Blizzard Of Ozz
Off The Rail Brewery

Off The Rail is perhaps the single most hard-to-find native brewed Oregon beer. No bottles, no pub, and a tiny and cryptic distribution network. I found Blizzard on tap at a place called Steve and Sylvia’s Tavern, a marginal Coors and NASCAR joint in an industrial stretch of northeast Portland. Blizzard was one of just two micros in the house. It was pouring for a very agreeable $2.00 a pint.

The name “Blizzard of Oz” doesn’t surprise me as this is a winter seasonal and the brewer is reputed to be an incurable Ozzy Osbourne fan. What I wasn’t expecting at Steve and Sylvia’s was a refined and artistic Belgian wit. What a treat!

Blizzard has lots of flavor arranged along the classic lines of a pale Belgian wheat ale brewed with coriander and orange peel. The color is a dense and luminous cinnamon-gold capped with a soft, velvety head and inviting aroma. The flavor is solid with a smart balance between tart and spice. It is exotic yet still informal.

This was an unexpected pleasure and I look forward to locating more Off The Rail taps. To find them, look for the white railroad spike tap handle.
EDIT: 9.0% ABV