Well, it was the best line up yet for Cheers to Belgian beers… but there were still a lot of rather so-so beers. On the good side I had a couple that were truly outstanding, and on the other side I had one in particular that really wasn’t fit for human consumption, we’ll get to that. Overall, the fest was really well run, efficient and comfortable. It was a great afternoon of comradery with brewers, friends, fellow bloggers, and there was even a Dr. Wort spotting.  On to the beers.

Oakshire La Ferme (gravity defying)

First up was Cascade’s Frite Galois. A quick babelfish translation spit out Fried Welsh, which may sound odd, but fits with Ron’s sense of humor. The first pour of this beer I tried was completely flat leading to a watery body and rather bland flavor. Luckily from a friend’s recommendation I went back for another pour and experienced a much better beer. Much more sour throughout, notes of peach and apricot. Light lacto funkiness, sort of dried hop earthy quality. A-

Widmer Biere De Table – The lightest offering of the day, and surely looked the part, very light in color, just a soft straw tone. Nose of NW hops, maybe some simcoe and nobels. The yeast gave off a lot of banana esters and a touch of earthiness. Malts were bready and had a touch of honey sweetness. Very drinkable and showcased the yeast strain nicely, although some higher fermenation temps might have brought out some of the more tropical fruit notes of the yeast. A-

Lucky Lab Doggie Kong – I heard many people expressing their approval for this, but I was really turned off by this one. The sourness had a sort of unfinished flabby taste that my homebrewed versions get when they are only a couple months in. Sort of off funky almost rubber like flavors possibly from autolysis, and a bit of diaper note. Overall this may turn around with some time aging. C-

Next up a friend and I did a side by side tasting with the Double Mountain Bonne Idee and kriek version. The regular portion I thought was far to bitter. Big NW hops, sharp bitterness, nothing really pulling the beer together. The kriek version had an odd metallic note that was really distracting and also suffered from the strong bitterness. C & B-

Block 15 La Ferme de Demons

Block 15 La Ferme de Demons – Recently I proclaimed Block 15 as my #1 Oregon Brewer, so my expectations for this beer were high… well they delivered. Big barrel character that provided many layers of flavor. Bourbon backed the sweeter notes of the pinot barrel while also pulling out hints of chocolate and cherry. The finish gained a nice tartness from pairing of the pinot and cherry. Really outstanding beer that I’d like to sit down and have a couple glasses of to get to know better. A

Oakshire La Ferme - Really well done saison. The grains of paradise really brought out a drying pepper note, soft tropical fruit from the yeast strain. NW hops provide a nice citrus punch in the finish with a nice crispness. A touch more carbonation would have really helped, but I like my saisons dry, and not much they could do about that at the fest. A-

Rogue John’s Dark and Scary - Dark brown pour with a thin beige head. Notes of cherry, chocolate, and plum from the malts and banana from the yeast esters. Overall a sort of hoppy dark dubbel, maybe a bit to sharp on the bitterness, but overall rather well done. B+

Hopworks Diablato – I was a bit nervous about this one due to the short turn around time, three weeks for a 11% Belgian is cutting it close. The boozy notes were a bit heavy, but overall this turned out well. Apple and honey in the nose. A bit like a hoppy Duvel, although not as dry and carbonated and a bit more sweetness, so maybe more like Delirium.  B+

Old Lompoc Norman Invasion – Another beer that everyone I talked to really enjoyed but I didn’t care for. I picked up a lot of vegetal notes in this like I typically get from the La Chouffe yeast strain. Sort of under attenuated and boiled artichoke like flavor, but maybe I’m just sensitive to some flavor. C

Upright Mingus and Monk – I tried this on tap at Upright a week ago and much preferred it then over the samples at CTBB. Firstly the fest sample very cold, but also the high carbonation of the brewery sample brought out the currants and wine barrel more. This beer is really interesting, about a dozen flavors all coming together and competing for your attention. I think more aging may help the flavors meld more, but I really can’t complain about its current state… or should that be currant state? Chocolate and currant unearth themselves as the beer warms, soft pinot flavors enhance the tartness in the finish. Sort of earthy, even musty hops in the background. I think I need more of this to come to a complete decision on this. B+

Green Dragon King Ghidorah – Not sure about the Bier de Garde style on this, more of a Belgian Strong Golden, but well done to say the least. Apple and banana esters followed by honey malt and hops. I didn’t really pick up any barrel character from this, but with such little time in preparing for this fest you don’t get much contact time on the barrels. A-

I had samples of a few others that were rather middle of the road, but I need to make space for one special beer that is still stuck in my memory. This years “Dumpbucket Champion” had to go to McMenamin’s The Big Worm. Sick joke maybe, but this beer should have never seen the light of day, nor been served to oxygen breathing creatures (sorry plants you took one for the team today). With a nose of pure nail polish and menthol and a flavor stuck somewhere between cough medicine and bitter poop, this beer can only be described as “all shittiness”.

With all that out of the way I think the event is getting better each year. Hopefully next year the yeast strain is chosen earlier to give brewers more time to work out recipes and let the beers really meld before they are served. Can’t wait for next year.

Oh, and my friends Josh, Sean and I won a silver… verrry nice!

Allegash Curiex-Ale aged in oak bourbon barrel

Great Divide Yeti-Espresso Oak aged Yeti Imperial Stout

Double Mountian Terrible 2-Bourbon Barrel brown ale

Deschutes mirror mirror-oak aged barley wine

Full Sail Black Gold Imperial Stout- oak bourbon barrel aged

While I’m not going to even attempt to estimate the pricing, the line up looks amazing for sure.

Very late notice, but tonight’s meet the brewer at the Green Dragon will feature Ron Gansberg of Cascade Brewing. Recently I haven’t been all that enthusiastic about meet the brewer, maybe it was due to price shock of pints at the Green Dragon, maybe the lack of interesting beers being poured, but this week is an exception. Unfortunately I won’t be able to make it due to prior plans and Rogue not announcing this until today (a little more notice might have been nice), but I highly recommend you drop in to try some of Ron’s outstanding beers.

On tap will be:

Sprint Seasonal IPA – I haven’t tried this one yet, but I believe it was on tap at the brewery

Spiced Belgian Brown – I think this was the Brugges beer that I had at the brewery the other day and really enjoyed

Double Sour Red – I’d really like to try this beer as I’ve enjoyed the rest of the Cascade sours, hopefully this will show up again on tap around town or at the brewery.

Anyway, if you make it to this event let me know your thoughts on the Double Sour Red. I’m sure I’ll be kicking myself later for missing out on that one.