(Bend, OR) – Deschutes Brewery recently announced a quality issue with Mirror Mirror 2009 bottles.
The brewery blogged yesterday:
We have detected in our lab a similar condition to The Abyss 2009 where some (not all) of the bottles have brett in them. It is interesting in that there seems no way to tell short of general tendencies in storage conditions where the brett will develop to sensory detection levels.
At Deschutes Brewery we take these things seriously. We know many of the wine barrels we use will have brettanomyces (wild yeast that produces flavors that are not desired in some beer styles) in them (just ask any winemaker). Going forward, we have purchased a flash pasteurizer and all beer from barrels is now pasteurized (killing the brettanomyces) before it is blended with beer from tanks (that is not pasteurized). Then the final blend is bottle conditioned so all beer is alive when you get it. 2010 The Abyss was treated this way.
As for the Mirror Mirror or 2009 The Abyss, we will refund and arrange shipment for unopened bottles back to the brewery. As with any of our beers if someone has an unsatisfactory experience, we will make it right. Unfortunately, we cannot compensate for above market pricing paid over the internet or other “extra-market” sources, nor can we send a replacement beer in lieu of payment. Suffice it to say, however, we stand behind our beer and the experiences we deliver. You can contact us directly through our website.
Hmm…so, do I open my two bottles of 2009 Mirror Mirror or do I send them back? I’m more inclined to just open them.
I have a bottle of this in my closet. I’m hoping for brett!
Well, you can always give one a shot & send the other back, too.
Had my 2009 Mirror Mirror yesterday 1/14/12 in the rare Seattle snow day. The Brett was very apparant but I thought it added an interesting counterpoint to the oak. Last year I had 2009 with no Brett so I was suprised to find it.
Though I liked the Brett, if I hadn’t had the 2009 without it, I would have no resevations whatsoever as it was altogether pleasing. The problem was that I did have 2009 without the brett and it was awesome. There were hints of vanilla in the non brett that the brett just overpowers. When I had my brett bottle, I was sad to miss the vanilla.
All in all though, I was the saddest when I emptied my glass. A fine beer and I’ll be happy to accept any ‘returns’ on Deschutes’ behalf.