Deschutes Mirror Pond is a popular pale ale crafted by the Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. It is named after an iconic section of the Deschutes River and is known for its smooth, crisp, and caramel flavour. With a 5% ABV, this beer is available for delivery in Oregon, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. But can it be purchased in Wyoming?
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Beer Name | Mirror Pond |
Beer Type | Pale Ale |
Alcohol By Volume (ABV) | 5.0% |
Calories | ~160 |
International Bitterness Units (IBU) | 40 |
Flavor | Smooth, Crisp, Caramel |
Malt | 2 Row, Crystal, Carapils, Munich |
Availability | Year-Round |
Shipping | OR, VA, and DC |
Shipping Limit (VA) | 17 liters/customer/month |
Shipping Limit (DC) | 8.5 liters/customer/month |
What You'll Learn
Where to buy Mirror Pond beer
Mirror Pond Pale Ale is a beer produced by the Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. It is named after the iconic section of the Deschutes River in the heart of Downtown Bend. The beer is available for delivery in Oregon, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. (with monthly volume limits per customer).
The Deschutes Brewery website also offers a Beer Finder feature to help customers locate Mirror Pond Pale Ale near them. According to the website, Mirror Pond Pale Ale is available for purchase in Minnesota.
The Beerly, a beer review website, mentions that a person from Chicago was able to obtain Mirror Pond Pale Ale through a friend who picked it up in Minnesota.
While Mirror Pond Pale Ale does not appear to be available for purchase in Wyoming, it can be found in the states of Oregon, Minnesota, and potentially Washington, D.C., and Virginia.
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The taste of Mirror Pond beer
Mirror Pond beer, or Mirror Pond Pale Ale to give it its full name, is a beer that is said to have a distinct hop nose and hop-forward flavour. It is described as the quintessential pale ale, with a classic Northwest hops citrus nose and notes of sweet orange juice, honey, apple, strawberry, and pear. The beer has a medium body for an APA, with a honey character and citrus tartness. The malt is sweet but flat, and the balance is a bit on the malt's sweet side. The predominant orange creamsicle character is interesting, and the beer has a reasonable level of bitterness.
The beer has a clear amber colour with a huge billowing almost Duvel-like eggshell head and lots of sticky lace. The aroma is hoppy, grassy, and floral, with piney Northwest hops and fragrant sweet malt. The taste is a blend of bready caramel malt and floral hops, with light bitterness. It has a soft, medium-bodied, crisp, and drinkable mouthfeel.
Mirror Pond beer is named for the iconic section of the Deschutes River in the heart of Downtown Bend. It is said to be a delicious pale ale that inspires reflections and deep conversations. It delivers flavours and aromas from citrusy hops, with slight hints of caramel malt. It is best served in the moment and paired with good friends.
The beer has received mixed reviews, with some people describing it as smooth, flavorful, and thick, while others have found it to be just okay. It has been described as having a nice but not overpowering hops taste, with a solid malt base and citrus flavours of orange and lemon. Overall, Mirror Pond beer is a classic approach to the APA and is said to be comforting and reminiscent of beers from the '90s.
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The history of Mirror Pond beer
Mirror Pond beer is an American Pale Ale crafted by the Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. The brewery was founded in 1988 by Gary Fish, who still owns it independently.
The story of Mirror Pond beer began with the hiring of John Harris, a brewer with experience at Oregon's first brewpub, McMenamins. Harris and Fish discussed the direction they wanted to take with their beers, and decided to create a pale ale, as the style was gaining popularity at the time. They drew inspiration from Sierra Nevada Pale Ale but wanted to put their own spin on it, using Cascade hops.
Harris crafted the recipe for Mirror Pond Pale Ale to suit his own taste, describing it as his "take on not-quite Liberty Ale." The beer was brewed using whole-cone Cascade hops and a newer process of dry hopping, which enhances the floral and citrus notes. The first batch was brewed on July 19, 1988, and it quickly outsold the brewery's other beers, becoming a favourite among locals.
The name "Mirror Pond" was chosen to evoke a sense of place and give the beer a connection to the local community. It is named after a local impoundment of the Deschutes River, created in 1910 by the construction of the Bend Water, Light & Power Company dam. The dam has been a source of electricity for the city and has contributed to the unique landscape of the area.
Over the years, Mirror Pond beer has undergone subtle changes and adaptations to keep up with evolving consumer tastes and preferences. It has won multiple awards, including four Great American Beer Festival medals, and continues to be a beloved craft beer, both locally and beyond.
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The ingredients of Mirror Pond beer
- Cascade hops, which give the beer its floral and citrus notes.
- 2-row malt, which is a type of barley that provides the beer with its smooth, crisp, caramel flavour.
- Crystal malt, which adds to the caramel flavour and gives the beer its distinct colour.
- Carapils malt, which contributes to the beer's body and head retention.
- Munich malt, which imparts a malty flavour and aroma to the beer.
- Whirlfloc or Irish moss, which are clarifying agents that help remove proteins and improve the beer's clarity.
- Yeast, which is essential for the fermentation process and contributes to the flavour and aroma of the beer.
- Gypsum (calcium sulfate), which can be added to adjust the water chemistry and improve the beer's flavour.
- Dextrose, which is used for priming and carbonating the beer.
The combination of these ingredients gives Mirror Pond beer its unique flavour, aroma, and characteristics, making it a popular choice among beer enthusiasts.
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The alcohol content of Mirror Pond beer
The beer is considered \"not a particularly strong brew\" and is \"sessionable\", meaning it is easy to drink multiple servings in one sitting. It is described as \"the quintessential northwest pale ale\" and is characterised by its use of Cascade hops, which give it a \"hop-forward aroma and flavour\". The pale malt in the beer "allows the hops to linger, not overpower".
The beer is named after the iconic section of the Deschutes River in the heart of Downtown Bend, Oregon, where the Deschutes Brewery is located. It was first brewed in 1988 by John Harris, who said he \"made Mirror Pond for my own taste\". It was his "take on not-quite Liberty Ale", but he used whole-cone Cascade hops and a newer process of dry hopping that brings out more floral and citrus flavours.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Deschutes Mirror Pond beer is not available in Wyoming.
Deschutes Mirror Pond beer is available for delivery in Oregon, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
The ABV of Deschutes Mirror Pond beer is 5.0%.
A six-pack of Deschutes Mirror Pond beer costs $9.50.