New Arrivals For Friday Oct. 19, 2007

Holy mother of beer! The seasonal flood intensified today and we're still trying to dig out from under it all. A few of these aren't actually "new beers", but they've been absent from the Portland market long enough that they might as well be. Many of these will just have commercial descriptions, but if I find anything exemplary over the weekend I'll try to capture the flavors in a more in-depth post later. So, without further ado, I present today's tasty additions:

Bavik Premium Pilsner: A light flavored beer, smooth and malty. Clean finish, with a light malt aftertaste. Pretty much a classic pilsner, from a consistently good brewery; a great alternative to Stella.

Wittekerke: This witbier veers from the standard set by Hoegaarden by having just a touch of tartness to balance out the coriander/citrus spice profile. Fall seems like an odd time of year to bring out a wit beer, but apparently the distributors know what they're doing.

Sam Smith's Winter Welcome: The commerical description leaves much to be desired, so here's a couple random quotes from ratebeer.com: Creamy white good mostly lasting head. Dark orange color. Heavy malty and moderate hoppy aroma. Powerful bitter flavor. Long nice moderate bitter finish. Creamy palate. Sounds like a winter warmer to me...

Flying Dog Double Dog: Double Dog Double Pale Ale marks Flying Dog's 10th Anniversary and the launch of the Wild Dog series. A deluxe collection of limited release beers from our brewmasters, the series will showcase some of the boldest styles from around the world.

At 10.5% Alc By Vol and 85 IBUs, Double Dog Double Pale Ale is the stuff legends are made of.

Lagunitas Imperial Red: Lagunitas says: This Special Ale is, in reality, a reconstructed exhumation of the very first ale that we ever brewed way, way back, in 1993. Brewed with a big head, a muscular malty thorax, a silky texture & all strung together with a hoppy sweet nerve sack... yum. O.G. 1.072 84.2 IBU

Golden Valley Tannenbomb: Tannenbomb is one of my personal favorite beers, regardless of the season. Dark reddish amber and aggressively hopped, it will appeal to those who like Arrogant Bastard, Dick's Danger Ale, or any of the new "Cascadian Dark Ales" that have started popping up.

Midnight Sun Obliteration Imperial IPA: This one's brand new, so I can't find any info on it. All you need to know is that it's got several varieties of hops and 8+% abv, so it should soothe the nerves while simultaneously wrecking your taste buds...

Sierra Nevada Celebration: Ahhh, Celebration. This is probably THE most anticipated beer of the season, with the possible exception of Alaskan Smoked Porter. This garnet-red beauty of an IPA is a pleasure to look at, and even better to sip. It holds up well for several months (some would say years) so don't be afraid to buy an extra case or two and stash them in the basement until spring.

Great Divide Fresh Hop: They say: Brewing with fresh hops is a big endeavor, requiring four to five times the hop volume compared to using pelletized hops. Although the process is complex, it brings impressive results: Fresh Hop is an American-style pale ale with moderate hop bitterness marked by a unique and intensely grassy hop flavor and aroma. Fresh Hop is a superbly refreshing, medium bodied, light-copper colored pale ale weighing in at 55 IBUs and 6.1% ABV. I say: Fresh Hop is consistently delicious, but the shipping costs make this the most expensive of the fresh hop brews available, so if the price tag scares you off just wait until we put it on tap and come in for a pint.

HeBrew Jewbelation 11: These guys crack me up, and the beer lives up to the schtick. Brewed with 11 malts, 11 hops, and soaring to 11% alcohol, Jewbelation Eleven is the most extreme Chanukah beer ever created.

Sam Adams Winter Lager: Winter Lager is a weizenbock, a dark bock brewed with generous quantities of malted wheat, a style that is usually enjoyed as a warming drink from late fall through to spring.

Van Steenberge Gift Packs: The first of the gift boxes arrived today. This is one of the only packages that doesn't include a glass, but it does feature a couple of beers which aren't otherwise available in Oregon: Bornem Dubbel, Bornem Tripel Bruegel Amber, and Augustijn Ale. Gulden Draak and Piraat round out the 6pk and provide some hops to balance the other, maltier brews in the collection. The beautiful part about this, and most gift packs, is that the package costs less than buying all the individual beers would. Save money by drinking beer!