Double Mountain's Four Horsemen Series Releases in Portland
The Four Horsemen beers is the latest resurrection of my interest in working with the LaChouffe yeast from Ardennes, Belgium. This particular yeast throws a very nice fruity/estery character without the big phenolic hit I get off many of the other Belgium yeasts used in their strong beers. Most winter seasons, I like to pick a
draft horses, called Ardennes, and we were discussing building the beer series around these giant horses, when Greg suggested the horse and rider concept evolving out of The Book of Revelations…. a rider and horse is released with each of the first four seals opened prior to Judgement Day. We jumped on that idea, and had the brewers each design a beer, with a brewer being the operative figure opening the seals at the end of times and releasing, war, famine, pestilence, judgement and death! What fun!
In truth, I formulated the first two beers, White Rider of Conquest and Red War, and then Colin and Matt C. designed Black Famine, Greg and Kyle batted a home run and formulated The Pale Death.A big, golden-hued flavor bomb with heady alcohol and silky mouthfeel. Abundantly estery yeast notes underpinned by enticing hoppiness. “Perilously drinkable” (to cop a phrase from Michael Jackson, the Beer Hunter). First of the “Four Horsemen” series.
8.7% ABV, 29 BU
RED WAR: Strong Belgian-style Red Ale
A big yet very approachable beer. Lots of fruity complexity (banana, cherry, apricot), without a lot of the smoky phenols and higher alcohol notes of many Belgian ale strains. The fermentation finished dry, but with residual sweetness from a blend of light and dark crystal malts. Installment #2 in “Four Horsemen” series.
8.4% ABV, 30 BU
BLACK FAMINE: Belgian-style Quad
The third in the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse series, Famine brings you closer to the dark side. Black and chocolate malts were used sparingly so as to not get in the way of the wonderful dark fruit esters characteristic to the Ardennes yeast strain. The nose gives you toffee, dark fruit, and raisin, while a creamy vanilla rounds out the middle. Fruit and ripe banana flavors hang on the tongue, finishing bright.
8.5% ABV, 40 BU
PALE DEATH: Strong Belgian-Style Imperial IPA
A single hop beer using a huge amount of Mosaic hops with a large dry-hop addition gives a great aroma of Kiwi, mango, and pineapple with spiciness from the Ardennes yeast (coriander, orange peel). Flavors of orange and mango are balanced by danky(garlic/onion notes), subtle yeast and an alcohol warming. Well balanced malt flavor and dry finish.
9.3% ABV, 75 BU
About The Author
Angelo
Angelo grew up in Maine and is proud to call New England his original home. Cascadia is now his home. He fell in love with great beer in Oregon, Washington, and Northern California. He has been a correspondent for the Portland Tribune's Guest on Tap column, LivePDX.com, and has been featured in publications such as Beer Northwest and PDX Magazine. Angelo also has a great interest in independent music, and has been a booker and organizer for shows around the Portland under the name Pop Tomorrow! Angelo garnered much knowledge regarding beer from his experiences homebrewing, working at Belmont Station, Pyramid Brewing, Upright Brewing, By the Bottle, Beer Revolution, Olde Depot Public House, Falling Sky Brewing, Cascade Brewing, and from many many knowledgeable, passionate, and loving people along the way. It is Angelo's mission to bring "infotainment" and "edumation" to the readers of this website. If you have any questions or comments, or would like to contribute, please contact me at angelo@brewpublic.com