Golden Valley IPA VS Brut

750 ml. corked, caged, and foiled version(batch #2?) that was riddled, discorged and bottled at the Argyle winery: Wow, amazing package and presentation in a clear bottle that looks like top quality sparkling wine/CHAMPAGNE. Though this has been discorged there’s still some protein clumps dwelling around the bottom of this. Dark syrupy golden color, bit of an effort to remove the cork but there was a satisfying pop. The carbonation is very beer like, not the fine bubbles and collapsing fizz of champagne, still nice sticky Bavarian looking foam. Flavor is very very nice, with an extremely smooth and rich palate but extremely easy to drink, mouth filling smooth hop burps get up into the retronasal and provide a nicely sprucey/noble hop sinus condition. Some noticeable vanilla and caramel from the oak but it’s very smoothly inegrated. Definitely the smoothest and most desireable "Imperial IPA " type beer I’ve ever tried and I can’t help but to romanticize that some turn of the century (that’s 105 back) brewer night have brewed some sort of special reserve type ale as this and aged it in barrels and maybe even done the champagne treatment on it, it has a rustic quality about it that brings on thoughts like this. Anyway, I was skeptical but overall I’d say I’m won over by this, I just wish I could afford another bottle!.

What an amazing concept, another great example of Mark’s brewing technique. The color is rich and has a bit of a cloudy deep golden color with a quickly dissipating head, that clings heavily and leaves a sticky residue around the rim. The flavor is what captures your palate immediately, rich and complex and every sip brings new flavors subtleties.

750 ml bottle, corked, caged and foil-wrapped. Methode Champenoise, aged in Argyle barrels. Pop goes the cork! Dark crimson color, nearly violet, with thick haze and some floaties flitting about...big, long-lasting head. Musty, funky aroma looms over anything else...slightly sour and utterly twisted...thoroughly queer this, more like a Cantillon than any IPA...can barely detect any hops...(this changes in the glass over time, as the must dissipates just a bit) Taste: sweet and sour. Hops dance on the tongue, lash the palate with light bitterness, fruity character dominates and becomes increasingly pleasing. Plummy flavor shines through, with some cherry and grape. Nicely rounded with an edge of oak. Very complex and sophisticated blend, gets mellow in the mouth, despite the protracted alcoholic content (9.5%). Full bodied, dry, fruity finish...bitterness is moderate, malt feels lush. Quite tasty, this...smooth, yet complicated, a unique combination of hops, yeast, sweet malt, and barrel-aging effects. Very special, indeed.

Other reviewers noted this beer as being skunky due to the clear bottle. Mine was not at all and was actually one of the freshest tasting beers I’ve ever had. I guess it all depends on the care taken by the bottleshop to store it properly. Also I purchased my bottle local to the source, in Oregon so it didn’t have to travel very far. Pours hazy amber with thin head. I was expecting more carbonation since it came out of a champagne bottle. Aroma is interesting, it is very dry and a bit yeasty. I can probably attribute this to the fact that I got the bottom half of the bottle, with the yeast dredges. Also some green aromas of pine, very fresh. Flavor is excellent, much better than the aroma. Some pine and pineapple citrus, very fresh- backed by biscuit flavors. Very complex flavor and not as one sided as IIPAs usualy are. Finishes slightly sweet with potent bitterness. Very nice.

Medium orange color. Aroma is fruity, hoppy and sweet. A medium bodied IPA. Malts are fruity and sweet. Hops are grapefruity and spicy. Very floral and fruity. Very smooth. Nice soft and round carbonation. Touch of oak as well. Nice beer. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.