Beer Tasting: Henry Weinhard's Woodland Pass IPA

  Since 1862, Henry Weinhard's has been a beer staple in the American Northwest. Originally a craft-brewery, the Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Co is now owned by MillerCoors and has gone from local-favorite to a national-brand.

The Story

  Founded in 1862, Henry Weinhard's has recently gone national. Originally brewed in Portland, OR, the brand was eventually owned by Stroh Brewing Company and later sold to Miller in 1999. The brewery was soon closed but the brand survived, brewed in Washington until 2003. SAB Miller (The Miller side of MillerCoors) contracted Full Sail Brewing in Hood River, OR, to brew the Henry Weinhard's brand, a contract ending this month. Originally a staple in the Northwest, in September 2012 the brand went national with Woodland Pass IPA, Private Reserve (an American Pale Lager), and Redwood Flats Amber Ale.

The Taste

  Woodland Pass IPA pours a light translucent, almost lager-like caramel color with a dense head. Take a deep smell and you'll find that this IPA has a bit of malty aroma and a strong hop presence that doesn't overpower. After tasting you may notice some caramel notes followed with the slightly strong hop flavor and lingering bitter aftertaste that American IPAs are known for, albeit a little toned down. Woodland Pass IPA has a light mouth-feel and seems a little light on flavor, almost like a highly-hopped lager.

The Decision

  According to MillerCoors, Woodland Pass IPA has been toned down a little (compared to pre-MillerCoors ownership) to appeal to a broader audience, and if you are used to drinking IPAs you will likely find that this one is indeed toned down a bit. West Coast IPAs typically have a very strong hop flavor and bitterness compared to IPAs found on the East Coast (which will sometimes take on more fruity or malt flavors), and this one tastes more like an East Coast- or British-style IPA that's had the IBUs (International Bittering Units) turned down while still retaining some of the actual flavor of the hops. IPAs generally measure 40-60 IBUs, Woodland Pass measures at 43.
   While it may be a letdown to avid IPA fans, this is still a good beer which may be used to introduce beer drinkers to the style. At roughly $6.50 for a six-pack, this also makes a decent beer for drinking on the budget or sharing with friends. Also worth mentioning is that this beer weighs in at 6% abv, which means you can get a beer that has the same alcohol content as Budweiser Black Crown or Bud Light Platinum but at a lower price. And who knows, you may even prefer the taste.

Beer Tasting: Newcastle Winter IPA

Today we have a special beer from Newcastle. Owned by Heineken, the Newcastle Brand has seen some new varieties show up in the United States over the past few years. For those who like the Newcastle Brown Ale, Winter IPA should be a welcome addition.

For those familiar with Newcastle Brown Ale, Winter IPA will appear similar when poured from the bottle. It has a nutty brown color and a creamy, almost fluffy, head. After a smell and a taste, though, one will find that Winter IPA is distinctly different.

Winter IPA is based on the India Pale Ales from the early 18th century. India Pale Ales were made in Imperial Britain for travelers to take on the long trek to India. Brewers found that hops and alcohol help prevent beer from spoiling, so they upped the hops and alcohol content. 

American IPAs often have a very strong hop presence. Newcastle Winter IPA, however, is much lighter on the hops and slightly more hopped than the traditional pale ales. It also weighs in at 5.6% ABV versus the 4.7% found in Newcastle Brown.

Newcastle Winter IPA has a spiced or zesty smell, much like other winter seasonals.The initial taste is of a spiced ale and rounds out with a sweet malt and balanced hop bitterness. The aftertaste is lightly bitter and zesty. Newcastle Winter IPA pairs very well with both seasoned foods and sweet treats, so be sure to try it out with some of your holiday leftovers! If you don't have any leftovers, I would recommend making a seasoned beef roast or steak and for dessert have some chocolate and caramel popcorn.