Fest
Terminal Gravity Brewing Company

 

Had this on tap at Concordia Ale House a while ago. Pours a dark brown with some ruby highlights. Nice head that fades to a cap and sticks around. Great lacing. A nice looking beer. Sweet malt and some light spice on the nose followed by some nice citrusy hops. Very nice interplay between the rich malt and bright citrus aromas. Same great interplay in the flavors, and great balance betweeen the darkly sweeet malt and the long blast of citrusy hop bitterness. This is great beer. Nice full mouthfeel with a creamy finish. I could drink these until I fell off the stool- as rich as they are. Really glad I got to try this.

On a whim, I stopped into Kelly's Olympian (Portland) to see what was on draught. Bartenderess told me this was her favorite new keg, hoppy and strong, so I figured it might be interesting...ordered a pint-full.

A: Deep chestnut brown, tinted with ruddiness - has an unappealingly hazy dinginess to it. Crowned with about 1/2 finger of dense, sandy-tan cream. Excellent-looking lace in wide, sticky bands. Whatever minuses I'd give for a murky brownness, this makes up for with a beautifully cobwebby lace.

S: There are hops which are gently spicy and a bit piny. Sweetened caramel malt gives some texture. A good smell, not quite bursting from the glass.

T: Lots of hops, with a definite slant towards sweet orange/citrus and zesty spice. Subtle layers of evergreen in the middle. Malts are dark and taste like burnt caramel, a little smoky or sooty. A trace of soapiness in the finish - a very tasty, highly-hopped red/IPA.

M: Very creamy and heavy in the mouth. ABV is uncertain, but I'd guess at least 7%; spicy hops and charred malts give a thick, lingering bittering. Boozy warmth is concealed, but there's a dense sugary stickiness to the finish.

D: Can't recall ever having this one before, a very good & warming winter beer. Hints of spice, lots of hops and toasty caramel undertones. Love the balance in this hoppy NW Red; true Hop-Heads should seek this out. Absolutely worth a try and one I'd certainly order again if in the mood.

Was very happy to see this on tap at Concordia Alehouse the other night. Seems as if this exceptional seasonal ale is available earlier and earlier every year, which is just fine by me.

The beer pours a darkish amber brown color with nuances of red. There is very good head retention and lacing. On the nose I get some spice, brown sugar and molasses, which is quickly overwhelmed by a blast of citrus from the hops. This years version has some moderate sweetness from the malt, but it seems to me as if they've amped up the hop bill a bit. This years version has better bitterness to counter the sweet malt, and the finish is a bit more dry as well. Just delightful. The beer is not heavy and has what I'd call a medium bodied mothfeel. This beer is quite drinkable, with the extra added hoppiness making it quite refreshing and easy to drink.

Another winner from the talented brewers at Terminal Gravity.

This seasonal offering from TG was served to me from a fresh tap at the Amnesia Brewpub in Portland. The ABV was said to be in the neighborhood of 7.0%. I’d be tempted to call this a winter warmer, but I prefer to think of it as a seasonal red ale, and indeed, one of the best I’ve ever had.

Fest begins with a compelling sultry red color. How else to describe it but sexy? It is a deep, passionate scarlet like glowing coals or sunset. Looking through the clear depths of a pint backlit by candles on the bar produces a soothing hypnotic effect. It is nothing short of seduction. This beer is actually sexier than most of the humans at the bar, and I’m talking about the Amnesia here!

The aroma is a tantalizing perfume of malts. The head is thin but trails a seamless veil of wall-to-wall lace. The taste is shaped by dark fruity malts that combine with a light citrus hop character to create a near-tangerine flavor. It is memorable and distinct with the dominant sweetness counterbalanced by a gentle bitterness. Beautiful in every way.