Deschutes 19th Anniversary Golden Ale

Formerly brewed at Deschutes Brewery
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Bend, Oregon USA

Draft at Oregon Brewers Festival, Portland, OR. Small white head that was mostly lasting, virtually no lacing, minimal carbonation observed, transparent, and a golden yellow hue. The aroma was malty, hoppy, semi-sweet, and some orange peel. The flavor was sweet, malty, hoppy, fruity, vinuous but not overly done, and citrus. Smooth mouthfeel and medium body. Obviously, I have gone against the grain on this beer, but that’s the way it is. To each her/his own.

(22oz bottle) Pours a golden body with a medium-sized white head. Aroma of butter, peaches, toastiness, light floral, and apricot core. Flavor of apricot, butter, medicinal, and golden raisins.

Poured into a Duvel tulip. 3 finger off white head above an apple-juice colored body. Tiny yeast particles float around in suspension. Nice Belgian-type lacing. Smells fruity with apple and banana notes, along with a spiciness and a hint of booziness. Taste is sweet and spicy with apple and pear, a hint of banana, lots of yeast, and a hop bitterness in the finish that sets this apart from the traditional Belgian style. Interesting and delicious. Body is pretty thick and rich, almost luxurious. Carbonation is appropriate. The sweetness here makes it pretty easy to drink but it suffers from the booziness. A solid American try at the BSPA style.

Fine haze in orangey-clear beer with small whitish head. Very fruity nose, white candi sugar, reeks of high fermenting temperatures, artificial strawberry aroma, and bitter almonds. Finishing oxydized. Prematurely oxydized malts, stuffy grains. Alcohol prominent, including fusels à gogo. Alcoholwarming, medium bodied. Dry thanks to the sugar, but too sweet all the same. Ouch. Too Belgian by far - forced, I mean. Thanks Carl, rare one.

Bottle purchased at Belmont Station in Portland, Oregon--Pours a light hazy amber-golden with minuscule white circular head. Nutty, fruity, yeasty, hoppy nose. Mildly reminiscent of a pilsner but more flavorful and sweet. Lively carbonation. A little weird balance of ingredients. Not my bag really.

Pours a clear golden with some amber, a little bit of head that dies quickly and little to no lacing. Smells of malt, yeast, fig. Taste is very subtle but very interesting with dried fruits and some sweetness. This is not a Belgian in my book. Feels light in the mouth with good carbonation. Drinkability is very high as this is more of a refreshing yet flavorful brew. No alcohol even close to present which is crazy giving its ABV. Not true to the style but interesting in its own way.

Poured a dark golden color with a small ring of white bubbles. Aroma of honey, pils malt, and citrus fruits. Taste of straw, grains, toffee, nuts, light metal, and fairly strong alcohol.

Yellow in color with a small but durable head. Tastes more like an imperial pils then a Belgian Strong but oh well. Flavor has a nice grain taste with a decent amount of alcohol burn behind it. I like this beer.