Fumbles:

New Belgium Rotating Tap – Frustration in full effect, over the two trips to the fest the beers never changed. Looks like they were waiting for one keg to kick to drop the next beer on… and with La Folie being the first it may be a while. Now I love me some La Folie, but can’t say most of the fest goers are into that level of sourness and acidity. I really wish these have been rotated on a time limit like the buzz tent at OBF. I really would have liked to try a few more of the offerings like Tart Lychee, NBB Love, and Fall Wild Ale.

Bear Republic Old Baba Yaga – This will probably greatly improve in the months to come, but as it stood all hot and boozy. Dark chocolate up front, nutty base that finishes a bit like peanut butter. The roasted malts a bit edgy and with the booziness the cabernet notes seemed lost. I’d like to try this again as it ages, it could turn out really well.

Full Sail Wassail Holiday Blend – This was a big hit at our table, but just one I didn’t connect with at all. I found the hops gave off a lemon Lysol like cleaner note that didn’t mesh well with the toasted malts up front. All that hops and subtle bourbon notes just weren’t working for me… but I heard others that enjoyed.

3 and Outs:

Hair of the Dog Jim 2009 – One of the beers I was most excited about, the 07 and 08 vintages were drinking great right now, sadly the 09 was a big ol hop bomb, and I’m not much of a hop head. Piny, green, bitter, edgy, fresh Blue Dot all the way. The other beers in the blend seemed lost, Doggy Claus seeming to provide a soft caramel sweetness up front, but not nearly enough to stand up to the bitterness.

Ninkasi Unconventionale – while having interesting ingredients like lavender, tarragon, and heather, I can’t say any of them made an appearance. At 10% and high on the IBU spectrum I couldn’t get much of the “unconventional” from this. Waited and waited while it warmed, a solid imperial stout, sure, a touch to hoppy, but not so unconventional.

Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin – My memories of this beer were better then the repeating experience. Much thinner on palate, less of that oatmeal creaminess. Still a solid stout none the less, chocolate up front, sweet caramel note, soft nutty finish, balanced, but lacked the awe that I had last year.

Touchdowns:

Cascade Sang Noir – I don’t recall last years as having such a bit acedic sourness, adding another layer to the lactic sour profile. Up front the barrel notes were a bit more prevalent, softly oaked, but subtle vanilla and coconut note to it. Overall the sourness took the show, the cherries a bit more mellow and pie like, but let it warm a bit to find the rest of this wonderful beer.

Kona Da Grind – Not listed as a bourbon barrel aged beer, but the spirits were strong with this one. Smooth vanilla laden bourbon up front, smooth dark chocolate under the fresh coffee roast. Some coffee beers are a bit edgy, this silky smooth and well rounded. A bit of new respect was had for Kona after this one.

Laht Neppur Waitsburg Winkle Warmer – Heavy on the spices is not something I usually jump for… but I had to give these guys a shot since I’m not sure I’ve had any of their beers yet. The scent of the holidays was strong, lots of clove, cinnamon and citrus, flash backs to my youth making clove spiked oranges around the holidays. Smooth bodied, soft fruity malts throughout. Not sure I could handle a full pint, but the spices captured the essence of the season, so hats off.

Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux – Delicious as always. Take Dupont saison, back off the hops and bring up the malts. The yeast strain keeps a bit more in check on the pepper, but that earthy Dupont signature is still there. More notes of honey and citrus candy, a bit thicker body on draught then the bottle, a perfect winter warmer.

Hopefully I’ll have sometime this weekend to get back and try a few more.

What were your favorites of the fest?

After work I first headed out to Deschutes to try a sample of the two special Oregon 150th birthday beers. The first was the Maiden Oregon, brewed at the PDX Deschutes pub. Initially this was described as a Flemish brown, but upon arrival at the pub this was in witness protection as a Belgian Amber. I’m not sure if the got messed up in the media or if this just didn’t turn out as planned, but I was a bit let down by the style. I have to say, this was a really nice Belgian amber, estery and dry, yeast character sort of reminded me of Unibroue Maudite in the fruitiness, but I was really hoping for the Flemish brown. The next beer was the Oregon 150 Ale, a blackberry-honey and marionberry infused golden ale of sorts. The berry character was floral and tart, body seemed to be lacking and not much up front for sweetness. Just ok on that one.

Next I was darting across the river to the now smoke-free Horse Brass to grab a glass of Pliny the Younger before it sputtered out. I’d had Pliny the Younger once before, and I know there is a lot of hype behind it, but it is really good. Over-hopped and unbalanced, but done so in a pure fit of ego, would you really want this to be anything else? The alcohol really doesn’t stand out, the body full, but not chewy like 120 minute. Certainly not a beer you would sit around drinking pints of… oh wait, people were doing  just that… nevermind, I underestimate you Portland, tip of the hat.

Lastly I thought I would drop into the Green Dragon to check out the meet the brewer featuring one of my favorite Oregon brewers, Double Mountain. On tap they Hop Lava, Dry Irish Stout, Alpenbrew, and Ardennes. The Dragon was packed and it took about 15 minutes to get a drink, but I finally got my half pint of the Ardennes Belgian Strong. I was a little bit hesitant about ordering this, but since it was the only one available that I hadn’t had I went for it. The Ardennes is one of my least favorite Belgian yeast strains. I’ve had to many beers with this yeast that taste like boiled vegetables, not sure if it is just me or if this yeast is finicky. Double Mountain’s versions was good, but even with their excellent craftsmanship I still picked up slight notes of what I hate from this yeast, albeit this was one of the better beers with this yeast I’ve had.

In all it was a good day out in the Portland beer scene, it seems like every day we have something great beer related going on. Wish I could make it out tomorrow for Deschutes night at the Brass.

If anyone is going, please let me know what you thoughts on the amazing Deschutes lineup tomorrow.

Full Sail, if you are reading this…   I will sell you this idea for one bottle of “What Recession?” stout, a 10+% Imperial Stout, aged barrels, wax dipped with gold flakes. Or maybe just a coaster.