The Dissident - Deschutes Brewery

Hempdigler

Minnesota

4.7/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Today (12/10/10) I have climbed to the pinnacle of Mt. Beerdom. I have finally sipped my first taste of the much acclaimed Deschutes Dissident.
Just hours after the oldest restaurant on the oldest street in Minneapolis "Pracna on Main" tapped one of two kegs in the state I took my first sip into the "good-ass beer" subculture. Deschutes clearly sits high atop the throne of Beerdom and today was the day I became a citizen of that world.

I was expecting a good old pint of beer, but what I received was a snifter specially made for Deschutes Dissident. The waitress presented the golden brown and lightly rose colored snifter of heaven to me with a smile that told me she knew what I was about to experience. At first glance Dissident hardly looks like a beer, there was no head in the glass and there are only a touch of bubbles floating from the bottom of the glass. If it wasn't for the big Deschutes logo on the side of the glass I would have thought it was cognac.

Convinced I had beer in front of me proceeded nose first to give the beer a good sniff. The sweet smell of fermented cherries filled my nostrils. I hadn't had a cherry beer in ten years, Sam Adams Cherry Wheat. I don't remember enjoying the beer much either but my tastes have evolved much since those days.

I tilted the snifter further back to my lips ready to enjoy this beer that has been the buzz of the BA forums for months. It was like nothing I had ever tasted before. It was like a mix of a brown lager and cherry wine. I took all the restraint I had to drink it moderately. I knew it was a strong beer I believe around 10% alcohol. I could feel the wine taste leaving the undersides of my tongue dry begging for another sip. The after taste reminded me of the slight oak taste often described of many aged wines.

I also sampled a few other Deschutes creations while at Pracna, Obsidian, Jubelale. I must say this is definitely the most original beer I ever tasted, and the most standout I tasted that night. I will be back next week to sample it yet again and The Abyss they are tapping Thursday (12/16/10).

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2010 20:39:02 | More by Hempdigler

BretSikkink

Mexico

4.45/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

In this corner, weighing in at 10.5% alcohol by volume and 30 international bittering units, a sour Flanders Oud Bruin hailing from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon: The Dissident. [Raucous cheering]

One of my favorite styles, this Oud Bruin has it all for me: a deep brown color, dark malty depth of body, vinegar notes of wild Brett yeast, and Washington cherry bittersweetness.

Poured into a tulip glass at Papago, the tapped brew had no head whatsoever, just a bubble or two here and there. The copper-mahogany color more than makes up for it, looking both formidable and inviting. The nose provides further enticement, with plenty of fruit notes, both sweet and sour. A hint of the wild yeast is apparent as well as a slight hint towards the red wine barrel-aging as a vinous character emerges.

The Dissident is simply spectacular. Balanced but assertive, the alcohol heat is remarkably well-hidden behind a wall of flavors. The sour, wild nature is readily apparent, but the massive flavors from the malt and cherries, rounded out by barrel aging, come together so nicely. This is presumably from the brand-new, November 2010 release, so this keg was less than a month old and snappier than hell. If you find a bottle, buy it; if you see it on draft, order two. Silly-drinkable for this style, and silky smooth all around.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2010 19:44:25 | More by BretSikkink

nataku00

California

4.2/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Since I haven't been able to get a bottle here in the Bay Area, I had to make a trip to try it when I saw it was on tap locally.

2010 keg of The Dissident on tap at City Beer in SF, poured into a tulip glass. Slightly hazy reddish brown beer with just a little white foam right at the surface of the beer. Some carbonation visible through the beer, and I could see shadows through the beer as well so it's not too opaque.

Nose is sour cherries, vinegar acidity, and soft oak. Some raspberry sweetness as well.

Taste is light sour cherry puckering, sweet red berries, and vanilla from oak. Flavor is a bit muted compared to the nose, unfortunately. While good, just not as strong as I was hoping.

Medium bodied beer with just a gentle carbonation, slippery and slightly syrupy. Fairly drinkable glass of beer as the sour is not too strong, not lingering too long on the tongue, making it very easy to drink, but better to sip slowly.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2010 22:28:07 | More by nataku00

kbutler1

Minnesota

3.83/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft. Sampled on 12/10/10 at Pracna on Main. Had 2 glass, the first poured into a tall pils glass a clear copper amber color with very little head. The second pour was into a snifter and did have a slight tan head. Aroma is that of sour cherries and slight acidic notes, very minimal aroma with some sweetness. Medium/light mouthfeel with slight carbonation. Slightly boozy. Cherry taste with white wine characteristics. Woody. The Brett is pretty subdued, may be interesting how time treats this. Easy drinking but with all the craziness over this in MN, I'm really note sure if it deserves the hype.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2010 23:59:31 | More by kbutler1

grittybrews

Washington

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a deep ruby-amber into a pint glass with a finger of fluffy white head. Somewhat polite aroma of sour cherry and a hint of vinegar.

Fairly generous carbonation and full, light mouthfeel. Sour cherry up front with a hint of malty sweetness that develops into a more tart sourness on the lingering finish. Just a hint of the more funky notes.

Not the most complex of sour brews, but really delicious and very drinkable. I bought several bottles to age, but was lucky enough to find this on tap at the Parkway in Tacoma. Already a great beer, and I can't wait to see how it develops.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2010 02:51:09 | More by grittybrews

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.22/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a orangish color with good carbonation at first but shortly fell flat

S: Sour, wild and tart cherries mostly

T: Tart of course but its dominated by fresh, wild cherries, sour and unripe cherries, vinegar, wood, Earth

M: Tart, medium body, light booze sting and acidic

D: Good for the style and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2010 02:02:50 | More by barleywinefiend

djbreezy

Washington

3.9/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Portland pub for release day. Also bought 3 bottles for cellaring.

appearance - flat, transparent brown, carbonation only noticeable if you swish the glass

smell - cherries, faint oak, big funk

taste - tart cherries, funk/brett, alcohol

mouthfeel - light/medium body, low carbonation, oily

drinkability - flavorful but seems flat, not too sour, not ready for prime consumption yet, eager to see how the bottles do in the recommended 18 mos of aging

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2010 23:52:06 | More by djbreezy

boMD

Oregon

4.47/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A Back Log Rating... From a tap handle, this poured into a snifter looking foggy, reddish with an off white head that created a ring around the glass throughout the whole brew. Aroma of wine-like characters and almost lambic in nature. Really thick palate that filled and expanded nicely in the mouth. This brown style had a little more bitterness and darker malt notes than its Red counterpart, and it seemed the wild yeast really did a nice job. You could taste a hint of barley-grains in the finish.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2010 20:34:14 | More by boMD

elliot23

Montana

4.3/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Finally! I had the chance to try this one. 2008 on draft.

A. Appearance is of a deep orange. Slight amber tinge to this one. Looks really nice. Small amount of head with some decent lacing.

S. Sour fruits for sure! Apricots, cherries, a little vinegar. A little nose of yeast, oak, and vanilla in there somewhere. This one is quite plethora of awesomeness.

T. Mmmm, warming. A full punch of sour cherry, funk, apricot, caramel. There is definitely some brett in there somewhere, very nice. As it warms up some vinegar and cranberry slide through.. interesting.

M. Very nice lingering flavors and tingle in the mouth. You can really feel the age with this one. Nice and crisp. Kinda dry as well.

D. I could sip this one all day long. Of course I would be slammed after 405 glasses. No notice of the alcohol until the glass is empty. Super balanced and easy to down. Can't wait for the next release.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2010 01:42:31 | More by elliot23

4.43/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at Bond St. Brewpub in Bend, OR

Appearance is dark, murky brown with a large finger of head. Some lacing was present throughout.

Smell was strawberries, lemon, grapefruit. Not as much brett as I would've liked but it's definitely there.
Taste is of raspberry, straberry, sweet wine and a good amount of sour. Some funk, just enough to balance the sweetness. Very well rounded, one of the few high abv beers I would describe as refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap

07-12-2010 03:52:42 | More by

stawn

California

4.33/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2008 vintage on draft at Churchill's.

A - Brought to my table in a snifter with an inch of creamy off white head. Ruby, copper in color leaving layers of noticeable lace with each sip.

S - Smell is of mild funk, bits of sweet tart and caramel

T - Taste is surprisingly mild, yet intensely complex. Slightly tart followed by apricot and caramel. Finishing very creamy with multiple flavors dancing on your tongue.

M - I didn't have this fresh, so I can't compare, but after a year and a half this is a very mellow, creamy delicious creation.

D - As a fairly recent n00b to sours, this could easily be a gateway beer to the style. Very mild, yet intriguing with every sip. I'd like to have this again...and again

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2010 04:51:10 | More by stawn

DiabolikDUB

Oregon

4.4/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On Tap at Bailey's Taproom in PDX.

The color is an brownish red with a very light head. The lacing that this beer leaves on the glass is just amazing... It smells of very sweet fruits and slight sourness. The taste is extremely tart raspberries and sour apple. Dissident has a very thin light body which makes it extremely easy to drink. I truly enjoyed this gem.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2009 22:41:49 | More by DiabolikDUB

abecall98

California

4.47/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this baby on tap at Sac Brew

A - looked amber-like, with a very light head(poured into a 4 oz. taster).

S - Oh boy, this beer had such a sour sour smell, it made my mouth water. Excellent aroma. I could smell sour grapes, almost like a very rich fresh wine.

T - This beer is good. Very sour, very tart, tangy, and makes your lips smack. I could tell there are tons of flavors in this, I could not pinpoint them.

M - very acidic, and crisp. Just what you expect from a nice champagn, only from a very fine beer.

D - not sure if I could nurse a whole bottle, or even a pint of this baby. The sour is very strong, and I feel that after too much, would ruin the beer near the end. I will have to try it from a bomber and review that to see if I am right.

Deschuttes keepes bringing out amazing brews. Keep up the good work.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2009 18:01:25 | More by abecall98

funkinsk8

California

4.75/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I was excited to try this on tap. I've had it out of the bottle, and it was great. I'm a draft guy. I had a 5oz. pour in a small goblet.

A-slightly cloudy, very little head retention. No lacing at all.
Medium brown/light amber color

S-Very strong smells of oak and alcohol. Some fruit smells lurking in the background. Cherries? Raspberries? Both? Sweet and phenolic.

T-Complex wood character with a sour that isn't overpowering. The fruit on the nose really come out. Sourish to start with a mellow sweetness that kinda grows on you.

M-Coats your tongue and cheeks. You can still taste the sour fruits a full minute after you swallow. Full body feel with a light body taste if that makes any sense at all.

D-When i had it in the bottle it was 5 of us just barely getting a taste. This time I could have as much as I wanted. Although the 11% ABV comes through on the nose and in the taste I could have a pour before dinner and two after.
Delicious. Simply Delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2009 06:39:36 | More by funkinsk8

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.35/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap today at the Moon and Sixpence in Portland.

The beer pours a honey red color with good head retention and lacing. On the nose.... sigh. I could easily mistake this beer for a Belgian Red Flanders. There is a huge aroma of wet blanket, barnyard, sweet and sour, and dead moose. Jeeze Loueeze!!! Alas, the flavors on the palate perfectly replicate the nose, and this is without doubt one of the most authentic domestically brewed red flanders, oud bruin beers I've ever come across. The beer is at most medium bodied and I guess drinkability is pretty good. The alcohol is certainly well disguised, but how can you call a beer that smells and tastes like this "drinkable?"

Absolutely disgusting stuff.... Deschutes should be ashamed of themselves for making something like this. Very, very impressive....

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2008 02:18:21 | More by johnmichaelsen

Wetpaperbag

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Had this in a proper chalice. The head is a wonderful two fingers what didn't stay to play for too long. The beer is a dark red/brown color. The head is a mix of tight and loose bubbles, but great aroma, speaking of which moving on.

S- The cherries are the star here. I had this in the bottle but out of the tap its just better. The sour acid smell is there, but the cherry is more well rounded from the tap.

T- From the tap this is just better. The taste is very balanced with a good flavor of cherries and bitterness. The sourness is there and is a great compliment to the cherries. The sour acid taste completely covers the tongue. I taste almost a sort of chocolate with this. It is very subtle, but there. I think this is much better on tap.

M- Feels good in the mouth, nice sour taste puckers your tongue for sure, but it keeps your taste buds craving more.

D- Easy to drink, definitely worth sipping. Its fun to see how this beer changes as the beer warms.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2008 20:34:49 | More by Wetpaperbag

athensbeermaster

Georgia

4.3/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this brew on tap at the Sacramento brew Co.
They just tapped the keg and it tasted so fresh with lush dark fruits, plums,dark cherries, and a hint of ripe granny smith apples. The mouthfeel was so rich I didn't notice the high alcohol level. The drinkabilty was very smooth.
This flanders ale was not as complex as some other beers I've tried but was a welcome treat to have with my meal. Once again Deschutes comes thru with a tasty brew!

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2008 05:00:13 | More by athensbeermaster

Onibubba

Kentucky

4.47/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A clear red tinged mahogony / tawny port appearance. Slight dusting of cream colored head that did not last. Smell and taste are both very reminiscent of Rodenbach Grand Cru and, to a lesser degree, Duchesse. Best descriptor I can give is an Imperial Rodenbach Grand Cru. The aspect of this beer that is most amazing to me, would have to be the ABV. How on earth can this be 11%? The strength of this beer is simply buried by the craftsmanship involved. Quite drinkable, limited only by your tolerance for sweet sours. Most enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2008 18:58:40 | More by Onibubba

abfraser

California

4.65/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On tap at CBS in SF. Picked up a few bottles too, so may edit this as I get into those over time.

A: A nice deep mahogany, not much of a head

S: Sweet tart cherries. Pleasant sourness

T: Awesome. A wonderful fruity flemish sour. Prominent tart fruit. Refreshing

M: Great acidity. This one goes down great.

D: Just about as drinkable as they come. I really can't believe this thing is 11% abv.

Truly an awesome beer. I'd put it up against the best Belgians out there.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2008 04:24:55 | More by abfraser

GoreStorm

California

4.47/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

beautiful ruby-brown color with a large puffy head.

sour and sweet smell

the flavor is the same, a bit of dark fruit. very good. i hope to find more of this stuff.

i could see this becoming a bit viscous and whatever, but i only had one and could see drinking this often.

the 11 percent alcohol doesn't come through that strong for me. delicious and deceptive.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2008 21:51:06 | More by GoreStorm

IgotsHops

Washington

4.85/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This was amazing. Gorgeous nut brown with lace and very clear. Begged to be consumed. Smelled sour, with brown sugar and fig. Tasted the sourness upfront, but backed with a solid sweetness of brown sugar, fig, some dark and red fruit, toasty malt, and buscuity malt.
The flavors and carbonation danced around on the tongue, and the layers of flavor kept changing. The mouthfeel was exceptionally balanced with carbonation and viscosity of the beer. Smooth, crisp, warming, and intriguing.
I felt like I was drinking this all night, and not being conservative, but I didn't even finish my snifter. Oddly enough, I felt totally satisfied.
One of the best beers I've ever had.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2008 19:23:37 | More by IgotsHops

AKBelgianBeast

Alaska

4.2/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap ot O'Brady's on Huffman.

Pours an unusually clear amber ruby color with a decent white head. Nose is next to perfect here with solid tart brett, slight cherry. Taste follows with a good, but not overbearing tartness, less tart than your average oud, but still there for sure. The cherries in here both compliment the tartness as well as balance it out with a little bit of sweetness. Could be just a bit richer. Although very subdued for the abv, the alcohol is here does battle just a bit with the tartness. I like the use of the barrels in this, as they compliment it quite well, especially on the finish. Big thanks to Gary and the deschutes crew for ignoring the cries of us impatient craftlovers and leaving it in those barrels until they thought it was done. Mouthfeel is quite nice, nothing unreal about it, but a good solid representation. Drinkability is very good, and quite dangerous, as this one drinks like your average belgian oud bruin, but is quite high in content for the style. The 9 (11?)% alcohol in this beer is very well hidden.

Overall, I like it. It is not the most amazing oud bruin in the world, and the bottles (to be reviewed later) are quite spendy. What is most exciting about this oud bruin to me, is that it is a very fine representation of the style, (despite the high abv) and it is brewed in america. I am glad we are starting to see some breweries getting some good flemish style ales on the market. It shows much promise for the future of american brewing, as far as the somewhat more obscure belgian styles. A good beer, and a solid representation of the style (aside from the beefed up abv!) haha.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2008 04:30:45 | More by AKBelgianBeast

ccrida

Oregon

3.18/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Draught at the PDX pub, 10 oz in a large snifter, The Dissident is a clear, rusty amber with a small, bone colored, large bubbled collar that leaves scattered lace.

Smell is mostly cherry juice, not the kiddie kind, more natural food store, but still dominantly cherry, with alcohol and a bit of vinegary acetic acid. As it warms from the pretty much ice cold serving temp, it gains a metallic sharpness.

Taste is also very heavy on the cherries and booze, with lots of residual sugar and very little sourness. Chalky, and with a fair amount of fusels for a 9% fruit beer. Not overly sweet though, the dryness of the alcohol really cuts it on the finish. I just really wanted more tartness, and cleaner alcohol wouldn't have hurt either. This is just your average Oud Bruin with cherries, on the stronger, fruity end of the spectrum, which I don't care for as much. I just wish there was more funk - less Redbach and more Grand Cru please!
Before I even tried this though, I assumed the crow on the label was an obvious nod to the Duchesse and assumed it would be more in that vain, so I can't say I'm too surprised!

Mouthfeel is slick, but with a pretty lush, soft carbonation that cuts the viscosity, which is thick.

Drinkability is ok, but it was really a let down for me. I was hoping for a local version of Rodenbach Grand Cru, but this one is no where near as tart, complex or attenuated, and much fruitier. Now that I'm thinking of it, I'm not sure how much oak I got out of it either. Which is weird because oak aging is traditionally only used for Flanders Reds, which I vastly prefer to Oud Bruins, which this is sort of trying to be. Bottom line is it's really not my taste...also, it shouldn't have been served ice cold, but I didn't have time to sit there for an hr to wait for it to warm up.
Most telling is the blurb on the menu that cites "arguing for more time in the cellar..." Indeed! Less cherry juice and more funk and it would be better, and I'm hoping the bottles I bought will develop that after some serious long term storage. I just hope it doesn't turn to vinegar, or have all that sugar ferment into bottle bombs!
I had a bottle with a steak (Flanders style beers are my favorite pairing with steak), and it fared rather well, but still needed more acidity to match the fat.

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2008 03:39:44 | More by ccrida

dac

California

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

On tap at the Deschutes pub in Bend and again at Deschutes in Portland.

Tawny brown, some lace on top, little head and some lace around the rim of the snifter.

Lacto-Brett sour aromas, slight acetic malt vinegar aroma.

Delightfully sour, cherries come trough as more of a cherry-pit flavor, but are very subdued. Malt sweetness can be detected, but the beer is quite balanced presenting both malt and sour notes in a quite pleasing manner.

Mouthfeel is a bit thin for the advertised %ABV. This is a labeled as big beer but it sure doesn't feel that big.

Very drinkable. Easy to knock back a few in a sitting once they warm up a bit. I was surprised the Deshutes pubs were serving them at about 32 degrees.

Good enough that shell out more than few greenbacks for a case of bottles.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2008 03:28:15 | More by dac

MisterClean

California

4.33/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Y'all going to kill me for introducing this one from memory. Poured for me at the Oregon Brewers Dinner on 7/23/08. Stoked to get a sneak preview. You may just want to shell out the $50 next year, it's worth it ;)

A - Pours a murky brown, with little head and retention. Leaves slight legs though.

S - Wow sour! I love the sourness of flemish style ales, and this one is potent. Lots of brett, slight banana ester, and dark cherries.

T - Dark cherries and brett dominate the taste with a slightly earthy finish.

M - The sourness really kicks you in the teeth. Almost makes you pucker and practically esconds the cherries.

D - This would be an excellent dessert beer to pair with a hearty cheese or a nut based dessert (walnuts or cashew). A solid effort and a great beer by Deschutes, though I felt they went a little nuts on the yeast and could have left more of a cherry flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2008 05:21:15 | More by MisterClean