Fresh-Eyed Daisy or Black-Eyed Susan? (Widmer Pitch Black IPA)

My last foray into the brave new world of Black IPAs was 21st Amendment's less than stellar Back in Black. However, the idea of darkening IPAs has intrigued me since that San Francisco beer crossed my path at this year's KLCC brewfest. There have been too many times I've had my brains hopped out without even a kiss of flavor and it always seems as if it's the bed of barley that's missed in the passionate rush to get straight to the flavor.

So, when I found the Widmer Bros. had attempted a simmilar beer, I had to know how a solid Oregon brewery does the dirty (ehrm...IPA that is).

Let's just say that I heart the Pacific Nortwest (and un-heart California) for a reason. The Widmer Pitch Black IPA reminds me a lot of their Broken Halo IPA in terms of aroma and hop taste. What sends me over the moon for this beer is the rich malt flavor that balances out a definite increase in hoppage. The malts in this beer give the smooth flavor (a la New Belgium's 1554) that makes me feel like I'm drinking a good porter, but finishes with the gorgeous fireworks only the best IPAs can deliver.

In short: Black IPAs have found a standard. I look forward to see if this stays a limited release or a Widmer mainstay.

Apologies to A, I meant to save him some so he could share in the review. Whoops.

Brewery of the Month: Ninkasi Brewery (Eugene, OR)

Generally, if there isn't a "Brewery of the Month" listed it's because it need not be. If you live in the Willamette Valley (soon this next statement will apply to the entire Pacific Northwest) and you have yet to "worship the goddess," then you are most likely on the list to run out of this beautiful state into some god awful bastion of all things soulless and vile (i.e.: California).

That said, even your most faithful brews find a new way to kick veritable upper-thighs every once in awhile. Ninkasi, has done just that this summer.

It was obvious from the first time I sipped Tricerahops and Total Domination from tasters at local brewfests that Ninkasi was a brewery to follow in the grand success of other great Oregonian institutions (such as Rogue, McMenamins, etc.), but generally their beer was only found off the tap or in 22 oz bottles. The first thing I noticed during my weekly supply run was a nifty new 4 pack of Ninkasi 22s, containing all the staples a hop-addict, such as myself and A, needed: Total Domination IPA, Tricerahops Double IPA, Believer Double Red, and a Spring Reign to help gently croon to our traumatized palates until they found dreams of barley and worts boiling.

The mindblower was 6 packs of 12 oz bottles, below that 12 packs, then, just to make sure we're paying attention, Ninkasi released a new 4 pack of 22s. This one including the more obscure bursts of brilliance such as: Nuptuale (Cream Ale), Maiden the Shade (a summer ale with 7 hops used in the making), Radiant Ale, and Total Domination (lest ye forget who the boss is 'round these parts).

In short, I walked down the aisle to find myself a new adult soda to sip on during the evening. Instead I walked into the local city beer county to see Ninkasi owned these parts now.

To help further the love I already had for these brews, the Ninkasi 4 packs now hold a small code that allows worshippers to download a cd full of local Oregon music acts.

Who doesn't love the hometown hero who makes it big carrying fellow heroes (unsung though the may be) on its back? For this, our default greatest brewery deserved a few words.

I Heart PCNW: Brasserie Montmartre (Portland, OR)

On occasion, one of the best things that can ever happen to you in a lazy day of city traveling is to realize you have no idea where you're at. As A and I wandered away from the Portland Art Museum in search of food, we had a vague idea how far we were from the Arlene Schnitzer Concert hall, we knew we had at least 3 hours until A Perfect Circle took the stage, but we had no idea where the vittles be.

By the time we reached we reached Park and Morrison it had been 45 minutes of wandering for a place that served both beer and food. The Brasserie Montmarte Bisro was literally the first suitable place we had found. Wandering up to the door we saw two live musicians playing quiet pieces that gave the entire place the Paris away from Paris feel many bistro's attempt.

Seated with menus we'd planned on just buying a hamburger (the first recognizable food we saw on the menu), a beer, and wandering off. Instead, the waiter sold me on a ribeye grilled with fresh mushrooms and "pomme frites" (the house special that day) while A took an old fashioned steak, but took the waiter's offer to have his french fries grilled in truffle oil.

What little time we spent trying to taste the beers on tap went on the wayside when the food arrived (the beers we tried were uninspired, but standard Red Ales and IPAs). My ribeye arrived covered in two varieties of mushrooms, framed by a scoop of mashed potatoes and a pool of worchestershire sauce. I took a picture of my plate, it was that perfectly presented.

As for the taste: the mushrooms were neither canned nor frozen and told you that in a perfect bite, the steak cooked exactly to my specifications and seasoned for a god, the mashed potatoes sublime in every way, and after stealing A's truffle oil fries I realized that this little restaurant couldn't make french fries without changing your religion.

It's hard to walk away from a meal and call it perfect. A and I have tried many different dishes alongside our beer tastings (from Alligator gumbo to homecut and seasoned fries), but this is the first time we used that elusive word: "perfect." Our meals were absolutely perfect.

Couple that with the quiet live music, the calm atmosphere, and the amazing service and this was another jewel on what shaped up to be an amazing trip.

http://www.brasserieportland.com/pages/contact 

Beer like Ferrets?

After sipping on (and thoroughly enjoying) what is a solidly delicious offering from Deschutes Brewery (Red Chair NWPA), J and I had the interesting experience of sampling Widmer's W'11 KGB Russian Imperial Stout. I won't speak for J, who may have had an entirely different experience of this brew, but as for myself:

As a fan of Widmer in general and very impressed with the past incarnations of the "W" series, I was excited to have my taste buds tickled by this latest offering. I was not disappointed; the KGB certainly was a tickler. After presenting itself as a pretty all-around standard Stout, its roasted, malty presence left on a curious note. As its cool, smooth effervescence slid down my gullet, I tasted something furry. Not furry in texture so much as furry in taste -- that distinctly musty flavor distinctive of the scent of fur, particularly wet fur. Now, perhaps this furry flavor was intentional, to remind us of those conspicuously Russian, if not caricatured, fuzzy hats of Siberian traipsing comrades.

Cut to a scene of hard drinking Russians in some hole in the snow refuge from the freezing Siberian winter, their snow encrusted hats melting from the heat of an open fire, à la Indiana Jones and the Raiders Lost Ark. This was not the fur it reminded me of, however. It reminded me of something much less palatable. And what could be less palatable than a damp, furry Russian hat? How about ferrets?

 

Having once owned a ferret, I am thoroughly familiar with the way their particular scent has an uncanny ability to stick in the back of one's nose, almost feeling as though one had tasted it. Perhaps it was this sticking quality that reminded me so inopportunely of ferrets, but a certain underlying mustiness contributed, as well. In the end, I had to laugh. It was quizzical, this taste. I wouldn't call it a bad beer, but not something I would go to frequently, and needless to say, somewhat disappointing considering my high expectations. My taste buds certainly had been tickled, nonetheless.