Port Townsend Winter Ale

Another of our winter brews, Port Townsend Winter Ale comes to us from Port Townsend Brewing Co who has done relatively respectably on the blog.  This particular beer is no different and actually rates very high, relatively, for those of the winter ales we have tasted this year.  It pours a nice light copper color with a decent head.  The nose is sweet and produces wonderful aromas of caramel and spices.  The body and finish have a solid mix of hop and malt, balancing the two perfectly.  This is an outstanding winter ale that is easy to drink yet complex enough to be very interesting to distinguished tastes.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Port Townsend Amber

Port Townsend Brewing Company has a pretty good record on the blog.  A good mix of Will Buy Again and For the Win with a few Middle of the Roads thrown in for good measure.  While they don’t have the most creative labels in the industry, they make up for it in good, solid brews.

The Port Townsend Amber was no exception to this.  A nice amber color with medium head, this crisp and clean amber has all of the characteristics you would expect… a good mix of malt and hops, a medium body and a good finish that leave you all happy inside.  A good beer to drink year-round, this one won’t dissappoint.

Pretty simple, here, really. 

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Port Townsend Stout

With this review, I will erase my potential reputation of being a Port Townsend Brewing Company fan boy and bring them down a small notch… no… I am definitely not getting anything from these folks for my reviews.  Although my belly would respond well to that if they were so indulged.

Port Townsend Stout brings us the lowest ranking review for the brewery today.  I opened it with high hopes after the wonderful Porter we had the other day, but this one ends up dissapointing.  The neighbors thought it was ok, but I just couldn’t get myself to give it my full backing. 

The pour is nice and dark with a very minimal head.  The body is dark and roasty with hints of chocolate.  The taste gets you, though, with a sweetness that doesn’t fit and a lack of complexity in the finish that leaves you wanting for more.

I finished the bottle over the course of an hour and the situation didn’t improve as it warmed up.  Overall, just an average showing for Port Townsend.  You can’t win them all.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Port Townsend Boatyard Bitter

A fine summer day at the end of the season compelled me to partake of various and sundry brews tonight.  Port Townsend Boatyard Bitter happened to be one of them.  Another fine showing from the good folks at Port Townsend.  This was one of two tonight and took the cake.

In a sentance: Boatyard Bitter combines the fine hoppiness of a good IPA with the more mellow tastes of an ESB to create a balanced concoction with a fine nose, body, and finish.

It poured a nice, minimal head with an amber color and high viscosity… you could see the bubbles struggling a little against the Bitter… fighting their way to the top.  The nose was hoppy and sweet with a similar body and a bitter aftertaste that didn’t hit too hard.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Port Townsend Porter

My oh my… what an outstanding roll these folks are on at JustBeer… Port Townsend Porter brings us another very solid offering, this time nearly outshining everything that night that you weren’t able to see through on the pour.  This one beat out some of the biggies, too… stuff from Deschutes and Bear Republic, for instance.

In a nutshell, Port Townsend Porter is the perfect balance of dark and smooth, bringing you a rich, chocolaty brew that is as smooth yet complex as it gets.  Not to bitter, not too sweet, the caramel malts really mellow this one out and give it outstanding flavor.  Not much of a head, but didn’t make an impact.

The neighbors agree on this one, as well… Port Townsend Porter is definitely one for the books.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Port Townsend Golden Ale

Perhaps the only so-so beer I have had from Port Townsend Brewing Company to date, Port Townsend Golden Ale isn’t a bad beer but it definitely has nothing remarkable about it.  So far, the brewery has done a very good job of taking each of the standard styles and doing great with it.  Nothing fancy, nothing strange… just good solid beer… not as much here.

A light ale, for sure, the Golden Ale poured nice with a small head, had a medium-lite body, and a very bland finish.  Overall, not impressive and while I wouldn’t turn it down if you served it to me, I wouldn’t actively seek this or choose it over most other beers in the store.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Port Townsend Hop Diggidy I.P.A.

I thought for sure the first time we came across this beer was at the 2008 Seattle International Beerfest (SIB)… but a quick view of my post and I don’t see it… ah well.  I found it when in Port Townsend the other day and I have to say I am glad I did!

Port Townsend Hop Diggidy I.P.A. has a funny name… although my 20 month old thought it was great fun to say… and consequently smell… strange.  Anyhow, funny name aside, this is actually a really solid beer.  The best I have had from Port Townsend Brewing Company so far.  A very hoppy beer with nose, body, and finish all coming through with hops-o-plenty. 

The head was high and stuck around and this beer, while not that high on the ABV had some really good legs on it.  As I was drinking, the top maintained a nice white foamy cover that reminded me of seeing foam on the river growing up.  A light film of foam that swirled and moved around the glass.

All in all, if you are looking for hops, this one won’t dissappoint.  Really very solid.  Thanks Port Townsend Brewing Company!

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Port Townsend IPA

My second beer of the trip when we ate at Jordini’s in Port Townsend was the Port Townsend IPA.  This beer, while not being exotic, strange, or unique, pretty much nails IPA on the head.  It doesn’t stand out, but it doesn’t have any flaws.  An overall outstanding IPA with a good bit of hops (medium), a great color, and a solid finish.  I bought a bottle of this at The Wine Store, as well… just because.  At just under $4 a 22oz bottle, it was a steal anyhow.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Port Townsend Scotch

Boy did we have a good weekend.  A ferry trip to Port Townsend and Fort Worden State Park netted us some fun in the sun on the beach, some very cool military battery exploration, a fine lunch and some really good beer.

We ended up eating at a place called Jordini’s in Port Townsend where they had some amazing sandwiches and other goodies.  Two of the goodies were beer from Port Townsend Brewing company and the one on this post is Port Townsend Scotch. 

This ale is a Scottish ale in its purest form.  A very smooth yet dark and rich beer, this ale hit the spot just between a hoppy IPA and a mild and malty stout and really warmed me up inside after a long day of playing in the sun.  A wonderful beer in all aspects.

I ended up picking up this and 7 other of the Port Townsend beer at the The Wine Seller in Port Townsend, as well.  The bottle held up just as well as the draft beer and I was very happy with my experience a second time. 

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again