Deschutes Brewery, based in Bend, Oregon, has been producing craft beers for over two decades. It's a fun brewery with a 'try-anything' attitude that produces a wide variety of unique and interesting beers. They make seven year-round varieties, four seasonal ales, four age-worthy beers in a 'Reserve' series, and three more beers in what they call the 'Bond Street Series' (after the street on which the brewery resides).
Today I'm reviewing their Hop Trip which is part of the Bond-Street-trio. Before I jump into my BREW REVIEW though, I want to take a minute to explain why I selected this beer.
First, it should be know that Deschutes Brewery has a reputation for making hop-heavy beer. This tidbit alone is enough reason for me to pick one of their beers as I'm a bit of a closet hop-a-phile, but it's actually the unique production method that specifically drew me to Hop Trail. Allow me to explain.
A few years back the guys at Deschutes Brewery, a somewhat flamboyant hop-a-phile group, decided they wanted to make a beer that captured the natural flavors of hops 'fresh off the vine'. Most breweries make a beer hoppie by adding more dried hops, or hop-pellets. Deschutes wanted to brew a beer that would capture the fresh, green qualities of the hops. You see, the Deschutes crew were well aware that the essential oils in hops are most prominent when the hops are freshest meaning that as soon as they're cut from the field, the oils begin a gradual decline. This in mind, they set out to make a beer with Hops that spent the least amount of time possible from harvest to production. The least amount of time possible as it turns out is about three and a half hours, and that's exactly how long the Crystal Hops used for the production of Hop Trail spend between harvest and the kettle. The result they hoped would be a light, fresh, clean ale, with huge hop-flavor.
So, with all of that said, here is my BREW REVIEW
Wow, Fabulous. That's all I have to say...
Simple review? Good! It's a simple beer. It's like a good cut of steak, slow cooked over an open flame. No marinades, no seasonings, no steak sauce, just good, simple, basic ingredients, prepared with care, and easy to enjoy.
I wish the Hop Trail was the 'American Standard' instead of B*dw**z*r or M*ll*r. I think if that were the case, the rest of the world would have much greater respect for America as a beer producing nation.
If I were to compare The Hop Trip to a wine I'd say it's like a quality Beaujolais: fresh, fruity, honest, and uncomplicated. It's a celebration of hard work, and of the fall harvest, It can be enjoyed with just about any type of meal, or just by itself. By the numbers, I give it a 7/10 [Flavor 8/10, Balance 8/10, Complexity 6/10].
Oh, and did I mention it's only available through December? GO GET SOME!
-Prost!
D.Lux
P.S. Back in '06 FFEfilms followed the Deschutes crew around and captured the experience, the result was this pretty cool short film-Check it out!
Today I'm reviewing their Hop Trip which is part of the Bond-Street-trio. Before I jump into my BREW REVIEW though, I want to take a minute to explain why I selected this beer.
First, it should be know that Deschutes Brewery has a reputation for making hop-heavy beer. This tidbit alone is enough reason for me to pick one of their beers as I'm a bit of a closet hop-a-phile, but it's actually the unique production method that specifically drew me to Hop Trail. Allow me to explain.
A few years back the guys at Deschutes Brewery, a somewhat flamboyant hop-a-phile group, decided they wanted to make a beer that captured the natural flavors of hops 'fresh off the vine'. Most breweries make a beer hoppie by adding more dried hops, or hop-pellets. Deschutes wanted to brew a beer that would capture the fresh, green qualities of the hops. You see, the Deschutes crew were well aware that the essential oils in hops are most prominent when the hops are freshest meaning that as soon as they're cut from the field, the oils begin a gradual decline. This in mind, they set out to make a beer with Hops that spent the least amount of time possible from harvest to production. The least amount of time possible as it turns out is about three and a half hours, and that's exactly how long the Crystal Hops used for the production of Hop Trail spend between harvest and the kettle. The result they hoped would be a light, fresh, clean ale, with huge hop-flavor.
So, with all of that said, here is my BREW REVIEW
Wow, Fabulous. That's all I have to say...
Simple review? Good! It's a simple beer. It's like a good cut of steak, slow cooked over an open flame. No marinades, no seasonings, no steak sauce, just good, simple, basic ingredients, prepared with care, and easy to enjoy.
I wish the Hop Trail was the 'American Standard' instead of B*dw**z*r or M*ll*r. I think if that were the case, the rest of the world would have much greater respect for America as a beer producing nation.
If I were to compare The Hop Trip to a wine I'd say it's like a quality Beaujolais: fresh, fruity, honest, and uncomplicated. It's a celebration of hard work, and of the fall harvest, It can be enjoyed with just about any type of meal, or just by itself. By the numbers, I give it a 7/10 [Flavor 8/10, Balance 8/10, Complexity 6/10].
Oh, and did I mention it's only available through December? GO GET SOME!
-Prost!
D.Lux
P.S. Back in '06 FFEfilms followed the Deschutes crew around and captured the experience, the result was this pretty cool short film-Check it out!
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