Cataloging the Detritus of my Life
From their site:
A dark, malty celebration ale with layered flavors and beautifully balanced hopping. Jubelale pours deep garnet in color, medium bodied, with notes of chicory, earth, spice and fruit. To beer lovers, it’s like Yule fire and family
From my notes:
brown, medium bubbled head and a dark coppery red color. Nuts and toast with malt on the nose. Toasted oats with earthy, bitter finish. Continue reading “Deschutes Brewery’s Jubelale”
From the bottle:
What’s that bite of tartness doing in a pumpkin beer? Adding the unexpected kick of cranberry juice to brighten this traditionally spiced seasonal ale. Pumpkick is brewed with plenty of pumpkin juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, but it’s the cranberries and touch of lemongrass that send your tastebuds sailing
From my notes:
Slightly cloudy amber color, thick tan head with very fine bubbles that quickly dissipated. The beer smells of cooked pumpkin with hints of cinnamon, no sweet on the nose. Refreshing mouthfeel, crisp. Sweet pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg taste, light malts. Alcohol taste and burn on the finish. Continue reading “New Belgium’s Pumpkick Fall Seasonal”
From the bottle:
What if wheat wasn’t the goal in itself? But a route to something awesomely new?
You pair wheat, hops and Belgian yeast and suddenly ‘bingo, a wheat like nobody else’s.’ With real depth, coriander and sweet orange peel, it’s citrus-packed and silky smooth going down.
From my notes:
Cloudy straw white color with thick, creamy looking white head that leaves a light lacing on the glass. Citrus, pine, and spices on the nose. Yeast and wheat when it first hits the tongue with hints of citrus, grapefruit specifically, and some spices, coriander I assume. This is quickly followed up by the crisp hop flavor as it goes down. Smooth and dry finish. Surprisingly juxtaposition of a Belgian and an IPA.
I’ve already reviewed a number of Deschutes Brewery’s beers, and they’ve become one of my favorite brewers, Chainbreaker cements my opinion further. The fact that it’s a Witbier and an Indian Pale Ale makes for some interesting questions. IPAs are generally paired with robustly flavored foods that can hold their own against the strengths of the beer. Witbiers are usually paired with lighter fare: seafood, salads, citrus dishes. Chainbreaker is both. So what would it go well with? I think both. Chainbreaker won’t overwhelm delicate, subtle foods but it will stand up to spicy, strong and bold flavored dishes. This beer was a real surprise and a real treat.
Rating (out of five):
From the bottle:
With the color of a pilsner and the character of an ale, our blonde is a welcome and refreshing respite. Endowed with an authentic kolsch yeast strain for a peck of fruitiness that compliments the blend of noble hops. Lager-like with its delicate dryness, it really is redolent of ales from Koln, Germany
From my notes:
Large bubbled, bone white head. Quickly dissipates. Clear, carbonated blonde yellow color. Malts and fruit on the nose. Malt sweetness and a little Pilsner snap in there finishes dry, with a straw-like, slightly bitter finish with subtle notes of fruit and spice.
My first local beer here in San Diego! I know Stone Brewing Company is located in San Diego, one of their taste shops is just a few blocks away from me. But, if you’ve been reading these beer reviews for any length of time you know that I’m not a fan of their brew. Or their juvenile, machismo fueled marketing. Anyway, Mission Brewery is only five years old and I saw their bottles in the local liquor and grocery stores so I thought I’d take them out for a spin. Nothing amazing here this blonde ale is perfectly serviceable and would be great for simple grilling, including fish.
Rating (out of five):
