Beer Tasting Notes... Red Chair NWPA

A taste of Red Chair NWPA 2011...

Deschutes Brewery 901 SW Simpson Ave., Bend, OR 97702 USA 541.385.8606

Preface: This is another sample sent by the folks at Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew. It arrived via delivery service and has been stored in a cool, dry, dark place (a Brooklyn apartment). I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of a creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This is a bright copper-penny brew with obvious good carbonation that knits a very rocky head of large and medium sized bubbles. The flimsily constructed head and the speed with which it descends might tell me this class is not as “beer clean” as it could be. No points detracted.

Aroma: The first aromatic impression is a green herbal aroma. The second visit introduced a Seville Orange accent with sweet undertones. The third nosedive found no new surprises. The blending of the initial aromatic sensations simply became more complex.

Mouth feel: This is not a full-bodied beer or too hoppy.

Flavor: After the first refreshing sensation a roasted malt graininess slowly develops. The second sip reveals just the beginning of a tart hop tang. By the third swig that hop tang gets fully established. What keeps it from being overpowering is a very subtle combination of malt flavors.

Finish: The finish of this beer leaves you refreshed. Neither the emphatic hops nor the subtle malt leave anything more than a pleasant sensation.

Comments: This is the second year in a row the folks at Deschutes Brewery have sent me samples of this particular beer. The above tasting notes should make interesting comparison to my observations of last year’s product.

This is a beer that would go incredibly well with good conversation. After two or three of these the additional lucidity of the conversation would undoubtably be enhanced.

This particular brew could use the company of a large bowl of buttered popcorn spiced with Old Bay spice mix, and of course, as I said before…good conversation.

The Brewery: Deschutes Brewery

What others say: BeerAdvocate | RateBeer

A taste of… Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale

Deschutes Brewery
901 SW Simpson Ave.,
Bend, OR 97702
USA
541.385.8606

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale was sent to me by the folks at Deschutes Brewing Co. for inclusion in these tasting notes.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: A bright golden copper colored crystal clear brew is topped with a lacy head of white with an almost-orange tint.

Aroma: From the beginning of the pour there were hints of berry aromatics. The first impression brought a peach nose to the forward and the second visit an almost strawberry presence. The third nose-dive found some spear-mint aromas.

Flavor: grainy flavors sharpened with a slight tang that builds into a non threatening wave of floral flavorful tang. The second sip found where the fruit aromas were coming from… the hop flavors have more than a little citric tang… less the grapefruit fragrances and flavor of Cascade hops. The third sip left noting more for the imagination and made for the flavor exit.

Mouth feel: A remarkably light feel to this brew.

Finish: There is a refreshing sensation that is not hindered by any sweet or sharp finale.

Comments: On a cedar deck, on a hot late Saturday afternoon, in the last of the sun’s heat, an ice cold swig of this brew would do you no harm.

The Brewery: http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/17984

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/deschutes-twilight-ale/35730/

A taste of… Hop Henge Experimental IPA

Deschutes Brewery
901 SW Simpson Ave.,
Bend, OR 97702
USA
541.385.8606

Preface: This is another sample sent by the folks at Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew. It arrived via delivery service and has been stored in a cool, dry, dark place (a Brooklyn apartment).

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: A slight chill haze and a vigorous carbonation gives this copper penny colored brew a well knit head of sparkling tiny bubbles. The linen white, with a light orange tinge, head falls quietly leaving a beautiful Belgian lace gracing the sides of the glass.

Aroma: The first impression is of soft, rounded grapefruit citric notes. The second visit reveals an undercurrent of spruce. A final nosedive brings on the spruce brigade!

Flavor: First impression is of citric spikes riding a crest of cool liquid refreshment. The second sip brings more of the citric flavors with hints of mandarin and navel oranges. The third sip shows a creamy beginning that wasn’t noticed at first and waits for the long lasting flavors to finish for goodness sake.

Mouth feel: This is a relatively lush brew.

Finish: This is a long lasting finisher… think running a marathon in over eight hours eh?

Food & Beer: A real pallet cleanser like this calls for creamy cheeses… pickles and liverwurst.

The Brewery: http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/2178

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/deschutes-jubelale/2142/

A taste of… Hop Trip 2009

Deschutes Brewery
901 SW Simpson Ave.,
Bend, OR 97702
USA
541.385.8606

Preface: This is another sample sent by the folks at Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew. It arrived via delivery service and has been stored in a cool, dry, dark place (a Brooklyn apartment). I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of a creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

Note: The label notes – Best by 01/09/10… today is 01/11/10

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: An orange amber brew throws a bit of a haze but seems a bit cool. The carbonation is quite lively and forms a presentable light yellow-brown head of tiny to small sized bubbles that leave a well tatted lace on the sides of the glass.

Aroma: The first sensation is of fresh cut hops. The second impression recognizes a slight background of sweet grain to add substance to the first impression. The third trip reveals a well balanced sensation with a preference for the flowery accents of the hops.

Mouth feel: The moment between sip and lip

Flavor: First to arrive is a roasted grain impression The second impression introduces a rather shy flower flavor in place of the rather forward first aromatic impression of herb. The third swallow starts out, arrives and finished with a smooth, very balanced presentation of both grain and bine.

Finish: The finishes, like an always welcome guest, leaves a pleasant impression and doesn’t linger too long.

Comments: I have a feeling that I am just catching the last gasp of the featured hop fest. However, even at the advanced age of this bottle, the balance is maintained against a sweet grain that refuses to take over.

Beer and Food: If I still had a case of this brew I would scrounge up a bushel or two of oysters and see who lasted the longest; the beer, the oysters or me.

The Brewery: http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/26395 (double check - might not be above brew)

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/deschutes-hop-trip/51917/ (double check - might not be above brew)

A taste of... Red Chair NWPA

Deschutes Brewery
901 SW Simpson Ave.,
Bend, OR 97702
USA
541.385.8606

Preface: This is another sample sent by the folks at Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew. It arrived via delivery service and has been stored in a cool, dry, dark place (a Brooklyn apartment). I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of a creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: Here is a brassy copper colored brew with carbonation bubbles as tiny as you can find, developing into a light brown, almost yellow head of closely knit bubbles that fall into a dense foam that leaves a good lace of foam on the sides of the pint glass.

Aroma: The hops aromas (fresh cut green vegetation) are not very aggressive. A second visit reveals a few more nuances to the vegetal aromatics. The third sensation shows a touch of malt or grainy presence.

Mouth feel: Here we have a medium bodied brew, not aggressive but not shy either.

Flavor: The first flavors to come to the front are the flavors that the aromatics promised. Then there is a developing sensation of sugar candy and roasted grain that never forces itself to the front. The second trip to the flavors presents more of the citric and almost metallic tang that speaks to a selection of hops. A third sip and the hops wins the place of honor and the grain flavors are left to the end of the show to cheer on the hops.

Finish: The last of the hops slip away in a relatively short time however there is a touch of grain that keeps the last impression from being all hop tang.

The Brewery: http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: N/A

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/deschutes-jubelale/2142/