Brewerman

Deschutes – Hop Henge (2006)

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Last year’s version of Hop Henge was a stop on the way to developing a new American IPA replacement for its now-discontinued Quail Springs IPA. It was good … one of those “drop your jaw and hold the glass to the light at arms length to get a better look at this marvel” kind of beers. Thank God Deschutes released it in 22 oz bombers. They went quickly, and everyone I knew hoped it would become the new IPA recipe. The brewers kept tweaking, however, and Inversion (now a workhorse favorite among American IPA lovers), was born.

So when a friend came into work raving, “Hop Henge is back … and it’s an Imperial! I had it last night at the pub,” I had no choice but to go try it for myself. On tap it was excellent. I got a fresh case from the brewery, and this tasting is from one of those bottles.

ABV: 8.1%
IBUs: 95

  • Appearance: A beautiful deep, clear orange. Nice head that slowly collapses leaving sticky burst bubbles on the glass.
  • Smell: Excellent citrus and spice hop aroma hits first, followed by a whiff of caramelized malt.
  • Taste: As the Stonehenge replica made of hop bales on the label would suggest, hops, both bitter and flavor, are the showcase here. Citrus and spice sitting on top of a very supportive malt backbone. The sweetness you’d expect from a high-alcohol beer is there, but is supportive … not overpowering. Could be just a touch more balanced?
  • Mouthfeel: Good full-bodied beer with decent carbonation. Could have used just a small bit more carbonation (not a major problem … still plenty of carbonation to be had).
  • Drinkability: I bought a case. This beer is easy to spend time with, and I’m glad that I have more in the cellar to enjoy over time.
 Deschutes Hop Henge bottle

Deschutes – The Abyss (2006)

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Deschutes The Abyss 2006Deschutes comes out swingin’! My Lord this is good! I drank a bottle … and bought a case. The Bond Street series is knocking them out of the park lately. First came Hop Trip, then came this beer, and there’s also Hop Henge. All very drinkable beers, but this one is exceptional. Weighing in at 11% ABV, this is a big, roasty, stout that is so smoooooooooth! Be sure to buy several for cellaring.

Onto the tasting.

  • Appearance: Opaque, mahogony, beautiful light toffee head that lasts and finally settles leaving plenty of bubbles drying on the glass as it settles onto the surface of the beer.
  • Smell: Plenty of deep caramelized malt. Burnt sugar, slight initial smell of bourbon and hint of raisin under all of that.
  • Taste: Wow! Despite the big alcohol, I was surprised how easily this beer went down. Plenty of what you’d expect given the dark, oily look of it: flavors from malts like highly-kilned crystal, chocolate, and black patent are all over the place. But balanced … incredible depth of flavor and balance. Plenty of those complexities come from, as the label says, 33% of the beer being aged in bourbon barrels and French oak. Can’t pick out the bourbon flavor nor an obvious use of licorice. It is just a creamy, roasty deep balanced flavor from start to finish.
  • Mouthfeel: Great mouthfeel. Excellent coating of the tongue imparts flavor all over.
  • Drinkability: This thing went down quickly. Be careful, but buy several so you can explore The Abyss more than once. You’ll most definitely want to.

Sierra Nevada – Celebration Ale (2006)

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Sierra Nevada’s winter seasonal was one of the first winter ales I fell in love with after I moved to Washington State. Winter is my favorite season on the beer calendar. There are always so many good beers to choose from that have a bit more “oomph” than most offerings released during the rest of the year.

The winter seasonals tend to offer a bit more hop … a bit more malt … a bit more alcohol … a bit more flavor! “Winter Warmers” as they are sometimes called are among my favorite beers because of the depth and complexities they offer. No need for subtlety here, although there’s plenty to be had.

  • Appearance: A slightly red-hued amber with a decent off-white head that clings to the side of the glass.
  • Smell: Roasty up front. Solid hop aroma. Some bubblegum?
  • Taste: A good roasty, toasty malt presence with some caramel is butted up against a solid hop bitterness and flavor. Substantial alcohol. Some spice at the end. Not as balanced as I remember previous years. Third and fourth sips appear more balanced than the first (result of hops for sure). Finishes with roasty/hop flavors.
  • Mouthfeel: Great mouthfeel. Good coating of the tongue imparts flavor all over with a lingering finish in the back of the mouth.
  • Drinkability: I seem to remember this as better in previous years. Still very high up among my favorite winter ales. I will gladly finish the 6 pack I bought.
 Sierra Nevada Celebration bottle

St. Arnold – Elissa IPA

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I recently returned to my home city of Houston, TX for the first time in 15 years. I’m happy to say there is now a micro brewery there that appears to be kicking out some worthy beers. I especially found their version of a Cascade-based IPA enjoyable.

  • Appearance: Pours a beautiful pale golden orange with a decent off-white head.
  • Smell: A spicy hop aroma butting up against a good amount of fruit/citrus.
  • Taste: Solid malt backbone, and great hop flavor. Citrus more apparent in the aftertaste. Not overly bitter. There are some grassy, fruity, and a good amount of spicy flavors that are not present in the many Northwest IPA’s I’ve tried that rely exclusively on Cascade hops. This is what their website says is the exclusive hop used in brewing this beer. I’m not sure where these flavors come from … but I’m sure glad they’re there!
  • Mouthfeel: Solid body that feels solid on the tongue at the start, then dissipates well.
  • Drinkability: A unique IPA for this NW IPA drinker. Would definitely have liked to bring some back with me had it not been for all the other Holiday Gifts I was lugging back with me.
 St. Arnold Elissa IPA bottle

Deschutes – Hop Trip (2006)

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Deschutes Hop Trip 2006My wife and I currently live in Bend, OR – home to Deschutes Brewery. The Bond Street Series is a set of special beers released by the brewery outside of their regular line, and this beer is very special indeed. Hop Trip represents a very special style of beer that more small breweries are putting out celebrating the hop harvest. They load up a truck with Cascade hops at a hop farm in the Willamette valley, coordinate the brew schedule with the return trip, and when they arrive, bring the hops straight to the kettle. By going as straight from the vine to the kettle as possible, they pull out a tremendous amount of fresh hop flavor unavailable from kilned hops. Check out the video produced by Deschutes commemorating this year’s Hop Trip.

  • Appearance: Pours pale orange to amber with a small white head settling in with some lacing.
  • Smell: A good spicy, citrusy Cascade aroma.
  • Taste: For a pale ale, this one is all hop. Spicy, oily, lingering fresh hop flavor. Citrus flavors of grapefruit, orange, tangerine. Bitterness and medium malt flavors right before the bitter and citrus finishes out.
  • Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a good carbonation. The oily mouthfeel seems to different than the typical tongue-coating I’m accustomed to, but it is very pleasant. Fresh hops give a nice difference here.
  • Drinkability: Fresh hop ale the way your mother intended it (or even if she didn’t intend it … you should pick this one up)! A special beer that should not be missed.