Ninkasi Maiden The Shade

sasquashed

sasquashed

Prowler
While attending the Portland (Oregon) international brewfest this past summer, one beer in particular caught my eye.  Ninkasi brewing out of Eugene, Oregon brought two of their beers to sample.  One of them was their just released summer seasonal, named "Maiden The Shade".  It was described in the brewfest guide as an "American Heavy Metal Ale featuring 7 hop varieties."  I thought that must be a misprint--- surely it was a British Heavy Metal Ale featuring 6 hops!  I eagerly got in line, and when I finally got to the front, the pourer took a look at the Final Frontier tour shirt I was wearing and teased that I must be wanting the other beer they had on tap.  I just smiled and shook my head before she poured me nearly a full glass for the price of a sample.  At 72 IBU with a huge malt backbone, the flavor profile is definately a kick to your tastebuds, just like it's namesake band is a kick to your ass!

I finally got ahold of some in the bottle, after keeping my eye out for it awhile.  The beer name is done up in the familiar Metal Lord font, so there is no doubt it is a tribute to Iron Maiden.  The Ninkasi brewmaster is obviously a metalhead, seeing as how their winter release is called "Sleigh'r" done in the Slayer font.  A picture of the artwork is on Ninkasi's website if you're interested.

Thank you Ninkasi for combining two things I love----- Iron Maiden and craft brewed beer!
 
Travis_AKA_fonzbear2000 said:
They have a Slayer beer too!
Click to expand...

sasquashed said:
While attending the Portland (Oregon) international brewfest this past summer, one beer in particular caught my eye.  Ninkasi brewing out of Eugene, Oregon brought two of their beers to sample.  One of them was their just released summer seasonal, named "Maiden The Shade".  It was described in the brewfest guide as an "American Heavy Metal Ale featuring 7 hop varieties."  I thought that must be a misprint--- surely it was a British Heavy Metal Ale featuring 6 hops!  I eagerly got in line, and when I finally got to the front, the pourer took a look at the Final Frontier tour shirt I was wearing and teased that I must be wanting the other beer they had on tap.  I just smiled and shook my head before she poured me nearly a full glass for the price of a sample.  At 72 IBU with a huge malt backbone, the flavor profile is definately a kick to your tastebuds, just like it's namesake band is a kick to your ass!

I finally got ahold of some in the bottle, after keeping my eye out for it awhile.  The beer name is done up in the familiar Metal Lord font, so there is no doubt it is a tribute to Iron Maiden.  The Ninkasi brewmaster is obviously a metalhead, seeing as how their winter release is called "Sleigh'r" done in the Slayer font.  A picture of the artwork is on Ninkasi's website if you're interested.

Thank you Ninkasi for combining two things I love----- Iron Maiden and craft brewed beer!
Click to expand...
 
According to their website, they distribute their beers in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, and Alaska.  They are one of the more popular 22 oz. craft brews sold in Oregon, so I imagine they may distribute farther as demand and production capability grow.  Their beers are definately not for the faint of heart beer noobs.  I particularly like their Sleigh'r, but they are all pretty good, depending on what your tastes are.
 
Wow, I would certainly love to taste any of those Ninkasi beers... Too bad I'm 9000 km away from there.
 
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