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One of the great little surprises of the holiday season is the unveiling of the label art for Deschutes Brewery’s Jubelale. Granted, it comes way too early for my taste but that hardly dents the long running tradition.
“Cozy up fireside with this festive winter ale full of spice notes and a robust malt character of toffee and dusted cocoa.”
34 years of Black Butte. Wow. And this year Deschutes Brewing is celebrating with a Tiramisu inspired version of their yearly treat.
As we move slowly out of the sun and into fall, these big stouts are going to start looking really appealing.
I have had a few Jubelales this year but let’s focus on the alternate Deschutes Jubel, Cherries Jubelale.
“This new take on the beloved Super Jubel receives a dessert-inspired twist with the addition of cherry and vanilla to its rich barrel-aged malty decadence. Barrel-aged in wine, the beer brings in the flavors of Jubelale, but with added strength and complexity from barrel aging.”
This is a collaboration heavy blog. I really like this aspect of tge craft beer world and brewers do to, so much that they collaborate with people tangentially connected as Deschutes Brewery has with Dovetail Workwear, “a women’s workwear company based in Portland whose mission is to encourage women to enter and succeed in non-traditional occupations. Inviting women from across industries to participate in every aspect of this project in celebration, Deschutes crafted Move Maker, a Cold India Pale Ale with all proceeds benefitting Pink Boots Society who “assist, inspire and encourage women fermented/alcoholic beverage industry professionals to advance their careers through education.”
Deschutes Brewery is now “Official Craft Beer of the Pac-12 Conference.” Which I see as a bit odd and a missed opportunity.
There is no university in Bend and Deschutes has locations in Portland and Virginia but not any of the PAC12 towns.
There is also the tiny issue of underage college drinking but let’s table that as separate from this discussion.
It would have been much more fun to have Deschutes partner with a brewery from Seattle, Pullman, Corvallis, Eugene, Berkley, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Boulder. Last time I checked there were breweries in those towns or at least nearby.
A cross state IPA with honey from each state is the elevator pitch for the new collaborative IPA, Let’s BEE Homies.
Both Stone Brewing and Deschutes Brewing brought their respective sweet stuff to this new hazy
First Bitburger collaborated with Sierra Nevada and now another heritage brewery meets up with them for so freshies…
Here are the beer details…
“Chasin’ Freshies Fresh Hop IPA A fresh hop collaboration with Bitburger, September release (based on timing of hop harvest) in 12-ounce cans. Deschutes’ #1 fresh hop beer goes international with this Bitbuger collab! A celebration of 2 iconic, independent, family owned breweries exchanging brewing expertise and comradery. This collaboration incorporates the Bitburger influenced German hop “Callista” with Triumph and Cashmere American hops selected during the 2020 hop harvest.”
Looks like two Bend, Oregon breweries are partnering…
Most SoCal beer fans will have seen and most likely had a few Deschutes beers but Boneyard does not have a footprint down here so will be lesser known. Think of it as the heritage brewer / older sibling getting together with the rough edged / younger sibling. You can read more HERE. But I expect that more neighboring breweries may combine forces. Some will work and some will divorce later depending on how well they can balance the union.
Duke Cannon is quite the manly man name for a company. Now you do have to scroll past, Busch, Budweiser and Old Milwaukee soaps to find the one craft brand, which is Deschutes Fresh Squeezed branded soap. Sounds intriguing if expensive at $9.50 for a bar. More of interest to me was the Buffalo Trace version.
For the special “imperialized” release of Black Butte Imperial Porter XXXII, Deschutes was “inspired by the flair of a Spanish Coffee that’s created table side at Huber’s, a Portland, Oregon bar famous for its version of this cocktail.” Toss in Infused cold brew coffee with nutmeg and vanilla bean and age in 12-year-old Colombian Rum Barrels.
This year, instead of a big wax dipped bomber, the beer will be packaged in a 4-pack of 12oz bottles.