Every now and again somebody posts a "Top X" beer list, and this week it's from Forbes: The top 20 "Coolest Beers". The article itself is kind of beer-history-factoid boilerplate, but there's a popup slide show (annoying!) that actually lists the 20 beers.

I have to say I'm not overly impressed with the selection. They're mostly lighter beers (and Grolsch is on the list? Uhm, not my list), which isn't bad, but I'd like to see a little more variety. Since it's in annoying popup format, I'll let you follow the link and check out the list yourself...

One of these days, I'll have to publish my own Top Whatever Best Beers... though of course it'll be slanted to my own bias. ;)

Via Slashfood.

Ahhh, Broken Top Bock: for years I knew of this seasonal from Deschutes Brewery yet somehow I always missed the boat on drinking it. I guess it was sort of the Loch Ness monster or Sasquatch of the local beer scene: I'd heard all the rumors but had never glimpsed it for myself.

No more, finally. Deschutes is offering it in their Bond Street Series of seasonals served up in 22-ounce bombers, and I picked one up last week at Newport Avenue Market. How could I not?

This a decent beer of the Bock style—though if you're expecting the strength and malty warmth of a Doppelbock, you'll likely be disappointed. Not everything has to be a strong beer! :)

Okay, to my notes:

Appearance: Pours brown with red highlights.The brownish head fell away to rim the glass.

Smell: Biscuit grain, malty. Caramel? Hints of dark fruit, and some sugar (dark).

Taste: Rich and malty; there's licorice, molasses, dry plum all in there, though it's not overly fruity. There's no sense of hops up front—but there, in the aftertaste, some hop spiciness.

Mouthfeel: A little astringent. It's medium-bodied but thinner than I would have expected; ie, not too heavy.

It's pretty new on the ratings sites, but I'll point to them anyway. On BeerAdvocate, with five reviews, it scores 84 (all five approve). On RateBeer, with 13 ratings, it scores 3.65, in the 83rd percentile.

Pretty decent, though I suspect it's another one of Deschutes' beers that tastes really good on draft...

I've gotten behind on blogging my various beer notes (although even I have to admit blogging nothing but beer tasting gets tedious), so tonight I'm starting to catch up with Golden Monkey from Victory Brewing.

It starts off looking innocent enough. But after I poured it into my glass I took a closer look at the bottle and was stunned: this beer boats a whopping 9.5% alcohol by volume! No wonder: it's a Belgian Tripel. Good grief, I really should pay more attention to what I'm opening beforehand.

Despite the surprise, I was pleased with this beer. The high alcohol content is surprisingly unnoticeable, and it's an enjoyable experience.

Appearance: Pale and straw-colored. Slightly murky. A foamy white head dissipated rather quickly.

Smell: Reminds me of a saison (not surprising, since it's Belgian). Grassy herbal character. Sounds weird, but it smells "golden" somehow.

Taste: Strong; light character full of Belgian candi sugar; saison-remniscent spicing. The hops are very light, not prominent. It's strong, but not so you'd suspect it was sitting at 9.5 percent...

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly thin for such a strong ale (or rather, so strong it should be this thin); but it's a bit thin for what I'd like in a Belgian ale in general.

BeerAdvocate's score: 86 out of 100, with 95% approval. RateBeer's score: Sits in the 96th percentile with 3.82 out of 5.

Overall, a good beer—but watch out for its strength. Based on that it's best to consider this a sipping beer.

As promised, here's the press release for the Heineken Premium Light press kit I received.

Heineken USA is inviting domestic light beer drinkers to "succumb to smooth" with the national launch of Heineken Premium Light. The new imported light beer, brewed specifically with domestic light beer drinkers in mind, offers an extraordinary smooth and light taste experience with all the premium cachet of a Heineken.

The introduction of Heineken Premium Light signifies the brand's first major extension in a celebrated 133-year history. The creation of this new "Luxury Light" segment marks a groundbreaking moment for the U.S. light beer landscape. With Heineken Premium Light, domestic light beer drinkers now have the option of "socializing without sacrifice" with a beer that imbues the confidence of a discerning premium brand choice without sacrificing taste or image.

"We're offering domestic light beers drinkers the option to 'trade up' to an easy-to-drink product that carries the image and cache of Heineken's premium brand status," said Andy Thomas, CEO of Heineken USA. "We want consumers to question their relationship with their current domestic light beer. We're confident they will 'succumb to smooth' once they've experienced Heineken Premium Light."

Development & Testing

Within the U.S. beer market, light beer accounts for nearly 50% of total volume, with the import specialty and light beer segments driving growth (Beverage Marketing 3Q 2005). Based on more than two years of extensive brand development and consumer research, Heineken has identified a largely unmet consumer need state for a product that offers a unique combination of high quality drinkability with premium cachet.

"This is the intersection of two macro consumer trends," said Andy Glaser, Heineken Brand Director. "It is the sweet spot where consumability meets trading-up to affordable luxuries. Heineken USA plans to develop and dominate this emerging territory we have called Luxury Light, with a bookend strategy to introduce Heineken Premium Light and support a re-positioned Amstel Light."

A line extension as significant as a variant of the company flagship needed to be thoroughly tested in the market. Heineken Premium Light was tested in Phoenix, Ariz.; Dallas, Texas; Providence, R.I.; and Tampa, Fla. during the summer and fall of 2005. Brand performance over this period was exceptional with all success criteria achieved. Heineken Premium Light quickly became the #2 imported light beer brand across these four markets and continues to gain momentum.

In addition to the stand-alone success of Heineken Premium Light in the test markets, there was also a positive impact on the sales trends of both Heineken Lager Beer and Amstel Light. "By tightly targeting specific and different consumers within different need states, we were able to generate significant incremental growth while preserving the current level of sales across the other brands," added Glaser. "In fact, we actually accelerated the growth on Heineken Lager and Amstel Light during this period, which is encouraging."

More than 20 unique liquids were developed and tested before the final recipe was chosen for the new premium product. Heineken Premium Light is brewed with the special Heineken horizontal fermentation method creating a uniquely flavorful and refreshing taste. With only 99 calories and 6.8 g of carbohydrates, it still maintains some subtle flavor notes of Heineken Lager Beer.

Availability

Heineken Premium Light is available starting March 1 nationwide in 12oz bottles to consumers in the on-premise. Beginning April 1, the product will then also be made available for purchase off-premise nationwide in six- and 12-pack bottles at the same price point of Heineken Lager.

National Marketing Campaign

The launch of Heineken Premium Light will be supported by a national $50 million full-scale marketing campaign, and is headlined by a seductively simple advertising campaign. Elegantly simple layouts of a Heineken Premium Light bottle, with compelling taglines such as "Succumb to Smooth," entice consumers to re-examine their "relationship" with their current domestic light beer. The ad campaign breaks on March 1 with a massive interactive and viral campaign to engage consumers. Print advertising breaks March 3 with a full-page ad in USA Today, supported by national print including an impact unit in Maxim Magazine. Out-of-home begins April 1 for the off-premise phase supported by television kicking off later that month. In addition, 11 major kick-off events are slated for March.

"Our groundbreaking marketing approach to create maximum launch impact for Heineken Premium Light in the category includes targeted Hispanic initiatives, full-scale public relations, advertising, viral and promotional campaigns," said Glaser. "The relationship theme works on many different levels and is designed to encourage consumers to re-evaluate their current light beer of choice and ultimately upgrade to Heineken Premium Light."

Packaging

The new Heineken Premium Light packaging has been specifically designed to create strategic differentiation from Heineken Lager Beer. The slimmer and taller new bottle structure features a vertical logo treatment on the label, which all together highlights the smooth and lighter beer within and accentuates the premium look and feel. The newly designed six- and 12-packs also clearly highlight the "Light" in the name for further distinction and have introduced a dominant color of silver to further add premium and lighter beer product cues.

Tonight, as promised, I drank the Heineken Premium Light from the press kit I was sent, and I am writing up the review. The premise, of course, is that this is a low-carb beer (with only 99 calories) that still maintains the full taste and smoothness of a "regular" beer.

Let's cover it all. I like the bottle and labeling; less is more in this case. The labels are transparent stick-ons, so while not painted onto the bottle, still look good. The bottle itself seems taller and thinner than a regular Heineken bottle, but I'm comparing from memory so might be off. Good packaging, it'll catch the consumer's eye.

Appearance: Crystal clear in the glass. Pale yellow with a tinge of gold, and a fizzy white head on the top.

Smell: A little corn, a bit grassy. Has that crisp-bitter aroma I associate with the Euro light lager. No skunkiness (hey, I worry, the bottle was green).

Taste: Crisp and a little bitter (like the smell). The bitterness has that almost-steely quality to it that I also noticed in the Skinny Dip I had a week or so ago; perhaps it's a characteristic of these newer low carb beers? Hops are muted. It's richer and better than an American light lager, that's for sure.

Mouthfeel: Very thin, a little watery. Carbonation is a bit high—it comes off as sparkly or prickly in the mouth.

Overall, it's not bad, but I think you need to be into the light/low-carb beer scene to really get into it. If you like Heineken, or Euro light lagers, you'll like this. Personally, I'll drink it, if offered, but I likely wouldn't be buying it for myself. But that's not a slam against Heineken; I wasn't overly impressed enough with Skinny Dip to buy that again, either.

Finally, I'll post the press release that came with the press kit as well, sometime this weekend.

As promised, here are some pictures of the packaging the Heineken press kit came in. It's actually quite extravagant.

The case it came in. Sturdy, lightweight, durable, and really cool. It's slightly taller than a bottle of wine... I believe it's a modified wine case.

Inside. The beer is sitting in the spot where the wine would ordinarily go. The top right is a heavy-duty Heineken bottle opener. The bottom (flashed out) is a mini-CD that contains promotional graphics and press release material. The lining is all padded and velvety.

Finally, the contents of the package released from their captivity. It's a nice looking bottle, now sitting in the fridge for later consumption.

Ironically, I saw a commercial for Heineken Light for the first time tonight. Good timing!

A while back I was contacted by a marketing group interested in sending out test bottles of a new beer to bloggers—basically a clueful buzz-generating effort that's been paying off in other venues. I signed up for it, with the understanding that I'd be free to blog anything I wanted about the beer—even if it was negative.

Well, I got the package today. Very impressive! I'm going to post some pictures of the packaging later, and I'll probably not drink the beer itself until tomorrow. The beer is Heineken Light. Now, I am admittedly not a huge fan of Heineken, but I do find it preferable to other Euro lagers like Grolsch or Amstel Light, and I'll certainly drink it if offered. (Just gotta watch out for the potentially-skunked bottles, being green and all.)

That said, I'm looking forward to trying it out. Part of it is reading other bloggers' accounts of getting the test beer: Alan's and Chris' (who also has pictures of his own). So later today look for my post with pictures, and then tomorrow night I should have the review of the beer online. Along with the press release that came with it.

I honestly can't say as I'd paid much attention to the World Beer Cup before today, but I have to respect any beer competition that has "2,221 entries from 540 breweries in 56 countries." Wow. Not to mention 85 different categories of beer.

You can get to the full winners list here. Not much else to say, other than this would be an interesting event to visit next year. :)

Via Slashfood.

"Cassis" means "black currant" in French... that was the type of Lindemans lambic I opened up this evening. I didn't do a formal note-taking tasting, because I just wanted to enjoy it without the analysis. (Notes will come next time.)

It's quite good. More tart and drier than the Framboise. I think it would go very well with cheese. And dark chocolate.

Definitely a good lambic. Next I think I'll have to get some Pêche... I haven't tried that one in ages...

So I finally got around to reviewing Deschutes Brewery's Inversion IPA. I like this beer quite a lot. It's a strong, very hoppy ale—dryhopped for seven days in addition to the high hopping already present—totally in-line with the Pacific Northwest style of India pale ales and some of Deschutes' latest hop creations in general.

My tasting notes:

Appearance: Deep red copper in color. Bubbles have a soap sudsy look. Some noticeable lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell: Rich hops. That characteristic grapefruit-citrus that delineates Cascade hops (seems to be the northwest's choice these days). Malt is biscuity but not really roasty.

Taste: Malty, hoppy, and strong... Malt has a reddish taste to it, which being a homebrewer tells me there's a bit of black patent malt in there. It's very rich. The hops are clean and spicy. Very excellent.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, and a bit dry. Nicely medium-thick, but not too heavy.

This is going near the top of my local favorites... I'll have to try this on tap sometime to compare with the bottled version.

Being so new, it doesn't mean as much to point to the rating site scores... But I'll do it anyway. On BeerAdvocate: 86, with 100% approval (with only seven reviews). On RateBeer, 3.45 out of 5 (with only 15 reviews).

I'm really liking Goose Island's beers... the latest I've had is their Imperial IPA. This is a hefty beer, weighing in at 9% alcohol by volume—"Imperial" indeed! I have to say, it's an outstanding beer. Let's go to my tasting notes...

Appearance: A nice orange copper color. Off-white head leaves a bit of lacing on the glass.

Smell: Hops in the nose, most prominently. Citrusy and grassy indicate Cascade hops.

Taste: Strong and smooth hops right up in front. On the second sip the alcohol strength comes through. Delicious! The malt is nutty, biscuit, slightly toasty. The hops stay on the palate.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and rich. Notable hop astringency coats the mouth.

BeerAdvocate score: 91, with 100% approval. RateBeer score: 4.06 out of 5.

Excellent beer. It's one of their limited editions, though, so grab it up if you can find it!

altportland today has a good post titled Learning about Craftbrews, that contains some really good points for beginners to beer. And of course, it's nicely Portland-specific.

The best way to learn about beer (or wine) is to go to tastings, or to go to places where it's taken very seriously.

You have to watch for beer tastings, but it's worth your while.

Trust your intuition.

This is pretty apropos, since I've started attending the Thirsty Thursdays here locally. The wine and beer guy (Rob) down at Newport Market knows his stuff, and can talk intelligently about beer and make good recommendations. If you're looking to branch out and find out more about craft beer, read the altportland post and find a local tasting event. Or check out BeerAdvocate—start with their styles page and read about any styles that sound interesting to you.

Stopped in again at Newport Market for our local beer tasting day. Today they were featuring a couple of brews from Spanish Peaks Brewing: Honey Raspberry Ale and Black Dog Ale.

They weren't too bad. The Honey Raspberry was okay, but a bit dry and not really that fruity, I thought. The dryness was probably from the honey (like a mead), and they should consider pumping the fruit up a bit.

The Black Dog Ale was decent. Billed as an English-style pale ale, it had a surprising hop bite to it. Nice malt base, very drinkable. I almost picked up a six-pack, but I held off for now.

They were also selling Black Dog Ale pint glasses for a dollar apiece (I bought two) and t-shirts for five (I bought one). Good deal! Normally beer t-shirts like that run you 12 to 20 bucks or more.

On a somewhat related note, Newport Market still doesn't have the Lindemans Pomme lambic in yet. I'm keeping an eye out. But I did buy a bottle of the Cassis lambic (black currant); I don't believe I've ever had this one, so it's high time I did.

Last night the beer I opened up was Coopers Sparking Ale. It's billed as a bottle-conditioned beer, and I believe it; there was a lot of sediment in the bottle (a bunch of which made it into the glass). It turned out to be a decent beer, probably a little on the yeasty side for my taste, but drinkable.

And, it's from Australia, so I guess I'm continuing my international beer tour.

Appearance: Cloudy. The beer itself is a golden straw color. Lots of sediment; in fact, there's even sediment in the glass.

Smell: Yeasty, bready—like raw bread dough. There's a fruity character in there somehow, possibly the yeast as well.

Taste: Yeasty lager flavor, is what it reminds me of. Kind of neutral. There's a bitterness there that I can't attribute to hops; it's almost tannin-like. Possibly from the sediment?

Mouthfeel: A bit heavy, though not thick. "Sparkling" is right—it's very carbonated in the mouth.

Over on BeerAdvocate it scores 83 (out of 100) with 90% approval. On RateBeer, 3.19 out of 5.

Have a Sparkling Ale! (Sorry, that's an inside joke for Central Oregonians. I couldn't resist.)

It's international beer tasting or something: the other day I had a beer from India, this time it's one from Brazil: Xingu Black Beer. I wasn't totally sure what to expect when I opened this beer up—based on the name, something like a schwarzbier I think—but was surprised when it turned out to be much more like a darker brown ale, or a lighter porter. Overall, not bad. I don't know that it would be my drink of choice, but worth a try.

My notes:

Appearance: Color is an inky cola brown bordering on black. A thin tan head disappeared quickly.

Smell: Roasty, light coffee? Otherwise I didn't get much of a nose character.

Taste: Milder than expected. Sweet malt, a bit of chocolate. Hops are very mild to non-existent. Very much reminds me of a dark brown ale.

Mouthfeel: Medium, but a little thin for what I was expecting.

The beer has generally decent reviews on BeerAdvocate, scoring 82 with 85% approval. RateBeer scores it 3.19 out of 5. Like I said, it's worth a try if you can find it.

Skinny Dip from New Belgium is their new summer seasonal that is apparently a low-carb beer, "perfect for the lightly attired summer months." Interesting beer. The site says there's kaffir lime in there, lending it a citrusy character. I don't know if I got that out of it, but there was something different about it.

Appearance: Poured crystal clear. Color is a (burnt?) copper.

Smell: Like a rich pilsner, with some funky Belgian overtones. Grassy, perhaps.

Taste: Steely, bitterish... like an American light lager with a hoppier bite. Seems a little green. Something different with the hops? (This was likely the lime.)

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied. Has a crisp, almost sharp bite to it.

Overall, worth a try, especially if you're into low-carb beers, it's not the typical lite fare.

It's pretty new for BeerAdvocate even; only five reviews, all approve, with a collective score of 85 (out of 100). On RateBeer they're still classifying it as Loft, New Belgium's former summer seasonal. I'd take that with a grain of salt, it sounds like there's enough difference between the beers to consider Skinny Dip a new offering.

The other night I opened up a bottle of Flying Horse Royal Lager, one I'd never heard of. Not knowing exactly what to expect, I opened it and then saw that it's brewed in India; I'd never had an Indian beer before.

Appearance: Pours crystal clear and gold, with a thin, crisp white head.

Smell: It has that slightly-skunky European lager smell (one I usually associate with Grolsch or Heineken). The grains are noticeable, and there's a low hop presence.

Taste: Clean. It's darker somehow than a typical American light lager. Richer. There's a fruity character in the background, on the tongue.

Mouthfeel: Thin, but with a slightly syrupy feel to it.

It doesn't score overly high on BeerAdvocate; only 76 and two-thirds (66%) approval rating. Can't win them all, I guess, even though that's a fairly decent score for the American Macro Lager category over there. On RateBeer it only scores 2.13 out of 5.

I didn't think it was too bad, better than the average light lager. It has a richer, grainier character than what you'd expect; perhaps they aren't brewing with rice adjuncts? At any rate, worth a try.

This kind of ties in with my previous post about the top 50 breweries.

Oregon’s beer production grew at a rate of nearly 16 percent in 2005, as the state’s craft brewers produced the equivalent of more than 226 million bottles of beer and the beer industry as a whole, pumped more than $2.25 billion into the state’s economy.

Total beer production for the state was approximately 683,000 barrels, according to figures released today by the Oregon Brewers Guild. That is an increase of more than 92,000 barrels, up from 591,000 barrels in 2004. A barrel is equal to 31 gallons or about 331 12-ounce bottles.

That total ranks Oregon second in the nation for total production of craft beer, commonly referred to as microbrews. Since the closure of the Blitz-Weinhard Brewery in 1999, all beer production in Oregon has been by independent craft breweries.

Portland, Oregon has 30 microbreweries within its city limits which is more than any other city in the world. The Guild anticipates at least two more breweries opening within the city limits in 2006, bringing the total to 32.

The Portland metro area is the largest craft brewing market in the United States (U.S.). It is the only area to sell more than 1,000,000 cases of micro brewed beer according to Information Resources Inc. San Francisco and Seattle are the second and third largest markets respectively.

“Portland has more breweries than any other city in the world. Oregon is the second largest producer of microbrewed beer in the U.S. and that is why Oregon, is ‘Beervana’ for craft beer lovers,” said Brian Butenschoen, Executive Director of the Oregon Brewers Guild.

“Our healthy brewing industry is good for not only beer drinkers, but the state as a whole, because it provides over 3800 family wage jobs, a lure for tourism and an outlet for agricultural products such as hops and barley,” he added.

He also cited the fact that 10+ percent of all beer consumed in Oregon is Oregon-brewed craft beer. The national market share for all craft beer is 3.5 percent, according to the Brewers Association.

Oregon’s craft beer production growth also outpaced the national rate of 9 percent, growing 16% in 2005. Oregon also led the nation in percentage increase in beer shipments up 3.9% in 2005, according to the Beer Institute.

“Beer drinkers in Oregon and across the country recognize the quality, flavor and diversity of Oregon beers. So they seek out our beers in their local markets or come to the source to get them,” said John Harris of Full Sail Brewing Co., president of the Guild’s board of directors. “We contribute to the state’s economy and also the quality of life here in Oregon.”

Oregon is home to six of the 25 largest craft breweries in the nation, of the six the largest is Portland’s Widmer Brothers Brewing Company, which produced 226,492 barrels in 2005 making it the 3rd largest craft brewery in the nation.

The Oregon Brewers Guild is Oregon’s non-profit trade association for the state’s independent breweries. The Guild, which receives no state funding, comprises 42 breweries, 18 associate or supplier members, 20 retail members and more than 965 enthusiast members or S.N.O.B.s (Supporters of Native Oregon Beer). For more information, see www.oregonbeer.org.

The Brookston Beer Blog posted "The Top 50 Breweries as of 2005 Announced" on Monday. Interesting list. These are the top 50 based on sales. Oregon has five on the list:

17. Widmer (Portland)
21. Deschutes (Bend)
26. Full Sail (Hood River)
41. BridgePort (Portland)
42. Rogue (Newport)

Cool. I don't really have much more to say. :)

Belmont Station's blog had a post the other day about Avery Maharaja:

I had one of these yesterday, and I can still taste the hops. This is easily one of the hoppiest, most resinous beers I've ever had; it even gives Ruination a run for its money. If you love hops, and I mean LOVE hops, you'll want to snag a few of these before they run out. This isn't "balanced" by any stretch of the word, but when hops taste this good, who cares?

Sounds excellent... if it's as good as Hop Trip or Hop Henge, I'm so there. Unfortunately, I'm not so there, as there's no plans for going to Portland anytime soon...

And, I think it's pretty awesome that one of Portland's best and coolest beer stores has a blog.

I don't know exactly how I got on the distribution list for this press release that came in, but I figured, eh, I'll run it anyway.

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wisc. (April 4, 2006) – Inspired by the rich golden sunsets of the Northwoods, the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company is adding a crisp and refreshing new wheat beer to its portfolio of premium craft brews this April. Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat, a year-round offering, features a fruity and citrus character complemented by the gentle spiciness of coriander, ideal for today's more adventurous beer lover.

"Bringing a variety of adventurous brews to consumers who are increasingly choosing craft beers is a priority for us," said fifth generation brewer Jake Leinenkugel, company president, who, along with brothers Dick and John, will promote new Sunset Wheat via personal appearances throughout the summer. "Wheat beers are unique, complex, and really growing in popularity. We're proud to offer a year-round wheat beer to our loyal Leinie fans and to beer lovers who haven't yet discovered Leinenkugel's."

Brewed with malted wheat, balanced with pale barley malt and spiced with Cluster hops and natural flavors, Sunset Wheat has a golden hazy appearance typical of wheat beers. The addition of coriander, a spice derived from the seed of the cilantro plant, infuses a light and fresh flavor for a distinctive twist to this brew. And, a fresh orange wedge garnish provides added zest and extra refreshment.

"Good times with friends and family call for special beers and Leinenkugel's new Sunset Wheat will be a terrific addition to our offerings," said Dick Leinenkugel, Leinenkugel's vice president of marketing. "Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat is more than a new beer. It represents a 'Northwoods escape' — a time of reflection and a relaxed state of mind — a taste and experience people associate with Leinenkugel's."

Sunset Wheat, which is best served in an hourglass-shaped beer glass, is an extremely versatile accompaniment for many types of cuisine. The light, citrus flavor complements fresh greens served with vinaigrette dressing, as well as fish and shellfish. It also pairs nicely with foods that have a spicy kick such as Cajun, Mexican and Asian dishes.

Brewed in small, high-quality batches at the brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat is the brand's second new beer launch in six months. In October, the 139-year-old brewer experienced incredible success with its fall/winter seasonal, Apple Spice. The new brew was so popular, it sold-out in a matter of weeks in many locations across the Upper Midwest.

Sunset Wheat contains 4.9 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) and is available on draft and in six, 12 and 24-pack bottles, where Leinenkugel's is sold, and retails for approximately $6.49 - $6.99 a six-pack.

Tonight I opened my bottle of Celebrator Doppelbock. It was as good as I remember. I'm wondering what I'd do with all the plastic goats they come with if I go buy some more...

Anyway, straight to my notes:

Appearance: Deep red/black—garnet with brown overtones. A dark tan head floated over the top, though not for very long.

Smell: Just impressions, no fancy description here: Smokey, dark, fruity, blackstrap molasses.

Taste: Rich, fruity (dark plum and raisin), malty—chocolate malt. No real sense of hops, except at the back of the throat. Strongish. Very good, very complex; it blossoms a bit as it warms up.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thick, very smooth and with a bit of a bite to it.

This beer is amazing. It's also the first beer I've seen on BeerAdvocate to get a full 100% approval (out of 625 reviews, no mean feat). It also scores 92 (out of 100). On RateBeer it scores 4.16 out of 5 and lands in the 100th percentile.

Translation? It's one of the best. Go out and find yourself a bottle to see what all the fuss is about.

alt.portland points to the Spring Beer & Wine Fest coming up in just two weeks, April 14 and 15, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Sounds like it might be a good visit, similar to the big Oregon Brewers Festival:

• 12 noon til 11 pm
• Admission is free from 12 til 2 pm, after which it's $5.
• Taster tokens are $1 each.
• Souvenir beer glass: $6
• Plastic beer mug: $3

There will be 40 breweries present, most with two beers to sample. Nice! Though frankly, it looks like many of the breweries (the ones I'm familiar with, anyway) are bringing their conventional beers. Seems like it'd be a good opportunity to present some unique brews...

And for wine lovers it looks like there will be 12 wineries represented. And don't forget food and music.

Anyone going?

There's nothing quite like a big 22-ounce bomber of barleywine to get a nice buzz on. That's the size of the bottle Deschutes Brewery's Mirror Mirror special reserve comes in, which I drank last night. It's a big beer in a big bottle, and it's simply amazing. How's that for a review? :)

Of Mirror Mirror, Deschutes says:

First brewed as a limited draft-only brand in 2004, this rendition of Mirror Mirror was good yet our brewers were hoping for more. So, in February 2005, Mirror Mirror was brewed again with amazing results. Aged four months in French Oak wine barrels, the beer continued to condition with a few days of dry hop prior to bottling in early 2006. Ten months of dedicated care have yielded a unique beer with hints of raisin and oak emerging from a rich malt base tinged with the slightest citrus hop aroma.

It's also an extremely limited production; I will likely pick up some more before it's gone, and put it into storage.

Anyway, on to my notes:

Appearance: Murkey red-copper, very thin head, as appropriate—there shouldn't be a lot of carbonation in a barleywine. Very nice to look at.

Smell: The characteristic barleywine-strength of alcohol; hops hit the nose too.

Taste: Excellent. Strong alcohol warmth/bitterness over the Mirror Pond malt profile (which makes sense as it is largely a double-strength Mirror Pond); the hops are there, but playing second fiddle to the strength of the alcohol. It's malty, darkish, with rich biscuit overtones and a definite oak character, not unlike a bourbon cask (or so I imagine). Very, very good.

Mouthfeel: Very much full-bodied and thick without being chewy (like a stout). Smooth. It stays with you after.

Overall, it's pretty darn near the perfect barleywine for me. I will definitely be buying more.

Our local paper The Bulletin had an article yesterday about our local breweries' sales figures and talks a bit about Deschutes Brewery's new beers that I blogged about the day before (a nice bit of synchronicity). According to the article, Deschutes' sales increased 8 percent in 2005, and Cascade Lakes Brewing saw a 42 percent increase. Both are respectable figures given the size of each brewery (147,000 barrels versus 3,400 barrels of beer, respectively), but it points out that Deschutes is trying to make up the difference.

Talking about Deschutes' new brews:

Today is the official retirement of the Quail Springs beer, born from a Deschutes Brewery employee five years ago, and the first official day of the stronger-tasting Inversion IPA.

Deschutes Brewery also is launching a new seasonal ale, Buzz Saw Brown.

The move was a response to customers pallettes growing tired of the Quail Springs mild, English-style IPA taste, Wilson said.

Signature Northwest IPAs - like the Inversion IPA - have stronger hops, smells and tastes, he said, which will please Deschutes Brewery's beer connoisseurs.

Although the Inversion will have a color profile similar to the Quail Springs IPA, it will be more bold, bitter and full-bodied, Wilson said.

"The Inversion is more aggressively hopped," he said. "That lends to a much more Northwest-style IPA."

The Inversion definitely fits the bill. More interesting to me was the fact that Deschutes apparently went through nine test versions of the beer before coming up with the final product. I'm thinking the tasters on that project had it pretty good for awhile there. :)