrid
7% alcohol
50 IBUs
Flavorful and strong. Hops and malt went head to head in a cage match and the hops won, but just barely. The grudge match continues on the palate long after the last sip. Not a chugging beer.
Pike Brewing
Seattle WA
Monk’s Uncle
Belgian
9% alcohol
32 IBUs
Surprisingly moderate for a beer with such a high alcohol content. Typically sweet with classic Belgian spicing, easier to drink when chilled. But at 9% ABV, drinker be warned!
Ninkasi Brewing Co
Eugene OR
Radiant Summer Ale
Light/Pale
6% alcohol
40 IBUs
The name is deceptive: I expected this beer to be both lighter in color and flavor than it is. Can definitely taste the alcohol. The hops come on stronger than 40 IBU would suggest. Nonetheless, a well-balanced, complex beer, drinkable well into autumn.
Lompoc Brewing Co
Portland OR
Flower of the Gods
IPA
6.9% alcohol
52 IBUs
Lives up to its name with a good initial hit of flowery hops. The effect is ruined, however, by a lingering maltiness that grows in the mouth after the initial swallow. Tastes more like a Belgian than an IPA.
Sprecher Brewing Co
Glendale WI
Mai Bock
Bock
6% alcohol
24 IBUs
A nice break from strongly flavored beers. With more hop flavor than your typical lager, this would be good served chilled on a hot day.
Beer Valley Brewing Co
Ontario OR
Leafer Madness
Imperial Pale Ale
9% alcohol
100 IBUs
The initial taste is not at all too bitter for such high IBUs. But just wait a moment for the hops to build up on the top of the tongue. Flowery aroma and flavor make this a very nice beer. Just watch out for the high alcohol content.
Chattering-Magpie-blog
Don't panic, drink organic.
With seventy-five beers, certified organic, and compostable cups, the North American Organic Beer Fest is a beer hippie’s paradise. Lotsa bikes parked outside make this a real Portland event.
I only tasted nine beers but that was plenty for me.
Roots Organic
Portland OR
Gruit Kölsch
Kölsch
5.5% alcohol
0 IBUs?
Beer without hops, an older beer than modern beers. Yes, there was beer before hops. Fruity, citrus overtones. Slightly cloudy. Very refreshing, though the aroma is a little offputting if you’re used to hopped beers.
Santa Cruz Mountain
Santa Cruz CA
People’s Porter
Porter
5.5% alcohol
41 IBUs
Looks like coffee. Smells like coffee. Tastes like coffee. Not too sweet, not too heavy.
Fort George
Astoria OR
Quick Wit
Belgian Wit
5.5% alcohol
<3 IBUs
A Belgian Wit with a Finnish accent. The citrus flavor is lemon instead of the traditional orange, making it taste like a Finnish fermented lemonade called sima. Slightly skunky aroma.
Fort George
Astoria OR
Spruce Ale
Ale
Subtle spicing and spruce tips combine to produce a nicely carbonated beer with no one taste dominating. Very similar to a wit.
Captured by Porches
St Helens OR
Invasive Species IPA
IPA
6.3% alcohol
72 IBUs
Cloudy amber in color, fruity aroma. Not as hoppy as we’d like in an IPA. Rather malty, even kind of spicy in fact.
Eel River Brewing
Fortuna CA
IPA
IPA
7.2% alcohol
72 IBUs
A perfectly reasonable and balanced IPA but not outstanding. Flavor profile is very even, does not stay long on the palate.
New Belgium Brewing
Fort Collins CO
Mothership Wit
Belgian Wit
4.8% alcohol
15 IBUs
A classic Belgian wit: flavors of orange and coriander and plenty of carbonation make this a perfect summer refreshment.
Nelson Brewing
Nelson BC
Paddywhack IPA
IPA
5.2% alcohol
34 IBUs
Not very hoppy for an IPA. Something a little off on first tasting, maybe too much malt. Then the hoppiness seems to increase as the flavor lingers on the palate. Oddly this beer tastes better after you’ve swallowed.
Laurelwood Brewery
Portland OR
Green Elephant IPA
IPA
One whiff and you’re transported to fields of hops. It just smells green. This is an IPA. Flowery with a bite and a tad of malt to keep it from being overly bitter. Glad I saved this till the end.
Chattering-Magpie-blog
Spring Beer & Wine & Cheese & other crap.
This spring event started out with just beer. Then they added wine. Now cheese. And whole lot of other crap. I like to keep my beer tasting and wine tasting separate, but not everyone is so picky.
I was relatively restrained, limiting myself to only a few beers. I have things to do tomorrow.
This is my first beer review posting since getting the iPhone, which makes no difference to anyone but me.
Cascades Lakes Brewing Co
Redmond OR
Blonde Bombshell
Blonde ale
4% alcohol
26 IBUs
Fizzy, sunshine yellow, citrus overtones with a subtle finish. Refreshing without being insipid.
Lost Coast Brewery
Eureka CA
Tangerine Wheat
Wheat ale
5% alcohol
No question why they call it Tangerine. Very fizzy, a little sweet but not overwhelmingly so, the flavor drops off rather quickly.
10 Barrel Brewing Co
Bend OR
Summer Ale
Golden ale
4.7% alcohol
26 IBUs
Color of light honey, a touch of carbonation and a light hoppy flavor. As promised by the name, perfect for summer.
Silver Moon
Bend OR
Panty Dropper Ale
IPA
5.9% alcohol
64 IBUs
Flavorful and flowery, not overwhelming. Drops off quickly to a lingering finish on the sides of the tongue. Hoppy flavor without being excessively bitter.
Big Sky Brewing Co
Missoula MT
Moose Drool
Brown ale
4.3% alcohol
The first time I had Moose Drool was bottled and it was true to its name. On tap, a much better experience: malty and rich, a tad dry. Too sweet for me to drink in quantity, but alright in small doses.
Mad River Brewing Co
Humboldt County CA
Steelhead Double IPA
Double IPA
8.6% alcohol
95 IBUs
High IBUs but not bitter at all. Good balanced flavor with a long finish. Very tasty.
Sierra Nevada
Chico CA
Pale Ale
Pale ale
5% alcohol
33 IBUs
Tasty, amber colored, more flavorful than your run-of-the-mill pale ale. Closer to an amber, really. A rich rounded, mouth-filling flavor.
Chimay
Bavaria Germany
Aventinus
Eisbock
12% alcohol
An aroma of wine and the alcohol content to match. A chocolaty mouth feel, this double bock is made like an eiswein. Just wow. Made in an authentic Trappist monastery they say.
Chattering-Magpie-blog
Winter Ales.
A 180° turn from the flowery and fizzy concoctions of summer, winter ales are perfect for sitting by the fire, sipping in quiet contemplation. Definitely not driving, since the alcohol content of most winter ales is higher than what we’re used to.
We went to the Winter Ale Festival at Pioneer Courthouse Square on only the last day. It’s a mixed bag: a mellower scene, less crowded to be sure, but some of the beers we would have like to taste are tapped out.
Between us, E and I sampled some 15 brews.
Firestone Walker Brewing Co
Pasa Robles CA
Velvet Merkin
Oatmeal Stout
5.5% alcohol
Good flavor, not as rich or thick as some stouts I’ve had. Almost chocolatey with a touch of bourbon.
Cascade Brewing Co
Portland OR
Drie Zwarte Pieten Sang Noir
Flanders Style Sour Red
9.5% alcohol
6 IBUs
Is it wine or is it beer? E says it’s sour enough to take the tartar off his teeth. A collaboration with the beer steward of the Winter Ale Festival. Distinctive reddish color, flavor evocative of pie cherries.
Widmer Brewing Co
Portland OR
Brrr
Nice malty, nondescript winter beer.
Hair of the Dog
Portland OR
JIM 2008
Specialty
9% alcohol
Another collaboration with the Festival. Malty and thick with an initial flavor I can’t quite place and a lingering aftertaste. Is it cardomon?
Lagunitas Brewing
Petaluma CA
Black Pepper Stout
Imperial Stout
8.2% alcohol
Wow is that peppery. Try it with your favorite spicy foods. This stout won’t back down. Perfect with filet mignon with peppercorn sauce.
Bridgeport Brewing
Portland OR
Raven Mad
Imperial Porter
7.3% alcohol
45 IBUs
Malty and flavorful, with a touch of hops. An interesting flavor arc. Seriously, I experience the flavor of this ale as an arc.
Rogue Ales
Newport OR
Yellow Snow
IPA
7.6% alcohol
70 IBUs
After all thls malty ale, it’s a relief to get a palate cleanser like this IPA. Flowery aroma, good balance, a pleasant, lingering aftertaste.
Collaborator
Portland OR
Hallucinator
Old Ale
7.2% alcohol
22 IBUs
The aroma of fresh oats dominates, very sweet, a bit thin.
Fort George
Astoria OR
North II
Grand Cru (Belgian-style barleywine)
8% alcohol
50 IBUs
Very sveet, rich, just a tad of hops to mellow the malt. Rather like drinking mead. Take in small doses.
Off the Rail Brewing
Forest Grove OR
Blizzard of Ozz
Belgian wit
8.1% alcohol
24 IBUs
Good head, good fizz, spicy, pungent and refreshing. A bit malty and sweet.
Full Sail Brewing
Forest Grove OR
Dry-hopped Wassail
Strong ale
7% alcohol
56 IBUs
A nice winter beer. Pleasantly malty with a dry finish, a balanced all-around winter ale.
Sierra Nevada
Chico CA
Big Foot
Barleywine
9.6% alcohol
90 IBUs
Big in every way. Malty, sweet, hoppy, strong.
Deschutes Brewing
Bend OR
Hop Trip
Nicely hoppy, crlsp and sharp, flowery and flavorful. A nice counterpoint to the heavily malted ales of winter. E detects a hint of uric acid.
Brasserie Dupont
Avec Les Bons Voeux
Like drinking a Lemonhead candy. Tart, not too sweet.
Golden Valley Brewing
McMinnville OR
Tannen Bomb
A solid winter ale – sweet with malt.
Chattering-Magpie-blog
Hoptasm.
A once-a-year event to try out ales brewed from fresh-picked hops, the Fresh Hop Beer Tastival offered more than 20 beers to try. E and I just shared a few on a pleasant October afternoon.
Hopworks Urban Brewery
Portland OR
Parsec
Strong Pale
Bright color, bright flavor. I thought it was somewhat lager-like in flavor for an ale.
Bridgeport Brewing
Portland OR
Hop Harvest
IPA
Creamy mouth feel, not too strongly hopped. Flowery hops go straight to the back of the mouth. E thought he might like to stock the keg-o-later with this.
Hopworks Urban Brewery
Portland OR
Fests of Fury
Organic Oktoberfest
Malty, sweet, nutty. A tad musty in E’s opinion.
Lomoc Brewing
Portland OR
Proletariat Red
Red Ale
Big head, hoppy with a little malty sweetness to cut the bitter. We both rather liked it.
McMenamins
Portland OR
Bluebird Fresh Hop IPA
IPA
Decent head settles down quickly. Sharp bite of hops drops off quickly to a steady presence that lingers long after the last swallow.
Beer Valley Brewing
Ontario OR
Black Flag Imperial Stout
Imperial Stout
Black as death, sweet as sin. Meaty. Better than iced coffee. Not quite as chewy as some stouts I’ve had. Packs a punch.
Chattering-Magpie-blog
Beer today, more tomorrow.
OMG, did I actually taste twenty-nine beers? Apparently I was busier Sunday than I thought.
I fear that the beer festival as we know it is on the verge of collapsing under the weight of its own success. We arrived at 1pm on Saturday, just one hour after opening, and it was already crowded, with long lines for the popular beers.
Sunday was more mellow, thankfully, and turned out to be my big consumption day. Lucky me, I have a dentist appointment tomorrow am. Well, if you’re going to be hung over, you might as well have dental work done.
My original concept was to focus this year on stouts and porters. But there weren’t so many offerings in these categories. Surprisingly, there were six witbiers, a category that typically has had no more than two or three. One was even sold out before I got a chance to try it.
7/25/08
Boulevard Brewing Co
Kansas City MO
Zon
Belgian Witbier
4.2% alcohol
15 IBUs
Spicy and citrusy, all the flavor expected in a traditional Belgian witbier. Not over-carbonated, a pleasant summer libation. A good first taste to start the Brewer’s Fest.
Surly Brewing Co
Brooklyn Center MN
Coffee Blender
American Brown
5.6% alcohol
40 IBUs
Big surprise, it smells like coffee and tastes like coffee. Two NW treats in one. Almost chocolatey in richness. The initial hit of coffee transitions quickly to strong maltiness, counter-balanced by equally strong hops, then returns for a final bow.
Collaborator
Portland OR
Resurrection Rye
American Pale Ale
6.6% alcohol
80 IBUs
Pretty hoppy, with a nice, rounded mouth-feel. Mostly plays on the back of the palette. Strong hops linger for a long tlme.
Amnesia Brewing Co
Portland OR
Copacetic IPA
IPA
6.2% alcohol
87 IBUs
Drink one of these and you’ll agree, everything’s copacetic. Good head, good color. Plenty of hoppy flavor without being overly bitter like some IPAs. Aftertaste doesn’t cling strongly to the tongue.
Sacramento Brewing Co
Sacramento CA
Red Horse Ale
Amber Ale
6.2% alcohol
35 IBUs
Rich red color, hops to grab hold of the tongue, and enough malt to balance it all. The aftertaste persists on the top of the tongue, long after the glass is drained.
Fifty Fifty Brewing
Truckee CA
Foggy Goggle White
Belgian Witbier
6.0% alcohol
21 IBUs
Initially fizzy, slightly bitter, not as full-flavored as some witbiers. On second tasting, the orange and lemon flavors really stand out.
Caldera Brewing Co
Ashland OR
Caldera Ginger Ale
Summer Ale
4.7% alcohol
10 IBUs
Not a soft drink, a true alcoholic ale. I’m sure it seemed like a good idea at the time, but the ginger just seemed to make this otherwise refreshing quaff bitter. Better on second tasting as a little more hoppiness came to the forefront.
7/26/08
Russian River Brewing Co
Santa Rosa CA
Pliny the Elder
Double IPA
8.0% alcohol
92 IBUs
A perennial favorite that does not disappoint. Plenty of flowery hops with the lightest touch of malt for balance. Big hops fill the mouth, tapering off evenly to a long slow finish.
Golden Valley Brewery
McMinnville OR
Cote D’or
Belgian Style Golden Ale
6.3% alcohol
22 IBUs
Sweet and malty, a tad cloying. Underlying hops cling underneath the sides of the tongue, while malt remalns on the top of the tongue. You would have to appreciate Belgian styles to truly enjoy this.
Iron Horse Brewery
Ellensburg WA
Quilter’s Irish Death
Stout
7.8% alcohol
The hot property of this year’s brewfest. At least the long line gave me the chance to sober up. Sweet as sin, black as death, so thick it’s downright chewy. It’s not just for breakfast.
Michigan Brewing Co
Webberville MI
Celis White
Belglan Witbier
3.9% alcohol
16 IBUs
A big, mouth-filling witbier, lots of cardoman and orange flavor. Light in presentation, more powerful than some of the other witbier offerings this year. The aftertaste is a bit cloying.
Allagash Brewing Co
Portland ME
Allagash White
Belglan Witbier
5.0% alcohol
19 IBUs
Good head, light carbonation and a subtle blend of flavors characteristic of Belglan witbiers. A good overall balance, very refreshing.
Lagunitas Brewing Co
Petaluma Ca
Lagunitas Hop Stoopid
Imperial IPA
8.2% alcohol
110 IBUs
It’s not the hops that make you stoopid – the aroma itself is heady. A surprising sweetness in this big-hopped beer to balance lots of flowery hoppy flavor that avoids being too bitter. The taste lingers long the whole length of the top of the tongue and the back of the palette.
Boundary Bay Brewery
Bellingham WA
Dry Hopped Crystale Pale Ale
American Pale Ale
6.0% alcohol
45 IBUs
Refreshing and hoppy, followed quickly by the sweetness of malt. Drops off to a long lingering finlsh. Ultimately a little sweet for my taste.
Widmer Bros. Brewing Co
Portland OR
Full Nelson IPA
IPA
10% alcohol
70 IBUs
Hoppy at the start, drops off quickly to a cloyingly sweet finish. I’ve had IPAs I’ve liked better. The high alcohol level is enough to make me very cautious.
Fearless Brewing Co
Estacada OR
Clackamas Cream Ale
Cream Ale
5.0% alcohol
22 IBUs
Nice velvety mouth-feel for a pleasant, balanced beer. Very mild, a tad malty but not overly sweet. Nothing outstanding, E found it flat.
Standing Stone Brewing
Ashland OR
Standing Stone Almond Brown Ale
English nut brown ale
4.3% alcohol
20 IBUs
Tasty, not too sweet, a well-balanced beer. Not heavy like a stout. You actually get the real flavor of the malt, not just sweetness.
7/27/08
New Holland Brewing Co
Holland MI
Dragon’s Milk
Strong Ale
8.5% alcohol
Malty without being overly sweet. Coffee overtones emerge as it warms up. A good breakfast beer. Tastes like it’s full of vitamins and minerals. Builds healthy bodies 12 ways.
Bell’s Brewery
Comstock MI
Bell’s Porter
Porter
5.6% alcohol
33 IBUs
Mostly malty with a little hops for balance. Not as dense as an equally dark stout, more re-invigorating than nourishing.
Steelhead Brewing Co
Eugene OR
Bulldog Pale Ale
Pale Ale
5.8% alcohol
37 IBUs
Citrus aroma, immediately followed by flowery hops. Different from other pale ales I’ve tasted. It has an initial hint of bitterness I associate with lemon zest, underlying the upfront hops.
Hale’s Ale’s Brewery and Pub
Seattle WA
Hale’s Kölsch
Kölsch
4.5% alcohol
15 IBUs
Light, lemony, refreshing, with good carbonation. Enough hops for flavor without overwhelming the palette.
Hopworks Urban Brewery
Portland OR
HUB Lager
Czech style Pilsner
5.1% alcohol
32 IBUs
My first impression is of roundness. Gently bitter citrus notes play in the nostrils and the top of the palette.
Four + Brewing
Salt Lake City UT
Rype
Orange wheat beer
4.0% alcohol
22 IBUs
Highly carbonated, not so thick as some Belgian beers, not as light as a witbier. Signature flavors of orange and coriander drop off quickly.
Rogue Brewing
Newport OR
Glen
Strong Ale
8.7% alcohol
74 IBUs
Very hoppy on initial tasting, malt steps forward, then gives way to lingering hops with sweet undertones. It’s got a lot of everything.
Lost Coast Brewery
Eureka CA
Great White Beer
Belgian Witbier
4.8% alcohol
11 IBUs
Good carbonation witn subtle spicing. Refreshing, balanced, not outstanding. A little darker in color than expected from a witbier.
MacTarnahan’s Brewing Co
Portland OR
MacTarnahan’s Sling Shot Extra Pale Ale
Extra Pale Ale
6.4% alcohol
27 IBUs
Good head, lightly carbonated, leans more toward the malty side. Overall all right, would be fine on a hot day. Drops off fairly quickly.
Green Flash Brewing
Vista CA
Hophead Red
America Red Ale
6.3% alcohol
45 IBUs
A very attractive aroma of hops. Very hoppy for a red ale. Deep in color, deep in flavor. Lives up to its name.
Laughing Dog Brewing
Ponderay ID
Rocket Dog
Rye IPA
6.9% alcohol
67 IBUs
Plenty hoppy, well balanced, everything you expect from an IPA. A little extra something from the rye.
Laurelwood Brewing Co
Portland OR
Workhorse IPA
IPA
7.5% alcohol
80 IBUs
Very hoppy, of course, like any good IPA, but it drops off rather quickly. The aftertaste is very subtle. It’s there, it’s just not as prominent as many other IPAs.
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Chattering-Magpie-blog
21st Amendment Brewery.
As a self-proclaimed aficionado of beer, I couldn’t pass up a visit to 21st Amendment Brewery in San Francisco, located just a couple blocks from the AT&T Stadium, home of the SF Giants. We visited this micro-brewery and cafe on Wed Jul 2, our last full day in SF.
Every year they bring their unique Watermelon Wheat to the Oregon Brewer’s Fest, but of course they had several other offerings to taste.
South Park Blonde
Blonde Ale
5.1% alcohol
17 IBUs
Light, bright, fizzy. Fairly long finish for a low-hopped beer. Good balance, refreshing, no one taste dominates.
Watermelon Wheat
Fruited Wheat Beer
5.0% alcohol
17 IBUs
Pretty shade of cloudy yellow. Good summer grilling beer with enough acid to cut the fat of a hotdog or burger. Taster presentation “cheats” by adding a watermelon wedge to the glass. Slightly bitter aftertaste. Perennial favorite at the Brewer’s Festival.
Amendment Pale Ale
Pale Ale
5.5% alcohol
28 IBUs
Golden amber in color. Malt springs to the forefront at first taste,followed by a low lingering undertone of hops. Pretty sweet for a pale ale.
Schweick’s English Mild
English Style Mild Bitter
4.2% alcohol
11 IBUs
Less carbonation than other offerings. Pleasantly creamy mouth-feel. A little on the malty side for an English mild bitter. Only the malt lingers, otherwise not much of an aftertaste.
Motor Oil
Dark Amber Ale/Strong Ale
7.8% alcohol
38 IBUs
Very malty, with enough hops for balance, similar to Paulaner Salvatore. Color is somewhere between dirty and clean motor oil with an initially creamy mouth-feel.
Darkness
Dark Lager
4.8% alcohol
30 IBUs
Smokin’! The color of the sunset through the smoke of California wildfires. Very pleasant, flavorful with smokey overtones, not as heavy a beer as the color suggests.
Pomegranate Cider
Cider
6.5% alcohol
This fruit fermentation is made by Two Rivers Cider Company of Sacramento CA.
Aroma of pomegranate, the combined flavors of apple and pomegranate. A good palette cleanser before moving on to more beer.
Chattering-Magpie-blog
Too many beers, so little time.
I definitely overdid it last year, so this year I resolved to take it easy, not set any personal records for number of beers tasted. This year I only tasted 27 beers compared to last year’s 29 beers. Plus a couple repeats.
The novelty feature of the festival was not a beer, but the mugs. They featured color change mugs that changed to blue or pink when filled with cold beer. I got a blue one, but it made the beer look green, which creeped me out. I switched to a clear mug in short order.
This year paid more attention to the pilsners and was duly rewarded. I missed out on a few beers I wanted to taste. There’s always next year.
Beers I tasted, over the course of three days (I’m worn out):
7/27/07
Alameda Brewhouse
Portland OR
El Torero Organic IPA
American IPA
7.1% alcohol
98 IBUs
Beautiful amber color with a flowery hoppy aroma. Lightly carbonated with complex flavors. Hoppy but not bitter, lingers gently on the underside (surprising!) of the tongue.
Butte Creek Brewing
Chico CA
Organic Pilsner
Pilsner
4.2% alcohol
27 IBUs
My first taster of the festival. Lightly fizzy, bright, more hoppy than I expected from a pilsner. Bitterness lingers on the top palate and side of tongue, gradually dropping off.
Klamath Basin Brewing
Klamath Falls OR
Crater Lake Golden Ale
Extra Golden Ale
6.2% alcohol
36 IBUs
Malty, dropping off quickly to leave a lingering hoppiness. Rounded mouth feel. Okay, but not my fave.
Laurelwood
Portland OR
PNW Pils
Strong Pilsner
8% alcohol
40 IBUs
A dangerous beer at 8%. Initial fizz segues to a smooth creamy mouth feel. Hops dance in the middle. This pils is entertaining and goes down easy, but can mess you up in a hurry – like your ex-girlfriend.
Ninkasi Brewing
Eugene Or
Believer
Double Red Ale
7% alcohol
65 IBUs
Deep brown color, flavorful and malty, blended with a generous handful of hops. Has a barnyard aroma – in a good way.
Old Market Pub & Brewing
Portland OR
A Midsummers White
Belgian Wit
5.5% alcohol
14.5 IBUs
Less body and flavor than other wits I’ve had. Pleasant carbonation fills the mouth then fades quickly to a long lingering ghost of an aftertaste. Citrus and spice are very subtle.
Snipes Mountain Brewery
Sunnyside WA
India Pale Ale
IPA
6.3% alcohol
58 IBUs
Good fizz and gentle hops at the front of the mouth slowly expand to fill the oral cavity. More hoppy bitterness than the IBUs would indicate.
7/28/07
Bear Republic
Healdsburg CA
Racer X
Double IPA
9.8% alcohol
110 IBUs
Hoptastic aroma and a gorgeous reddish amber color. The first mouthful of hops goes straight to the back of the tongue where it remains for a good long time. Mildly carbonated and full of hoppy flavor without being overly bitter.
Bison Brewing
Berkeley CA
Organic Chocolate Stout
Dry Foreign Style Stout
25 IBUs
Even carbonation takes hold of the tongue. Judicious blending of hops keeps this rich dark stout from being too heavy. Malty chocolate lingers in the back of the mouth.
BJ’s Brewhouse
Portland OR
C’est Bon Blonde
Belgian Blonde
6.5% alcohol
22 IBUs
Sweet to my taste, a little cloying, in fact. Didn’t much care for it.
Collaborator
Portland OR
Rawkin Bock
Bock
7% alcohol
35 IBUs
Initial mouthful is a good balance of hops and malt. Malty finish without being cloying. Beautiful reddish amber in color.
Diamond Knot Brewing Co
Mukilteo WA
Industrial IPA
IPA
8.2% alcohol
80 IBUs
Tasty, hoppy with a touch of malt, not overly bitter. Strong but not too strong. Well balanced. Distinct from other IPAs at the festival. Drops off to a subtle finish.
Flying Fish Brewing
Cherry Hill NJ
Bourbon Barrel Abbey Dubbel
Belgian Style Dubbel
7% alcohol
18 IBUs
Extraordinarily sweet, this is a sipping beer, not a chugging beer. So infused with bourbon flavor, it needs its own chaser. A novelty beer I really couldn’t drink by itself, I think it could pair well with a rare steak. And a cigar.
Golden Valley Brewing
McMinneville OR
Red Thistle Quercus
ESB
5.8% alcohol
38 IBUs
Grapey, winey flavor right off the bat. A little sweet, gentled by a hint of hops. Complex. Probably would go well with a pasta-marinara dish.
Green Flash Brewing Co
Vista CA
West Coast IPA
IPA
7% alcohol
95 IBUs
Happy hoppy beer to please any Oregon hophead. Strong, fragrant and flowery. Good carbonation. Well balanced with just a touch of malt to keep it from being too bitter. Perfectly balanced, say Gene and Gary. Right up there with the best of the IPAs.
Michigan Brewing Co
Webberville MI
Celis White
Belgian Wit
3.9% alcohol
16 IBUs
This is a wit I can get behind. Citrusy notes over spicy undertones. Best served chilled.
Oregon Trail Brewery
Corvallis OR
Oregon Trail Wit
Belgian Hefeweizen
5.1% alcohol
27 IBUs
Meatier than a witbier, fades off quickly to a long lingering hoppy finish. Not quite what I was looking for in my quest for Belgian witbiers.
Russian River Brewing
Santa Rosa CA
Pliny the Elder
Double IPA
8% alcohol
92 IBUs
A perennial favorite. This year’s offering has a lower IBUs than in previous years, but still comes through with a flowery aroma. A strong initial hit of carbonation. Dry but not arid, hoppy but not overly bitter.
Stone Brewing
Escondido CA
07/07/07 Vertical Epic
Farmhouse Ale
8.9% alcohol
25 IBUs
This is a beer with a lot going on. Malt and coriander citrus intertwine. Good initial carbonation. A little too sweet for my taste. Lingering malty finish. A beer for the fireside. Or the cloisters.
7/29/07
Alaskan Brewing Co
Junean AK
Alaskan IPA
IPA
6.2% alcohol
55 IBUs
Fragrant, flowery aroma. Mildly hopped, a pleasant alternative to the big-hopped IPAs. Good carbonation with an unexpected hint of fruitiness. Subtle, unobtrusive aftertaste on the underside of the tongue.
Four + Brewing Co
Salt Lake City UT
Wildfire
Organic Extra Pale Ale
4.3% alcohol
40 IBUs
Beautiful golden color. Dry, thin hops at the start, finishes almost like an IPA. Takes hold of the underside of the tongue and doesn’t let go.
Siletz
Siletz OR
Spruce Ale
5.3% alcohol
35 IBUs
Ever drink a spruce tree? Many parts are potable. A palate cleansing novelty beer with a mild curious bitterness overlaying malty sweetness . Not as “piney” as I remember from brewfests past.
Sprecher
Glendale WA
Mai Bock
Blonde Bock
6% alcohol
24 IBUs
Simultaneously bitter and malty. Complex flavors concentrate under the sides of the tongue, dropping off to maltiness.
Standing Stone Brewing
Ashland OR
Standing Stone Double IPA
Double IPA
95 IBUs
Surprisingly malty for an IPA. Persistent sweetness overlays the hops even through a lingering finish. Eventually leaves the expected hoppy aftertaste.
Stone Brewery
Escondido CA
Stone IPA
IPA
A solid IPA with its own distinct hoppy flavor. Dry lingering finish on the sides of the tongue.
Victory Brewing Co
Downingtown PA
Prima Pils
Pilsner
5.3% alcohol
42 IBUs
Bright and fizzy. Fills the mouth with just enough hops to be interesting. Hops linger on the middle of the tongue for a long timc after swallowing. A great refreshing beer for a hot summer’s day.
Widmer Brothers Brewing
Portland OR
Noggin Grog
Imperial Wit
9% alcohol
25 IBUs
Darker, sweeter and bigger than the ordinary witbier. Sweetness is the overwhelming impression, in fact. Almost meaty in body. Better suited to winter drinking.
Chattering-Magpie-blog
Spring forward, drink beer.
We went to the Spring Beer and Wine Fest at the Convention Center yesterday. I tasted 16 (!) beers. I’m paying for it with a throbbing head now, but boy it was sure fun. Good thing I stayed away from the wine and liquor. Oh, I lie, I did taste a spruce gin, hazelnut espresso-flavored 40 proof vodka, hot pepper vodka and a just plain regular vodka.
The band
Amadan
Portland OR
Celtic punk in the mode of the Pogues. High energy with an edge of bitterness, like the beer like. Is that a didgereedoo I hear? I look up. Yes! Leading into another high energy song. Makes me feel young and old at the same time. I like my beer like my women: frosty and bitter.
The beers
Roots Brewing Co
Portland OR
Woody IPA
IPA
6% alcohol
73 IBUs
Great stuff. Rounded mouth feel. Not over hopped. Pleasant bitterness on the sides of the tongue, toward the back of the mouth.
Roots Brewing Co
Portland OR
Excalibur Stout
IPA
7% alcohol
48 IBUs
Goes over the tongue well. Mildly sweet, chocolaty and smoky. Everything a stout should be, E says.
Alpine Brewing
Oroville WA
Pilsner
pilsner
5.2% alcohol
34 IBUs
Bohemian-style. Refreshing, flavorful, a good balance of malt and hops.
Alpine Brewing
Oroville WA
Weizen-bock
wheat bock
6.8% alcohol
12 IBUs
Bavarian-style. Flowery, smooth, different from the American wheat beers. Well-rounded.
Mad River Brewing Co
Humboldt CA
Steelhead Extra Pale Ale
pale ale
Refreshing, smooth, slightly malty, with an even, velvety mouth feel. Nice flavor.
Salmon Creek Brewery
Vancouver WA
Scottish Ale
Scottish ale
5% alcohol
27 IBUs
Slightly malty at first, hops follow on the aftertaste.
Boundary Bay Brewing Co
Bellingham WA
Bellingham Blonde
ale
5.2% alcohol
Light-bodied, with a pleasant flavor that falls off quickly. A little flat at the end, but the low-key aftertaste lingers.
Astoria Brewing Co
Astoria OR
Poopdeck Porter
porter
6.5% alcohol
34 IBUs
A surprising initial taste of bitterness keeps this porter from being too cloying.
New Belgium Brewing Co
Fort Collins Wit
Mothership Wit
Witbier
4.8% alcohol
Certified Organic. Flowery and fragrant, spicy with hints of orange. Light and refreshing. This is my favorite style of beer.
Bridgeport
Portland OR
Beertown Brown Ale
Brown ale
5.2% alcohol
Malty at first, sliding off to a secondary flavor I can’t quite identify.
Silver Moon Brewing
Bend OR
Panty Dropper IPA
IPA
5.6% alcohol
82 IBUs
How can you resist a name like Panty Dropper? Darker in color than I expected from an IPA. Hops give it flavor as much as bitterness.
Kona Brewing
Kona HI
Long Board Lager
lager
5.4% alcohol
25 IBUs
Bright, crisp, as good as or even better than any lager I’ve tasted. This has flavor. Lightly hopped, it finishes with malty sweetness.
Big Sky Brewing Co
Missoula MT
Big Sky IPA
IPA
5% alcohol
Sharp hop flavor that finishes quickly. Good flavor.
Big Sky Brewing Co
Missoula MT
Moose Drool
Brown ale
4.1% alcohol
Mild, mellow, malty. Very low key, hardly any carbonation. Much better on draft than in the bottle.
Stone Brewing
San Diego CA
Arrogant Bastard Ale
Strong ale
7.2% alcohol
(secret) IBUs
Hoppy and malty and refreshing all at once. A kick in the pants.
Walking Man
Stevenson
Homo Erectus
IPA
8.2% alcohol
Plenty hoppy, well balanced, more of an imperial IPA.
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