Out of the Bottle: Desperation Brown Ale

It's been 20 (20???) years since my roommate and I brewed Gushing Geyser, but I can still recall a bit of what the original beer was like. So, does this new iteration taste like I remember? Pretty darn close.

Out front on the nose, there's a nice light roasted note that's complemented by a caramel sweetness. The Willamette hops bring a nice earthy and floral note. The aroma reminds me of why I liked them so much 20 years ago. Overall bitterness is mild and very clean. If I recall correctly, the original beer had a slightly rustic (I swear that's a flavor) edge. The original beer utilized Bullion hops rather than Newport, which pretty much explains the difference. A medium-light body makes for easy drinking, while the moderate ABV makes it safe to have more than one.

The beer does have a bit of what I've heard many homebrewers refer to as the"extract" taste. I can't completely describe the flavor, but I know it when I taste it. The closest I can come come up with, is that the beer doesn't taste quite as fresh as beer made entirely from crushed grains.

Overall, it was fun to revisit an old friend. Later on in the year, it will be joined by a mid 90s IPA revival.

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