Jubelale - Deschutes Brewery Review

Deschutes is an old pro, a consummate professional that has set the standard for thousands of breweries across the nation. Started in Bend, Oregon, in 1988, Deschutes hasn’t slowed in cranking out staples by the barrel. They’re a brand we keep coming back to, especially when a fresh seasonal brew hits the shelves.

Jubelale is a festive winter ale designed to warm cheeks with malty cheer. Deschutes brews this seasonal with Pale, Crystal, Extra Special, Carapils, and Roasted Barley malt, and they balance it with Bravo, Cascade, Delta, US Tettnang, and East Kent Goldings hops. It comes in at a perfectly sippable 6.7% ABV and a surprising 65 IBUs.

We’re expecting something worthy of winter, something to be anticipated every year, and something fun to drink in an ugly sweater. So let’s see how it stacks up in our…

First Impressions:

• On the Eyes--Dark-amber and clear, though almost opaque it’s so dark. Topped with a milk chocolate-colored head.

• On the Nose--Roasted and malty sweet. I get chocolate right up front with a light toffee and even lighter floral hop aroma. Smells like a winter warmer, so let’s get to sippin’.

• On the Palate--The hoppiness comes through much stronger in the flavor, dominant alongside the roasted and chocolate notes, explaining the higher (65) IBUs. The floral and citrus hoppiness brings in classic and noble hop flavors from the variety of hops used, which add a spicy, zesty flavor to balance out the dense and sweet malt. Jubelale is very smooth and full-bodied. The malt is robust, offering a toffee touch and dark chocolate, which coats the mouth and finishes dry.

Final Thoughts:

I was expecting a lot of malt backbone and depth in Jubelale, but I was not expecting the hoppiness. This is a pleasant surprise. The hop flavors, classic and familiar, add great balance to the roasted, chocolate malt. It is still malt forward, but not near as much as we were expecting. Another enjoyable factor is the toffee sweetness that just sings through to add relief to the strong roasted character.

I think this is a great winter warmer and well worth the money. Jubelale is a cold-weather beer propped up by heavy malt and hop bitterness without any wild Christmas adjuncts necessary. It’s a sipper for sure, and offers a comforting strength. If you like a darker, roasted beer akin to a strong brown ale, Jubelale is for you.

Cheers!

Mr. Brew