Jubelale - Deschutes Brewery

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

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

DocJitsu

California

3.5/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, dark, amber color with a caramel—colored head that has an orangish hue. Aromas are comprised of an earthiness and brown sugar. Creamy, smooth mouthfeel. Toasty, butterscotch, and toffee flavor with a piney bitterness at the finish. Average to slightly above average.

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2012 03:47:28 | More by DocJitsu

TheRealBigC

Nevada

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

A great seasonal release from Deshutes. This warmer isn't spiced, but it feels like it is. There's a slight bitterness to it with a fruity profile - something akin to fig. It's a little dry and it definitely fulfulls the warmer title. Solid release that's worth picking up every winter.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2012 01:03:26 | More by TheRealBigC

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours nicely. Flavor is smooth with a bit of a leafy and tangy malty thing on there. Actually there is slightly more than a bit; which I could do with less of. Very smooth on the liquid with a mild carbonation. A nice and easy drinker, though not really blowing me away.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2012 05:28:51 | More by RblWthACoz

Smurf2055

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On tap at Dante’s in the University of Washington district in Seattle. Poured into a pint glass. Appearance was dark amber to mahogany. There was a gentle lacing with very little head to speak of. As you drink, the lacing stays on the side of the glass (almost like a Christmas ornament). Aroma was spicy, with red fruits. It has a pretty sweet note to it. Tasted almost like an abbey ale at first. Lots of character and no real surprises after the smell. It’s warming and drinkable with heavy fruits (cherry) and minimal alcohol burn. Almost spicy. Very crisp and drinkable with a lot of carbonation. There is a small bland aftertaste, but it’s not that bad. Overall it’s a very drinkable, very festive beer. If it’s available and you’re feeling in the mood, pick one up.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2012 22:51:52 | More by Smurf2055

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Deschutes, Portland, OR

Poured a clear darker mahogany color with a small cap of bubbly whitish head. Caramel malts in the nose, light spice, and a hint of pine needles. Taste of sugars--caramel, molasses--crisply piney and floral, light spices. No really "big" flavor here, but a good balance in all the flavors that are present. Medium in body and carbonation, and surely an easy drinker.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2012 17:45:13 | More by Rifugium

rustymoore

Tennessee

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

On tap at Deschutes Brewery Public House in Portland

Poured a reddish amber with solid head and good lacing throughout

Smells of cinnamon butter and hops

Taste is sweet but definitely not too sweet. Very different winter warmer than u r probably used to. Nice hop finish

Mouthfeel is a bit acidic but overall a good feeling

Overall an excellent Christmas style that I wish I could get at home!

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2011 02:56:07 | More by rustymoore

armock

New York

4.22/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Pub Hub in Houston, TX

A - Poured a mahogany color with a thin tan head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is of sweet malt with some dark fruit

T - Like the nose starts off with sweet malt then the dark fruits come through

M - This beer has a medium body with medium carbonation to it

O - I really liked this beer it has a very good taste that was very easy to drink one of the better winter beers out there worth trying if you see it around

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2011 23:37:10 | More by armock

csiewert

Oregon

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This nut brown holiday special really warms the heart. Pours a nice chocolate color with one finger of off white head. The smell is of roasted barely and chocolate. The taste starts strong of chocolate and malt and then finishes with some slight hoppy bitterness. The finish is very smooth and makes the beer very drinkable. Good winter beer for those fans of brown ales.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2010 19:34:01 | More by csiewert

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

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

Had this on tap at the Deschutes brewpub in Portland. Pours a copper-amber colour with thin off-white head. Some mild lacing on the glass. Smells of hops, caramel with some classic winter spices. Spice level isn't overpowering as some North American winter warmers are. Very nice.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2010 21:08:42 | More by kwjd

wrightro07

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: good creamy white head. The beer has a light amber colour.
S: Sweet citrus hop aroma with almost a winter pine feel. There is also the smell of winter style spices.
T: a wonderful smooth hoppy flavour accompanied by winter spices. It is not extremely bitter but has great hop characteristics.
D: I would love to drink another when feeling thirsty. I was well pleased with this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2010 03:07:44 | More by wrightro07

Phelps

Arizona

3.78/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Though I enjoyed this on tap at the 2010 DRAFT Big Pour, I have a little familiarity with this year's bottles as well. For the past 16 years, Deschutes has selected a local Oregon artist to create an image evocative of the season's festive atmosphere. This year, bottles are decorated with artist Natasha Bacca's "Creation of Light," a piece she says illustrates a cold winter night in the background with a dynamic warm fire in the foreground. But back to the beer at hand...

The beer comes to me a crimson-tinged mahogany, fairly clear for how dark it is. It's topped with a creamy pinkish-tan head that rapidly becomes a thin fuzzy top layer, leaving jagged webs of lace.

The nose is full of raisins, dates, caramel, toffee, molasses and cinnamon. Though it sounds sweet and rather intense with these flavors, it's actually fairly delicately and nicely balanced.

Tastes biscuity. There's far more lightly toasted bread than the nose would imply. Lightly sweet, with raisins, maple, earthy hops, a tiny bit of toffee and a very light bitter finish. A tang builds in the back.

A high carbonation prickles the tongue and gets the beer quite fizzy as it moves about. Medium-light in body, crisp and easy-drinking.

Jubelale is the taste of winter. Not too heavy, not too sweet, extremely sessionable.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2010 22:04:29 | More by Phelps

badboyrsl84

California

3.53/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Hoffers Cigar bar.

This winter warmer pours dark almost black but more purple. It has a light caramel head. I don't get a smell at all. I smell licorice an small amounts of raisin.

This bad boy is a mini jubel 2010 without all the lasting flavors of the jubel. It starts licoricey with raisins and finish with a hint of hops. Its a good beer in this style but not my favorite.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2010 23:51:53 | More by badboyrsl84

soze47

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this at Red Bones NW Fest on 11/12/10

Appearance: Ruby and Amber in color on a nice clear body. The head is thick has a remarkable persistence. Lacing is thick and coats the glass as I drink.

Aroma: Not a big nose. Slightly dark fruity scent with a nice bouquet of hop flavors presence.

Taste: Malty sweet (caramel in particular) with dark fruits also provided balance against floral/herbal/slightly piney hop flavors. Not too robust, but very well balanced.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: Light body for a beer called a winter warmer. Yes, this might be bigger than your average session beer, but I would have no problem making this one a beer of choice at a holiday party. Not too filling and it finishes crisp and clean.

Overall: I'm becoming a fan of the winter warmer that creates a great balance of flavors without resorting to spices. With the right malt sweetness and selection of hops, you can produce a drinkable, robust beer that warms the soul on a winter evening.

33 Beers Flavor Chart (5 high to 1 low):
Alcohol/Solvent: 3
Dark Fruit: 3.75
Citrus Fruit: 2
Hoppy (pine): 2.5
Floral: 2.5
Spicy: 2.5
Herbal: 3
Malty: 3.5
Toffee: 3
Burnt: 2
Sweet: 3.5
Sour: 1
Bitter: 3
Astringent: 3
Body: 2.5
Linger: 3

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2010 22:14:12 | More by soze47

drabmuh

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer is brown and hazy with a thin white head of small bubbles that breaks and pulls toward the walls of the glass leaving a little lacing on the glass. Carbonation is low.

Aroma of the beer is sweet with mild spice.

Beer is medium to light in body with a creamy mouthfeel. Lead off sweetness and a nice finish without an aftertaste. The spice level is nice and gives it a tea like flavor to the whole thing. I enjoyed it for a winter warmer its pretty good.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2010 17:37:04 | More by drabmuh

mithrascruor

California

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

On tap at Callahan's, San Diego.

Pours a nice amber-brown color with a tan head. Malty aroma with some fruits and spices, plus a bit of alcohol. Moderately spicy taste with apples and pear. There's a light bitterness in the aftertaste and a hint of alcohol. Moderate carbonation, medium-bodied and quite smooth. An enjoyable winter warmer; I'd probably get this on tap again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2010 20:55:19 | More by mithrascruor

Redrover

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this on at the Tap House Grill in Seattle. Served in a standard pint, the beer is brown with dark copper highlights. It has a tan head with good lacing. It is a looker.

Nose is of bread and dark fruit.

The beer is slightly sweet with a bit of brown bread and raisins. It has a whisper of spice.

The mouth is decent with low carbonation.

Not bad, but seemed a bit underpowered for a true winter warmer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2010 18:58:02 | More by Redrover

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Taste of Tops in Tempe, AZ.

A - Deep brown/amber with an off-white head. Surprised by the dark character of this beer.
S - Some malt & some spice with slight alcohol.
T - Roasted malt & salted/cured meats, very surprising, but with a sweetness and candied sugar.
M/D - Cloying but not to the point of undesirability. The sweetness of the malt dominates but very smooth and very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2009 05:05:38 | More by Gatch

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.08/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I'm just doing the Deschutes tour here at the Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay. After having Hop Henge, Black Butte XX, this is the next step in the progression.

2008 vintage: Served in a standard pint glass, the beer has a color somewhere between ruby and rust, but with an almost clear complextion. Lightly tanned head formation provides a creamy froath atop the beer.

Very malty and very fruity in the aromas with a orange zest, lemon zest spiciness from the hops. A follow of pine, nuttiness, and Christmas spices follow giving the beer a lot of complexity and variety in the nose.

Flavors of dense malty set the pace while hop flavoring begin the decoration of the bold barley additions. Pine is the most identifiable spice with modest cinamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice rounding out the malts. Malt flavors bring firm toffee, toasty, caramel, and nutty taste to support the cherry, berry, apple, and fig flavors. The beer has nearly all the attributes that an ale can have.

Full and malty rich textures give a lot of creaminess, firmness, and softness to the beer while the hops balance the sweetness well. Not a lot of residual sweetness but enough to keep the hops and added spices from becomming bitey or harsh.

Finishes with a long lingering taste of fruitcake, citrus, pine, and sweet rum-like alcohols.

This beer has the perfect delicate blend of malts and spices for great balance and complexity. This is my pick of the litter for Christmas Ales this year.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2008 21:24:32 | More by BEERchitect

Deuane

Pennsylvania

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

A-Dark brown with copper highlights with a medium off white head that held on strong and left nice lacing.

S-Mild spicy aroma with some nutmeg and a minimal dose of caramel malt.

T-Whoa! Spicy hops, nutmeg, chocolate, alcohol heat and nice, sweet, caramel, bready body. This one has a lot of flavour and a lot going on.

M-Medium-heavy body. Big, juicy, rich, lingering flavours abound.

D-Very nice full of flavour, lots going on with this one but one is enough. Maybe a bit too busy?

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2008 07:58:42 | More by Deuane

midaszero

Washington

3.83/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A - Clear ruby red with small off white head

S - Malty goodness with a little bit of sweetness and spice

T - Spiced malty and sweet with a slightly bitter unpleasant aftertaste

M - Medium body with medium carbonation

D - Pretty good. Nice seasonal but not an all the time kind of beer

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2008 19:34:15 | More by midaszero

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - pours a hazy, sediment-filled orange/brown. A finger of creamy pocky lightly tanned head puts some random dots of lace around as it recedes.

Aroma - light toasted grains, a whiff of fruitiness for a few seconds, a touch of metal. Settles to a powdery grain and lingering metal.

Taste - nice maltiness up front, toasty, light biscuit. Some indistinct but flavorful spices mix with some faint alcohol warmth. Moderate hoppiness on the swallow, grapefruit rind in the background. A fine range of flavor with each mouthful from malty sweet to hop bitter.

Mouthfeel - good weight, feels like a solid mouthful of beer. Carbonation is modest.

Drinkability - a fine drinker for the winter, I like it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2008 03:47:49 | More by brewdlyhooked13

BadRockBeer

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is the 2007 release of Jubelale from Deschutes.

Popped the crown-top on a 12oz. bottle and poured into a standard pint. Great mahogany in color with a thick tan one finger head. The headed faded into a nice tight lace. Smells of potent spicy hops. The hops also a very apparent in the taste, backed with a mild malt backbone. I taste hints of Vienna and caramel malts. Quite bitter but not over done. Medium body and carbonation. A very drinkable winter warmer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2007 01:41:43 | More by BadRockBeer

Mebuzzard

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Dark red/burgundy pour. Some reddish tints around the edges when held up to light. Good 2 finger head, clumps a bit in the middle.
Smell of chocolate and berries (cherry?) and tobacco. Hints of hops are present to provide some pinch in the nose.
Tastes of coffee/chocolate, some cranberry and nut. Is a bit thick at first, then thins out when hops are introduced and dries the sweetness nicely.
The thick to thin feeling is accompanied by an overall velvety finish. I would like a crisper finish, but this is nice.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2006 03:06:04 | More by Mebuzzard