Jubelale - Deschutes Brewery

leaddog

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours a dark chestnut brown with a finger width of foamy cream head.

Smell - Caramalts, spices, brown sugar.

Taste - Caramalts, dark fruit, with nice sweetness from brown sugar. Nice spice, though it is hard to identify which spices in particular. Bit of a hop twist, providing the bitterness.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall - A very unique and off-the-beaten-path Winter Warmer by Deschutes. Almost shares similarities with a red/amber ale. A nice way to celebrate a 25th anniversary.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 05:48:29 | More by leaddog

Taytay11

Oregon

3.91/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

I found this to be a delicious beer even on an April evening. Almost has a stouty initial hit with some espresso and a bit of tartness. Poured with a creamy brown half inch head into a big pinot glass. A great cold weather beer that is light enough to drink all day.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 02:47:05 | More by Taytay11

FlyingBull

California

4.48/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased this beer at the local Albertson's while looking for smomething different to try. Overall, I was very impressed and pleased with this beer. I enjoyed it very much.

A: A nice clear medium brown color with some redish hue. Poured ~1" light tan head that lasted halfway into the glass.

S: Slightly sweet with some malt and brown sugar like flavors. More pronounced with the dark malts, and a touch of chocolate. Very appealing aroma - I could really pick up the spice and hops.

T: Light malty sweetness and spices come through with a hint of nutmeg-like flavor and caramel notes. Finishes dry and spicy.

M: Medium body, but on the lighter side. Lightly carbonated and easy to drink.

O: As I wrote in the begining, this beer was very good. Nice, slightly sweet but balanced "winter warmer" kind of beer that was very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 19:20:17 | More by FlyingBull

Scrylol

Alberta (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a one finger tan head, dark ruby red body.

Flowery hop aroma with some malty caramel tones. Bit of sweet spice smell, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Big bold bitterness. Earthy, spicy notes on the tongue. Slight malty caramel flavor. Leaves a dry bitter aftertaste.

Medium body, nice carbonation. Felt pretty good.

Pretty bitter for a winter warmer. Less on the sweeter side with not as much spices compared to others. A pretty good winter warmer though.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 05:08:16 | More by Scrylol

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

3.84/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Deschutes Brewing 'Jubelale' @ 6.7% , a festive winter ale , 25th Anniversary served from a 12oz bottle purchased for $3

A-pour is a clear amber with a small off white head that is leaving some streaky lacing along the pint glass

S-candied fruit , all spice , caramel , chocolate , dark malts

T-spicey on the taste buds , some smokeyness also , hoppy bitter finish

MF-good carbonation , medium to full bodied ,

Ov-ok/good beer , easy to drink for a style that's not a favourite of mine , glad I found one to try

prost LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 06:34:02 | More by LampertLand

mfavoino

Washington

4.29/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2012 12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: Deep red, almost brown color with minimal head.

S: Some light winter beer spice, brown sugar, dark malts, and a touch of chocolate. Very appealing aroma.

T: Light malty sweetness and spices come through with a hint of nutmeg. Dark fruits provide sweetness along with caramel notes. Finishes dry and spicy.

M: Medium body, but on the lighter side. Lightly carbonated and easy to drink.

O: Great winter beer that is well-balanced with a lot of complimentary flavors.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 03:07:42 | More by mfavoino

Idris

4.61/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This review is long overdue. Quite simply, I consider Jubelale to a benchmark of the style and my one of my favorite beers. I've been enjoying this beer for years and finally decided to review it.

A garnet hued beauty hides gentle ruby highlights. A lovely two finger tan head that lasts and lasts. Seductive. Dark malt presence, but enough of a spicy hop on the edges to keep the aroma balanced. This beer just smells like winter. Broad malt profile that has hints of chocolate, a touch of tobacco, and coffee. Gentle hops on the crisp finish that makes me beg for more.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2013 00:40:35 | More by Idris

SPThirtyThree

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Not bottle conditioned, served at fridge temp. $6.50 per six pack.

I'm comparing this beer to Old Jubilation from Avery, as they were side-by-side at the store as winter beers. This one has a higher score than Avery's entry, and is lower in price.

A: Similar to Old Jubilation: dark and dim, but more clear, lighter red. Darker cap. Sandstone. Produces a five-finger head. Creamy with windex bubbles in the center. Gums itself onto the glass. Not super-persistent, but falls to nice amount quickly. Quite nice, actually, it makes a prominent display, and then gets out of the way for consumption. Layer of cream, collar, and crescent-shaped bubble-field.

S: The nose of this beer is more phenolic, and hints at banana, and grapefruit. It's juicy, with citrus and spice. Malty. Banana and spice, very nice.. honey. Sweet. Fresh hops, but not bitter. Toffee. Cayenne pepper. Cinnamon banana. Enticing, makes you keep whiffing throughout.

T: Neither weak nor strong. Good for a full-strength beer. Spicy brown. Malts. Spicy. Caramel.

M: Full body, a little sticky, but tnot too much. Good astringency. Med-high carbonation that tries to escape from my belly.

D: Easy to drink, probably the best in the winter categrory ive tried. Doesn’t strive to be extraordinary, yet succeeds immensely at not being good, as opposed to great. Doesn’t push the envelope.

This could be my go-to in the winter warmer category, despite it's mildness.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 00:07:54 | More by SPThirtyThree

mactrail

California

3.08/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at Craft + Commerce in San Diego. Served ice cold in a glass I've never encountered before-- I'd have to describe it as a chubby champagne flute.

A grainy, tangy brew with a robust hoppiness. Sharp sensation along with plenty of bitterness. I remember this as being maltier in bottles tasted over the years. Lots of roasted flavors with a darker, bitter aftertaste.

Resins in the nose, a little hot and spicy, and some buckwheat. A hard flavor to leave behind you. Not my choice in the winter beer competition, but its austere lines may appeal to some in search of a less malty Christmas brew.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2013 05:06:50 | More by mactrail

evanforbeer

California

4.38/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Love this! Drinking 2012 batch, A favorite from the season. A wonderful and unique balance of roasted, toasty, and hoppy flavors. Delicious velvety bittersweet chocolate with a very subtle hint of coffee, then toffee and subtle caramel malt, touch of dark fruits, crisp hops! a hint of bubble gum in there. Finishes a little crisp hoppy and roasty, kind of bittersweet chocolate. Medium-bodied, crisp and full mouthfeel. A great winter session or night cap. Doesn't seem like much of a typical spiced Winter Warmer to me, but sure has a lot of great flavors that I want in a winter beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 03:00:23 | More by evanforbeer

flayedandskinned

California

3.38/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Best by Date: 4/08/13

Poured into a standard tulip.

Appearance: Pours an opaque, deep reddish amber with about a finger and a half of a medium tan head. Plenty of lacing and decent head retention.

Aroma: Faint notes of baker's chocolate, bready malt with almost pomegranate smelling hops. Very timid aromatics.

Taste: Bright notes of citrus and cranberry out front for a short while before the malts kick right in. Notes of soft chocolate and light cracker. Finishes dry with a bitter hop finish.

Mouthfeel: Very full and chewy with soft carbonation.

Overall: A good, albeit simple example of a hoppy brown ale. High drinkabililty. Very reminiscent of Grand Teton's Bitch Creek. Almost too similar in the malt depart. Not too sure what about this other than it being seasonal makes this a "Winter Warmer" If you want something similar(and better executed) year round, definitely seek out the aforementioned Bitch Creek.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 02:32:31 | More by flayedandskinned

TWStandley

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into my over-sized HF wine glass.

Appeared a crisp looking dark brown color with a 2 finger slightly tan head. Head retention was great. Overall a a nice looking ale.

Smell was relatively generic to the style. Some malted notes with a very light honey/sugar smell.

Taste was solid. Nothing crazy going on in this one. A bit on the "lighter" side than most winter warmers I have tried. Regardless, you can tell this is a well crafted beer as there are no signs of issues.

Mouth-feel was spot on for the style. Smooth and creamy, a bit thicker than most ipas/ales.

This was a solid beer. However, I am not sure that I would seek this out if I was looking for a winter warmer...almost reminded me more of an Oktoberfest type beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 03:22:26 | More by TWStandley

vfgccp

New York

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Mahogany body with an amber rim and ruby highlights. Light cap of white foam. Ok retention and poor lace.

S - Grains of paradise, hazelnut, touch of vanilla, little bit of booze, cardamon.

T - Spicy with a nice hop character. It's a tough profile to nail down; hazelnut, malt, spicy grains of paradise, bitter cilantro, a little vanilla, warm nutmeg, and charred roast grain.

M - Warm, smooth, medium body.

O - A great winter ale, one of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 20:28:48 | More by vfgccp

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams "Perfect Pint" glass. Label says best by 03/25/13.

Appearance: Pours a deep dark brownish copper amber with a lot of rising bubbles. Huge five finger off white head with good retention. Leaves a lot of creamy lacing around the glass.

Smell: Aroma is a complex mix of malts with a sizable earthy hop presence for the style. Dark roasted barley malts with good hints of cocoa, caramel, toffee, and nuts. Some brown sugar and a light hint of molasses. Subtle hints of apple and dark fig, dates, raisin, and plum. Very earthy with a big presence of earthy hops along with some piney spices. Slight scent of citrus. Not really any of the typical winter spices. A pretty good balance of malts and hops.

Taste: A nicely rich and creamy mix of dark malts and earthy hops. Sweet roasted malts with a taste of chocolate, baked biscuit, caramel, toffee, and a mix of nuts. Some burnt sugar sweetness. Subtle undertones of dark fruits including dates, raisin, fig, and prune. A nice hop presence that is fairly strong for the style but balances out the malts well. Hops are earthy with a little spicy pine. Definitely tastes like a West Coast version of a Winter Warmer.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Very creamy with a fairly drying finish.

Overall: A pretty good take on the style. Very different but good. Nice balance of sweet malts and hoppy bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 07:43:47 | More by MattyG85

TheCondor

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a sixer of this at the store. I have heard a lot about it, figured I would try it. Side poured with standard vigor from the bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance - Like the fact the packaging changes annually. I like the look of the label. Pours a nice clear light brown, amber color with about a finger of pillowy head that has good retention and excellent lacing. Very good presentation overall.

Smell - The nose hints at some classic winter warmer characteristics: dark fruits, malts, and a little caramel. There was a surprising amount of earthiness in the nose as well. Unique

Taste - I was a little disappointed in the taste, honestly. Maybe its' because I went into the drink with a preconceived notion or something, but I think I am pretty good at avoiding such beer tasting pitfalls. There was the touches of dark fruits and maltiness that I smelled, but they didn't seem to me like they mixed well together. There were also some sweet accents to the taste and a bit of nuttiness, but everything kind of collided together. I just didn't like the feel I got from the beer.

Mouthfeel - Finished relatively smooth, medium body and carbonation. Its' alright, nothing to write home about.

Overall - This is the first time I think I have been disappointed by Deschutes Brewery. I just did not pick up the vibe from this brew at all. I am sure it is a great beer, obviously from the reviews, but I just didn't feel it. I will have to drink a couple more, but past experiences have shown me that only works occasionally.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 04:20:07 | More by TheCondor

Morey

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Sexy looking winter ale with a pillow(y) beige head that initially stood around 2 finger tall. Holding this beer to the light, reveals a beautiful red color, and brilliant clarity. The head hangs around and lacing is clinging to the glass.

Aroma: Subtle for a winter ale... Caramel Malts, Plum Skin, faint Chocolate and Nutty smells as well.

Taste: Slight hop bitterness right up front followed closely by suggestions of dark fruits and chocolate malts. Well balanced with a mild sweetness about mid-pallet. The finish is on the dryer side.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied winter ale with moderate carbonation.

Morey's Bottom Line: A good winter ale. If you're looking for something that's not highly spiced, but still speaks "winter"...this beer is for you. A nice change of pace within a style that sometimes gets a bit repetitive. Merry Christmas!

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 20:27:20 | More by Morey

fatmusic14

Colorado

4.18/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - dark, dark amber. Hazy and beautiful - the kind of translucency that you'd hope for while sitting in front of a fire place.

S - while classified as a winter ale, some might be hoping for a winter warmer or something a little closer to the stout end of the spectrum. Those, will be disappointed. Reeks of an ale, piny, herbal, earthy.

T - Awesome. Slightly taken aback, as I was expecting the taste of an ale, but immediately was faced with explosions of mocha, coffee, a nice thick head - all characteristics of a slightly more substantial winter beverage.

M - somewhere in between. carbonation level is great, thick, done very well. Aftertaste, not so much.

O - really impressive. Would buy any time.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 00:25:08 | More by fatmusic14

BucannonXC5

California

3.93/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Type: 12-oz. bottle
Glass: Restaurant Firestone pint glass
From: BevMo in La Mesa (San Diego, Calif.)
Price: $1.39
Misc.: Best by May 6, 2013

Poured a mahogany color with 2-3 fingers of frothy off-white head. Well-layered, thick and sticky lacing on the sides. Pretty good retention all the way down.

Smelled heavy malts right from the get-go. Also got caramel, toffee, dark fruits, blueberry, rye and iced tea with a touch of hops.

First thing I noticed in the taste was how carbonated it was. Once that was done, got some fruits - dark apple, dates, figs, prune - and a bit of a buttery finish.

Medium body. Sticky texture. Lively (good) carbonation. Long, smooth finish.

This beer wore down on me as it went along and I was really digging it by the end. Just a nice winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 05:35:08 | More by BucannonXC5

chanokokoro

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Deschutes Brewery branded pint glass

Pours dark amber with ruby-red highlights capped with a bone-white two finger head. Excellent retention with significant sticky lacing. Caramel, cherry, bouquet of fruit. Opens with caramel joined by varied fruit notes including dried apricot, a hint of fig, prune, and add accents of date. Apple and pearskin also present. A hint of bitter citrus cuts through, fairly dry finish with slight chocolate notes. Warming alcohol becomes more evident as the brew warms. The heavier side of medium-bodied, smooth, hint of syrup on the edges, moderate carbonation. One of my favorite winter warmers. Thankfully this one is now available in Chicago.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 04:47:01 | More by chanokokoro

Lawl3ss

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Chilled 12 oz. bottle into a shaker pint. No decipherable bottling date.

Look- Clear ruby brown with three fingers of loose beige head, brilliant red tint. Fair retention, Excellent lacing.

Smell- Fresh brown bread, ripe stone fruits, some spice, licorice. Swirling brings out an earthier, dank green aroma, tea or crushed undergrowth perhaps. Sweeter vanilla/toffee comes out as it warms.

Taste- Similar to the aroma, but better balance. Light sweetness on the sip that quickly turns into a rich brown bread/pumpernickel flavor that persists, taking on a slightly darker char/coffee tone after the swallow. Light toffee, but it's pretty subtle. Moderately bitter, very herbal, black tea and peppermint. The fruitiness is a bit lighter than expected after the aroma, definitely on the preserved dates/raisin side. Not particularly sweet, more balanced than expected. Aftertaste is lingering earthy greenness and that same fresh brown bread with the faintest hint of brown sugar. Very nice.

Mouthfeel- Medium body, light carbonation. Pretty smooth, a bit of a warming feeling. Hearty but not thick or syrupy. I could have a couple.

Overall- Nothing too flashy, but that's not what I'm looking for in a winter warmer. Robust, flavorful, well executed, tasty. Very nice. Lots of things going on and they come together nicely. Absolutely worth picking up and I'll be sure to have another sixer before the winter's out.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 08:02:41 | More by Lawl3ss

JackieTH

Minnesota

4.73/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep brown to garnet red translucent body with a sisal foamy head. Smell is caramels and chocolates with a faint fig. Very inviting. Taste is bittersweet chocolate, caramel, malty bread, dried dark fruit, dates, plums, fig newtons, just a cusp of sweetness washes across the tongue on a medium body that holds together solidly crafted with a clean lightly bitter, lightly chocolate finish. I can't stop drinking this! Really good. No question this is a world class winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 06:39:16 | More by JackieTH

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, another elusive entity for me, until my good man DoktorZee came through with a sweet Cali haul, in my version of a Charlie Brown Christmas.

This beer pours a clear, rusty orange brick hue, with two fingers of tightly foamy, somewhat creamy tan head, which leaves some intermittent pocked limestone lace around the glass as it duly recedes.

It smells of lightly toasted caramel malt, softly earthy anise, nutty dark chocolate, a bit of ashy tobacco, some muddled, but not lacking for it, savoury spices, and some mild, leafy hops. The taste is bready caramel/toffee malt, nutty cereal biscuits, a light mocha coffee essence, more understated tobacco, over-steeped (just the way I like it) black tea, and singed wet chlorophyll-laden leaves.

The bubbles are fairly soma-fied, but awaken here and there to keep things on the level, support-wise, the body a docile medium weight, and really quite smooth, in a sole survivor sort of way. It finishes off-dry, the bready malt still in contention with a lingering ashy/tea bag earthiness.

A decent winter warmer, the warming the least of the appreciable attributes, as the malt, hops, and grandfather's sweater essences hold the lion's share of character here. Good, and even better when I look past the glowing Christmas tree to the snowscape outside.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 04:53:13 | More by biboergosum

Philousa

California

3.65/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Imbibed on tap (nitro) at Original Gravity on 12/7/12. 

Pour a clear, deep red bordering on brown with a finger of dense, creamy tan head. This smells more like a red, as I get mostly caramel with some savory spices. Hops are citrusy, slightly piney, and mild in intensity. Flavor is also mainly caramel with some burnt/bakers chocolate. There is some cinnamon or clove spiciness and piney hop bitterness on the back end. Bitterness is pretty significant. The feel is appropriate for the style, but I feel it's a little thicker than normal because of the nitro tap. Finish is mostly balanced but slightly dry. This is a nice winter warmer in the sense that I get some spices, but it's not crazy. Feels festive but it's not overbearing. Would like to try it on regular tap or bottle for comparison.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-10-2012 19:02:28 | More by Philousa

stewart124

Ohio

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark ruby red. Nice lace.

Nose has a roasted character and bold spicy hop note.

Tons of bitterness. This is a winter warmer? Well I guess this is a deschutes version...

Big chewy malt bill. Must be a Maris otter base malt. Raisin and fig push through the hops. Vanilla and caramel with a nice residual sweetness. Tasty and a very interesting. One for those hopheads to try.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 02:03:57 | More by stewart124

onemanarne

Washington

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was one of the beers that helped ease me into malty goodness, after being a 5 star gold certified hop head (still am though).

Pours the deepest dark ruby, looks black when not lit well, nice tan half inch head.

Smells of candied toffee, mild coffee roast, raisins, and the hops are definitely there in the background.

First taste is pretty sweet at first, caramelly toffeeish flav

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 01:45:01 | More by onemanarne