Portland’s Hopworks Brewery is celebrating 15 years this year, and as part of the milestone the brewery announced a branding revamp and a name change, dropping the “Urban” from its name. The first two new packaged beers under the new identity are Beer Time Pils and Overland IPA, both of which the brewery sent me to sample along with a can of Ace of Spades Imperial IPA (same beer, new label).

I’ve reviewed Ace of Spades before, so for these reviews I focused on the two new ones—Beer Time and Overland.

Beer Time Pils

The newly-canned year-round Beer Time is an easily drinkable German-style pilsner with 4.8% ABV with 38 IBUs. The description says:

Beer Time is about enjoying the destination and hanging out with friends in a cool place or no place in particular. A well-crafted German Pilsner can elevate an evening at home, pair with a great meal or quench your thirst after a big effort in the outdoors. It’s always time for a Beer Time.

From the press release, a note about the label artwork:

The art on the can features the vintage “BEER TIME” clock that hangs from the side of Hopworks’ Powell brewpub, with wings to serve as a reminder to stop in for a pint because, as they say, time flies.

Appearance: Bright gold, crystal clear, with a good delicate white head.

Smell: Grainy with a touch of nuttiness, slightly sweet bready character, nicely earthy-grassy hops. Super clean fermentation profile.

Taste: Those earthy hops in the bitterness are a highlight, pairing well with the dry and crackery malt profile. Dried sweetgrass, toasted bread crumbs, touch of dandelion root. Moreish. Long bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Light, super crisp, quite dry, and clean, with a good snap in the finish.

Overall: Really good, with bold flavors and bitterness for a pilsner.

Overland IPA

With a name like “Hopworks” you’d expect the brewery to handle its IPAs well and, yes, it does, and I’ve long appreciated them as solid, go-to drinkers. The new Overland fits the bill and is 6.9% ABV with 60 IBUs, and the description says:

Overland is about enjoying the journey, where self-reliance and a spirit of adventure bring one in touch with nature. Overland is a modern IPA, designed to be chilled by natural means and enjoyed by the fire at the end of a long day.

And, the note about the art on the cans from the release: “The can art depicts a charging bison, once a decisive indicator of the health of the Western prairie.”

Appearance: Copper-orange color, slight filtration haze, with a white head.

Smell: Big fruity notes with passion fruit, tangerine marmalade, guava, and a slightly herbal note of fresh watercress. Citrus, and a hint of “dank” but it’s the fruitiness that stands out.

Taste: Solid IPA with a moderate bitterness that’s got some nettles, piney resin character. Muddled malts, nothing stands out though it’s fairly dry. Hops go in a wild greens, tropical fruit skin direction, more savory than fruity, with a touch of spice calling back to the dank character.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, decently dry, with lingering savory hop character.

Overall: Nice IPA, not breaking any new ground here but it’s solid.