Glad to be back. Sorry for not writing for a while. I've been busy getting my life set back up since leaving the Marine Corps. I have a cargo van now, got my room back at my Grandmothers house. This poses a problem in doing reviews because she is a teetotaler and has a bad internet connection. I'm just now getting back into the swing of things and getting around to doing reviews. Tonight's beer is the Fresh squeezed IPA by Deschutes brewery out of Bend Oregon. Founded in 1988 by Gary Fish and named for the Deschutes river (a tributary of the Colombia river), the brewery focused on community goodwill, to give a sense to the locals that it was "theirs". The strategy payed off, and by 1992 they were selling 3,954 barrels a year (up from 310 in 1988). They would move to a larger facility in 1993 with a 50 bbl system (massive for the time, and nothing to sneeze at now). In 2008 they would start a brewpub in Portland (beer Mecca) and in 2012 they would build a new 105,000 bbl facility with a water and Co2 reclamation system.They use a proprietary yeast strain in all of their beers and donate $1 for every barrel sold to local and national charities. I'm a big fan of their Obsidian Stout, so I have high expectations for this one.
I received this beer in a standard longneck bottle with crimpcap.The label art features a hop flower having the oil squeezed out of it by wooden screw presses (I imagine a reference to the beers cirtus flavor)on a blue background. The cap and neck label both have the Deschutes brewery logo. According to the side, this beer has been "bottle conditioned for quality"so that the beer will stay fresher, longer. The profile is described as "a juicy, citrus and grapefruit flavor profile. As if fresh Citra and Mosaic hops were squeezed straight into the bottle. 60 IBU's and 6.4%ABV. Their website says it's 225 calories per bottle, not that I care. I will be using the super traditional Orion mug, just because I missed it so much!
So, so much
Nose from the bottle is a grapefruit citrus with a slight resin quality. Pours amber (I'd call it a 14 on the SRM) with a dissipating white head. Nose from the mug is orange peel with pineapple and an undertone of resin. On first sip, more malty then I expected. Starts with orange peel and some grapefruit bitterness with a bready malt character all the way through, finishes just a little bit dry. over medium to full body with low acidity, it's actually kind of syrupy. certainly full of flavor.
Listening to Metallica. So, back in the swing of things after leaving the Corps. Like I said at the beginning, I have a cargo van now. It's a 2001 Chevy express 2500 with a V6 at 194,000 miles. I got the thing for $3200, not a bad price for a work van. Used to be an AT&T van, so it's got a ladder rack, yellow flashing light, internal shelving, internal air tank storage with external hook up (so you can run pneumatic tools), cargo/cabin separation wall, it's a pretty awesome van. Still trying to reconnect with friends who still live in the area, but it's hard finding people who don't live more than an hour away now or have kids, or who even want to hang out. I'm sure I'll figure something out, but if I don't find some people close by who are not family I'm going to lose my mind.
Final thoughts. It's a perfectly sesionable beer, but nothing special. If you see it, give it a shot. But I wouldn't go out of my way for it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deschutes_Brewery
https://www.deschutesbrewery.com/beer/fresh-squeezed/
