Upright #5 - Spicy Summer Saison Treat

A hot Sunday in June and some hard work under the sun screams for a fresh beer on the porch. Yoga, 6 mile run, mow the lawn, rip out two trees, repair the gutters. Honey-do list = complete. After a hard Sunday of sweat and grime, I believe I've earned myself an Upright Five from my personal stash of brews in the cellar that are only accessed under special circumstances or after amazing personal feats. A fresh and spicy saison, perfect to beat the heat and enter relaxation mode. I only wish I brought more back from my last trip to Portland. 

We can't get upright here, as the brewery is very young and extremely small. I've been able to secure a few bottles through various northwest ventures and have been floored each time. Upright is quickly becoming one of my top 5 breweries. If you are ever in Portland it's a must visit brewery. I'll be back in December to bring home some more...taking limited orders now.

Serving Type: 750ml Bottle
Glassware: Tulip
Appearance: Translucent copper with huge and foamy white head
Aroma: Hops, fresh cut grass, herbs, pepper and a touch of wood
Taste: Robust bitter herb notes up front, a hint of sweetness in the middle (melon?), with a good hop bite at the end. 
Grade: 95/100 (A)
Surroundings: Relaxing on Sunday evening with Chipotle and a great beer
Musical Pairing: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Heart in your Heartbreak

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Mikkeller - I Beat yoU

Yes, that's what it's called and it does what it says. For those unfamiliar with Mikkeller, he's a Danish "gypsy" brewer, moving from brewery to brewery, forgetting the rules and creating some of the most unique beers around. He's like that friend we all have that is just good at anything...you know, he can wax the floor with you at your best game, and had never even played the game before. In this case, the aforementioned Dane has brewed an american imperial IPA, at Brewdog in Scotland, and then gave it the name "I Beat yoU"!!  ...bold, very bold, sir.

Pours creamy, gold with a hearty, ivory head that lasts and lasts. Buttery up front and pine in the back, the flavor is strong, but gentle on the tongue. I like very much. It reminds me of Avery's Maharaja...which is in my top 10 list.

Touche, Mr. Mikkel Bjergso. You have won this round. The brew name speaks for itself. Your fine ale beats most of the imperial IPAs i've had enjoyed to date from some of the best craft brewers in the states. I will continue to seek out your creations for further analysis.

Imbibilicious, out.

Serving Type: bottle, 11.2 oz, $6

Glassware: Tulip

Color (hue and head): creamy, gold, cloudy. Thick, ivory head.

Taste: Buttery pine, maybe some honeysuckle

Grade: 95/100 (A)

Musical pairing: Land of Talk - Hamburg, Noon

Surroundings: Wrapping presents, enjoying beverage(s).

Brew Review - Boulevard Rye-on-Rye

I had hoped to wait for my partner in crime (Yum! Beer) to join me in this effort, but my wife was out of town. The environment of working on the laptop in front of the Olympics was too well suited for expansion of the taste spectrum. I work in IT, which can be quite monotonous. Flavorful libations and working late have a nasty habit of forming a symbiotic relationship with each other on the couch (ESPECIALLY when the wife is away). I guess I didn’t need someone to twist my arm, so I proceeded to the local beverage dealer. With tractor beam precision, I found myself standing before a stack of Boulevard Smokestack Series cases, not remembering how I had gotten there. Jedi mind trick or my survival instinct fighting to balance the work play ratio? Either way, I picked up two bottles and made a fast exit.

Upon opening, I was inundated with light, aromatic craft brew flavor. I pulled my favorite chardonnay glass from the rack and poured a handsome serving, cresting with a thick and creamy head. The perfume of the pour was light and lively; the brew seemed to flaunt its reddish amber and deeply opaque appearance. I couldn't decide if it was malt or hops giving off the enticing scent, so I moved in for a closer test. The aroma was light, easy on the nose, and malty more that hoppy, but only by a hair. I decided to dive in. Expecting a malty, sweet finish, I was happily introduced to fairer play on the tongue. The flavor was rich and energetic, with exceptional balance. Clean finish with minimal aftertaste (hint of hop), creating a thirst for more.

Making its way across the palate nicely, the Rye on Rye begs for another sip. At 11%, I definitely needed to slow my roll if I planned on performing my normal salary-based activities, soberly. I saw my hand making a slow, but deliberate movement away from the laptop and toward my music collection…and I let it. Immediately, I felt The Walkmen emanating my now brew riddled veins. I threw on their first album, Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone, frantically searching for “Wake Up.” Once satisfied with my lyrical surroundings, plowing through anything work related didn't seem so tough. The Rye on Rye could easily promote the ideal of working late on the couch more often.

Serving Type: Bottle (750 ml)

Glassware: Chardonnay Glass

Color (hue and head): Reddish Amber with creamy, ivory head

Clarity: full, deep, opaque, cloudy

Aroma: grainy, malty, semi sweet, lighter aroma than expected.

Taste: balanced, rich, energetic, light hop, slight malt, clean (whiskey) finish, minimal aftertaste.

Grade: 94/100 (A)

Musical pairing: The Walkmen - Wake Up

Surroundings: Couching it, working, listening to music, wife out of town.