First of all, BeerGenius is now in Portland – to stay. After a grand total of one day in this marvelous city, it’s difficult for me to really describe how excited I am for the food and beer scene here (aaaand the occasional winery weekends). The people are marvelous, the vibe is celebration of individualism, the music is great, and the caliber of restaurants here is second-to-none.
I had the opportunity to visit Nostrana (www.nostrana.com) – a neighborhood Italian restaurant in the Belmont district of Southeast Portland. They had available a brew I hadn’t seen before from Upright Brewing Company (www.uprightbrewing.com) – a true craft microbrewery in Portland. I have no idea what their annual volume is, but I can’t imagine it’s a whole lot. That’s a good thing, as small brewers can afford to experiment with styles and load their beers with an abundance of ingredients.
This particular beer, ‘Five,’ is their interpretation of a farmhouse ale. The first thing I noticed was the gorgeous rich honey color of the beer, with a moderate, slowly dissipating head. On the palate, it tasted more like a hybrid of styles – the saison farmhouse influence was apparent, but the beer finished in a dry manner, like a west-coast IPA but without the overly bitter bite of the hops. This beer could have been incredibly boring, but it wasn’t – the guys at Upright have done a phenomenal job of tying everything together in a marvelous, quality package that is on the edge of potentially defining a new style – the American Farmhouse, perhaps?
There were notes of clove, honey, and cinnamon, each one in balance with the others. Upright suggests that this beer pairs well with the local cuisine of Portland, with a ‘Drink however you like’ attitude, as evidenced by the back label with four or five glassware suggestions. I like the irreverent attitude, as proper glassware has been a significant movement in the craft beer industry as of late. Sure, it makes a difference, but some people seem to forget about the reason they’re being so snobbish over glassware in the first place – it’s the beer, dudes. Upright reinforces this – drink it out of a mason jar, a styrofoam cup, a shoe, if you’d like. I dig the laid back philosophy.
This one is worth checking out, and will pair well with almost anything you throw at it. At only 5.5% alcohol, it’s not going to put you on the ground, either, which means more enjoyment.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Originality within style (20): Upright is on the verge of creating a new style here with a dry-finish to a classic Farmhouse Ale. Very cool.
- Nose (16): Notes of citrus, clove, honey. Pleasant, but not as fragrant as expected.
- Mouthfeel (18): Fantastic carbonation level – this almost reminds me of a new school Orval.
- Character (17): All the components go exceptionally well together, but none in particular stand out. Not a bad thing.
- Overall Quality (20): As hand-crafted as it gets, my friends.
- Total (91): This one is totally worth your time if you can get a hold of it – a potentially awesome session beer.
Beer: Upright Brewing Co ‘Five’
ABV: 5.5%
Brewer: Upright Brewing Company – Portland, Oregon
Availability: Year-round, Oregon and Washington State
Reviewed by: Jameson Huckaba (twitter: @jamesonhuckaba)
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This sounds like a beer I would like Jameson — always knew I was a country girl at heart! Good, interesting review.