June Pale

I know it doesn’t look like a pale. I blame the Light malt extract, instead of the extra light.

That’s OK! It’s just color and a little more caramel in the middle of the beer. I ain’t mad about it. I’m a little less enamored with my efforts to get some homes in the nose. I would’ve thought that a 1.5 ounces with five minutes left in the boil would do the trick. I may need to ask some people about that one, because while this beer isn’t bad it doesn’t have some of the sensory qualities I associate with a pale.

Brew Date: 6.12.22

Steeping grains
3.5 lb 6 row
3.5 lv Toasted pale 2
1 lb Munich

Fermentables: 4 lb Light Malt Extract

Hops
@60 1 oz Mt Hood, 1oz Warrior
@30 .5 oz Warrior
@5 1oz Mt hood, .5 oz Warrior

Yeast: Imperial Flagship (3rd use)

OG: 1.062

FG: 1.012

Bottled: 6/23

ABV: 6.8%

Unpale

This pale isn’t a pale. I recall what I was trying for but the malts (Likely the Opals) are just too dang dark. This might be getting in the way of the hops as well, because there isn’t a strong hop value, olfactory.

But that’s about the worst of it, honestly. What I’m experiencing after that is a pleasant beer, almost amber-ish in it’s normalcy. The kind of beer that might be easy to overlook because it isn’t presenting a lot of dominant flavors.

Until you get to the finish, and then there’s enough of a hop bite there to get something going. I did something right, that’s for sure.

Honestly, I’ve always had difficulty getting some hop nose in my beers, but if this is my result, I’m hard pressed to complain. It’s not quite what it’s supposed to be, but it’s still pretty decent.

Brew Date: 5/8/22

Steeping grains
6 lb Lamenta Pale
1 lb Barke vienna
1.5 lb Opal 22

Fermentables: 3 lb ExLME

Hops
1 oz Zamba, .5 oz Evergreen @60
.5 oz Zamba @15
.25 oz Zamba, .5 oz Evergreen@5

Yeast: Imperial’s Flagship

OG: 1.06

FG: 1.012

Additions: 1/2 tsp Gypsum pre-boil
1/2 tsp Irish moss @5 (for clarity)

Bottled: 5/22

ABV: 6.5%

Summer Series #10

I don’t know exactly why I don’t come to the Gilbert Road Tavern often. It’s the closest pub to my house and it’s about what one would expect from a midrange place. A little too clean for how dark it is, you know?

There’s nothing wrong with it. But I’m not really finding anything special either.

Maybe that answers my question; if I want a great beer list, Proper Pint isn’t too far, if I want some great IPAs, Unlimited IPA is on Foster. Lents Bottle & Tap is pleasant a cozy. There are at least three honest to goodness dive bars around that are great for skulking in. If I’m hungry, the Slingshot or Assembly offer me pretty good vittles.

Even the tap list here is…fine. I’m having a kolsch from Double Mountain and it’s good enough. It tastes and smells like two row malt, with a finish that is solid but neither dry enough to really give a thirst quenching sensation nor bitter enough to profile a hop character. It’s actually got a slightly banana flavored finish.

I can’t speak ill of it but the beer isn’t giving me a reason to recommend it either.

On the other hand, there’s someplace to sit outside and it’s comfortable enough. The traffic between 72nd and Harold is mellow enough at this time of day-and most of the time, really-that it isn’t going to be a distraction. I’m in the shade. There’s some legit people watching that can be done from here and the bar has a humorous sign posted about how dogs are no longer allowed inside.

So it’s not like the Old GIlbert is taking itself too seriously.

A dude walks by, randomly says hello to a guy at a table next to me. ‘How you doin’?” Is the reply. The walking man says:

“Going to the weed store. Be doin’ a lot better.”

I can’t top that coda.

Common Ales: White Bluffs’s Devil’s Nectar

Nose is very sweet. Pineapple is the thing that comes to mind. Definitely a surprise for a pale ale, to me. The beer is really bright, so visually I wasn’t expecting something so fruity.

This flavor carries into the finish, which is just straight up orange. Again, sweeter than expected, with a final taste that does move towards pith.

This wants to put the flavor profile of a hazy into a pale ale. While I’m not upset at that, the finishing bittterness really doesn’t work for me. The Devil’s Nectar isn’t too sweet but the final flavors I pick up turn me away.

Summer Series #9

Left work a little early to come have the Reverse Magician at Level. Not because the beer was calling me-it’s a kolsh, not a special seasonal beer-but because I had the time.

Why work any longer than you have to?

The Reverse Magician has a lemony nose, which threads nicely but subtly through the beer. It’s also got a dry finish which makes an easy drinking pint. Favorite kolsch? No. Good? You bet.

Last time I was at the new Level outpost, the outdoors didn’t have any shelter and I was a little worried, coming here today. The clouds have come to Portland, finally, but we have weather here folks. You can’t just set chairs out and hope for the best.

My concerns were unnecessary though: they’ve built a bit of shelter now. Not every table but enough of them have some cover to let patrons choose their element. It’s a nice enough day that I don’t need any shade, but I’m glad it’s there now, because I’d like to come back. Level generally does good stuff.

Maybe it’s because I cut out from work early, but today I don’t have much on my mind. If you’re going to bail to have a nice time, there’s no reason to burden onesself with the dreary of the world. That dreariness is absolutely waiting around the corner.

Just going to enjoy a beer, instead.

28 in 24

Hitting 28 breweries in one day via a walking tour of Portland is a wild idea and I won’t deny it: seems like it would be fun to do.

Once. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing and I wouldn’t want to push myself that hard twice in a lifetime.

But I do like walking and I do like beer, so this is absolutely something I’m interested in. Also, I’ve met Mr. Lovegrove who is a very nice gent and could not be a better guide for this kind of trip.

Miss

The pale is messed from the nose. It smells a bit dirty and that scent reappears on the finish. It’s a bit like I’ve licked a rock.

Which is a bummer. I’m reviewing this beer a little late in its life cycle-which might have something to do with it? But it’s not good at this point and I think it may have gone stale. Because I don’t remember it tasting like this for the previous 40 bottles I was able to sip on.

This beer also seems to improve as it warms up; the dusty quality diminishes. But it isn’t one I’d be pleased to give to a stranger.

Brew date: 4/17/22

Steeping grains
3 lb True British Ale malt
5 lb Evergreen pale
.5 lb Eureka

Fermentables: 4 lb Extra Light Malt Extract

Hops: .34 oz Sultana & .5 oz Mt Hood @60

Added 1 tsp Gypsum to the water

Yeast: Imperial House (3rd use)

OG: 1.07

FG: 1.012

Bottled 5/1

ABV: 7.9%

Common Ales: Single Hill’s Adams

The Adams Pils from Single Hill has a flowery nose-something I wasn’t expecting at all!

The middle of the beer is all malt though, really highlighting the ingredients forming the backbone of the beer. I’m legit impressed with the spotlight this beer is able to shine on the malt.

The finish also leaves a nice hop bitterness; this Pilsner doesn’t evaporate, it actually offers a nice bite. It’s an easy beer to drink though-still plenty light to serve as a compliment to pub food, but great for a day on the porch, too.

Final note: I’ll be out Monday, so no post that day. Cheers!

Summer Series #8/Second Pint MS Water Fund

It’s the best time of the year for beer.

That’s right, its festbier time! (Fresh hop ales are overrated. I said what I said.)

To that end I’ve got the 1st City Festbier from Oregon City at the Proper Pint, which is light, malty, and the kind of beer that I would consider having several pints of, if there weren’t so many other things too try.

Still, this beer: recommended. A little bready, malt forward but not cloying, it’s a treat to start the festbier season with.

Also, I got to pet a dog. Proper Pint is pretty dog friendly and a pooch moseyed his way up to me. After asking if I could pet that dog (it is always wise to ask if you can pet a dog) and getting the OK. this dog promptly got into my lap and licked my face while I pet him. He was a white and brown dog with a big pink nose and blue eyes. Adorable.

You know. That could be it. That’s the post. I got a nice beer. I pet a dog. The ingredients for a pretty good day are all but done. Or at least, an improved day, right? Hard to have a terrible day when you get to pet a dog.

Yeah. Let’s do that. Let’s pet a dog, enjoy this beer, and call it. Everybody gets to have a nice day, even me.

Today’s second pint goes to water funds to help people in Mississippi.

Make Up Yer Mind

I have been reading complaint after complaint about the saturation of IPAs in the market and how nobody produces anything else but IPAs.

And then this article comes along.

Well. Which is it?*

*It’s that larger craft breweries do have too many dang IPAs but smaller ones are expanding their styles and doing them well. Plus, the article has a nice overview and ways to appreciate the variety of lager styles available! So even if you’re not interested in the history, the last third of the article might be of interest.