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From: bbaker@cadsys.UUCP (William Baker)
Newsgroups: net.wines
Subject: "Young" ales and west coast hop character
Message-ID: <136@cadsys.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Aug-85 16:51:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: cadsys.136
Posted: Tue Aug 20 16:51:29 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 25-Aug-85 05:30:36 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: Intel, Santa Clara, Ca.
Lines: 29



	I've noticed something odd about a number of brews being
produced by west coast boutique breweries.  They all seem to have a
certain taste in common.  In my drinking in Seattle, Portland, and
San Francisco, I have found this taste in almost all of the
bitter-style ales produced by the small brewers in these cities.
	It is a sort of salty, hoppy taste that dominates the
palate, but does not give itself away in the nose.  I have found
this characteristic taste with an amazing amount of uniformity in
such new products as Pyramid Ale (Portland), Grant's Celtic
(Seattle), and Foghorn Ale (San Francisco).  This taste is similar
to what Olympia used to taste like, so I'm wondering whether it is
just the distinctive taste of Yakima hops, which Oly used to use a
lot more of.
	On the other hand, it seems unlikely that a wide variety of
breweries (I have found this taste in other boutique ales) would be
using large amounts of Yakima hops.  It seems like it must be a
symptom of new brews because I have not tasted it in established
American ales such as Ballantine's IPA, and certain not in Bass or
other English bitters.
	It has gotten to the point where I am unwilling to try new
boutique bitters because I am tired of paying for beer that I can't
drink.  The peculiarities of individual malt taste and nose are all
lost because of this overpowerring alkaline hop character.  Has
anyone else noticed this?

					Bill Baker
					intelca!cadsys!bbaker