Cascade Brewing - 2009 Sang Royal

This past Wednesday I had the privilege of sharing a bottle of the 2009 vintage Sang Royal from Cascade Brewing. This is not my first Cascade experience. I've had several to be exact (go here and read about another Cascade experience), and knowing firsthand they produce amazing sour ales, I knew this one would be a real treat.

This beer is another prime example of the current barrel ageing craze currently taking place in the US. Most wild/sour ales are attempting to emulate the original versions traditionally produced in Belgium. But most modern brewers and blenders have been taking these styles to all new heights. Experimentation runs rampant and brewers are now experimenting with various fruits such as blueberries, apricots, strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches and various grape varieties. In addition to experimentation with different fruits we are seeing experimentation in the various wooden vessels brewers use for ageing. These range from charred oak bourbon barrels, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, rum, whiskey, gin and even Port barrels. Indeed it is an interesting age for beer. Brewers are pushing the limits of what we thought possible and we consumers are grateful.

As for this beer in particular, the description tells us that it is an "ale made with various red ales that were aged in oak with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, then blended with red ales that were aged in Port and Pinot Noir barrels." Sounds mildly interesting ;) In any case, it comes in at a burly 9.345% and will almost certainly have any lover of sour ales feeling light-headed and weak in the knees. The only other bit of information that you might possibly want to know is where this place is located, and that my friend is in the beer mecca of Portland, Oregon. Cascade Barrel House is entirely separate from the Raccoon Lodge (the brewing facility) located just south and west of Portland in the Hillsdale/Beaverton area. Don't look now but they will actually ship their beer directly to your door (I've done it before). Their barrel house website can be found here and a link to the Raccoon Lodge site can be found here. Now, onto the tasting!



Name: Sang Royal 2009
Category/Style: American Sour/Wild Ale
ABV: 9.345%
IBU: Unknown
OG: Unknown
FG: Unknown
Malt Type(s): Unknown
Hop Type(s): Unknown
Yeast/Bacteria Type: Lactobacillus
Special Additives: Cabernet Sauvignon grapes
Bottled: Unknown
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Location Purchased: Unknown


The Pour: Dark rusty red, mahogany around the edges. Head is cream coloured, decent retention, decent lacing.

The Nose: Sour fruit, cherry, oak, wood, vanilla, vinegar, very vinous. Red wine, funk, astringent; it smells incredible! Bright and sour! I wish I could bottle the aroma!

The Taste: Sour on the very tip of the tongue, lots of funk and sourness spreading out as the flavours work their way along the tastebuds. A bit bitter (perhaps from the grape peels as my friend suggested), definitely woody and oaky, lots of juicy red fruit and a hint of dark dried fruit, figs perhaps? Tart and bright, delicious and lots of astrigency. Super tart and finishes very dry. Leaves you wanting more.

The Verdict: This is definitely one of the top 20 beers I've ever tasted. There is just something incredibly delicious and satisfying about a well-made sour beer. These are true sippers and must be enjoyed at a slow pace; to think of drinking them any other way is absurd. There are very few other beer styles that would even come close to matching the complexity of these beers. It is literally layer upon layer of flavour and each sip reveals something new. In my experience, these beers are in the upper tier of the beer world and literally redefines what it means to enjoy a beer. One can simply drink a beer, but to find a beer that during consumption literally wills you to involve all of your senses is something else entirely. This is really what we're all after. Anyhow, the beer can be purchased at the Barrel House in Portland or online, I'm not sure how my buddy came into possession of his but go do yourself a favour and find a way to acquire a bottle! Cheers!



Thanks for reading!

Zach

Brewery Review: Goodlife Brewing Company

On a recent trip to Bend, Oregon I had the privilege of stopping in at one of the up and coming beer spots in the beer Mecca: Goodlife Brewing Company. After spending just a short time there, it wasn't difficult to see why the line was nearly out the door and there wasn't an empty table to be had. The beer is brewed with skill and ingenuity; it's evident in the unique assortment of aromas and flavours. I had the privilege of watching Jeff Schauland, one of the brewers, in action. We spoke intermittently between his brewing duties and he explained that the demand for the beer is high and they often have difficulty keeping up with supply for the brewpub.

Left: Dry Hop Pale Right: 29'er India Brown Ale Back: Descender IPA

The range of brews available to me during my visit included the Mountain Rescue Dry Hop Pale, the Sweet As Pacific Ale, the 29'er India Brown Ale, Descender IPA, and the Comatose Imperial IPA. My favourite from the lot was the 29'er IBA, which to me presented the most unique assortment of flavours and aromas.
To say the aroma and flavours found within this beer is complex is an understatement. Your palate will be treated to three distinctly different flavours. On the nose one might assume you've a roasty brown ale sitting before you. But on the initial taste you soon discover that in fact it's not a brown ale at all but something else entirely; the roasty coffee, bitter chocolate notes rear their heads at this time and you're left grasping for an explanation. But just when you think it could not get any better the subtle hop bitterness shows up and it ends with an exceptionally hop-centric finish. At 40 IBU the hops won't blow your palate away, which is nice as it definitely leaves room for other flavours and aromas. This beer is so well balanced and complex it's ridiculous. It's a highly delicious, drinkable and a stand-out example of the India Brown Ale style.

Another example of Goodlife's ingenuity is their Sweet As Pacific Ale which is their single hop summer release. As the name suggests, the hop type is Pacifica and it's the low alpha acid content of this variety that makes it ideal for use as an aroma hop. The Pacifica is a cross breed of Hallertauer Mittlefrüh (the German Noble hop variety). It would also seem that the popularity and usage of New Zealand hop varieties in many american craft beers has led to a bit of a NZ hop craze. Many of these new hop types lend flavours not previously found and has really opened the door for more unique brews. In this case, the Pacifica hop lends tropical flavours (like passion fruit) and notes of citrus to beer. And in this case, the super low IBU suggests that the majority of this flavour will be subtle. Indeed, initially looking at the brew one might assume you've been poured a standard unfiltered wheat beer. But breathe deep and you will soon discover something else entirely. The aroma is not one commonly found. And the flavour is light, crisp, and refreshing; three very good qualities for a summer seasonal.

The 30 barrel, 4-vessel brew system

Having a tour through the facility I noticed there was a lot of empty space. Goodlife brewing has only just begun getting their feet wet within the brewing world, just having opened in 2011 they've grown quickly and their space allows for a bright future. It seems that growth is definitely on the horizon for this brewery, and for good reason too. In addition to beer, they offer food from a menu inspired by the Bavarian Brauhaus and beyond. Fresh grub and fresh beer; you really can't go wrong there. Next time you're in Bend, make sure you stop in at Goodlife Brewing, I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.



Thanks for reading!

Zach