Conflux No. 1 (Collage) - Deschutes Brewery

Johnhaley1989

North Dakota

4/5  rDev -4.3%

10-05-2012 20:36:01 | More by Johnhaley1989

alpineclimber

Alberta (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

An auburn brew with a decent frothy head that dissipates to a small ring of bubbles.

The smell is a cornucopia of brown sugar, granny smith apples, oak and fusel alcohol. Very interesting nose on this beer!

The taste is fairly complex, green apples upfront, caramel sweetness, phenolic and a healthy dose of alcohol. It's hard to pick out the different barrels but you can tell this beer has been barrel aged. The mouthfeel is slightly flat but not disagreeable.

Overall this beer is interesting to say the least. It's a great blend of flavours and smells that is quite the departure from your typical style specific brew. This is a good beer for those who seek out something different.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2013 02:44:07 | More by alpineclimber

Gregfalone

California

4/5  rDev -4.3%

06-19-2013 07:17:10 | More by Gregfalone

KWMiles

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -22.2%

06-18-2013 20:46:14 | More by KWMiles

drewone

California

3.75/5  rDev -10.3%

06-18-2013 07:15:32 | More by drewone

magictacosinus

California

4.21/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I must thank Jon to holding on to a bottle of this for the second monthly "Beermageddon" event recently, just in time for the "best after: 4/30/13" date on the bottle. Poured into a tulip glass from a 12oz bottle. Suffice to say, I was thrilled to try this one.

Looking at past pictures of this beer, I can tell that age has definitely cleared it up. Rather than retain the original darkened, deep amber color, it consists of a bronze-amber color with brown hues to the side. Not much carbonation at all, which is expected given the age and style. Minimal head retention, with a grey head atop, and minor lacing as well. Extremely viscous - you can tell that this went through a lot of wood and barrel blending. Not pretty, but really unique for what it is.

Wow, the aroma really is something else! The first initial aroma consists of a vinegar focused flavor that quickly melds into all kinds of directions, that is highly tannic, vinous, spicy, bready, peppery, fruity, and sour. Totally nuts, really. After the vinegar, there are huge notes of raisins, caramelized grapes, tamarind, vanilla, honey, white pepper, maybe some saltiness, perhaps a bit of fruity ripe phenols... Very noisy, but also I am relieved this has sat around this long. All of the sediments and woody diverse tannins seems to have settled quite well. Reminds me of so many styles and more - truly a "collage" of flavors!

The flavor on the other hand is far more insane than anticipated. I really don't think I've ever had a barrel blended beer this complex. At the front, I get the same vinegar flavor as before, but it soon melds into a spicy, bready flavor, with a bit of pepper, which then becomes vinous and coated with mineral-y, vinous must from the Pinot Noir barrels, which then turns into vanilla and caramelized sweetness from the bourbon, to honey, to oaky tannins, to an eventually grassy, slightly dried citrus finish. Holy crap! Seriously - I drank this every time and watched how the barrels and flavors themselves provided a long lasting journey on my palate. It usually went, according to my own notes, in this sequence, but it definitely varied. As it warmed up, the vinous and heavy oaky sensations became even larger, and the vinegar lasted the most. The alcohol is really well hidden, but its size is quite apropos in light of the diversity. The mouthfeel is just right, with just enough bubbles to accentuate all of these flavors. Amazing stuff!

Could be one of the most unique drinking experiences I've ever had. I doubt I could have this all to myself, but just a mere sample really showcases well enough how creative barrel blending of radically different styles of beer and barrels can do when done right. I really want to see more Collage collaborations from these guys. Top notch stuff - reflects all the creativity and fun that can go into American craft beer culture.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 03:42:30 | More by magictacosinus

jklecko2

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

06-17-2013 20:49:01 | More by jklecko2

oggg

California

4.65/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

First bottle: 12oz from Incline Spirits in NV. cap says no. 1.
The beer is murky red brown. Low carbonation.
Light toffee nose competes with a windy fruity aroma.
The taste is really where this beast flexes its muscles. It starts strong and smooth with rich toffee caramel yumminess at the strength of an old ale. The. It morphs into a more candied sweetness from the Quad. The Belgian esters are actually attenuated/muted, which I like. Then another seamless segue into raisins for a second, then a gorgeous sourness that totally fits in. Finish is dry and pretty clean for all the sugar you just took. Full bodied. Alcohol barely noticeable. After a few sips, though, the ABV hits.

Overall: a fantastic and miraculous blend of some fabulous beers. It's amazing that you can really taste the flavor progression, but its even more amazing that its so smooth and seamless. Tasted 6-12-13

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 05:14:46 | More by oggg

cjoc83

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle dated "best after 4/30/13" and purchased at Whole Foods for $9.

Appearance - Pours a murky, hazy brown with an initial fingers worth of khaki head that quickly recedes to ring.

Smell - a whole helluva lot going on up in here! A lot of woody sherry jumps out at me first, followed by cognac, brandy, raisin, brown sugar, dark bready malts, pumpernickel bread, and kind of hiding underneath this melange of flavors is some Oud Bruin notes, mostly acidic cherry and hints of vinegar.

Taste - Wow. Cask-aging alchemy indeed! The oaky sherry carries over into the front of the tongue, along with some more pronounced red wine notes, but the tart cherries and lactic acid are what really come to the forefront. Middle of the mouth is more Flanders style tartness, bourbon, cognac, dark bready malt, brown sugar, fig, and rum-soaked raisin. Finishes sweet and with a fair amount of heat.

Mouthfeel - medium body with a creamy mouthfeel. Decent amount of heat in the finish, but it's still surprisingly easy drinking for the 11.6% abv. Dry. Lingering acidity.

Overall - I bought this on a whim one day at Whole Foods, and I'm damn glad I did. Complex is an understatement. Tasty as hell. A wonderful sipper.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 01:09:11 | More by cjoc83

jarrgal

North Dakota

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

06-10-2013 11:44:11 | More by jarrgal

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer is dark hazelnut brown in colour, with a small beige head. Head fades steadily.

A very complex nose. Red wine, oak, vanilla, bourbon. Smells tart, some vinegar. Smells like a Flanders sour put in different barrels.

The taste is similar to the nose. Closest to a Flanders, with a lot of vanilla and oak, and some bourbon. The red wine is there as well, though that flavour fits smoothly with the Flanders flavours. Some dark fruit, a malty base. A lot going on, but it blends together better than expected.

Full bodied, moderate to strong carbonation. Alcohol is not as strong as expected.

Overall, very good. Quite an interesting blend.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 02:01:36 | More by jrenihan

GeoffreyM

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.3%

06-07-2013 14:47:51 | More by GeoffreyM

DeutschesBier

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

06-07-2013 14:27:45 | More by DeutschesBier

spark3148857

New York

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

06-07-2013 04:48:24 | More by spark3148857

BeerGut4Life

Indiana

4/5  rDev -4.3%

06-06-2013 06:15:57 | More by BeerGut4Life

sacrelicio

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

06-06-2013 04:22:25 | More by sacrelicio

warmbier804

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -4.3%

06-06-2013 03:22:24 | More by warmbier804

jwat

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

06-03-2013 21:45:38 | More by jwat

themind

New Jersey

4.41/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Wham! Pinot Noir leads the pack in this BA experience. The beer is good and I would buy it again if it was available and not $12.00 bucks a 12 oz bottle. Pours a very small head, has a very random interesting aroma but the Pinot Noir is really up front. The taste is the same. Mouthfeel has a light crisp carbonation. Over all this is good.

Bottom Line: This is a interesting, good tasting brew!

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 23:12:58 | More by themind

itracy63

Alaska

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

06-02-2013 20:25:03 | More by itracy63

SatlyMalty

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

06-02-2013 16:41:33 | More by SatlyMalty

ajzy

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -4.3%

06-01-2013 13:35:54 | More by ajzy

brez8791

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.3%

06-01-2013 00:22:24 | More by brez8791

rodlavers

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.3%

06-01-2013 00:22:16 | More by rodlavers

dimitrov

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

05-31-2013 03:24:15 | More by dimitrov