Deschutes "Jubelale" Winter Ale

Deschutes is on a bit of a roll. Mind you, I haven't had one of their beers since 2014, but both of the beers that I had from them I gave excellent ratings to. I guess you can ask why it took me so long to try more, and I'd have to say it's probably because my brother gave me the first two as a gift, and I've pretty much been waiting for him to give me more. My favorite local beer slinger doesn't seem to keep this brewer in stock.

As expected for a winter ale, this is particularly dark. It is a pleasing shade of mahogany and crimson with a sticky and patchy head that leaves lacing and gathers big bubbles on the top of the beers surrounded by tiny little bubbles. The aroma is heavily lined with berries, and spices are definitely in the mix. It's a good presentation, and I'm thirsty.

First sip does not have any of the berries that I smelled. Instead, a roasted malt made mostly of toffee is mixed in with all the spices and a good bit of earth. A winter ale really needs to be able to stand up to the coldness of a winter evening, and this definitely has enough character. Add on the lingering bitterness and a little bit of coffee, and this seems like it's exactly the kind of beer that you would want for a cold winters night as you settle down by the fire. But what if you gulped it?

Tip-in is watery toffee with spices and carbonation swelling up. The middle is awash with more spices as a layer of dust settles down and bitterness comes rising from the depths. The finish is where I still taste that bit of coffee as the spices come to full volume and then the bitterness and dusty haze retreat for the trail-off.

Bottom Line: Not as good as its stablemates, but good enough for now.

2.25/5