Posts Tagged &#8216;Beer Of The Month&#8217;

Tags: Beer Of The Month Hopworks Urban Brewery Sasquatch Strong Ale

Beer of the Month – Hopworks Noggin Floggin’ Barleywine [November 2008]

November 10th, 2008

Hopworks Noggin Floggin’ Barleywine [November 2008]

Well, we’re back. Our Beer of the Month segment has been missing for a few months, but we’re going to get back on track and make sure to keep this section up to date. We’ve got some napkin and coaster notes from past months, so we’ll go back and fill in some earlier missed months as well.

November’s Beer of the Month installment is Hopworks Noggin Floggin’ Barleywine. The official description is

“Gunter glieben glauchen globen. Nuff said. ABV: 9.6% IBU: 90 Plato: 23.5″

While a novel description, it sure doesn’t do this beer justice. In fact, there isn’t enough that can be said about this beer. It is a very warming 9.6% ABV Barleywine that is not excessively sweet, but still has a complex malt bill. One things is for certain, the name is dead on: this beer will whip your brain.

Assertive hopping leans the needle towards overall bitterness rather than sweetness. There are both floral hints in the aroma and a citrus taste from the hops, and while noticable, they are well-tamed by the malt. While beers like this are very complex, it is this complexity that can unravel these beers. Complexity doesn’t mean dumping everything in and crossing you fingers, it is the result of the ingredients playing well with each other. Luckily, everything in this beer plays well with each other.

But my words, while purposeful and poetic, are not the same as sitting down and enjoying this barleywine. So go grab some while it lasts!

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Tags: Beer Of The Month Hopworks Urban Brewery

Beer of the Month – Hopwork’s Original Red [June 2008]

June 3rd, 2008

Hopwork’s Original Red [June 2008]

OK, it’s officially beer season! I know, beer season here is year round, but you’ve got to shout it out once in a while. It’s time for the Winter vampires of Portland to finally get some sunshine and visit the outdoors without layers of protective rain gear. One of your first stops should be to Hopworks Urban Brewery to check out their new seasonal Original Red.

Brewer’s description:

“This full bodied NW Red is hopped to the rafters and sanded smooth like mahogany. We are stoked to bring this former full-timer back for a reunion. Look for dry-hops, 5.6% ABV, 55 IBU, and a little attitude.”

Reds were my first stop after my IPA obsession of 2001-2002. Northwest reds are still hoppy, but balanced out with a nice malt backbone. With these beers, the malt tends to desaturate the bitterness, while leaving behind a bit more of the floral and citrus quality of hops. This is much more evident when reds are dry-hopped like this one from the HUB.

I’m not sure how long the seasonals at the HUB last yet, so get out there as soon as you can. If you miss it, you’ll be able to substitute your sadness with another seasonal as the HUB hasn’t been slouching and tends to have 3-4 seasonals on tap.

Tags: Beer Of The Month Hopworks Urban Brewery

Beer of the Month – Deschutes Black Butte XX [May 2008]

May 19th, 2008

Deschutes Black Butte XX [May 2008]

OK, we’re a little late for May, but what’s new, right? We had some ideas for May, but I wanted to make sure to get down to Deschutes’ New Portland Pub to see if any of there beers spoke to me. Well, after two rounds of the Black Butte XX, not only did the beer talk to me, but so did the walls, and the floor, and the parade of pink elephants that I passed when I walked out the door. Actually, they were singing, but that’s another story…

Deschutes says “To celebrate our 20th anniversary this June, we decided to pay homage to Black Butte Porter, the revolutionary beer that has excited craft beer drinkers since 1988. Our brewers have played mad scientists, creating an Imperial recipe that includes coffee, cocoa nibs, and aged in whiskey barrels. IBUs: 60 ABV: 11%”

Yep, it’s a big one. While the description was provocative, Portland was in the grasp of a mini 2-day heat wave. So after a hot day, I had to ask myself, was this the best time for huge Imperial Porter? Damn right it was!

Sure, this isn’t a session beer for a sunny sidewalk afternoon, but it is a great slow beer to enjoy on it’s own or paired with a meal. And be careful, those of you that have been gearing up for summer with some lighter beers, you may leave the brewery without your shoes, as this beer may just knock the shoes off your feet. I’m still missing one shoe…

It may be strong, but the alcohol isn’t overpowering in the flavor profile. Thick, dark brown, and rich, this beer is sweet with a delicate hop bitterness. Aged in whiskey barrels, this brew had plenty of time for the flavors to blend and mature. Everyone who tastes this will have something new to pull out of this complex treat.

I’m not sure how long Deschutes’ seasonals will be available at their Portland Pub, only time will tell. So get out there and grab this one while you can, you’ll be sorry if you miss it. Well, I can at least guarantee that we’ll be sorry for you.

Tags: Beer Of The Month Deschutes Brewery

Beer of the Month – Laurelwood Darkhorse [April 2008]

April 1st, 2008

Laurelwood Darkhorse [April 2008]

Well, here we are again. And, by “again”, I mean: here we are, Beer of the Month, about four months behind schedule. We’ll be going back to check out notes and fill in the blanks, but for now, it’s April 2008 and we’ve got a hybrid beer to showcase.

April is a crossover month, sitting between winter and spring. Portland can fluctuate between snow and hot sun and back again as nature tries to make up it’s mind. This is also a great time for a crossover beer: the India Dark Ale. OK, it’s not a style that’s recognized by the BJCP, but it makes sense: a bit of malt for the winter and a bit of IPA for the Spring. Based on their extremely popular Workhorse IPA, the Darkhorse is a reworking of the original recipe, adding a heavier malt bill and balancing it out with a bit more hops.

If you’re not ready to give up your darker winter beers and not ready to jump into IPAs, Darkhorse bridges the gap and helps with the seasonal transition. It is currently pouring at the 51st Avenue location in NE Portland.

Tags: Beer Of The Month Laurelwood Brewing Company

Beer of the Month – Lompoc Old Tavern Rat [December 2007]

December 1st, 2007

Lompoc Old Tavern Rat [December 2007]

Ah, December. Colder. Darker. Wetter. But even with all of this, there is a bright spot: barleywine!

Barley Wine had to be strong – often between 10% and 12% — and was stored for prodigious periods of as long at 18 months or two years. When country houses had their own small breweries, it was often the task of the butler to brew ale that was drunk from cut-glass goblets at the dining table. The biggest-selling Barley Wine for years was Whitbread’s 10.9% Gold Label, now available only in cans. Bass’s No 1 Barley Wine (10.5%) is occasionally brewed in Burton-on-Trent, stored in cask for 12 months and made available to CAMRA beer festivals. Fuller’s Vintage Ale (8.5%) is a bottle-conditioned version of its Golden Pride and is brewed with different varieties of malts and hops every year. Many micro-brewers now produce their interpretations of the style. Expect massive sweet malt and ripe fruit of the pear drop, orange and lemon type, with darker fruits, chocolate and coffee if darker malts are used. Hop rates are generous and produce bitterness and peppery, grassy and floral notes.

Tags: Beer Of The Month Lompoc Brewing Company

Beer of the Month – Amnesia Sleighjerker [November 2007]

November 1st, 2007

Amnesia Sleighjerker [November 2007]

Alright, back to Amnesia Brewing for November’s Beer of the Month. October was pretty a mild month for us out here, but November has finally brought Winter with days hovering in the mid 40’s and a cold biting wind. So, we fight back the only way we know how–with stronger beers!

Weighing in around 8% ABV, Sleighjerker has the ability to take the edge off of a cold night (but honestly, I’d drink this one in any weather!). 8% ABV is also a range that can be tricky for beers. If the beer is too thin, that alcohol can poke out like a sharp stick. Of course, in the winter, you do want a bit of a bite, but you also still want to recognize the contents of the pint as a beer. Since we’re not in Barleywine territory with this ale, the beer needs to balance out the alcohol and hop bitterness with a nice maltly base.

Too much of anything will knock a beer out of whack, but with a Winter Ale we can expect a dark brew balanced on the sweeter side. This residual sweetness comes not only from the higher quantities of malt used to raise the alcohol level, but also the different malts that are used. Darker beers make use of more heavily roasted malts for color and flavor. These malts can impart a smoky, roasty, or even chocolaty flavor. Because there are usually more sugars left behind in these beers after fermentation, the higher final gravity gives the beer a thicker body and mouthfeel, often classifying the beer as “chewy”. While it doesn’t quite eat like a steak, there is a noticeable difference when comparing these beers to browns and even some porters and stouts.

So, how does Sleighjerker measure up to these criteria? Great dark color, complex chewy malts, mild hop bitterness, and a great warming alcohol content make this a great beer to seek out and enjoy this Winter!

Tags: Amnesia Brewing Beer Of The Month

Beer of the Month – Laurelwood Break A Leg Rye [August 2007]

August 1st, 2007

Laurelwood Break A Leg Rye [August 2007]

Yep, I already know: another Laurelwood pick? Well, if they would stop making great beer! As most of you know, I’ve been down and out with a broken leg and Laurelwood is right down the street from me. Right now, it’s the easiest place for me to get to. I’ll be expanding my picks as my leg heals.

I’ve finally moved to a cane, so it’s getting a bit easier for me to move around. This month’s pick is a seasonal, so go out and get it while you can: Laurelwood’s Break A Leg Rye. Could it be a coincidence that I’ve got a broken leg and Laurelwood released this beer? Nope, the stars didn’t align on this one. I asked head brewer Chad Kennedy if they could make a Rye for me to speed up the healing of my leg. Laurelwood’s beer description: “This one’s for a friend. Our buddy in question here recently found himself stuck at home with a broken leg. We brewed this hoppy red rye to encourage him to get up and get a little exercise walking to the Wood. Here’s to the fellow that’s got to hobble to the pub on crutches. Cheers! ABV: 5.8%, IBU: 50, OG: 13 Plato”. Awesome! Thanks guys!

Now, would I pick this beer as Beer of the Month only for the reason that this “my” beer? No way. I may not have many scruples, but I am honest when it comes to beer (unless someone forgets to charge me for a pint or two). Regardless of sentimental feelings, this is a fantastic beer. Another great balancing act of malt, hops, and alcohol from the guys at Laurelwood. If you’ve never had a Rye beer before, don’t be shy. The Rye is added to the malt bill as a subtle flavor, not to change the base of the beer. So, go seek it out and enjoy one of the few Rye beers available in Portland!

Tags: Beer Of The Month Laurelwood Brewing Company

Beer of the Month – Lompoc Strong Draft [July 2007]

July 1st, 2007

Lompoc Strong Draft [July 2007]

Well, I’ve been stuck indoors all summer because of my motorcycle accident which has caused me to miss out on some of the heat and sunshine of the summer months here in Portland. Because of this, some of my summer picks are a bit untraditional for this time of year. Usually in July, a nice crisp Pale or Kolsch will cure the summer heat. However, trapped in an air conditioned room for the whole month, in quite a bit of pain, can change one’s perspective. That’s why this month’s pick is a strong, fortifying, malty brew from New Old Lompoc: Lompoc Strong Draft or, LSD, and American Strong Ale.

Balance can be hard to find in Portland. Over-hopped beers on the other hand, are everywhere. It takes special skill to balance a strong malt backbone, not only with the right quantity of hops, but also the right types. In a perfectly balanced pint, the brewer must pay attention to the bittering hop balance as well as the flavoring hop balance. A high malt beer doesn’t balance well with flowery or citrusy hops, but instead will use more earthy tones to complement the sweetness of the malt.

Lompoc’s LSD does a great job with this balancing act, creating a great strong brew that’s drinkable all year long. Of course, it’s nice and warming in the winter, but for me this time, it’s medicinal qualities made it perfect for my “Summer of Healing.”