Deschutes Mirror Mirror pics and other Beer Geekery
April 27, 2009 by Brewer Leave a Comment
Disclaimer: I'm an admitted Deschutes fan-boy.
Mirror Mirror is about to see a re-release. Mirror Mirror is a barley wine that kicked off Deschutes' Reserve series (see Abyss, Dissident, Black Butte XX) back in 2006. It is a personal favorite that has seen rare reappearances at the Deschutes pubs and at special tasting events. I'm really excited that I'm going to have an opportunity to stock up on another release of it and do a vertical with one of my few remaining bottles. It's been a long while since I've cracked one, so it should be interesting.
Last Wednesday afternoon, I was given an opportunity to go volunteer at the Deschutes Brewery by helping them hand-dip the Mirror Mirror bottles in wax (an aesthetic touch that helps prevent oxygen from getting under the cap and spoiling the beer as it ages). They had multiple dipping stations going, and everyone was in a groove. Make no mistake … this is some hard work, and it drove home how out of shape I really am when I couldn't straighten my arm all the way the next morning. They've got a great assembly line put together for this labor of love, and should have no problem getting this stuff out in time for the April 29th release date.
During my time there, I picked up a few scraps of information about significant dates for Deschutes products/events.
Mirror Mirror and Red Chair release party
As DeschutesBeer tweeted the other day, the release party for Mirror Mirror will be at the Bend and Portland pubs next Wednesday, April 29th at 5:00 PM. Getcha some tastiness!
Red Chair should make it to Austin area
For my Texas family, I was told that there will be an allotment of Red Chair IPA headed to the Austin area. Keep on the lookout for this special Bond Street release in 22's at your finer bottle shops after April 29th. Get on top of it, because once it's gone, it's gone. It will most-definitely please your inner hop lover.
New X Taps at the pub
Currently the Bend pub has a single special tap called the X Tap. It is there for some of the bolder one-offs or special kegs they've set aside (like the occasional unannounced Mirror Mirror kegs that have popped up every once in a while). There are plans for the addition of two more X Taps at the Bend pub. One will be reserved for a Portland-brewed beer (will be so glad to finally have easier access to their stuff), and one will be reserved for a Reserve Series beer … Reserve series beer available year-round! If they can pull that off, there will be beer geeks applauding all over Bend.
Black Butte XXI for the 21st Anniversary Release
The second release of a ramped up, cocoa-infused, coffee-laden version of Black Butte is going to be the special 21st Anniversary release. The first release was the Black Butte XX which was originally a Reserve Series release around the time of their 20th anniversary. I'm still fighting with myself to keep from mowing through the remaining bottles in my stash. It is my understanding that we're in for a more-pronounced coffee dimension of the overall flavor this time, which I think is going to be absolutely delicious. BRING IT!!!
Additional Beer Geekery
Pics of beers aging in various barrels! See the Super Jubel?!?! Yummmmmmmmm!