Cascade Head
McMenamins Inc.

a super simple and in some ways unexciting blonde ale, well enough made, but it doesnt hold a candle to the couple of ipa types i had in here. i wasnt disappointed either though, i like the basic grain base but how the yeast still has some flavor, their house strain really is pretty neat, well suited to a number of styles, slightly english and old worldy, but also subtle and can work their beers down pretty dry most of the time. this also has just a pinch more hops than i think is common, at least outside of the northwest, so i didnt find it boring, although its far from thrilling. blonde colored beer with a short white head, less than perfect clarity but close, and an aroma of slightly bready malt, every so slightly richer than the standard, but it stays light and dry to drink, crackery and earthy underneath. the hops smell slightly piney but are all the way in the back, in the flavor they bring a little bitterness too to help crisp up the finish, faint citrus there, but they dont make this aggressive or anything. lighter medium body, fine carbonation, sort of an empty space before the swallow, but its part of what keeps this light. overall this is the kind of beer they probably need to have on their menu to keep the masses happy, it doesnt present like their most inspired work, but it gets the job done.

 

 

The bartender (a sweet young thing I didn’t care to argue with) told me this was a light beer. “You know, like Budweiser.” I sighed. Perhaps I’d pass on this one and simply make an early evening of it. There seemed no point in even asking if this was an ale or a lager. But I was offered a sample, and to my surprise – a Belgian wit, and a zesty one at that.

Sunny lemon color, very spicy, with notes of clove, nutmeg, peppercorn, and anise. The combined taste is so much like ginger ale, I can’t help but wonder if real ginger is used. I would ask the bartender but... well, forget that.

My pint didn’t sustain well, but still managed to entertain.