Barrett Spur Bitter
Elliot Glacier Public House

This was my first pint at the Elliot Glacier Public House and I tried – I honestly tried – not to let the sublime, pastoral scenery with its dharma-inducing serenity unduly influence my opinions of their beer. Gotta stay professional no matter how soothing and blissful the moment may be. It shouldn’t matter at all if an impending sunset is throwing shadows across the volcanic majesty of 11,000-foot Mt. Hood and I’m sitting in a pear orchard at harvest with my first pint of the day in hand. It’s all about the beer. Focus. Beer.

Even so, this was one sexy brew. It’s the aroma that did it for me; like patchouli in red wine. And the flavor was lush and fruity hinting briefly at peppermint before tapering towards a clean, bitter terminus. The color is polished bronze with vivid clarity.

Barrett Spur Bitter, named for a jagged landmark of Mt. Hood, is traditional in its eclipsed head though the tradition goes little further. The carbonation is faint – one can count the individual bubbles rising to the surface coaxing some grains from the aroma. But the fruity malt emphasis, the absence of any lace, and the passive mouthfeel would make this out of place in jolly old England. Of course, I don’t give a queen’s rump about jolly old England, but that’s beside the point.

The point is; this is an easily approachable, very drinkable beer suitable for any occasion.