December is typically a time for enjoying dark seasonals with spicy tones and malty finishes. Every now and then, its important to break the mold. Rogue Ales' Juniper Pale Ale is a nice fit! Another award-winning beer from Rogue, the Juniper Pale Ale uses real juniper berries in the brewing process and they give this pale a nice floral taste without washing out the best aspects of any good pale. It maintains a crisp bite but balances nicely with a smooth, somewhat-malty finish.
Rogue Ales brews plenty of exotic brews but the Juniper Pale is realistic and very drinkable. Perhaps this is the beer's best quality: it is easily approached by someone who doesn't drink a lot of microbrews but has enough sophistication to keep a keen drinker entertained. If you're looking for something that will knock your socks off, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a beer that has some complexity but goes down smooth, a critical element if you're trying to survive this holiday season, then look no further.
Juniper Pale Ale
13 degrees Plato
34 IBU's
5.3% ABV
http://www.rogue.com/beers/juniper-pale-ale.php
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Jubilation!
Around this time each year, fans of winter ales celebrate when Deschutes Brewery releases Jubelale. If you're looking for a winter-warmer, there are few, if any, that are better than this one. The initial taste has enough bite to keep a hop-lover satisfied. The finish is warm and malty with festive notes. I suppose you could say, its the best of both worlds!
Since its inception over 20 years ago, Deschutes has been reaping the rewards of Jubelale. It won a gold metal at the 1990 Great American Beer Festival in the "strong ale" category. Not resting on its laurels, this brew took the silver medal at the 2007 Australian International Beer Awards. Needless to say, its been keeping beer drinkers satisfied for quite a while.
One of the neatest parts of this brew is its label. For the last 16 years, Deschutes has chosen the label art from a different Oregon artist. As such a popular beer here in the Northwest, it gains the artist who creates the label a lot of exposure. For a look back at the labels over the years, follow the link below. As Christmas approaches, Jubelale is the perfect beer to share with friends and family.
Label History:
http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/jubelale88-09poster.jpg
Deschutes Brewery, Jubelale
60 IBU's
6.7% ABV
Since its inception over 20 years ago, Deschutes has been reaping the rewards of Jubelale. It won a gold metal at the 1990 Great American Beer Festival in the "strong ale" category. Not resting on its laurels, this brew took the silver medal at the 2007 Australian International Beer Awards. Needless to say, its been keeping beer drinkers satisfied for quite a while.
One of the neatest parts of this brew is its label. For the last 16 years, Deschutes has chosen the label art from a different Oregon artist. As such a popular beer here in the Northwest, it gains the artist who creates the label a lot of exposure. For a look back at the labels over the years, follow the link below. As Christmas approaches, Jubelale is the perfect beer to share with friends and family.
Label History:
http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/jubelale88-09poster.jpg
Deschutes Brewery, Jubelale
60 IBU's
6.7% ABV
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Drop Anchor!
If you appreciate beer, there are always those brews with which you have a personal attachment to. One of those for me is Anchor Steam. A nice amber hue in color, Anchor Steam kind of sneaks up on you. Upon first inspection, it looks like a traditional amber ale. One sip, though, and you'll notice the hoppy bite and the slightly bitter aftertaste. Brewed by Anchor Brewing in San Francisco, Anchor Steam is widely available.
I had my first experience with this one when on vacation with my wife. It was our first trip to San Francisco during college and we were walking along the waterfront when we stopped in a diner for some dinner. Anchor Steam was on the menu and I ordered a pint. A few years later and I'm still sipping it on a regular basis. Its the true "San Francisco Treat" if you ask me!
A neat fact about this beer is that it was originally brewed in 1896. The word "steam" has its own historic significance. Because of a lack of technology and high-tech facilities, west coast breweries around this time, the turn of the century, often let off "steam," malt and barley-scented gasses produced by the brewing process. With its roots in this era and location, the Anchor Brewing Company and Anchor Steam in particular, have captured this idea with this brew.
Overall, its very drinkable and has its own distinct taste. This beer goes very well with fresh tastes, such as salads and artisan pizzas (which I'm eating tonight). If you haven't already, give Anchor Steam a try. Trust me, it won't do you any harm!
Anchor Steam Lager
4.9% ABV
http://www.anchorbrewing.com/beers/
I had my first experience with this one when on vacation with my wife. It was our first trip to San Francisco during college and we were walking along the waterfront when we stopped in a diner for some dinner. Anchor Steam was on the menu and I ordered a pint. A few years later and I'm still sipping it on a regular basis. Its the true "San Francisco Treat" if you ask me!
A neat fact about this beer is that it was originally brewed in 1896. The word "steam" has its own historic significance. Because of a lack of technology and high-tech facilities, west coast breweries around this time, the turn of the century, often let off "steam," malt and barley-scented gasses produced by the brewing process. With its roots in this era and location, the Anchor Brewing Company and Anchor Steam in particular, have captured this idea with this brew.
Overall, its very drinkable and has its own distinct taste. This beer goes very well with fresh tastes, such as salads and artisan pizzas (which I'm eating tonight). If you haven't already, give Anchor Steam a try. Trust me, it won't do you any harm!
Anchor Steam Lager
4.9% ABV
http://www.anchorbrewing.com/beers/
Friday, December 10, 2010
This Dead Guy is Still Alive!
Rogue Ales struck gold in the early 90's when it created Dead Guy Ale, a German Maibock-style beer. Since taking the bronze metal in the 1994 World Beer Championship, Dead Guy has racked up an impressive list of awards, including 3 World Beer Championship gold metals. One taste and you have it all figured out. Or don't you? See, the beer is pretty complex and very tough to decipher for someone who hasn't had a lot of beer of this quality before. It can take some figuring out.
This was exactly the case for me. I hadn't been 21 long and I was in an absolute trance about tying steelhead flies and fishing as much as possible. I picked up a six-pack of Dead Guy after work at the grocery store and raced home to tie more flies and have a few beers. While it came highly recommended, I couldn't get a handle on this beer. I didn't have much experience in such matters and I suppose I had bitten of more than I could chew. While utterly perplexed by the beer, I kept with it and continued tying flies into the wee hours of the morning. This was in the middle of the winter and Dead Guy fit perfectly: a little dark and bitter yet surprisingly hoppy and bold, perfect for any winter steelhead fly fisherman.
I've stuck by this brew over the last few years and I still pick it up occasionally. Its one that I'm proud to have a better feel for now and one that I will never let go of. Rogue Ales make a lot of very interesting beers but Dead Guy Ale remains the most popular for good reason. The beer goes very well with a burger or anything spicy. Check it out and be prepared to unlock its mysteries!
Dead Guy Ale
16 Degrees Plato
40 IBU's
6.5% ABV
http://www.rogue.com/beers/dead-guy-ale.php
This was exactly the case for me. I hadn't been 21 long and I was in an absolute trance about tying steelhead flies and fishing as much as possible. I picked up a six-pack of Dead Guy after work at the grocery store and raced home to tie more flies and have a few beers. While it came highly recommended, I couldn't get a handle on this beer. I didn't have much experience in such matters and I suppose I had bitten of more than I could chew. While utterly perplexed by the beer, I kept with it and continued tying flies into the wee hours of the morning. This was in the middle of the winter and Dead Guy fit perfectly: a little dark and bitter yet surprisingly hoppy and bold, perfect for any winter steelhead fly fisherman.
I've stuck by this brew over the last few years and I still pick it up occasionally. Its one that I'm proud to have a better feel for now and one that I will never let go of. Rogue Ales make a lot of very interesting beers but Dead Guy Ale remains the most popular for good reason. The beer goes very well with a burger or anything spicy. Check it out and be prepared to unlock its mysteries!
Dead Guy Ale
16 Degrees Plato
40 IBU's
6.5% ABV
http://www.rogue.com/beers/dead-guy-ale.php
Where I'm Coming From
Let me just say, I love beer! One would have to love beer if they were going to take the time to write about it, no? I discovered beer in college, like others before me. At that time, just like now, I valued beer for more than the effects. I became fascinated with its colors, tastes, scents, bottle shapes and label art. I was not, and am not now, someone who consumers copious amounts of alcohol. Perhaps this is because I've never been too fond of getting completely drunk or maybe its because I'm aware that alcoholism has run in my family and decided to rear its ugly head from time to time. Whatever the reason may be, I still love a high quality brew and my passion for experimentation has shown me the light at the end of the bottle, that no two beers are completely alike and if it weren't for beer, the world would not be such a wonderful place. So join me in this quest, as we explore beer together and enjoy both the good ones and the bad. Now grab a cold one and a glass, this is going to be fun!
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