Archive for September, 2012

Review: Everybody’s Brewing Hoedown Brown

Author: Jason Harris
September 30, 2012

Hoedown Brown

Do you like brown ales?  Typically, I do. I enjoy them because they’re very drinkable and go down really smooth. Brown ales typically very easy to drink as the flow down your mouth with a light nutty taste and almost zero bitterness. My favorite brown ale by far is Hard Bop Brown from Upright Brewing (review) – which was astounding.

Today I’m trying an ale from a new brewery (to me) – Everybody’s Brewing in White Salmon, Washington. Everybody’s Brewing is a small-town brewery, but judging by their outstanding website, they don’t let anything hold them back.  The have a huge selection and it looks like they’re popular.

So how does Hoedown Brown rate?

In a word, boring. Hoedown Brown comes in a 40 IBUs and is 5.2% ABV. The website describes the brew as “light brown in color, nutty sweetness and a clean aftertaste”.

I guess the description is adequate. This is a smooth beer that is very light – it rolls down your tongue and indeed has a slight sweet, nutty flavor with no aftertaste.  To me, this is a beer that needs so much more. It needs a bit of complexity and something to add interest.

What do you think – have you had this brew?  Please disagree with me as I want to discuss this beer.  But for me, this beer is boring.

For those wondering where Everybody’s Brewing is – see the map below.

[nokia-maps template=”nokia.blue.place” sizes=”{‘width’: ‘auto’,’height’: ‘370’}” href=”http://places.nlp.nokia.com/places/v1/places/loc-dmVyc2lvbj0xO3RpdGxlPTE1MStFK0pld2V0dCtCbHZkO2xhdD00NS43Mjc1NTA1MzYzOTQxMjtsb249LTEyMS40ODU3OTc1MDIxMDA0NztzdHJlZXQ9RStKZXdldHQrQmx2ZDtob3VzZT0xNTE7Y2l0eT1XaGl0ZStTYWxtb247cG9zdGFsQ29kZT05ODY3Mjtjb3VudHJ5PVVTQTtzdGF0ZT1XYXNoaW5ndG9uO3N0YXRlQ29kZT1XQTtjb3VudHk9S2xpY2tpdGF0O2NhdGVnb3J5SWQ9YnVpbGRpbmc;context=Zmxvdy1pZD02MjMxN2E3ZS0yNzU1LTRjMDEtYWQ5YS1lZDY2NmVhOThiMjVfMTM0ODg5NTkyMzYxMF8wXzk1OTkmcmFuaz0w” zoomLevel=”16″ tileType=”map” ]

Review: Boneyard Brewing Diablo Rojo

Author: Jason Harris
September 28, 2012

Bend, Oregon is known for outdoor sport, the amazing scenery and surrounding natural beauty. However, in the last 5 years another movement has put Bend on the map. Brewing is a major sport now in the city of 88,000 in central Oregon as there are now around 15 breweries in the Bend metro area.

I have been meaning to make it over to Boneyard Brewing as their beer has a great reputation, but the opportunity hasn’t presented itself just yet. However, here in Salem, Raen Brew recently had a keg of Boneyard Diablo Rojo on tap so I rushed right over to check it out.

Diablo RojoFor those who aren’t familiar with red ales – they’re different than just an ‘amber’.  Typically a red ale is stronger on the malt side of the beer equation, making a copper color ale that has a strong flavor with a pleasant citrusy aftertaste. Red ales are one of my favorite styles of beer, and we are blessed with some good reds here in the Pacific Northwest.

Diablo Rojo from Boneyard Brewing is described as a hoppy, malty red ale, that is ‘perfect for the fall season’. It has an IBU rating of 40 and is 7.0% alcohol.

At first glance, I wondered how hoppy a 40 IBU beer could be. However, I was pleasently surprised. At first sip, Diablo Rojo is very smooth with just a nice subtle hint of malt. Then, the malt taste kicks in and leaves you refreshed and your taste buds challenged a bit.

This is a nice Fall season ale because it presents the perfect mix of hoppy bite and malty red ale goodness. I’d recommend this beer with a burger while watching a college football game. Its profile is perfect for a sunny fall day where the air is crisp and you need a malty bite to perfect the moment.

Diablo Rojo is a perfect example of what an Oregon red should be…it’s highly recommended!