New Old Lompoc Brewery (Portland, OR)

New Old Lompoc NW Portland Pub, up on 23^rd and Quimby, was dead when I showed up, which suited my desires to taste and talk just fine.  The staff was friendly and adequately caffeinated to speak at length to the brews they poured.  A couple of notes on their beers-

Lompoc Voodoo Mild

This dark mild ale featured prominent roasted malt that was just a little smoke in the background (complimenting the “Voodoo” namesake) and some coffee in the fade.  The beer was very light in the mouth, but carried through a dark complexity.

Lompoc DoubleFest Oktoberfest

This was a surprise to me, and was supposedly just tapped that day for their Oktoberfest party.  The lager opened with the slightest touches of bubblegum, banana, and clove over a sweet bread malt. The lager yeast taste and feel came through in the fade.

Lompoc Fools Golden Ale

Considering the golden ale is one of my least favorite styles, Fools Golden was delicious and light, with wheat coming through and a crisp, clean finish.

Lompoc Condor Pale Ale

Condor Pale Ale was overall more crisp and a bit maltier than the gold, with notes of light lemon, green apple, and pine peaking through.  Despite the huge range of hop flavors, the ale was very light and even easier to drink than the typical NW pale.

Lompoc Centennial IPA

This IPA opened bright and floral, with citrus notes following before mellowing over a mild malt background and fading into a lingering bitterness.

Lompoc C-Note Imperial Pale

A big, flowery ale with subdued bitterness.  Full Review

Lompoc Proletariat Red

Maltier and more bread like than thpale, but somehow less hoppy despite IBU. Full Review.

Lompoc LSD Special Draft

Liquid candy for adults.  Full Review.

Lompoc Sockeye Cream Stout

This cream stout, like most, put its emphasis on sweet milk chocolate, with mild bitterness popping up in the fade and burnt flavors lingering on the tongue.  

Lompoc C-Note Imperial Pale Ale

Lompoc C-Note Imperial Pale Ale, made by Lompoc Fine Ales, poured a dark, transparent iced-tea color into the glass with little carbonation and was topped with a clumpy, thin, off-white head. Big, flowery aromas and pine led the nose with light, sweet citrus notes in the background.

Lompoc C-Note Imperial Pale Ale hit the palette flat and creamy, with copious notes of flowers before settling into a surprisingly dry, grainy biscuit middle.  The ale sweetened up with some citrus coming through in the fade, but stayed surprisingly dry.

Lompoc C-Note Imperial Pale Ale strikes a fine balance between the higher IBU and ABV of an Imperial and the defined, malt prominence of a traditional pale ale.  

Lompoc Proletariat Red Northwest Red Ale

Lompoc Proletariat Red Northwest Red Ale, a regular offering from Lompoc Brewing in Portland, poured a slightly cloudy, bold copper hue into the glass with a sticky, frothy bone-white head and no observable carbonation.  The nose was light, with a semi-sweet caramel aroma complimented by subtle, hoppy pine.

Lompoc Proletariat Red Northwest Red Ale opened smooth (more flat than creamy), with fruity hops leading and blending seamlessly into a sweet vanilla and caramel body that lingered long after the first swallow.

Lompoc Proletariat Red Northwest Red Ale, if a bit two-dimensional, strikes a great balance between hops and malt, being a bit hoppier but somehow less bitter than the typical Northwest red.  I have a suspicion the bottle I had may not have done Proletariat Red justice and will seek it out on tap, but even so it was a nice take on a newer style.

Lompoc Special Draft Specialty Ale

Lompoc Special Draft Specialty Ale, a flagship offering from New Old Lompoc, poured dark brown into the glass, allowing almost no light passing through.  The ale was topped with a thin, sticky parchment-white head.  The nose was the first clue there was something different happening, leading with big toffee and light coffee notes.

Lompoc Special Draft Specialty Ale had a surprisingly dry start, thick but light, with light coffee notes coming through as it settled into a dusty moth feel in the middle. A soft caramel sweetness came in right before the bitterness of the coffee took hold, thickening with the ale with a soft sweetness in the extended fade.

Lompoc Special Draft Specialty Ale is a surprising beer.  It manages to stay light and refreshing while bringing some of the darker characteristics associated with stouts and porters.  The lack of big hops excludes it from being considered a Cascadian Dark Ale, and the lack of roasted darkness excludes it from being a contender for a brown ale.  Sometimes, a good beer is just a good beer.