By “Schlockstar”
What’s that one beer you seem to drink all summer long? The old standby that you can turn to day in and day out, every week, old faithful, never disappointing the taste buds?
Everyone has their favorite. Mine? Deschutes’ Inversion IPA. I remember reading about it a couple years back and anxiously awaiting its debut two years ago.
A few autumns ago I visited the brewery in Bend and sampled a fantastic seasonal – hoppy, piney, kicky aftertaste. And oh so refreshing. And I completely forgot to get the name of the beer.
I’m thinking the Inversion IPA is based on that mystery beer I tried.
But, unlike many IPAs, Inversion doesn’t hit drinkers over the head with hops. Sure, there’s some bitterness, but the taste is mild enough that a couple a night [or week, depending on your drinking schedule] won’t leave you feeling loaded. The price can’t be beat, either. I’ve picked up a six-pack at Freddie’s on sale for under seven dollars – not bad considering the hops and wheat shortage/coming economic apocalypse/food wars.
I had an out-of-town friend try one over the summer and his reaction was to quip: “do all Oregon beers have to be so….beery?” Guess he’s not used to the beer here.
What’s your favorite summer beverage?
Water is the key to beer…and to life.
Water 1st is an organization who’s mission is to “serve families in the poorest communities in the world as they implement community-managed projects that integrate water supply, sanitation, and health education.”
Sounds good to us. Want to help them out? They are holding an event at BridgePort Brewing Company in Portland. Serving water first, and beer (or root beer) second, the event will have music, food, beverages, and a presentation about the world water crisis and the organization. Here are the details:
DATE: Saturday, September 13, 2008
TIME: 6:00 p.m. – Free Brewery Tour, 7:00 p.m. – Event begins
TICKETS: $30/person (includes food and beverages)
RSVP ONLINE: by September 5, 2008.
QUESTIONS: Call 206.297.3024
Get hoppy
The beginning of October means one thing for food, wine and beer drinkers: Oregon Bounty. Oregon Bounty is a two-month (October 1 through November 30) event that invites drunkards and foodies to head out and meet local brewmasters, winemakers, innkeepers, farmers and chefs. We’re all about local.
Being fans of hops [duh] we’re especially excited about the Portland Fresh Hops Beer Tastival, part of the Oregon Bounty. According to Travel Oregon’s website, “it’s your once-a-year chance to taste what Oregon’s finest brewmasters can do with just-picked hops. Sample more than 20 fresh hop beers from Oregon’s top craft brewers, large and small.”
The event takes place at the uber-sustainable [and home to some of the freshest beer I've ever had] Hopworks Urban Brewery, 2944 SE Powell Boulevard.
I’ve been to previous ones, most notably the one held at the Lucky Lab in 2006. Expect some bold, new flavors. I didn’t take notes a couple years back but I do remember local breweries showing up and throwing down some wicked tastes with some exceptional beers. I’ll take notes this time and write more in-depth about the fest.
Schlockstar also blogs about Oregon history at the excellent website, lostoregon.com.
Mine has been Caldera IPA (in the cans). With the increase in raw ingredients, the cost of this canned beer is on par with its bottled bretheren. Really a great beer, though a little more bitter than the Inversion. Plus, drinking a great beer from the can is both a total trip and gives you some mild anti-snob satisfaction.
I’ve been wanting to try the Caldera IPA in the can. Also been keeping my eyes open for the “Brew Free! or Die IPA” in cans from 21st Amendment.
Thanks for posting – I really enjoy Rooftop Brew – and have used your hop chart on many occasions!
Funny,
I am drinking an inversion IPA as I read this. I am not sure about the Caldera, though. It sure is bitter but not crisp at all. The bitterness invaded all of my mouth and just stayed. I like really hoppy beers, but it was just not my IPA. Inversion is great, Just crisp enough to not have a bad aftertaste and leaves you wanting more, I think my 6er of Caldera lasted a week before I polished it all off. Lagunitas(not native oregon) has a couple of good ones, too. Right now if you can get Bridgeport Hop Czar you should try it, it is great.
As heretical as it is, I usually turn to Great Divide’s Titan IPA (Denver). It is a big beer, but balances every flavor (hoppy, bitter, piney, floral) in such a way as to quench any thirst that you can dredge up from the doldrums of summer.
I’ve heard really wonderful things about the Hop Czar. Can you describe for me?
I like Bridgeport’s Haymaker Extra Pale Ale for summer and I love Inversion IPA (I agree Caldera IPA is “too bitter” and one dimensional compared to the Inversion…)
Starting about 3 years ago there was a rather major turnover in what defined NW style IPAs. I think it was a good thing – much better treatment of the flavor that hops bring than just the way it plays on your palate. Brews like W’ 05 cum Broken Halo IPA, Full Sail’s IPA, Deschutes Inversion arrived with wonderful citrus and floral flavors that were very upfront and personal with their hops without killing any of your tastebuds with bitterness.
Caldera fit the old West-Coast style (ala Grant’s IPA, Ballard Bitter) with much more of the pine resin attribute, with that put hair on your chest, then singe it off bitterness. For me, this always reminds me of the first time I had Rogue’s Brutal Bitter. I still love that bitterness and get it where I can. It’s harder to get from NW beers now though since many were already citrusy (God bless C-hops)
All summer I’ve been pretty consistently alternating between Broken Halo, Caldera IPA, Full Sail IPA, and Deschutes Inversion, but I’m trying to restrict myself to an Oregon-based beer diet this year.