Hair of the Dog - Blue Dot Double India Pale Ale

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Blue Dot DIPA
Hair of the Dog Brewing Company
61 SE Yamhill Street
Portland, OR USA
Est. 1993
http://www.hairofthedog.com/


Brain Damage Quotient = 7.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 22.0


Postmortem Brew Review
Dark orange/dark amber color, hazy and translucent on the pour.
Some sweet fruits like pineapple and apple along with hops aromas.
Minimal off-white head. Minimal lace.
Smooth flavors of floral hops and fruits.
Soft carbonation. Hops are biting at the end, but  are gone fast.
Medium bodied. A little thin on the finish, but a good drinker.


Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Loyal. Pure. Faithful. Wet Nose. Traits that we are all familiar with and traits that this brewer ascribes to. If this sounds like "Man's Best Friend", then you aren't too far off point. But it's beers, not Bulldogs we're talking about. By the way, these traits are imprinted into the company logo.

A good and solid drinker from a small brewery in Portland. I enjoyed this beer equally as much as I enjoyed the terrific painted bottle. It seems notable to mention that I see a trend with small handcrafted breweries from the west. Many prefer to have custom artwork done and placed on the glass as opposed to paper labeling each bottle. I prefer the feel and texture of the painted label. Overall, the bottles stand out more noticeably.

It's a pretty good bet that you can "unleash" a "growler" of this stuff direct from the brewer.

Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale
Rogue Ales
2320 OSU Drive
Newport, OR USA
Est.1988
www.rogue.com
www.rogue.com/beers/voodoo-bacon-maple

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.6 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 25.4

Postmortem Brew Review
Clear amber color with a honey colored tinge.
Distinct smokiness, bacon and maple aromas that become pronounced, then intermingle. Leans toward smoked meat on nose.
Traces of smoked malt and woody undertones.
Near white head color head that fades to a skim coat and rings the glass.
Maple flavor takes more of the lead at first and the finish has smoky malt sweetness.
Modest carbonation tingles the tongue.
Medium bodied.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
It was the Voodoo Man that caught my attention, not the shockingly pink painted bottle. There he was, standing with a mug of suds in hand, holding (dare I say), squeezing the life out of that piglet in his ham-fisted paw. Pink maple leafs checkered the spaces in-between each little piggy. With his sullen black eyes, pork bone necklace and replete in top hat and coat, the Voodoo Man was egging The Reaper to buy the bottle. Then it struck me that I was at Whole Foods Market. Ah hah! Well, surely this little piggy went to market, so now we would both go wheee-wheee-wheee, all the way home!

Rogue gives a tip of the voodoo top hat to Tres & Cat Daddy over at Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland, OR. The ale is loosely translated from the Bacon Maple Bar that can be found in the doughnut shop.  I had the good fortune to visit this past summer and can tell you that their doughnut selection is mind boggling and nothing short of awesome. Visit them at one of their three locations, but expect a line. It's worth the wait! As Voodoo Doughnuts slogan says, "The magic is in the hole!!!" The same can be said of this bottle.

As for the beer, it is a nice tribute to the creative essence that oozes from the Portland scene. Both brewmaster and baker are trend setters and at the forefront of their respective industries. I consider both the beer and the doughnuts to be fun stuff and worth a try.

Go ahead...pig out!

Bridgeport - Cafe' Negro Coffee Infused Porter

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer 
Cafe' Negro Coffee Infused Porter
Bridgeport Brewing Company
1318 N.W. Northrup 
Portland, OR USA
Est. 1984
www.bridgeportbrew.com


Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 


Postmortem Brew Review
Rich root beer brown body color.
Roasted malt, roast coffee, hints of chocolate on the nose.
Luxurious frothy khaki colored head. Leaves trace lacing and covers to a cap.
Sweet malt flavor with nicely delayed coffee, then hints of chocolate in the finish.
Medium bodied. Great flavor complexity.


Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Sunday morning. House to myself and flipping through the news articles online. Oh, the digital age - no crossword puzzles for me. Read the news online instead of killing a rain forest for the paper. So instead it's just some quiet time now. Time to catch up on some blogging and some beer.


As the first days of low humidity have arrived here in Hell's Kitchen, I know the snowbirds will be arriving soon, coming to roost for the winter. It's about 68 degrees this morning and so nice outside. I couldn't resist sitting outdoors, curled up with the laptop and this beauty of a porter. Better yet, I am having the Cafe' Negro just at the peak of its nominal shelf life. All those coffee and roasted malt flavors have had a chance to get to know each other real well the past few months. And if I do say so, I am digging it! Get it? That's a Reaper pun. Oh, okay. Whatever. I'm easy, like Sunday morning....


This is something I would enjoy again and again as a Sunday morning eyeopener. After all, the folks at Bridgeport went the extra mile to infuse coffee in the porter, so why not indulge in a little weekend AM luxury? Ahh, relaxation...hmmmm, what's this? Why it's a crossword puzzle app for my smartphone!


Quick...what's a nine letter word for an outstanding porter?


Cafe' Negro.

Bridgeport - Hop Czar Imperial India Pale Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer 
Hop Czar Imperial India Pale Ale
Bridgeport Brewing Company
1318 N.W. Northrup 
Portland, OR USA
Est. 1984
www.bridgeportbrew.com


Brain Damage Quotient = 7.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 


Postmortem Brew Review
Deep orange color with a hazy body.
Big smell of citrus, mostly grapefruit but a pinch of pine hops.
Near white color, one-half finger head.
Good amount of sticky, draped lacing on glass.
The taste switches up from the aromas, where piney hops flavor dominates the citrus hops.
A little bit low on the carbonation.
Light to medium bodied.


Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Several things appealed to me about this IPA. First was the company name, as it reminds me of home. Not Portland OR, but my hometown is named Bridgeport.


The Hop Czar himself, tweeted to many of the bloggers that attended the 2011 Beer Bloggers Conference, held in Portland, OR. He was willing to pick up bloggers as they arrived at the airport, in full regalia - wearing the crown and hounds-tooth cape! Ha-ha! That is going the extra mile to impress. Alas, my flight arrived a bit too late for the royal reception.


Hop Czar is an Imperial, as the name would suggest. So what better to show on the label than an emperor, king or in this case, a czar. Is this the strongest Imperial as I have ever tasted? Well, no. But, moving up the chain of command, it leaves some room for "Hops Emperor" or "Hops King".


If you are fond of hops, it's a great beer. Give it a try.

Deschutes - Black Butte Porter

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Black Butte Porter
Deschutes Brewery
901 SW Simpson Avenue
Bend, OR USA
Est. 1988
www.deschutesbrewery.com 


Brain Damage Quotient = 5.2% ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 


Postmortem Brew Review
Dark black with reddish hues on the edges.
Roasted malts and roasted coffee in aroma.
Deep tan, two finger head. Draped lacing with good head retention.
Coffee and malt taste, though just a bit restrained.
Moderate amount of carbonation.
Medium to full bodied. Rich, creamy, smooth and refreshing.


Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Black Butte has been hanging out in the mortuary fridge for a while. Lucky me, I recently had some of this on Tap out in Portland and took some tasting notes. While the draught version is a bit tastier and fresher, my notes were fairly similar. The only thing lacking in my bottle version was a bit more punch of malt and coffee flavors that were found in the tap pint I tried. Other than that, no complaints.

I noted the bottle neck label mention that this porter uses the Kraeusening process in which the brewer adds freshly fermenting wort to beer that is ready to bottle. This aids the fermentation process, right in the bottle up until the point it is opened to be consumed.

This is a solid porter and is so smooth and creamy. It finishes with a nice clean pop and makes you come back for another sip, over and over.

Breakside - Gin-Barrel Double Wit

Dead Soldier 

Ben Edmunds - Breakside Brewery

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Gin-Barrel Double Wit
Breakside Brewery
820 NE Dekum Street
Portland, OR USA
Est. ????
www.breaksidebrews.com


Brain Damage Quotient = 6.8 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 (3 oz. sample)


Postmortem Brew Review
Cloudy straw/wheat color.
Smell of lemon zest, fruit esters, wheat and wood.
Tightly bubbled near white head.
Spicy coriander and lemony zest predominate. Gin and wood notes present.
Nice lacing down the side of the glass.
Good amount of carbonation.
Light bodied. Flavorful with a clean mouth feel.


Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Round #8
This blog post was done live at the 2nd Annual Beer Blogger's Conference, held in Portland, Oregon. 95 bloggers were in attendance, from over one thousand identified blogs. Luminaries of the craft beer world also attended to serve as presenters and keynote speakers for the event. A "speed round" of blogging was held by brewers, each bringing an exemplary brew to blog. Great craft beers, 12 blogging tables and 60 minutes were allotted in a fun, free-for-all session. 

Oakshire - Overcast Oatmeal Espresso Stout

Dead Soldier 

Matt Van Wyk - Oakshire Brewing

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Overcast Espresso Stout
Oakshire Brewing
1055 Madera Street
Eugene, OR USA
Est. 1988
www.oakbrew.com/


Brain Damage Quotient = 5.8 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 (3 oz. sample)


Postmortem Brew Review
Rich, black coffee color.
Smell of espresso coffee and roasted malts.
Firm tan colored head, about one finger high.
Good lacing down the side of the glass.
Coffee and cocoa notes dominate this oatmeal stout.
Medium to large bodied. Full, rich flavored mouth feel.


Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Round #7
This blog post was done live at the 2nd Annual Beer Blogger's Conference, held in Portland, Oregon. 95 bloggers were in attendance, from over one thousand identified blogs. Luminaries of the craft beer world also attended to serve as presenters and keynote speakers for the event. A "speed round" of blogging was held by brewers, each bringing an exemplary brew to blog. Great craft beers, 12 blogging tables and 60 minutes were allotted in a fun, free-for-all session. 

Deschutes - Jubelale

Dead Soldier 

Veronica Vega - Deschutes

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Jubelale
Deschutes Brewery
901 SW Simpson Avenue
Bend, OR USA
Est. 1988
www.deschutesbrewery.com


Brain Damage Quotient = 6.7 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 (3 oz. sample)


Postmortem Brew Review
Rich, deep red color.
Smell of citrus and pine hops on the nose. Good amount of caramel malt present. Some spiciness also present.
Choppy tan colored head, about one finger high.
Great lacing down the side of the glass.
Caramel toasted malt with hops in balance. Bready and earthy tastes.
Medium bodied. Full flavored mouth feel.


Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Round #6
This blog post was done live at the 2nd Annual Beer Blogger's Conference, held in Portland, Oregon. 95 bloggers were in attendance, from over one thousand identified blogs. Luminaries of the craft beer world also attended to serve as presenters and keynote speakers for the event. A "speed round" of blogging was held by brewers, each bringing an exemplary brew to blog. Great craft beers, 12 blogging tables and 60 minutes were allotted in a fun, free-for-all session. 

Ninkasi - Total Domination IPA

Dead Soldier 

Jamie "Darth" Floyd
& his minion - Ninkasi Brewing

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Total Domination IPA
Ninkasi Brewing Company
272 Van Buren Street
Eugene, OR USA
Est. 2006
www.ninkasibrewing.com


Brain Damage Quotient = 6.7 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 (3 oz. sample)


Postmortem Brew Review
Hazy orange/yellow color.
Smell of rich malts and citrus/spicy hops on the nose.
Sturdy off-white head, about one finger high.
Great lacing down the side of the glass.
Medium bodied. Full flavored mouth feel. 


Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Round #5
This blog post was done live at the 2nd Annual Beer Blogger's Conference, held in Portland, Oregon. 95 bloggers were in attendance, from over one thousand identified blogs. Luminaries of the craft beer world also attended to serve as presenters and keynote speakers for the event. A "speed round" of blogging was held by brewers, each bringing an exemplary brew to blog. Great craft beers, 12 blogging tables and 60 minutes were allotted in a fun, free-for-all session. 

Widmer Brothers - Prickly Pear Braggot

Dead Soldier 

Brothers Rob & Kurt Widmer

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Prickly Pear Braggot 2010
Widmer Brothers
929 N. Russell
Portland, OR USA
Est. 1984
www.widmer.com


Brain Damage Quotient = 10.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 22.0 (3 oz. sample)


Postmortem Brew Review
Honey in color.
Caramel notes along with a citrus and honey aroma.
Small head with creamy bubble layer that dissipates slowly.
Slightly sweet and viscous not unlike wine.
Slight alcohol warmth in finish.
Smooth carbonation, smooth drinking.


Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Round #1
This blog post was done live at the 2nd Annual Beer Blogger's Conference, held in Portland, Oregon. 95 bloggers were in attendance, from over one thousand identified blogs. Luminaries of the craft beer world also attended to serve as presenters and keynote speakers for the event. A "speed round" of blogging was held by brewers, each bringing an exemplary brew to blog. Great craft beers, 12 blogging tables and 60 minutes were allotted in a fun, free-for-all session.

Hopworks Urban Brewery - Galactic Imperial Red Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Galactic Imperial Red Ale

Hopworks Urban Brewery

2944 SE Powell Boulevard

Portland, OR USA

Est. 2007

www.hopworksbeer.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 9.5 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 22.0

Postmortem Brew Review

Rich deep red/brown color; almost a bit dark for a red.

Caramel malt, pine hop and citrus floral hop on the nose.

Two finger near-white head that leaves great spiderweb lacing.
Tastes earthy with a caramel malt backbone.

At 100 IBU, the hops are not aggressive.
Modest amount of carbonation.

Full flavor, medium bodied. Balance of malt and hops.


Grim Reaper's Eulogy
We are on a bus, headed to hop fields south of Portland Oregon and this is one of the beers that is brought out as we sit in Friday night rush hour. I am gobsmacked by the old-school arcade images on the painted label. As if that isn't enough, it's a 100 IBU, 9.5% ABV Imperial Red that is organic, to boot. 5000 point bonus power-up for the folks over at HUB!

From all levels, this is a kick ass brew. High in hops and nicely masked alcohol, this Imp. Red quickly got my attention. The hops and alcohol are done so well and the beer so easily drinkable, it won't be "Game Over" for your senses. Turns out they really had me hooked by the label. I have shoveled a ton of quarters into those old arcade machines in my day. I took some notes and stashed the empty bottle, so I could return it to the crypt and write this review.

Get your game on, with this one.

Widmer Brothers - Citra Blonde Summer

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Citra Blonde Summer
Widmer Brothers
929 N. Russell
Portland, OR USA
Est. 1984
www.widmer.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.3 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0


Postmortem Brew Review
Mostly clear yellow color.
Grassy and lemon zest notes along with a small amount of hops.
Two finger near-white head that sticks around.
Modest amounts of string and spotted lace on the glass.
Soft herbal and citrus mixed with hops. Finishes very cleanly.
Modest amount of carbonation.
Light refreshing and bright tasting body. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Move over American Pale Wheat Ales and other American Blondes, there's a new sheriff in town. By far this summer, this was my absolute go-to favorite refresher, hands down. I could end the post right here, but will choose to rattle off a few more 'likes' about this ale.

I think the most surprising thing was the great fresh Citra and Alchemy hops taste that mingled with the citrus. It's only 20 IBU's of strength but the mix is uniquely refreshing, and oh so tasty. Pale and Caramel malts rounded out the rest of the bill. Superbly flavorful beer.

This beer made my summer complete. Two bony thumbs up, Widmer Brothers!

Widmer Brothers - Pitch Black IPA

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Pitch Black IPA
Widmer Brothers
929 N. Russell
Portland, OR USA
Est. 1984
www.widmer.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0


Postmortem Brew Review
Pitch black color, just as the name implies.
Toasted malt notes along with smooth fragrant hops.
Two finger head with creamy tan color that dissipates slowly.
Perfectly draped lace, symmetrically rings the glass.
Soft herbal and citrus hops mingle perfectly with the five malts. Finishes very cleanly.
Modest amount of carbonation.
Medium bodied. Smooth drinking. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Once brewed as W'10, for a 2010 annual release, this year marks Pitch Black IPA's entry into the year round production by Widmer Brothers. And we IPA fans are fortunate and grateful for the change.

All your senses will be piqued when you imbibe this brew. Pitch Black IPA is a mean looking, great smelling and fab tasting IPA. It has the creaminess, hoppiness and just about everything you could ask for in a Black IPA. Malt bitterness is erased from the black malts and smooth Cascadian hops even out the score. Five malts and two hops in all make this 65 IBU black beauty spring to life. Each sip invites you back for another. The lace factor is eye pleasing, as it totally envelops the glass with each sip. It's like a whole other sensory feel, by adding a visual appeal to the beer. Another great brew from the 'Brothers'.

Come on over to the dark side. Muaahaahaha!

Deschutes - Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale
Deschutes Brewery
901 SW Simpson Avenue
Bend, OR USA
Est. 1988
www.deschutesbrewery.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.4% ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Beautiful amber color.
Piney and citrusy hops and roasted caramel malts in aroma.
Near-white, two finger head. Nice draped lacing, good head retention.
Caramel malts abound. Zingy pine hops taste.
Moderate amount of carbonation.
Light to medium bodied. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Okay, so I couldn't wait. Had to try another Deschutes from the cache of beers brought back from Arizona. Another crowd pleaser. I also enjoyed this "Northwest" version of a Pale Ale. It differs from the Mirror Pond Pale Ale by the variety of hops used in the batch and the malt.

Whereas Mirror Pond has Cascade hops in the mix, the NWPA uses more of the maltier side, (7 types of malts, in all), to produce a softer pale ale, although it achieves 60 IBU's compared with 40 in the Mirror Pond.

Decisions, decisions. Both are great choices for Pale Ales and I can't decide which I enjoyed more. Take a ride on the "Red Chair" and get the 'lift' you're looking for.

Deschutes - Mirror Pond Pale Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Deschutes Brewery
901 SW Simpson Avenue
Bend, OR USA
Est. 1988
www.deschutesbrewery.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0% ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Pleasant amber color.
Floral hops and roasted caramel malts in aroma.
Near-white, two finger head. Wonderful ringed lacing and superior head retention.
Caramel malt and biscuit flavored with floral hops taste.
Moderate amount of carbonation.
Light to medium bodied.  Perfect session beer. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
New, uncharted ales brought back from a visit west of the Mississippi!

40 IBU's and a ton of fresh hop flavor make this a stellar Pale Ale. It was love at first sip. I brought several of Deschutes ales back from a recent trip out west, but was also able to sample this while in Arizona. A great color, terrific fresh smell and just the right amount of hops attracted me to this ale. I read the beautifully worded label and now wish to see the brewery first hand, on the banks of the Deschutes River.

I could drink this one all day long. More Deschutes in the fridge...can't wait to try them all now!

Bridgeport - India Pale Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer 
India Pale Ale 
Bridgeport Brewing Company
1318 N.W. Northrup 
Portland, OR USA
Est. 1984
www.bridgeportbrew.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Golden color with hazy body.
Big smell of citrus, floral hops. Only the smallest amount of malt detectable in aroma.
Near white color, one finger head. Sticks around a while.
Good amount of sticky, draped lacing on glass.
Light, not too sweet, malty taste with boost of hops taste in the finish.
Light to medium bodied.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Several things appealed to me about this IPA. First was the company name, as it reminds me of home. Not Portland OR, but my hometown is named Bridgeport. Brushing nostalgia aside, this bottle conditioned brew states. "Oregon's Oldest Brewery" on the bottle cap and also in raised script lettering, on the bottle neck. Being first at something, in the beer industry, is always good to claim.  Eyeballs roaming around the label, we find the statement, "Reach Beervana" in a fancy font on the backside. Hmmph...that's pretty cool. Must find that spot, someday.

But mostly, what intrigued me was this; over two years ago, I ordered this IPA while in Colorado but they were out. I really wanted to try it then, and resigned myself to another day.  Fast forward - - - today is the day! I really liked this brew by Bridgeport. A real great blast of floral hops on the nose, and a nicely balanced malt and hops composition in taste. This is so drinkable for an IPA. Pure pleasure to enjoy. I've a few more Bridgeport ales in the fridge and can't wait to review them as well.

Sometimes, you just have to wait. And brother it was worth the wait.

Deschutes Brewery - Hop Trip

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Hop Trip
Deschutes Brewery 
901 SW Simpson Avenue
Bend, OR USA
Est. 1988
www.deschutesbrewery.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Amber color; clear.
100% crystal hops and citrus orange-like aroma.
One to two finger head with super sticky lacing as it drapes on the glass.
Tastes of malt and hops, interesting because malts are masked by hops on the nose.
Modest carbonation.
Semi dry finish in the taste.
Medium bodied. Fresh taste and easy to drink. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This blog post was done live at the first ever Beer Blogger's Conference, held in Boulder Colorado. 108 bloggers were in attendance, from over five hundred identified blogs. Luminaries of the craft beer world also attended to serve as presenters and keynote speakers for the event. A "speed round" of blogging was held by 12 brewers, each bringing an exemplary brew to blog. 12 beers, 12 blogging tables and 60 minutes were allotted in a fun, free-for-all session. 

Round #12

Stacey Denbow

Stacey Denbow explained all about this wonderfully interesting hopped brew. He stated that this "fresh hop" Pale Ale is about the celebration of the hop harvest in the fall. Deschutes picks the hops fresh and trucks them to the brewery so they can be added to the brew right away. It takes about 680 pounds of Crystal hops from a farm outside Salem, Oregon.  The hops are added to each 120 barrel batch in addition to some dry kilned whole flower hops. Crazy stuff from their Bond Street Series, but with all those hops, it's even crazier that it attains a mere 38 IBU's ! No mistake, it has all the full fresh hop taste enveloping your taste buds with none of the over hopped burnout. Refreshingly delicious!

Some of the more interesting highlights that Stacey shared with us:

• Hops are added immediately after arrival to the brewery (the boil is started as the trucks leave the hop yards!)
• Produced once a year in 22oz bottles.
• Hop Trip is meant to be consumed immediately, to keep the hop fresh flavor alive.
• Our tasting bottle was only 10 days old !

Rogue Chocolate Stout

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Chocolate Stout
Rogue Ales
2320 OSU Drive
Newport, OR USA
Est.1988
www.rogue.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 22.0 (3 oz. sample)

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep, dark brown in color.
Chocolate and malt smell with nearly no scent of hops.
Luxurious creamy caramel color head that lasts and lasts.
Luscious clinging of foam from top to bottom of glass.
Full bodied, malt, oat & chocolate flavor.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This blog post was done live at the first ever Beer Blogger's Conference, held in Boulder Colorado. 108 bloggers were in attendance, from over five hundred identified blogs. Luminaries of the craft beer world also attended to serve as presenters and keynote speakers for the event. A "speed round" of blogging was held by 12 brewers, each bringing an exemplary brew to blog. 12 beers, 12 blogging tables and 60 minutes were allotted in a fun, free-for-all session. 

Round #9

Sebbie Buhler

It was pure joy when I saw Sebbie Buhler approach the table with a bottle of Rogue Chocolate Stout. One of my favorites, Chocolate Stout is a crowd pleaser.  I have reviewed this one before, so you can read my thought on it here.

Sebbie spoke with enthusiasm as she passed the bottle to the bloggers at our table. For those of you that do not know, she is the woman depicted on the painted bottle label. Even her t-shirt let you know that she too, enjoys this brew. It is simply yummy.

Try some for yourself, and see if you agree.

Widmer Brothers - Brothers Reserve Barrel Aged Brrrbon Fall 2010

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Brothers Reserve Barrel Aged Brrrbon Fall 2010
Widmer Brothers
929 N. Russell
Portland, OR USA
Est. 1984
www.widmer.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 9.4 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 22.0 (3 oz. sample)

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark amber brown color.
Caramel notes along with a distinct presence of bourbon smells.
Small head with creamy bubble layer that dissipates slowly.
Soft oak and bourbon tastes mingle to sweetness with a dry finish.
Slight alcohol warmth in finish.
Smooth carbonation, smooth drinking. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This blog post was done live at the first ever Beer Blogger's Conference, held in Boulder Colorado. 108 bloggers were in attendance, from over five hundred identified blogs. Luminaries of the craft beer world also attended to serve as presenters and keynote speakers for the event. A "speed round" of blogging was held by 12 brewers, each bringing an exemplary brew to blog. 12 beers, 12 blogging tables and 60 minutes were allotted in a fun, free-for-all session. 

Round #8

Rob Widmer

Brothers Rob and Kurt founded their brewery in 1984.  This was a time in microbrewing's infancy. They have tended to their craft quite nicely creating one unique tasting beer after another.  This is one of the first of their bigger beers I have been able to sample.  I found its bourbon flavor made for a great taste experience.

Rob was our presenter today.  He explained to us the barrel aging process.  Rob stated that over one quarter of the barrels came from Maker's Mark and many of the rest from Jim Beam. The flavors of the bourbon and the oak really shine in the taste of this beer.  It's like a hand crafted boilermaker.

Enjoy this while it lasts. Once one of their specialty series is gone, it's gone! So don't miss out.

Rogue - Mocha Porter

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Rogue Mocha Porter
Rogue Ales
2320 OSU Drive
Newport, OR USA
Est.1988
www.rogue.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.3 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0


Postmortem Brew Review
Black and opaque in color.
Roasted malt aromas with caramel and a bit of hops is noticeable.
Tan colored head with little to no retention and lace.
Medium amount of carbonation.
Caramel, vanilla notes dance around, but the mocha/chocolate flavor is profound.
Medium bodied. Easy to drink.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
A yummy porter that makes a delicious end of the night dessert, either paired with something sweet or all by itself. This is like a more compact version of their Chocolate Stout.  It is a bit easier to drink being that it's a porter and not overly sweet.  The dryness at the end of each sip is also enjoyable.

All said and done, another fine brew from the Oregon crew at Rogue. So handy that it comes in 12 ounce bottles as well.