"Nobel hops are known for high aroma and low bitterness" They're also known for inventing TNT and giving awards and medals out in Sweden.

Dumb-ass.

Not the kind of discussion that I was looking for, but, whatever. Glad you at least skimmed it for spelling errors.

I will say that I'm a big fan of cooled glasses though. If I'm drinking high-end beers, I run the glass under cold water for a couple of seconds to chill it to refrigerator-esque temperatures. That way the glass and the beer are starting at about the same temperature.

Have you started drinking cask from an engine yet? That'll really edumacate ya on the ideas of mouth feel and carbonation. Moon and Sixpence usually has at least two beers on cask.

I really wish Ninkasi would just go ahead and open a brewpub in Portland. Preferably around 45th and Hawthorne.

(Now I know where to find you Graham. I'm watching you....)

Most ales are actually best at around 50 to 55 degrees, which is well above where the average fridge is set. If there's a beer you really want to taste, you can just set it out for ten minutes or so to warm a bit, or just know that it will develop as you drink it.

Pabst and the like should be as cold as possible.

I'll have to try the Radiant. I drank mucho of their spring Reign.

@Graham

Now that's the discussion I was looking for. In February I posted an embarrassing blog post (is there any other kind for me?) about hanging out with Rock Bottom's Van Havig and drinking his cask-conditioned releases. It was eye opening, for sure. But I was still largely uneducated in the ways of craft beer.

I haven't yet started hitting the local brew pubs in earnest this month, but that will likely change this weekend. I'll try to get in at least two cask-conditioned beers this weekend and post my thoughts.

I also wish for a Ninkasi brewpub. Your suggested location is perfect.

OMG Did Graham and Blabbs just actually give helpful and useful comments??? To the same post??? Patrick you have just united the polar opposites of the troll spectrum.
Also I've really been enjoying these beer posts of yours.
They have been making me thirs-T.

@abusive Blabbs and I were united on the stupid fucking idea of the quiet no-talking bar night thing as well. We may argue on the politics, but what kind of Portlander can disagree over drinking good beer correctly?

@jake

There was a bit of caramel at the start but I couldn't find it after the second sip. I did experience some overwhelming butterscotch in something I had at Green Dragon the other day, but I forget what it was. That's helpful, eh?

abusive, Graham and I have our disagreements, but there's no division over proper beer drinkage.

I have tasted diacetyl in Ninkasi beer before.