Deschutes Releases First Class of ‘88 Collaboration Beer

Class of ’88 Barley Wine is the first beer in the series, brewed by Deschutes Brewery, North Coast Brewing Co. and Rogue Ales to celebrate their shared 25^th anniversary

12 March 2013/mbb/ – Bend, Oregon – Deschutes  Brewery, North Coast Brewing Company and Rogue  Ales have teamed up to create a traditional barley wine as the first in Deschutes Brewery’s Class of ’88 collaboration series. The series will include a number of commemorative beers to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of craft breweries around the country that were founded in 1988.

The Class of ’88 Barley Wine was based on the guidelines published in renowned beer connoisseur Fred Eckhardt’s The Essentials of Beer Style, which was originally published in 1988. Each of the three breweries working on the project brewed their own interpretation of that original recipe.  The three resulting barley wines have a common heritage and ingredients, and brewers fromDeschutes Brewery, North Coast Brewing Company and Rogue Ales teamed up at each respective location to brew the beer(s).

“Working collaboratively to create this barley wine has been an adventure for all of us,” said Cam O’Connor, brewmaster for Deschutes Brewery. He spent time at both Rogue and North Coast as they brewed their versions of the beer together. “Sharing ideas and partnering to celebrate this landmark date in our shared histories promises to result in some extraordinary beer. The best part of the process, for me, was the camaraderie experienced spending time at each other’s facilities.”

The three beers will differ from brewery to brewery, as they each used different hops and malts while following the same stylistic guidelines. Deschutes Brewery’s version of the Barley Wine was brewed with some hop varieties that existed back in 1988, along with some Mosiacs thrown in for fun. Release events are being planned for the third week in April when a limited amount of 22-ounce bottles will be made available to the public. Deschutes Brewery will have a limited release of bottles to only part of its regular distribution area. ABV: 10% IBUs: 70

Other planned brews in the Deschutes Brewery Class of ’88 series include a Smoked Imperial Porter with Great Lakes Brewing Company out of Cleveland and a Belgian-Style Strong Golden Ale with Chicago’s Goose Island Beer Company.
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