(Bend, OR) – Deschutes Brewery sent out a notice on forthcoming brews for the first half. Oddly missing from the list is Conflux No. 01, the collaboration between Deschutes and Hair of the Dog, which was first announced in April of 2010. That inspired me to go on a hunt for an update on that beer which led me to this nugget from Hair of the Dog’s Alan Sprints, “Could be a spring release, big wheels turn slow.”
Damn.
Here are the upcoming releases.
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Chainbreaker White IPA
When: Available end of March
What: Year-Round (6-packs, 12-packs and draft)
Deschutes leaves the well-worn paths of brewing again to “white-knuckle” it and create a thrilling ride with this brand-new brew. First introduced at the Deschutes Brewery Bend andPortland pubs, as well as appearing at various special events, Chainbreaker White IPA was so well-received that the team decided to take it to the next level and make it part of the brewery’s year-round lineup. The name Chainbreaker White IPA was inspired in part by a legendary mountain bike race in Central Oregon called the Cascade Chainbreaker. The challenging race features a demanding course with multiple terrains, just as this beer challenges the palate to expand with a fusion of wheat and spice low notes with significant hop highs. Sweet orange peel and coriander round out the flavor profile for a refreshing ride.
Where: Available in OR, WA, & ID starting in March; distribution expands to remaining 15 states later in 2012
Beer Geek Information:
5.6% Alcohol by Volume (ABV)
55 International Bittering Units (IBUs)
Twilight Summer Ale
When: Available May to September
What: Summer Seasonal (6-packs, 12-packs and draft)
Since its debut five years ago, Twilight Summer Ale has been a staple brew for enjoying those long, lazy days of summer. Nothing washes down a long hike or a challenging mountain bike ride better than the crisp chilled freshness of this aromatic, full-flavored summer ale. Featured last summer in the Wall Street Journal, they touted it to readers as “a good session brew… packed with orange and lemon–scented Amarillo hops.” Sounds good to us! Let the sunshine begin!
Where: Available in all 18 states where Deschutes is sold
Beer Geek Information:
5.0% Alcohol by Volume (ABV)
35 International Bittering Units (IBUs)
Hop in the Dark – Cascadian Dark Ale
When: Available May to September
What: Bond Street Series (22-ounce bottles and draft)
Black IPA? Cascadian Dark Ale? Call it what you will, this dark colored hop assault epitomizes this new twist on the American IPA. After perfecting the recipe at both of our pubs with the gracious input from our fans, we now offer Hop in the Dark to craft beer fanatics across the western United States. We do a cold steep of the malt to extract the color, throw in a little darkBelgium candied sugar, then dump in the Citra hops—along with several more hop varieties—to provide that floral aroma that everyone loves, but doesn’t necessarily expect, from a dark beer.
Where: Available in all 18 states where Deschutes is sold
Beer Geek Information:
6.5% Alcohol by Volume (ABV)
75 International Bittering Units (IBUs)
Black Butte XXIV
When: Available starting in June
What: Reserve Series (22-ounce wax-dipped bottles and draft)
Each year, Deschutes Brewery celebrates its anniversary with a special bottling of this double porter, which follows the hop and malt lines of the brewery’s signature Black Butte Porter. However, bourbon barrel aging and some crazy ingredient additions ensure that this anniversary brew stands alone. In 2012, our brewers changed up the recipe of this highly anticipated beer, replacing the orange and chilies with dates and figs. Like all of our Reserve Series beers, we encourage you to drink one upon its release and put some away for later. Some things just get better with age!
Where: Limited availability in all 18 states where Deschutes is sold
Beer Geek Information:
~11% Alcohol by Volume (ABV)