After going with the Sprecher Maibock, I thought I’d just go for some good solid beers, not necessarily those from Oregon – despite the fact that I could probably get these beers back home in Illinois – I’d hit the Oregon beers heavily tomorrow.
When it was served, it was a brown color. The plastic mug made it difficult to see if it was clear or hazy, but it appeared to be a bit hazy. It had a nice, creamy, cream-colored head on it (they really know how to carbonate their beers here at the Oregon Brewers Festival). The aroma was a sweet caramel maltiness.
The body was pretty full, and had a creamy mouthfeel. The sweet maltiness was immediately noticeable, and it had a bit of chewiness to it. There was also a bit of grainy maltiness to it – not an astringency, but an earthy flavor, almost like when you chew on some grains of caramel malt. The hop flavor came through a bit in the finish, nicely balanced with the maltiness.
If I had to pair it with a food, I think I’d select a nicely seasoned prime rib. I think the juicy beef would go well with the solid malt and creaminess of this beer. Overall, it was a very, very good beer, and one that I’ll certainly look for on the shelves of my local store this fall.
