Pick 6 Standout: Deschutes Pacific Wonderland Lager
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1. Deschutes – Red Chair NWPA – 6.2% – American Pale Ale
A solid bitter fruit forward taste, that carries that pale ale bready malt in the background. The other dominant flavor you’ll find is the earthy pine notes. No surprise there though.
‘Red Chair
NWPA.
Bitter orange conifer
forest planted in an earthy
caramel.’
2. Elysian – The Immortal – 6.3% – American IPA
A very balanced battle between the bitter and juicy fruits (citrus, grapefruit) and biscuity caramel malts. Other notes were floral/grassy hops, and crackers.
‘Citrus
meets biscuit. A
hybrid IPA where
new meets old world. Immortal
balance.’
3. Bell’s – Java Stout – 7.5% – Stout
Rich toffee, caramel toasted malts and strong coffee flavor. It’s also very thick with a nice syrupy texture on the tongue.
‘Java
black liquid gold.
A slick toasted coffee,
sweet syrupy toffee winter
snow stout.’
4. Two Brothers – Domaine DuPage – 5.9% – Biere de Garde
This beer was an excellent example of how great malty beers can be. It had nice caramel, heavy biscuit flavors. It was like a sweet caramel cream candy ale.
‘Caramel
cream sweet Domaine
DuPage, you’re an amber
French Country treat. Amber lovers
beer dream.’
5. Uinta – Hop Nosh – 7.3% – American IPA
These guys have quickly become one of my favorite breweries. I wish I could get my hands on more of their beers. And I love what they are doing with their Golden Ale National Park series. Anyway, the Hop Nosh. It’s a floral and bitter powerhouse of hops. Has a resiny stickiness feel, with other notes of earth and pine.
‘Hop Nosh.
Bitter hopped,
bursting wet forest rain.
A thirst quenching floral forward
flavor.’
6. Deschutes – Pacific Wonderland – 5.5% – American Pale Lager
Ugh. Where do I start? I love it. It tastes like camping. It’s crisp, with spicy, floral hops, hints of pine and lemongrass, followed with a zesty finish.
‘Perfect
campfire beer.
A flavorful hop spiced
spirit lager makes you yearn for
twilight freedom.’