New in Eastside Bend Safeway…

Sierra Nevada IPA!

Word. A classic NW IPA. Thick and meaty, it won’t let you down. It has a smoky, full taste, and won’t leave you hangin’. An IPA in the classic sense, where the malt character doesn’t everwhelm the hops.

Pick one up if you get the chance. Kelly green packaging, sick, sick, sick.

Quail Springs IPA is good. It’s different, not what I’d call a standard IPA. But classification aside, it is a really drinkable brew.

Cid always picks it up when he’s in Bend. Then I remember that I like it. I rarely pick it up myself, but since the holidays, DMTri has been bringing it by as well. Good times. It is a really nice set up beer for Mirror Pond.

Pick up a sixer. You’ll be happy.

Mmmmm, the Deschutes Brewery Bond Street Series continues to impress.

The lastest release is Hop Henge, a tasty, proper IPA. 7%, available at the brewery or in 22oz bottles at select retailers.

As I heard from a friend the other day, this beer reminds him of the first great beers that Deschutes Brewery served him when he got to bend 8 years ago. It has a craft brewery flavor, and thick hop character. Just as an IPA should.

I highly recommend picking one up. I’ve you enjoy IPA, you will enjoy the Hop Henge.

Damn, Alaskan Winter is good.

I used to, probably about age 20-21, really like Alaskan Pale, and to a lesser degree, Alaskan Amber. But I never see the Pale anymore, and ambers, on the whole, piss me off with their sweetness.

But one thing that brewery can seriously rock is the winter brew. Alaskan Winter has a strong, smoky mouth taste with a quick finish; quite marvelous. There are hints of fruit, without being overly sweet. very nice.

Also added to my aresenal tonight: Coppola Merlot.

I should link to that (as I should have to the Alaskan brews) but JFGI.

I love a nice, dry merlot. And dry, when not because of poor composition, but instead because of quality execution, is wonderful. word.

cumbia, cumbia….

Okay, so it’s officially called Hop Trip. But in my circle, I’m certain it will be called Trip Hop.

I’ve sampled three of the tasty bombers so far, and I am into it.

Here’s the story from the bottle:

Fresh Hop Pale Ale is all about celebrating the hop harvest in the fall. Fresh picked hops have to be added to the brew immediately, so one brewer starts the brew in Bend, while another rushes the hops three hours back from the Willamette Valley. The result? Let’s just say it was worth the drive.

It’s the goods. Hoppy, though not overly so, with a crisp flavor overall. There’s really a lot of hop flavor for as clean as it goes down. It’s like right between an IPA and a Pale. I wish I had a Bridgeport IPA on hand, because I think it’s a similar flavor. Bridgeport is a weak-ass IPA, quite a tasty beer, IMO, but not an authentic IPA. An IPA for the non-core if you will. But I digress…

I fully recommend trying the Deschutes Trip Hop, especially if you like hoppy beers. I’ll report on the draft flavor after I get the chance to have one down at the Brewery.