Deschutes Brewery
Bend, OR
Available: OR, WA, CA, ID, MT, AK, NV, HI, AZ, CO, WY
Deschutes Brewery was founded in 1988, initially as a brewpub and later as a distributing brewery. All Deschutes’ bottled beer is filtered and then kraeusened—a traditional brewing process in which a small amount of actively fermenting beer is added to the already-fermented beer ready to be bottled.
Alcohol (wt.): 4.0
Alcohol (vol.): 5.0
Color: n/a
Bitterness: n/a
Gravity: 1050
I am a fan of Deschutes’ big beers, from Mirror Pond to Black Butte Porter. Despite its name, Twilight, this is hardly a light beer! At 5% alcohol, a handsome golden color, creamy head, a noble nose and full, balanced flavor of malt and hops, it is simply a lighter Deschutes beer. We enjoyed it chilled, at a summer picnic of spicy guacamole, grilled asparagus, lamb chops and organic watermelon.
I love twilight as a time to drink beer. Twilight, the ale, is a bit hazy with a very pale amber mystique to it. Fruity, almost apricot-like; light in body; refreshing, lively carbonation prickles my mouth. Clean aftertaste with a refreshing, lingering hint of acidity. Well balanced for twilight refreshment. Lightly hopped with only a ghost of malt sweetness. It begs me to ask questions, but I’ve finished the beer—and that’s saying it all.
This is what we call a summer ale in Britain: straw colored, with a lively beaded head and light carbonation in the glass. A fascinating aroma of grass, bark resin and an old-fashioned type of confectionery we call wine gums. Rich, tangy citrus fruit bursts on the tongue, underscored by tart hops and rich malt. The finish is a fine balance between sappy malt and gently bitter hops, with a persistent note of citrus fruit. As the name suggests, it’s a put-your-feet-up kind of beer.
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Charles Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.
Author of the New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, founder of the Great American Beer Festival and a Beer Examiner at www.examiner.com, Papazian is a leading voice in beer and brewing.
Roger Protz is the author of Complete Guide to World Beer and 300 Beers to Try Before You Die. He is a respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
