Deschutes Jubelale

Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
Style: English Strong Ale
Bend, Oregon USA

Good years and bad years and nearly ugly years for this brew, but this year is the best I can recall. A viscous army tan head which hides quickly over a rich copper not unlike madrona bark at sunset. Leading flavor edge is hops and ping pong malt interaction not unlike a barley wine with richness dancing in the foreground. Complex in the way it interacts with food. Some swigs offer more caramel, some sing a chorus of different spices taking lead. A steal with post-offs at $11.98 and $12.98 for half racks. Stock up now. Please, Deschutes, duplicate this in 2009.

light copper, slight tan quick head. poured it cold, still waiting for warming to release the aroma. maybe getting slight subtle evergreen on the nose, hay/grass, and very faint maltiness. flavor up front is mostly hoppy. Gives way to berry seeds.

12 oz bottle from Bev4less. Fresh batch of the 2008 release. Pours a hazy amber-brown with a fair khaki head that has good retention and leaves some lacing. The aroma is moderately strong with berries, caramel and dust. The flavor is well balanced between biter hops, sweet berries, nuts (almonds and pecans) and caramel. The mouthfeel starts a bit thin and crisp, but builds to a sticky, malty conclusion. The finish is long and biter-sweet. Overall: This is one of the better winter beers. Recommended.

Just a really pleasant beer. Plenty of spice and layers of favor keep you guessing and make the beer enjoyable. The label is reason enough to give this beer a chance.

Deep clear red in color with a thin head. Full, malty aroma with a heavy fruitiness a hint of chocolate. Full bodied and rich. Sweet, fruity flavor with noticeable but not prominent hops. Has some astringency, probably from the excessive use of crystal malt. Moderate bitterness.

This 2007 offering poured clear brown with copper hues and thin tan head. The aroma is inviting to say the least with rich dark fruity esters coupled with rich and varied roasty malts. Very nice. The taste hits first with a bit of hop bitterness followed by roasty malts heading toward being highly roasted combined with dark fruity esters. The finish has notes of malt astringency rising up and drying it out a bit. Delicious brew.

2008 Holiday fruitcake nose, some licorice. Deep ruby brown color with a thick long lasting head. Rich cherry malt sweetness, big bitter balance. Full body, subtle carbonation, long finish. Nice beer, the fruitcake component is unique.

murky, dark brown body, orange-ruby highlight, moderate light tan head, moderate lacing; bitter, earthy, floral, some of those ’’dark fruits,’’ and also soy sauce; not quite my thing unless this was served at the proper food pairing...