We have a lot of really top-notch beers in this town. We also have a lot of very similar types of beers here in Bend.
Dean Wise, brewer and owner of Below Grade Brewing, is doing his part to create something different.
And lucky for us, Identity Crisis Sour IPA, his latest brew, tastes damn good.
Wise was smart to get on the sour train, as they're all the rage these days. And for good reason: when made properly, they're quite nice.
If you're worried this beer is going to be too weird for you, fret not. It's much more of a sour than some strange franken-hybrid. Wise made the unusual beer by crossing a naturally-soured version of his Validation Imperial IPA with his Nevermind White IPA. After a primary fermentation, Wise allowed the brew to go through an extended dry-hopped open fermentation. Below Grade released the beer in mid-October.
Wise did well. The finished product is sharp and fruity without tasting sweet.
Wise, however, is not the first to dabble in sour IPAs.
Michigan's New Holland brewery makes the Farmhouse Hatter Belgian IPA and Maryland's Wildeman brewery makes a sour Farmhouse IPA.
Wise is in good company. We hope to soon see more sours, as well as inventive beers, in Bend.