Deschutes Brewery 30th anniversary collaboration brew: Oh Be Joyful Pale Ale

Deschutes Brewery Oh Be JoyfulAs part of its 30th anniversary this year, Bend, Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery reached out to past brewers to collaborate on seven new beers. I’m highlighting each of these beers in a blog post each day leading up to the brewery’s anniversary on June 27.

Oh Be Joyful (Pale Ale)

Description: 30th Anniversary Collaboration with Ecliptic Brewery (package and draught). John Harris, Deschutes Brewery’s original brewmaster from 1988, has joined the Deschutes team to brew a classic, Oh Be Joyful. Named after the “beer” that Civil War soldiers would make from whatever they could get to ferment, this is a modern hop take on that original recipe from Deschutes in the 90’s. “Of all the beers I got to create in my time at Deschutes this was one of my favorites.” Said Harris who was often found singing “let’s all be joyful” around the pub while he brewed this beer. Harris worked with Assistant Brewmaster, Ryan Schmiege, to craft this easy drinking summer pale ale with tropical, fruity, and piney, resinous aromas.

Beer Geek Information: 6% ABV | 40 IBUs
When: June release
Where: Available in 6-packs (bottles) and draught in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Virginia.

Bottles of Oh Be Joyful are available now, and it’s a mighty fine beer. I’ll note that Deschutes has brewed Oh Be Joyful on occasion over the years, based on that original recipe, but I believe this was had the hops tweaked to give it a bright, juicy character (but not hazy!).

Brewer Quotes

John Harris, Ecliptic Brewing

“It’s hard to believe 30 years have passed since the first mash of Cascade Golden Ale. I was super excited to get the opportunity to have the first brewer job at this new startup. Of all the beers I got to create in my time at Deschutes this was one of my favorites. It was named after the “beer” that Civil War soldiers would make from whatever they could get to ferment. They called the beer “oh be Joyful”. This is a more modern hop take on that recipe from the 1990’s. I am super honored to have been asked by Gary to do a beer for this 30-year milestone. Deschutes is where I got the chance to show what I could do as a brewer. My time there was very special.”

All of these anniversary collaboration beers will be on tap at the Brewery’s Party in the Park on Saturday, July 30.

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