Maiden Oregon Ale
Deschutes Brewery

Reviewed from notes. On tap at the brewpub in the Summer of 2009.

Pour brings a brown body with a bit of a crimson hue. Good head with nice retention and some lacing as it goes down. The nose is pretty yeasty with some malt in the background. A bit of spice as well as dark fruits and a bit of sugar. The taste is good and hits the style quite well. Nice malt and dark fruits. A bit of pepper and clove spice in the feel. Finishes quite well and was one enjoyable brew.

Had this at the brew pub in Portland, OR on 2009-03-03

A - Served in a snifter. It's a hazy dark amber with short head.

S - Whiffs of clove and banana

T - Banana and spiced apple cider with a stick of orange candy. Alcohol warms it nicely. Reminds me of a Delirium Tremens.

M - Pretty thick with mild carbonation

D - Not for sessions but a nice taste treat.

"Created to celebrate Oregon's 150th anniversary, this Belgian Amber ale was brewed using all Oregon ingredients. Crystal Hops from the Willamette valley, organic 2-row barley from Klamath Falls, water from Mt. Hood, Oregon beet sugar from Nyssa, and yeast from Wyeast labs in Hood River are all it took to brew this fabulous ale. Happy Birthday, Oregon! "

Snifter at Deschutes' PDX pub. Maiden Oregon is a chill hazed bronze with an off-white head that leaves scattered lace.

Smell is estery, cloves, some banana.

Taste is pretty rich, a bit sweet, estery, a nice spiciness, with some clean alcohol and a lingering, estery finish. Pretty good beer, definitely a fitting tribute for the 150th, and one of Deschutes' better Belgians.

Mouthfeel is on the thicker, sugary side, with a dry finish.

Drinkability is good, it's tasty, but formidable, with the strength fairly obvious. Still, a very well done Belgian, a bit lower attenuation to cut the sweetness and less solvent character and you'd have a home run.