What’s Old is New Again
Baerlic Brewing is doing something different. Their beers taste very unique among Portland breweries. While every other brewery is falling over themselves making ultra-fruity IPAs and added-fruit ales, Baerlic is making bitter, toothsome brews. The beer is more akin to that brewed at an early aughts microbrewery than a contemporary hophouse, but they utilize the same modern hops and flavors.
For example, the latest New Noise is brewed with classic Cascade hops – like an old Sierra Nevada brew – but also Amarillo, El Dorado, and Azacca – the latter two were bred in the last ten years. In a single pint of New Noise you can taste the entire evolution of American IPA in reverse order, it moves from the modern and juicy, to the old and hard in a single sip. Upfront, the beer tastes of tangy tangerine and passion fruit, very de rigueur. On the backend, you get a really firm handshake of pine and spruce. It’s earthy. The body isn’t pillowy or fluffy. It’s oily.
It’s a fascinating beer. The combination of flavors is unexpected. But do I like it? I'm not sure. I’ll have another and let you know.
