Deschutes French Oak Mirror Pond Pale Ale

On tap at the brewpub (and subsequently on growler at home!). Pours an almost clear orange-brown with a medium, cream-colored head like ocean foam. Leaves decent lacing. This is a wonderfully aromatic pale ale, with more than just the usual suspects. To be sure, there’s a healthy amount of lemon-lime citrus and some caramel (not really very pronounced before warming). But these combine in such a way, and undoubtedly with help from the oaking, to convey rose-petal perfumes and a bright fruity character you might find in a dry white wine. The beer is on the light-bodied side with very mild bittering. The body is sweet in a perfumy sort of way and there’s some lemony acidity. Finish is medium in length and light caramel lingers. This is a very nice twist on a pale.

On tap at the Deschutes pub. This was really nice, the pale was dried out a lot by the oak. Sweet caramel hint of front blended nicely with the oak and the finish was crisp and very dry from the citrus hops. Pours a clear amber with a tall white head. This beer didn’t stand out much before, but the oak adds a subtle character that makes it much more interesting.

Nice light amber, but a soothing cascade hops and honey-suckle aroma. Medium body w.th just enough cascade hops to keep it from being bland. Simple, but crisply hopped beer and a pleasant finish.