HUB (Hopworks Urban Brewery) Taproom Tasting

HUB (Hopworks Urban Brewery) is a facility well worth checking out… from the tasting room nestled under the restaurant in the actual brewery to the tastefully decorated restaurant, HUB is all about local, green, and organic.  Their annex facility actually has bikes you can ride to power the brewery! 

Hopworks HUB Organic Lager

HUB Organic Velvet ESB

Hopworks HUB Organic Crosstown Pale Ale

Hopworks HUB IPA

Hopworks HUB Deluxe Organic Ale American Strong

Hopworks HUB Survival 7-Grain Stout

Hopworks HUB Bike Beer Kolsch

Hopworks HUB Bourbon Ace Barrel-Aged Imperial IPA

Hopworks HUB Muscles from Brussels Strong Belgian

Hopworks HUB Rise-Up Red Ale

HUB Hopworks Rise-Up Red NW Ale

HUB Hopworks Rise-Up Red NW Ale, a regular offering from HUB (Hopworks Urban Brewing), poured a deep crimson into the glass, supporting a sticky tan head.  There were loads of pine in the nose, 

with nothing but the slightest bit of sweetness coming through from the malt.

HUB Rise-Up Red NW Ale hit the palette spicy pine with bitterness and immediately coated my mouth with a thick stickiness.  The malt became more present as the ale settled, adding a sweet caramel to the flavor, but the hops never ceded control, even as the ale faded in an extended bitter close.

HUB Hopworks Rise-Up Red NW Ale is easily described as an IPA with a slightly thicker and creamier body.  Rather middle of the road for HUB, but given their track record, that’s not too bad.

Hopworks Urban Brewery Secession Cascadian Dark Ale

American-Style Black Ale, Cascadian Dark Ale... Black IPA... the jury is still out on exactly what the newest style of ale hailing from the Pacific Northwest should be called (the Brewers Association recently updated it's style guide to include American-Style Black Ale), but all share an IPA inspired hop profile supported by a darker, porter-style malt profile.  Hopworks Urban Brewery (or HUB), based out of Portland Oregon, lays claim to being Oregon's first EcoBrewery and is the brewer of today's winter seasonal, HUB Secession Cascadian Dark Ale.

HUB Secession Cascadian Dark Ale poured pitch black into the bottle, with mild carbonation forming a big, sudsy tan head.  The smells of chocolate, pine, and thyme came through as the head settled.

HUB Secession Cascadian Dark Ale began with a crisp, IPA inspired front that was dry but floral.  The body of the ale brought forth a big chocolate center with hints of semi-roasted coffee, and Secession ended on a long fade of tobacco and burnt grains with a lingering bitterness that dried in the mouth.

HUB Secession Cascadian Dark Ale is both blessed and cursed with what it is... darker and warmer than an IPA, hoppier and crisper than a porter.  It is more interchangeable with a porter style, but the highly hopped front may turn off those looking for toasty and not bitter.  That said, what it brings to the table can be perfect for the 'tween' cravings.  All in all, it's a great ale for those six months out of the year where the sun doesn't show up quite enough.

Hopworks Urban Brewery HUB Ace of Spades Imperial IPA

HUB Ace of Spades Imperial IPA poured a hazy honey hue with heavy carbonation feeding a big, foamy white head.  The nose was pure hops...big pine and tropical fruits.

HUB Ace of Spades Imperial IPA began with a big, fruity start that settled into a sweet middle still citrusy-hop dominant.  The extended linger had some subtle heat, and was surprisingly non-sticky or oily in the mouth.   

HUB Ace of Spades Imperial IPA is one of those beers that’s too good to be limited to a seasonal release (although my wallet can’t complain).  It’s one of the best IIPAs around.

Caldera Old Growth Imperial Stout

An evening trip to the Gypsy aimed at (ultimately unsuccessfully) grabbing a pint of Hopworks Urban brewery (HUB) Organic Ace of Spades Imperial IPA, I noticed a new tap from Caldera Brewing Co, Caldera Old Growth Imperial Stout.

Caldera Old Growth Imperial Stout poured an impenetrable black with red highlights from the tap, capped with a thin, oily film of tan head.  The nose (admittedly somewhat obscured by the smell of food cooking in the kitchen) was predominately mild coffee with an unsweetened chocolate backbone.

Quite a contrast to the nose, Caldera Old Growth Imperial Stout hit the palette with thick and creamy coffee start that was almost immediately overwhelmed by milk chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and a nutty flavor.  I joked with BJ, the bar tender, that it tasted like a dark chocolate almond snickers bar with a bit of coffee bitterness as the palette cleared.  The final notes were reminiscent of chocolate covered espresso bean. 

Caldera Old Growth Imperial Stout  was a surprise to me, being much less aggressive and spicy than other Oregon Imperial Stouts like The Abyss or W'11 KGB Imperial Stout.  It is very dessert-like without being too sweet, and I have to applaud Caldera for making such a round stout that hides a big ABV.