Deschutes Mirror Mirror
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Tasting Notes
The aroma opens with dried dark fruit — figs, raisins, prunes — layered with toffee, caramel, and a faint nod to English hops, earthy and slightly floral. On the palate, rich malt character dominates: biscuit, brown sugar, and molasses, with a restrained bitterness that provides structure rather than contrast. The body is full and warming, with the alcohol well-integrated given the 11% ABV. The finish is long and slightly sticky, leaving traces of dark fruit and oak-like warmth that invite slow sipping.
About the Brewery
Deschutes Brewery is based in Bend, Oregon, founded in 1988, and is one of the Pacific Northwest's most established craft operations. They're widely known for Black Butte Porter and Obsidian Stout, and have built a reputation for technically consistent, malt-forward darker styles. Mirror Mirror is their barrel-aged barleywine variant, released annually in limited quantities and considered one of their prestige offerings.
Food Pairings
A slow-braised short rib works well because the beer's caramel malt mirrors the meat's rendered fat and fond-based sauce. Aged cheddar or a hard English-style cheese like Stilton finds common ground with the toffee and dried fruit notes. Pecan pie or a walnut tart echoes the nutty, sweet malt character without fighting it. Dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao provides a bitter counterpoint that keeps the beer's sweetness in check.
Style Guide
English barleywine is a strong ale style originating in Britain, built around intensely malt-forward character with flavors of toffee, dried fruit, and bread crust, typically ranging from roughly 8% to 12% ABV. Compared to American barleywine, which leans on aggressive hop bitterness and citrus or resinous hop aroma, the English version keeps hops in a supporting role — present for balance but not the point. The style developed as a winter warmer and celebratory ale, meant to be aged and sipped slowly. Body is full, carbonation is low to moderate, and the best examples integrate their alcohol smoothly rather than wearing it on the surface.