Bridgeport Brewing
Bridgeport Stumptown Tart 2011
Bridgeport Brewing will be releasing the 4th generation of Stumptown Tart this spring. Each year, Stumptown is different. Previous years included a coffee based release, raspberries, & cherries.
This 4 year features Oregon grown strawberries and Pacifie Northwest malted barley & wheat. Then blended with strawberries. Expect a fresh strawberry based fruit beer.
Availability: 22oz bombers.
Arrival: Typically released in May each year
7.7% ABV
Bridgeport Highland Ambush
Bridgeport Brewing (Portland, OR) has brought back a beer they brewed 20 years ago – Highland Ambush. It’s a scotch ale with a barrel twist -and brewed by a Ramsay. I’m on board with that. Read Bridgeport’s history for the lowdown.
First brewed in the 1980s as a special beer for the BrewPub at BridgePort, Highland Ambush is making its triumphant return more than 20 years later. Stuart MacLean Ramsay, then pub manager, conceptualized the brew to pay homage to his Scottish heritage. This year’s Highland Ambush takes inspiration from the original ale using NW pale ale malt along with a Scottish crystal and roast malt. The hopping rate of Highland Ambush has been toned down to help highlight the complementing vanilla from the American oak bourbon barrels and caramel-toffee malt nuances. Reddish-Brown in color, Highland Ambush will warm the coldest of toes and noses this holiday season.
Style: Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy (Barrel Aged)
Taste Expectations: Herbal hops, toasted malts. Biscuit. Caramel & toffee, vanilla, oak. Complex.
Availability: 22oz bombers. Rare draft offerings. Limited release.
6.8% ABV
NEW RELEASE: Bridgeport Kingpin
New from Bridgeport Brewing (Portland, OR) is Kingpin Red Ale. Red Ale boasts being triple-hopped, the real way – not the “man up” light pilsner way. Expect a nice red color, and a rare-er breed of hops – Liberty. You’re glass runneth over. Drink up. Especially when it’s brewed by one one of the more seasoned & flavorful craft brewers in the United States.
KINGPIN is a full-flavored, red-colored ale that uses a rarely-grown Willamette Valley Hop varietal known as Liberty Hops from fourth generation hop farmer John Annen of Annen Bros. Farm in Silverton, Oregon. Jeff and his team of brewers also used rye and caramel malt leading to a unique flavor profile; triple-hopped for bitter aroma and a unique dry-hopped character.
Style: American Red Ale
Hops: Liberty
Taste Expectations: Bready malts, floral hops. Caramel. Hoppy nose, nice hoppy character. Lacks a lot of coppery flavor like other reds.
Availability: 12oz/6 pks. Draft. Year round
7.5% ABV
New in Bottle – Bridgeport Hop Czar
While this is the second release of Hop Czar by Bridgeport Brewing in Portland, Oregon – it did not make it’s way to Atlanta last year. ( That I or others are aware of…) I had a brief discussion with some beer friends about Bridgeport and a good point was raised. Bridgeport has been making craft beer for a while now. (Starting in 1984) Their beers reflect a sense of tradition brewing styles which are tried and true and well… downright delicious. In the current world of brewing, it seems that the more extreme brewing makes headlines, and the great damn beers that the extreme is based on, gets overlooked.
Well, you won’t find that on this site. There is a whole world of brewing out there, and more growing in this fair city everyday, and dammit I’m going to try to talk about it all. That brings me to Hop Czar. Hitting shelves just a couple of days ago, I am very impressed with this Imperial IPA. First and foremost, I have to tell you what a wonderful hop aroma and palette this beer has. Hop Czar uses whole flower hops in the brew, and it shows. You’ll find great citrus and floral tones in this DIPA, that aren’t overpowering or obtrusive. Great malt backbone pulling this together, and a not so bitter finish for an Imperial. Here’s your hop breakdown –
Hops – Nugget, Chinook, Cascade, and Centennial.
ABV – 8%
Available – 6 packs – Great Price!! Around $8 or less in some cases.
I’m not in to reviewing, I’m in to informing about new brews. However, I really enjoyed Hop Czar. I’m glad to have it in my fridge.
