I just went for a retry of Deschutes' Mirror Pond and have to say it isn't at all like I remember it maybe I just forgot what it was like it turns out it is an excellent beer.
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Better Micro Brews
Better Micro Brews
#26 #27 Where are you monkeykoder? Here in Portland Mirror Pond has become one of the most common taps in taverns or pubs that don't carry a lot of micro brew. I remember when it first hit the market in the early 90s it was a dependable good brew. Then the Brew master for Deschutes went to work for Full Sail and Mirror Pond became pretty uninteresting while Full Sail suddenly started having some really good ales.
I went to a restaurant just last week and had to wait for a table so I wandered across the street into a foul smokey sports bar with people ordering PBR in the can. I asked if they had a micro brew and they had Mirror pond and Bridgeport. The Bridgeport tasted sort of sour or like plastic hose or something. That same sports bar has 2 dollar pints tonight so I might wander down there and try the Mirror pond. Hopefully it has been improved as you say.
Dennis#28 It may not have been it may just be my cold. As for my location I'm about 500 miles south of you. I'll also have to say my experience with pale ales is on the lower side they're not my favorite type of beer I tend to drink more Belgians and other more robust beers.#29 Had a decent beer weekend tried some Delerium Nocturnum and some stuff by North coast Pranqster and Brothers Thelonius (yes I'm sure I spelled something wrong). I'll have to say I wasn't impressed by the Pranqster it isn't as good as even the first tripel I made however the Brothers Thelonius was one of the better beers I've ever had. The Delirium was pretty damned good too.#30 I googled those beers. North Coast brewery I have seen but I haven't tried those two. They sure have some amazing descriptions of them on their web site.. sounds more like they are describing wine. The thelonius one is very strong at 9%. I will have a look for them down at the store. I am guessing they go for about 5.00 a 20oz bottle. thanks for the tips.
Dennis#31 Belgians tend to have very wine like descriptions. They also tend to be a bit rich and on the strong side also on the expensive side. I can't remember about the Brothers Thelonius but the Delerium Nocturnum was $9.99/750ml bottle.#32 Hrmmm... Not many people seem too interested in the subject of fine brews.#33 That is the way it seems. Here in Portland there is such a culture of micro brews and brew pubs that there could be quite a lot to talk about with new brews around town all the time. And I know that Northern California has excellent brews too. I just tried the first I have seen of this year's Winter ales. Deschutes Brewery Jubelale. It is a standard that has been released every winter for many years. Really nice ale.
Do you see the Deschutes brewery products down there?
Dennis#34 They're available in most of the stores I go to for beer and they're available at the local WinCo (and for some reason the gas station at my parent's house...)#36 Every christmas beer I've ever had has been pretty so-so I might have to try that one.#37 Looks like no one on this forum likes beer.#38 The holiday beer festival begins today, or maybe yesterday, in down town Portland in an outdoor public square. I was thinking of going but last year it was so crowded that you had to stand in long lines for the 2oz taste. I have drank a bit of Full Sail Wassail christmas ale and it is really run of the mill everyday kind of beer. Tonight might be a good night to go in search of a holiday brew I haven't tried.
Dennis#39 Hrmmm I'm having a beer slushie right now... Next time we don't try to quick cool the beer and then go for a long walk... Have fun with the christmas beer there are very few good examples of flavored beer out there I hope you find some.#40 I don't think a good holiday ale has to be flavored. In fact I absolutely avoid those. I did find an ale I had never tried tonight in a pub just 4 blocks walk from home. It was made by a Brewery called Hopworks Urban Brewery. The problem is even after I asked the waiter the second time, I couldn't understand what he said it's name was. On the tap it just had HUB. It was a holiday ale in that it was made just for the season and it is very malty and yet very well hopped. I absolutely loved it. I think I will go back in a day or two and try it again and try to get the name of it.
Dennis#41 Mmmmmm not flavored beer. I can't say I've ever seen a holiday ale that was not spiced or flavored in some way. I'll have to look for a good one.#43 From what I've read on the bjcp website a christmas ale has spices in it.#44 http://www.sierranevada.com/beers/celebrationale.html
http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/wassail.cfm
here are a couple of typical Winter ale with no spices.#45 http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/brews/seasonal-ales/jubelale/default.aspx
here is another I have had lots of with no spices#46 http://www.alaskanbeer.com/winter.html
This is more what I'm familiar with as far as winter/Christmas ales. Although I haven't had much experience with the olde ales the rest of these seem to be based on. Looks like I have a big list of new beers to try. Considering I've pretty much tapped the whole Belgian spectrum (I still like the first trippel I ever brewed better than 90% of the $10+ bottles I buy at BevMo) and most standard drinking fare I might as well try these (I have had considerably more styles but the list would just be too long)#47 There is an Alaskan brewery that is really good, but I am not sure if that is the one I am thinking of. There are those spicey ales available around here as well but I can't drink them. I don't drink the fruit ales either. I have heard of an "award winning" ale from Walking Man Brewery that is made with Kombucha. I might have to try that someday.
I have all the stuff to brew stashed under the stairs in the basement, but there is so much good ale available now that I have given up on my own brews. Occasionally I will drink a porter or stout that reminds me of my old home brew.
Dennis#48 Yeah I just have fun with the brewing the one time it is actually cost effective however is when you're brewing beer that you can usually only get as an import or other high cost source.#49 Ok I finally made it back to try that beer again. I haven't had a beer since so it has been nearly a week. I drink wine more regularly and my spouse makes certain to give a frown if I drink beer every night. But I went back tonight and had the seasonal ale. Hopworks Abominal ale. Not spiced. But beautifully malty and hoppy and strong. It is no doubt my favorite beer at the moment. 3 pints and my walk home was not on a straight line. It is too bad that this beer group is so poorly attended and that the only two people who check in are so far apart.
Dennis#50 Still haven't had a chance to try any of the real holiday ales.
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