Deschutes Jubelale

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

1/1/08 with Bikesanbeer, and Deschutes was open even though we thought we it wouldn’t be open till the next day, 6th brewery of the trip. Pours red and brown with a thin tan head. Nose is sweet and spicy. Taste is also quite sweet and spicy. Very nice.

12 oz bottle, 2007. Clear garnet with a frothy beige head. Nose is chocolate and light pine. Medium light with moderate carb. Taste is mocha, orange and lemon hops, caramel, some nutmeg. Dries with a mild bitter bite.

Nice chestnut color. !-2 finger head dissapates quickly. Aroma is kind of muted. But some sweetness and caramel. Flavor is sweet and somewhat spicy with a good balance. Medium body with a nice finish once it warmed a bit.

2006. dark caramel, wood and beauty. Sludgy thick brown and a fine slushy head. Flavors have married nicely, sweet and smooth. Not complex, but very nice and tasty. 2009. Thin raisin, overwarm heat, adjusted down. Poured out.

2007 version poured into a snifter. A pretty aggressive pour results in only a centimeter of light tan head, but I was keeping it very very cold so it may be a function of the temperature. Body is dark brown, and there’s no lacing. Distinct notes of caramel, subtle cherry, nutmeg, raisin, and wood in the nose. Taste starts out lackluster with a chalky dry character, BUT as the beer warmed it transformed into a very tasty winter warmer. That’ll teach me to serve it so cold. I get notes of caramel/toffee, dark fruit, ginger, piney hops, and a much more subdued dry bitterness than the one I experienced earlier. I also notice a quite woody character. Pretty full in body, with surprisingly adequate carbonation considering the relatively small head. Very smooth. Easy to drink and great for a cold winter night.

Deschutes Jubelale was recommended to me by a friend and after tasting I am a little unimpressed. Any toasted malts or nutty flavors seem to be overshadowed by the bitter finish which detracts from the otherwise good flavor. The color is deep red and is quite impressive and the beer leaves a moderate amount of lace. All in all, I consider this an average beer with great flavor potential... if only the bitterness on my tongue would permit that flavor to come through.

2007 edition. Brick red with a half-inch tan head. Toasty malts, bread, nutty, and burnt. Creamy body. Burnt bread, malts, nutty flavors. Finish is sharply bitter. Impressive, and different. Will make its way into my winter lineup from now on.

Pours a four finger light tan head that fades slowly leaving a good sticky lace. Cloudy brown/amber color. Medium carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Roasted malt nose. Flavor is burnt brown sugar with hops in the background. Nice beer when there is two feet of snow on the ground. $1.50 for a 12oz bottle from Liquid Solutions Oregon City, Or.