Deschutes The Dissident
There have been two beers from Deschutes that I’ve been itching to try ever since they started shipping to Virginia three years ago. The Abyss was the first, and I’ve been able to enjoy it many times since that first bottle. And now, finally, just this November I’ve crossed paths with the second. The Dissident is the company’s barrel-aged Flanders-style Oud Bruin. And it is outstanding.
This blended beer sees a solid 40% of it aged in oak barrels for 22 months. Combined with the wild yeast and cherries, the overall impression is one that results in a lovely beer. The flavors are rich and earthy while the level of tartness is moderate in nature and fairly approachable in terms of its assertiveness. That wild tartness, along with those cherries, teases the tastebuds playfully while hints of oak and vanilla linger long into the lasting finish.
The Dissident, or at least the 2017 Reserve, is a wonderfully crafted and artful beer. It’s one that I thoroughly enjoyed fresh and one that I plan on cellaring for a bit, as well, now that I have been able to snag a couple of bottles. The moderate tartness and cherry flavors should both continue to develop nicely through the years.