(OR) Deschutes Hop in the Dark Cascadian Dark Ale, Is A Should Try
Bend, OR - A few weeks Ago Deschutes released their version of a Cascadian Dark Ale. CDA gets part of its namesake from the region composed of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Idaho, and Montana. Those of us in the Northwest have no doubt had seen other breweries produce beers with the name Cascadian Dark Ale or CDA (including Hopworks Urban Brewery and Oakshire), each with their own accent on what this style means to them. Deschutes Hop in the Dark (as the beer is called) is the creation of Larry Sidor and the assistant brewers of Deschutes Brewery.
The beer however didn't come without many revisions (over 20+ to be exact), as each brewer sampled batch after batch, learning more about themselves along the way. Currently if you look up CDA online you might see it associated with an India Pale Ale or Dark Ale, which are both incorrect. But instead of trying to figure out platypus riddle (is it a bird or beaver), we instead choose to let you decide for yourselves.
Deschutes Hop in the Dark, is a dark ale that pours with a strong mocha foamy head that leaves behind a tattered carpet of lace. When raised to the light you can barely see anything pass through it.
Sniffing this you pick up hop elements of fruity esters, pineapple, a slight spiciness, along with a bit of caramel and chocolate malt.
Sipping this one you detect an initial hop earthiness (grass like), as well as grapefruit citrus before the beer finishes dry with bits of caramel and cocoa. Overall the beer is not heavy, as leaves behind a mild almost medium weight. This beer feels like it would work well with a cheese and mushroom pizza or maybe a portabella mushroom melt on sour dough.
Brewery Description
http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/brews/bond-street-series/hop-in-the-dark/default.aspx
Our Thoughts
You Should Try. Whether you are a fan of India Pale Ales, Pale Ales, or want to try something new and hoppy, this one should be enjoyed if you can find it.
Thoughts by your Colleagues
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/deschutes-hop-in-the-dark-cda/119389/
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/58695
Cheers
About the photos’ author
Paul “Fruit Trees” Orchard, is an amateur craft beer enthusiast and amateur photographer. Throughout the many years in craft beer he is always carrying a camera (smartphone, digital, traditional) and is invites you to see that beer can also be exciting even if you can’t drink the photo.
In accordance with new FTC regulations regarding bloggers and endorsements, the aforementioned company has provided me a free sample that was used for research prior to writing this review.
