Widmer Brothers Broken Halo IPA

Most well-known for bringing the hefeweizen (mit lemon) to the West Coast in the 1980’s, the Widmer Brothers have established a solid line of regularly available brews, seasonal brews, and limited edition releases.  Today I’m opening their take on my favorite ale type, the IPA, with Widmer Brothers Broken Halo IPA.

Widmer Brothers Broken Halo IPA poured a honey-yellow into the glass with a vigorous, off-white head and mild carbonation.  The nose was a classic Northwest combination of garden flowers and pine.

Widmer Brothers  Broken Halo IPA opened with crisp grapefruit and pine flavors backed by a sweet malt backbone with hints of caramel.  Something seemed a bit off about the mouth feel… maybe a bit more oily and metallic than I’m used to.  It wasn’t distracting, but it was always there in the background when I really concentrated on all the flavors.   Broken Halo ended on a nice, hop-centric fade that outlasted whatever funkiness it was I tasted earlier. 

If I had to describe the Widmer Brothers’ brewing capability and selection with only a few descriptors, “competently executed”, “respectful and representative of the style”, and “always good, never great” are a few that come to mind.  Widmer Brothers’ Broken Halo IPA completely falls within this stereotype… a great session beer that hits all the right notes for the IPA style but lacking the depth to be truly memorable.

Widmer Brothers W'11 KGB Russian Imperial Stout

Another winter seasonal... this time a Portland, OR offering from the Widmer Brothers; Widmer Brothers W'11 KGB Russian Imperial Stout.

Widmer Brothers W'11 KGB Russian Imperial Stout poured an impenetrable black-brown with a thin, soapy cafe au lait tinted head.  The nose was a potent mix of coffee, molasses, anise, and roasted grains with an earthy smoke in the background.

Widmer Brothers W'11 Russian Imperial Stout met my palette with a surprising momentary lemon crispness, but was quickly overwhelmed by burnt coffee and dark chocolate and a chewiness in the mouth.  As the stout faded, the semi-sweet dark chocolate took over and lingered in my mouth with a slight alcohol burn.

Widmer Brothers W'11 Russian Imperial Stout is, as promised in the "Imperial", a big brute of a brew.  9.3% ABV makes for a tough drink, and the chewiness of the body seals the deal that this is a sipping beer.  I actually found the beer very enjoyable, and look forward to polishing off the rest of the six-pack this week, but would advise those afraid of big, dark beers steer clear.

Widmer Brothers Galaxy Hopped Barleywine Ale

Widmer Brothers Galaxy Hopped Barleywine Ale, the Spring 2011 Brothers’ Reserve offering from Widmer Brothers, poured a hazed copper topped by a dirty white head and mild carbonation.  The nose carried forward toffee and candi sugar with a pine and mint hop presence.

Widmer Brothers Galaxy Hopped Barleywine Ale followed its nose on the palette, opening with toffee, caramel, and dried cherries.  The hops were more pine-centric and less herby in taste, and the ale faded rather quickly, leaving an awkward heat in the fade. 

Widmer Brothers Galaxy Hopped Barleywine walks the line between an Imperial IPA with too sweet a malt profile and a barleywine with aggressive, NW style hopping.  It is lighter than many big beers, and other than being a bit too skewed to the front of the tongue is a well thought-out experiment.  

Widmer Brothers Lemongrass Wheat Ale Brothers' Reserve Limited Release

Widmer Brothers Lemongrass Wheat Ale, the limited Fall 2011 release from Widmer Brothers boasting lemongrass, muscat grapes, and champagne yeast additions, poured a transparent gold into the glass, with little head or carbonation to observe.  Lemongrass came through in the nose, but saw slightly thrown off my the distinct odor of fermented sweet grapes and dry, dry wheat.  


Widmer Brothers Brothers' Reserve Lemongrass Wheat Ale opened with the funky sweet tang of newly fermented muscat grapes and sugar.  As the sweetness subsided, the ale thickened and dried simultaneously (not desirable, but impressive) and the lemongrass came through to give an oddly bitter, citric  edge to the juxtaposition of grapes and a dry wheat base.  The ale faded rather abruptly, taking any everything but a marked mustiness with it.


On paper, Widmer Lemongrass Wheat Ale should have worked out.  The addition of champagne yeast, muscat grapes, and lemongrass evoke a dry, sparkling Sauvignon Blanc full of citrus and spice, but the end result is cloying, with off-putting fermented fruit flavors and nothing that lingers or develops from the mess.  

Widmer Brothers Brewery and Gasthause (Portland, OR)

Located right next to the Widmer Brothers brewery, Widmer Brothers Brewery and Gasthaus Pub is a must visit if you want to check out how big brewing is done.  Although their year-long bottled offerings are a little pedestrians, a visit to their tap house reveals a whole other side to Widmer-

Widmer OKTO Festival Ale

OKTO was appropriately malty, with a medium body and slightly sweet middle, and ended with a crisp, dry finish.

Widmer Citra Blonde Summer Ale

Bright and crisp, Citra Blonde led with orange citrus, and closed on a strange, pronounced yeast in the fade that left a dusty mouth feel.

Widmer Collaborator Steel Bridge Porter

This collaboration between Widmer and Portland home brewers carried the right amount of mocha and toffee to please the dark beer drinker with enough carbonation to keep it light and crisp for a hot summer day. 

Widmer Framboise Wheat Saison

This interesting offering is a traditional saison, with the light raspberry addition barely making it through over pepper, clove, and banana.  Although just a hair lacking in funk, Widmer’s saison was great.

Widmer TimBRRR Imperial Red Ale

“Big”, “sweet caramel”, and “malty” are the descriptors that came to mind as I sipped this high ABV TimBRRR (which isn’t coincidentally named for the Timbers).  In my opinion, the hops didn’t come through enough, which could have helped TimBRRR to cut the sweetness.

Widmer Rose City Hipster Golden Ale

Widmer’s Golden Ale brewed with rose hips, Rose City Hipster was sweet and orangey, with the rose only appearing in the nose and as a residual aftertaste.

Widmer Brothers Rotator X-114 IPA Series

Widmer Brothers Rotator X-114 IPA Series poured a bright white head over a pale honey body.  The nose had a distinct, sweet cantaloupe and spice aroma to it.

Widmer Brothers Rotator X-114 IPA opened with a carbonate, sweet orange citrus start backed by a sweet, caramel malt center.  The hop profile shifted to more traditional grapefruit and pine, with a bit of peppery spice, and the IPA ended on a dry, spiced citrus note.

Widmer Brothers Rotator X-114 IPA is a unique experience, with the 114 (Citra) adding a distinctly sweet citrus flavor and aroma to the classic NW IPA experience.  I look forward to trying their three forthcoming additions to the Rotator IPA line.

Widmer Brothers' Reserve Barrel Aged Brrrbon

Time for another big brew... this time from the brothers Widmer. 

Extravagantly packaged in a ribboned cardboard display box, Widmer Reserve Barrel Aged Brrrbon takes the Widmer Brrr Seasonal Ale to the next level by barrel aging Brrr in Kentucky bourbon casks for four months.

Widmer Reserve Brrrbon poured a hazy brown with yellow highlights and a thin, sticky head.  The nose was dominated by whiskey with notes of vanilla and sugar. 

The first taste gave hints of hops that didn't have a chance to solidify before smokey, caramel bourbon took over.  After that, the beer drank like a pale ale overshadowed by a half a shot of whiskey.  Brrrbon was surprisingly dry, with just hints of sweetness, and it had an alcohol burn aftermath akin to hard alcohol.

Despite (or because?) of the experience, I was able to appreciate what Brrrbon brought to the table and thoroughly enjoyed the bottle.  That said... I don't anticipate buying another one this season but look forward to trying future Widmer Brothers' Reserve recipes.  Give it a shot and live a little!

Widmer Brothers Falconer's IPA Rotator IPA Series

I was excited to pick up Widmer Falconer's IPA Rotator IPA Series, the fall IPA rotator series offering from Widmer Brothers, because I've been trying (without success) to get my hands on Falconer's Flight, a new hop variety that sounds interesting for formulating fruitier IPAs.  Falconer's IPA poured the color of honey, with red rings hugging the side, capped with a small, sticky white head.  Juicy Fruit, pineapple, and citrus wafted from the glass, as well as a bitterness that was somewhat off-putting in the context of the fruit flavors.


Widmer Falconer's IPA opened with a bitter, bright start... much rougher than the nose implied.  Pineapple and orange thankfully took over and say well against a sweet malt background, but a grapefruit rind bitterness that was lurking in the background the whole time came through strong in the end, leaving the aftertaste a b9it messy.


Widmer Falconer's IPA is a good ale, but it has somewhat dashed my expectations of the Falconer's Flight hop... hopefully someone else can make it sit in the mix a little better? 

Widmer Bros Nelson Imperial IPA

Widmer Bros Nelson Imperial IPA, a newer offering from Widmer Brothers, poured a crimson clover honey hue in the glass with a small, sticky head.  Big, sweet nectarine and lesser notes of pine led the nose.

Widmer Bros Nelson Imperial IPA opened with a sweet honey and orange liqueur start, with some rind bitterness making an appearance in the middle.  The ale maintained its dark character as it smoothed out into a slightly hot, slightly sweet creamy fade.

Widmer Bros Nelson Imperial IPA seemed to carry a dark citrus tone throughout the drinking experience.  It was a bit less refined and more aggressive than many imperial IPAs, but by no means overbearingly so.  For the price, and considering the competition sitting next to it on the shelf, I doubt this ale will make it into regular rotation in my fridge, but it certainly can stand on its own.

Widmer Bros Reserve Prickly Pear Braggot

Widmer Bros Reserve Prickly Pear Braggot, a limited offering from Widmer Brothers last year, poured a clear cider color into the glass with heavy carbonation feeding a thin, white head.  The nose was dry, with asian pears and cider spices present.

Widmer Bros Reserve Prickly Pear Braggot opened with a sweet malt start, almost cloying with vanilla and caramel.  After the sweetness faded, a flat pear aftertaste came through, but it was too little, too late.

I can’t necessarily fault the brewer for my lackluster experience with Widmer Bros Reserve Prickly Pear Braggot… it was a spring release from last year that somehow ended up in a local market recently, and it had clearly settled into something that was too sweet and too thick to be great.

Widmer Nelson O’Rye-Ly Rye IPA

WidmerNelson O’Rye-Ly Rye IPA, a test batch (I believe their second) from Widmer Brothers and intended to be part of their upcoming Rotator IPA series, settled a clear mahogany hue in the glass with mild carbonation and a thick white head.  The nose was a mix of rye and sweet, tropical notes. 

 

Widmer Nelson O’Rye-Ly Rye IPA opened with a warm, dark rye start accompanied by an escalating bitterness.  The ale quickly transitioned into a fruity middle of tropical and stone fruits.  The ale ended bitter and sweet with no lingering rye flavors.

Widmer Nelson O’Rye-Ly Rye IPA is worth checking out and I am curious to see if they tinker with the recipe some more before its final release.  In my opinion, the rye could have stood out more rather than sitting awkwardly under a too sweet tropical fruit hoppiness.