Deschutes Brewery Jubelale Winter Ale Seasonal Review

Overall 5.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

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Brianmead
Wasilla, AK

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Crisp, clean, dry, with enough bitterness and no sour after-tast

Beer Snob, Open- Minded, Ready to Try Something New

Pros

Clean Taste, Dry, Crisp

Cons

seasonal

NOV

2007

    I look forward to the holidays and not just because our family tends to make great pains to get together from all over the world, but because Deschutes makes their seasonal Winter Ale, Jubelale. I have always loved the Deschutes line of beers from Bend Oregon, and the Jubelale is their best. Now for a mid-sized brewery one of the difficult things to do is to keep consistency in their product, especially with seasonal beers. While the Jubelale Winter Ale has been consistently good, it is in some years better than others. In fact I would have to say it has always been in the range of 'very good' to 'excellent' on a year by year basis. This year, 2007, is one of those excellent years.

    The beer seems a tad darker than I remember it. While some beers are fine drunk out of the bottle, the Jubelale improves greatly once poured into a glass and allowed to release its full flavors with some air and a good head. It is also better very cold, which allows to compliment itself and its clean crispness. The malt flavor hits the tongue at first splash and is quickly replaced by a short, pleasant, but definite grain flavor of the hops, Just as quickly the bitterness will take over the previous graininess to finish off each swallow with a fresh cleansing of the palate. While the tingle of the bitterness may linger mildly - just enough to continue to enjoy each swallow, the whole experience goes rather quickly. To some, it may be too quick; however, I think that's what gives it it's 'crisp' quality.

    It's interesting to note that my perspective comes from a lover of hoppy bitter beers, so when I was making my purchase of this year's first six-pack, a gentleman in line behind me asked how I liked it. I told him it was one of my favorite beers, but, alas, was only a seasonal. He commented that he had tried it and couldn't take it - it was must too strong for him to stomach. An IPA certainly would not be a choice for him; however, he was getting ready to by a heffenwiesen, which is one type of beer I cannot stand. So to each his own, I rate this beer as a bitter beer lover, although not exclusively, but what I call mild, another may call it akin to sucking on a raw artichoke.

Deschutes Brewery Jubelale Winter Ale Seasonal is recommended by Brianmead

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Comments about Brianmead’s Review

cree8er wrote on Nov 18, 2007 at 6:13PM

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Great review! I really wanted to try it up until the point where you said it's a bitter beer such as an IPA. Me? Like the guy behind you in line, I'd go with the Heffeweisen myself. I love the sweeter beers, like the Red Hook Blonde Ale. Mmmm. I do enjoy the Octoberfest beers as well, usually not too sweet but not too bitter either. That perfect middle beer that is cool and quite refreshing to drink. Well, perhaps you could bring a few of these Deschutes that you love so much to Thanksgiving so I could give it a swill. Jenn

Deschutes Brewery Jubelale Winter Ale Seasonal Review

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