Deschutes Brewery
Bend, OR
Made with a unique blend of four hops and malts, this lively straw-colored ale has a vigorous hop essence with a malt body that complements the flavor of this special seasonal brew.
ABV: 5.0
ABW: 4.0
COLOR: N/A
BITTERNESS: 35
ORIGINAL GRAVITY: N/A
Pours with a proper white pouf of foam sitting over a reddish-gold body: a classic pale ale look that matches and meets the light pine and sweet citrus aroma. It’s lively in my mouth, not heavy, a brisk set of hop notes—pine, pith, and straight-lined bitterness—framed about a refreshingly clean and slightly sweet malt body. The finish is long, tapering off to a clench on the palate. I’d love to spend a weekend with this beer and get to know it in every detail and situation.
This copper-hued brew might be described as the anti-“summer ale” summer ale. The spicy hop aroma, mixing white pepper with citrus and a hint of clove, provides your first clue, and the bold, dryly spicy and faintly charred-tasting body seals the deal. Well named, its taste reminds me of the waning hours of the sun, with the grill heating up and the palate in the mood for bigger flavours and more complex tastes. Throw a couple of sausages on that grill and you’re set.
Lew Bryson writes about beer and whiskey from his home in southeast Pennsylvania. He has a family and two dogs. That’s all you need to know.
Once described as “beerdom’s Brillat-Savarin,” Stephen Beaumont is the author of five books and countless articles on beer, spirits, food, travel and how it all goes together.
