Tag: Deschutes

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DESCHUTES BREWERY NEW RELEASES WORTH A TASTE

One of the things I’ve always found fascinating about craft brewers is the seemingly endless desire for experimentation. It’s not enough to simply brew a pale ale, lager, pilsner or IPA. There is a strong drive to innovate, to try new flavors and styles.

 

Such is the case with Deschutes Brewery, a leader in the craft beer industry for 25 years. Deschutes recently released two new brews from its Bond Street Series, which originated as experiments with different styles at the flagship pub on Bond Street in Bend Oregon. It now features the most popular results from all their pubs. Both of the new releases are IPAs.

 

“Hop in the Dark,” the result of 22 experimental brews in Deschutes Bend and Portland pubs over more than a year is what might be called a black IPA, though Deschutes calls it a Cascadian Dark Ale. At 6.5% ABV, it also sports 70 IBUs. It reveals floral, spicy pine, and coffee notes in the aroma. A rich, roasted caramelized character from a combination of malts (Pale, Munich, Crystal, Chocolate, Chocolate Wheat, Black Barley, Flaked Oats, and Toasted Oats) is offset with citrus and given structure on the palate from the hops (Nugget, Citra, Mosaic Northern Brewer, Centennial, Amarillo, and Cascade).

 


“Fresh Squeezed,” as the name implies, is all about citrus, notably from the citra, nugget and mosaic hops. Mild malt notes from Pale, Crystal and Munich malts provide a nice accent. The beer comes in at 6% ABV and 60 IBU. Refreshingly lively for summer sipping, it finishes with an uplifting bitterness.

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SUMMER SEASONALS BREWING UP FRESH BEER DRINKING

Craft breweries everywhere have been releasing their summer brews. Typically lighter and fresher, these seasonals are designed to go down easy.

 

Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale

 

This summer seasonal from Deschutes offers an aroma of fresh wheaty,  malty notes, which are reprised in a firm palate and a crisp, slightly hoppy finish.

Nicely balanced malt and hop qualities, with 35 IBUs.

Not too heavy, not too light, its 5 percent alcohol is just right for warm weather sipping.

Twilight Summer Ale is available from May to September.

 

Ska Mexican Style Logger

 

Ska Brewing’s Mexican Style Logger is another seasonal and, of course, this one is really a lager. Ska Brewing is an18 year-old brewery based in Durango, Colorado making around 13 well-regarded brews. This one is all about fresh grain and sweet malt. At 18 IBU, I don’t get much hoppy character but I don’t think that’s the point anyway. Coming in at 4.2 percent ABV, Logger closes with a clean, crisp finish. Mexican Logger is available in cans through September.

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SPRING BREWS FROM DESCHUTES AND SAMUEL ADAMS … AND AN ODE TO BOSTON LAGER

SPRING BREWS FROM DESCHUTES AND SAMUEL ADAMS … AND AN ODE TO BOSTON LAGER

 

Although winter still has some punch left, this is the time of year when most breweries release their warm weather brews. These spring/summer beers typically sport a lighter, more approachable style. However, for me, their “drinkability” usually comes at the price of flavor interest. While, this style of beer generally isn’t my favorite, I have to admit the new releases from Deschutes and Samuel Adams are certainly “drinkable” and worth a taste.

 

 

Deschutes “River Ale” likely qualifies as a ”session ale,” with its low 4% ABV.

There is a good balance of malt and hop (a relatively modest 28 IBUs).

It opens with malty aromas, accented with a light lemony, hoppy bitterness followed by a similar flavor profile.

 

Samuel Adams “White Lantern” is a Belgian-style white ale, with added tangerine and orange peel, coriander and

Grains of Paradise (this is typical of traditional Belgian ales to have added spices and other flavorings). With a higher but still relatively moderate 5.5% ABV, this unfiltered potion offers citrus, bread, caramel, and lemongrass aromas. The flavor profile is similar but a bit toastier, with a touch of hoppy bitterness, despite the very low 10 IBUs.

 

Sam Adams “Double Agent IPL” is an altogether different creation. Note the “IPL,” as in India Pale Lager. Here we have a successful attempt to combine the hoppiness of an IPA and the subtle maltiness of a lager. Again we’re talking a modest 5.0% ABV but with a somewhat higher 43 IBU.

I liked the white pepper and grapefruit in the nose. I found the palate quite intriguing with a light hoppy bitterness and a hint of citrus built on an oat-like foundation.

 

 

I also want to take this opportunity to ruminate a bit on Samuel Adams Boston Lager. This iconic craft beer, now almost 30 years old, is easy for craft beer lovers to dismiss. Certainly, when it was introduced to American beer drinkers in 1984, it was a breath of fresh air, even a revelation, at least to this flavor starved beer drinking palate. At that time, I think the only other craft beer with which I was familiar was Anchor Steam Beer. Otherwise, my search for character meant trying different imports.

Boston Lager has always seemed to me to taste more like an ale than a lager. Maybe it’s because coming of age in the 1970’s, my experience with lagers was the typical American mass produced beer. Regardless of the proper style definition, Boston Lager’s hoppy character (from high quality Hallertau, Mittelfrueh and Tettnang Noble hops) seems fairly pronounced (even at 30 IBUs) but it is balanced nicely with creamy malts (a two-row pale barley malt blend and Caramel 60).

 

Jim Koch’s first commercial brew exhibits a bit of spicy citrus and pine qualities in the nose. The palate presents with good bite (even though it only provides a modest 4.9 % ABV) balanced with a pleasant creaminess. The beer finishes with citrus and caramel notes.

 

It seems obligatory for many craft beer advocates to downplay beers like Boston Lager that have been around a long time and are produced in relatively large quantities (at least by craft beer standards). Everyone is looking for the next “new thing” or “extreme beer.” And the Boston Beer Company has its fair share of those. But they deserve a lot of credit for maintaining the high quality of Samuel Adams Boston Lager, even as production has increased.

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DESCHUTES NEW BEERS ARE GOOD MATCHES FOR SUMMER’S FOODS


Twilight Summer Ale is ideal for the warm weather. In the style of a Pale Ale it is fairly strong with hoppy bitterness (provided by whole flower Amarillo, Northern Brewer, Cascade, Tettnang, and Brambling Cross hops), which provides a refreshing citrus, slightly spicy aroma. This is nicely complimented by Cara Pils and Carastan malts, which add roundness, softening the hoppy edges. This crisp bottle of sunshine, with its modest 5.0% ABV, will serve you well while watching a baseball or as a counterpoint to barbecue.

Hop in the Dark Cascadian Dark Ale is a whole other style of beer. A Black IPA, this brew ups the ante with both the hops (mostly Citra) and the malt (mostly Munich, oat and crystal). After the startlingly deep color, rich, nutty citrusy and slightly sweet aromas delight the senses. In the mouth, the maltiness asserts itself with a touch of roasted and coffee notes. The beer finishes with hints of chocolate and refreshing citrusy hoppiness. Although twice the IBU (international bittering units of the Twilight, Hop in the Dark’s bitterness is only apparent, as it is balance with the strong dark malts. 6.5% ABV (Alcohol by Volume)

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WORTHY NEW SEASONAL BEER FROM DESCHUTES

Once in a while, this wine guy gets an opportunity to sample new craft beer releases. I’m happy to have one now to recommend: Red Chair NWPA (Northwest Pale Ale), the new seasonal beer from Deschutes Brewery of Bend, Oregon.

Deschutes says Red Chair (6.2% ABV) is named after the oldest operating lift at Mt. Bachelor. They call it their debut Northwest Pale Ale, though not unlike the last year’s Red Chair IPA. I never tasted the IPA; so, I’ll take their word for it.

This one sits in the glass with a copper color and a loosely foamy head. As I sniff, I pick up hints of citrus, bread, caramel, and herbal lemongrass. Sipping reveals more toast and citrus. Dry, bitter hops emerge but don’t overpower. A malty counterpoint asserts itself then gives way to more hops in the finish.

I relate to it as a cross between an IPA and an American pale ale. It is medium bodied and well balanced, with a hoppy personality moderated by malty qualities. I’m told Red Chair began as an experimental beer to test new hops and hopping techniques. Additionally, seven European and domestic malts are key to the formula. The success of the experiment shows in the final product.

Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised Red Chair cleaned house the World Beer Awards. The brew will be available from January until April in six- and twelve-packs and on draft throughout the 16 states where Deschutes beer is distributed.