Beer Is Good – Deschutes Green Rivers Organic Ale

I had dinner over the weekend at a Macrobiotic restaurant, and they had several organic beers that I haven’t tried before. I gave this one a shot based only on the brewery name recognition. I’ve had a couple of other Deschutes varieties, and I have to say this one is not unlike them. On initial pour, the color of this ale was dark amber, almost red. The server tilted the glass and didn’t’ give a full pour, so it didn’t form a head. I subsequently rectified this. The carbonation level was moderate – bubbles continued to rise throughout the life of the beer. The aroma was hoppy and sweet, and similarly, the first taste was fruity from the hopping. There was only a faint malt flavor in the middle with a bitter note from the hops. The finish faded out on the bitter note. The overall impression was that of Obsidian Stout with a lighter roast on the malt. If you like Deschutes other offerings, give it a try – I didn’t particularly care for it. Specifically, I was disappointed in the underwhelming malt flavor, and the overwhelming hop flavor.

Available at select stores and restaurants in the USDM

5.2 ABV (buzz-packing!)

Ambivalent

Two out of four drunken monkeys