Deschutes Brewery - Jubelale

For the Fifth Beer of Christmas, we visit the brewer of one of my all time favorite beers.

Last year I fell in love with Deschutes Brewery's Black Butte Porter. Since we picked the theme of holiday/winter beers for the Twelve Beers of Christmas this year, I was excited to see Jubelale sitting on the shelves.

The beer pours up a deep cherry brown.  Lisa (the soon to be Mrs.) and I went looking at hard wood flooring the other day to replace the carpet in my living room.  This is almost exactly the shade of the cherry flooring we saw.  A nice, light tan head develops on top from the pour.  As I drank it, thick lacing clung to the sides of the glass.

The aroma is earthy.  Like moist soil and long, uncut grass back from a river in Cimarron Canyon, New Mexico.  Yes, I know, that's kind of specific.  But that's what I got from it and I haven't been there in 20 years.  That's just the memory it pulled up.  There's also a low undertone of dark fruit and alcohol from the high ABV that comes with the Winter Warmer style.

Like the aroma, the strong alcohol content comes through in the taste, but subtler than last night's Christmas Ale.  It's definitely a warmer, but a complex malt character of bitter-sweet chocolate, medium roasted coffee, and dates masks the alcohol.  This medium to full bodied beer finishes clean and crisp and leaves you warm and satisfied.

Lisa ... can we go to Oregon for our honeymoon?

On the other hand, I don't think Wyatt cared much for this one.  What makes me think that?  He said, "I'm gonna need at least two beers before I enjoy this one."

Ratings

Aaron: 5.5 (also precise)
Brandon: 6
Wyatt: 5
Tracy: 7

Stats
Brewer: Deschutes Brewery
Location: Bend, OR
Website: http://www.DeschutesBrewery.com/
Style: Winter Warmer
Alcohol Content: 6.7% ABV
Interesting Note: In the about page, I mention being a former homebrewer.  Well, that was two years ago.  Over the summer I got back into it and am brewing all grain batches.  Given my absolute love of Black Butte Porter, I cannot tell you how excited I was to find that Deschutes has posted a Black Butte Porter clone recipe on their website.  Seriously, how freakin' cool is that?!  I'll be brewing that up soon and drinking some original BBP while doing so.

Deschutes Brewery – Black Butte Porter

For the First Beer of Christmas of the 2011 holiday season, we start with a style that I keep telling myself I don’t like.  The porter.  But somehow I keep liking every porter I try.  I guess I’m going to have to stop saying that.   (Side note … I also say this about brussels sprouts but on that count, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)

Last year’s Sierra Nevada Porter and Real Ale Coffee Porter were both very tasty.  And since Christmas last year I’ve racked up another couple of porters, but I have to say that the Porter Crown goes to Black Butte.  Not only is this the best porter I’ve ever had, this ranks among the best beers I’ve ever drank.

The beer pours with a dark mahogany color and a thick, aromatic head that clings to the glass leaving a light caramel lacing.  Now … why is lacing important?  Beats me.  But I keep hearing that it is.  What the lacing seemed to reinforce was the thick, full bodied feel of the beer.  It was rich and thick.  Not like motor oil, but like a strong and delicious coffee.   And the remnants clung to the glass as a reminder.  I kept turning the glass as I drank to pick up those left over flavors.

The roasted malt and hops compliment each other in both the taste and smell.  The flavors of coffee and caramelized sugar underwrite the hops and mild to moderate bitterness.

You won’t want to drink a six pack of these.  And you won’t want one after mowing the lawn.  But this is a great replacement for a cabernet sauvignon or other rich wine.  In front of a fire or just relaxing on the couch, this is a glassful of pleasure.

Stats
Brewer: Deschutes Brewery
Location: Bend, OR
Website: http://www.DeschutesBrewery.com
Style: Porter (American)
Alcohol Content: 5.2% ABV
Interesting Note: Deschutes offers classes at the Deschutes Brewery University. They teach everything from the culture and science of beer to topics like oak aged barrels and “extraordinary ingredients.” The first class is coming up soon (Jan 3, 2012) so get a reservation soon if you’re in the Bend, OR, area.