10 Barrel Brewing Co – Beernog – Spiced Winter Ale – 7.5% – 28 IBU – B
This beer has an average, but quickly diminishing, deep chestnut head. The aroma that comes off is boastful with the raisin and chocolate and hiding a hint of spice. The first drink transfers the raisin aroma onto your tongue and the chocolate is not far behind. The medium body leaves either a hot alcohol or slightly gritty, metallic feeling that stays with you. Overall the beer was very drinkable and pleasant, in spite of the less than amazing finish.
Cascade Brewing – Cherry Diesel – Barrel Aged Imperial Stout – 11% – 50 IBU – A
A great name for a great beer, a black muddy beer with a sparse dark head smells almost like a barley wine on first approach. Upon closer inspection hints of molasses, raisin and chocolate come through with a backbone of bourbon to justifying its heavy alcohol aroma. Upon the first sip you are engulfed in the chocolate and cherry flavors that are followed up by slight vanilla on exhalation. This full bodied behemoth is thick but effervescent. Stylistically it may be a little too lively with the carbonation but this does not detract from the beer in the least, only enhancing the chocolate and cherry. This liquid cherry cordial lasted me a long time it was very easy to savor. A desert beer definitely, and one I would choose over any chocolate cake.
Alameda Brewing Co. – Long Beard’s Baltic Porter – 6.4% – 30 IBU – C+
A sparse and fleeting head was on top of this surprisingly see-through black beer. One whiff and the chocolate and lightly smoked and burnt aroma beg you to take a drink. When you concede the result is a pretty standard porter with a hint of smoke and a bit of alcohol burn. The medium mouth-feel was surprisingly light for such a dark beer. I consumed this beer rather quickly I don’t know if that was because it wasn’t my favorite or what but it did leave a toasty aftertaste for you to remember it by.
Base Camp Brewing Co. – White Squall – Wheat Wine – 10.7% – 60 IBU – B-
This light amber beer monster of a beer had a floral and spicy, light clove, smell without the detectible alcohol aroma you would expect from such a big beer. The flavor was definitely showcasing the malty wheat flavor. A light body and above average carbonation gave this beer a unique perspective on a traditional barley wine. It almost tasted like a darker beer but I couldn’t quite pinpoint why it gave me that impression.
Deschutes Brewery – The Abyss (2009) – Imperial Stout – 11% – A
A nice surprise I discovered while exploring the Holiday Ale Fest was The Abyss Vertical booth. They were pouring vintages of The Abyss from 2009-20012, although these cost 2 tickets for a taster pour I decided I would try it. An excellent head topped this murky black beer deserving of its name. The bouquet that was erupting from the top of my glass was that of all things dark, toasted, coffee, roasted, toffee. Upon drinking you can almost feel the oak barrels that this was aged in and a light raisin flavor gives pops in to say hello. A fully developed thick creamy body with soft carbonation finishes smooth and makes you understand why it was worth the two tickets. This is all-around great stout and beer. I only wish I could have had 24 tickets to spare so I could have tried full glasses of each vintage next to each other, but alas I must move on.
Firestone Walker Brewing Co. – Luponic Merlin – Oatmeal Stout – 5.5% – 30 IBU - A+
This dark black ale gave off light toasted chocolatey, hidden behind the belligerent citrus and grapefruit aroma. A thick full bodied beer with a smooth finish immediately jumped up to the top of my favorite stouts ever list. The very aggressive and up front hop aroma balances well with the roasted flavor of the stout. I would like to make a clone of this beer. I think this is probably Velvet Merlin dry hopped with a load of Citra to give it that characteristic hop nose.
Stickmen Brewery – The Twerking Elf – Northwest Sour Brown – 7.2% – 21 IBU – B+
I actually decided to try this beer on the warning that it "tasted like shit" from a girl that I can only assumed was drawn to the name more than the description. A sparse but lasting head covered this dark brown ale that gave off a slight sour peach aroma mixed with some acetic acid. The mild vinegar fragrance was not strong enough to burn your nose but it was enough to let you know it's presence. Having a medium body this was a pretty good sour beer.
Lagunitas Brewing Co. – High West Whiskey Barrel Aged Cappuccino Stout – Stout – 12.5% – 30 IBU – B
With an eighth of an inch of lasting dark creamy head this black beer gave off a light toffee and raisin aroma with a hint of brown sugar hiding behind the bold whiskey smell. When you try this cappuccino stout you can pick up the coffee flavor but it is the whiskey barrel taste is much more present. A fully developed thick and creamy body that finishes smooth makes this beer very pleasant to drink .
Ryan Me Jachin |
Elysian Brewing Co. – Doom – Golden Treacle Pale – 7.4% – 67 IBU – B
This beer had little in the way of head, like most beers here being poured from pitchers instead of direct from the tap. The light amber color was a nice break from all of the dark ales that have consumed the festival. With a smell of caramel citrus and grapefruit you could detect a light pear aroma hiding somewhere. A light body with a creamy texture and a soft carbonation this beer was very different from most other offerings at the festival. Overall a pretty good bear definitely a nice beer to finish up with.
Closing thoughts:
I love beer fests, these are my people; drunk and friendly I can talk to anyone about beer and make recommendations to complete strangers and, for the most part, they know what I am talking about. I had a really pleasant time at the Holiday Ale Festival this year. The weather outside was frightful, but the beer was so delightful.
Stay Tuned for Day 2 of Holiday Ale Fest 2013.
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