Review: Boneyard Brewing Diablo Rojo
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.
For 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!
Review Laurelwood Brewing Free Range Red Ale
We’re beginning a new series this week, featuring a fantastic smaller brewery in Portland called Laurelwood Brewing, in NE Portland.
Laurelwood is a Pub on NE Sandy Blvd and is a hotspot for any Portland based beer lover.
We who our outside of the Portland area are lucky that Laurelwood also bottles a few select beers, including today’s highlighted beer, Laurelwood Free Range Red Ale.
Free Range Red Ale is a very colorful ale what has a really well ballanced hoppy beer. I think Free Range Red is Laurelwood’s ‘signature’ brew and it is a good beer to carry that honor. When you see Free Range Red, it’s rich copper-coloring stands out. According to their website, this beer is made from organically grown malts.
At first sip, Free Range Red has a medium body and is very drinkable. It has a nice hoppy start and a smooth malty finish, making this a perfect all-around beer to have around for any occasion. At 5.9% and 60 IBUs, this brew will make anyone who likes a good beer happy.
The beer is so good, it won the Gold Medal at the 2004 World Beer Cup, which is a very high honor for any brewer.
My feeling on Free Range Red: I would recommend this beer to anyone who likes an Amber, Pale Ale, Bitter or anything in between. It is so versitile and refreshing, yet flavorful authentic.
Free Range Red is a perfect way to start out my series on Laurelwood.