Old Salt IPA
Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub

Darker than average ipa pour, this one went into amber/auburn territory with almost an inch of head. Aroma couldn't pull hops out despite claims from the producer to the contrary.

Taste was a maltier ipa. Crystal malt. I don't get the salt reference. It'll leave you salty? I dunno, always found Cascade hoppy beers to be pointless, not their thing.

 

Dark auburn colored pour, 1/2" head to it, looks professional. Aroma was underwhelming, while they say that the slow dry hop conditioning brings out the herbal hop aromas, this one was lost one me, really only a minor dry hop nose, nothing spectacular, but no off aromas either.

Taste was a little malty, like the appearance indicated, minor pine hop taste, more caramel. Really does approach balance with this one. Closer to pale than ipa for this neck of the woods.

Snifter at the Barrel House and reviewed from more thorough glug from growler at home.
Pours nice golden appearance with adequate head and lacing.
Typical citrus but with a somewhat annoying bitter taste that lingers beyond the flavors.
It's a good, not great drinking IPA. Given that their specialty seems to be sours, it's nice that they offer something for those who prefer an IPA but clearly their niche is sours, not IPA's.

Poured at the Raccoon Lodge into an imperial pint glass.

A - crystal clear and yellowish with a gold tint. very little head to speak of but good lace retention on the sides of the glass

S - very bright & resinous, floral, hints of pine and lemon (pine sol anyone?)

T - definitely tastes like an IPA with pronounced citrus, pine, and herbal notes.

M - moderate body with a pleasant lingering hop bite. great carbonation

D - overall a great IPA, not best in class but you could do a lot worse. could easily knock back 2-3 pints of this stuff.

Can you give points for a cool beer name?

On draught at the lodge, served in an imperial pint, Old Salt IPA is orange with a small off-white head that leaves nice lace.

Smell is pretty hoppy, dry hops, lots of resin.

Taste isn't as hoppy as the nose, with more emphasis on the bread dough malt. Some bitterness for sure, but overall, it's well balanced, if a bit underwhelming on the IPA side of things.

Mouthfeel is on the oily and dry, with a medium body.

Drinkability is OK, a solid ale, more on the pale side of things thing IPA for Portland's taste...but nevertheless well made, nice and clean. I appreciate the focus on the bready malt. While I can't really knock it, I wouldn't really seek it out either.

On tap at the Raccoon Lodge, home of Cascade Brewing. I'm getting to realize that Cascade is really doing exception work with the barrel aging, blending, and sour stuff, the hoppy beers are still hit and miss. The IPA pours a lighter orange with a quarter inch head. Nose is subtle pine and white grapefruit, taste is more of the same with prickly carbonation. It finishes quite dry and overall was pleasant to drink. It has a unique character for an IPA, but for real hophead is missable.

Poured at the Raccoon Lodge into a taster glass.

appearance - clear and gold, good retention and lacing, big head

smell - earthy hops, pine, malt

taste - pine and floral hops, very earthy

mouthfeel - medium body with a dry finish

drinkability - very good IPA, not astounding but fine for a session or a pint

At first blush, Old Salt emits a flowery, cannabis aroma. It's scintillating but soon transforms to an enduring wet leaf expression. This green leafiness also characterizes the taste, which doesn't appeal to my personal preferences for an IPA but is still enjoyable and engaging. The body is copper gold and kicks up smart lace and a good head if you let it. The bittering is sharp and concludes quickly.

It's ironic, but I keep thinking that even a fine, drinkable IPA such as this one can't compete with the star items on the Raccoon's menu - their inspired sour ales.

Had a pint of this on-tap at the lodge... their latest house IPA... didn't try the seasonal IPA as the tender said this one was better....

- Great darker colored caramel, brown, golden IPA... fluffy white creamy head.. about a finger... down to a thin blanket of creamy head.. lacing all over the place... clear...

- Fresh floral and pine scent with a well balanced caramel and darker malt profile... sweet, zesty.. fresh.

- Huge balance, and complex flavor in hops.. at only 65 IBU's this IPA still has a great fresh hop flavor... floral and earthiness.. and pine... a very fresh tasting IPA.. and great on tap.

- Little bit dry and chewy.. but not oily or thick...

- Very drinkable... I could sit around drinking these all day... bit over carbonated for me... but it hits the spot... overall a should-have IPA if available to you on tap.