Try All The Beers - Oregon Trail by Elusive Brew

In this blog series I’m trying all the beers!  I choose a beer from one of those books recommending the beers you should try. Check out this introduction post to read the rules of the game. 

Next up, we are going to visit Elusive in Finchamsted, Berkshire.  I found this beer in Modern British Beer and World’s Greatest Beers - let’s take a look at why this beer deserves both of those titles.

Beer: Oregon Trail

Brewery: Elusive Brewing

Finchamsted, Berkshire. 

Style: American IPA

ABV: 5.8%

Elusive Brewing

Embarking on a beer-tasting journey is much like setting out on the Oregon Trail – full of anticipation, discovery, and the promise of new horizons. In the world of craft brewing, Elusive Brewing stands out as a trailblazer, offering a unique experience with their exceptional brews. Founded in 2016 by Andy Parker, Elusive Brewing quickly gained a reputation for its innovative and experimental approach to brewing. Located in Berkshire, England, the brewery set out to challenge traditional brewing norms, pushing the boundaries of flavour and craftsmanship. With a commitment to quality and creativity, Elusive Brewing has become a noteworthy player in the craft beer scene.

Player being the operative word - Elusive stands out with its 8-bit inspired branding which extends through its labelling, beer names and even the decoration and entertainment at their taproom.  If you are in the area, head over to their newly expanded taproom at the brewery and see if you can beat the high scores on the games machines there!

The Development of Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail, one of Elusive Brewing's flagship creations, takes its name from the 8-bit computer game.  The Oregon Trail, an iconic piece of educational gaming history, first made its debut in 1971 and has since become a classic among players of all ages. Developed by Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann, and Paul Dillenberger, the game simulates the challenging journey of 19th-century pioneers as they traverse the historic Oregon Trail. Players assume the roles of trailblazers, making critical decisions about supplies, navigation, and survival. The game gained widespread popularity for its blend of entertainment and education, offering players a glimpse into the hardships faced by pioneers during westward expansion. Whether fording rivers, hunting for food, or facing the notorious challenges of disease, the Oregon Trail game remains a nostalgic and educational experience that has left an indelible mark on the world of computer gaming, much as Oregon Trail the beer has left it’s mark on the UK beer scene.

The beer, however, is a modern-day expedition of flavours and aromas. Crafted with precision and passion, Oregon Trail is a testament to Elusive Brewing's dedication to producing unique and memorable brews.  They have nailed the classic West Coast IPA, using Simcoe, Chinook and Columbus hops and balancing big bitterness with a solid malt body.

The popularity of Oregon Trail has extended far beyond this beer. Elusive have produced variants including double and triple Oregon Trail, building on the IPA style and Sunset Oregon Trail, a Red IPA and Midnight Oregon Trail, a black IPA.  Andy is a big proponent of the BIPA style!

To hear more about these variants, check out this episode of A Woman’s Brew: The Podcast where we taste the set!   

 

Tasting Notes for Oregon Trail

From the can, this beer pours almost clear yellow gold with a thick foamy white head.  It has great head retention with lots of streaming carbonation bubbles.  The American hops bring big pine and resin aromas, exactly what you are expecting from a classic West Coast IPA.  Light biscuit malt and a touch of citrus balance all the hops, even on the nose.  On the palate, the beer is lightly carbonated.  The pine and resin transform into a bracing bitterness combined with the refreshing grapefruit citrus imparted by the American C hops.  A skilled brewing hand has then balanced all of this with a subtle biscuit malt backbone.

The quintessential West Coast bitterness cleans the palate making this very drinkable.  There is a balance of pine and resin supported by a light malt background.  The malt bill adds a touch of sweetness that balances that bracing bitterness. A classic West Coast for those who like that sort of thing!

Should You Try It?

Absolutely!  Oregon Trail is a must drink beer in my opinion.  It will give you a great grounding in what to expect from an American IPA, and exactly what people mean when they say West Coast is the best coast!  If you are interested in hops it will also calibrate your palate to the traditional American C hop flavours and aromas.  

While you’re grabbing an Oreogn Trail, see if Elusive currently have any of the variants available as I highly recommend those too!

You can find out more about the beer in the reference books here:

Modern British Beer: page 262

World’s Greatest Beers: page 146

What beer do you want to see in Try All The Beers next?  Do you have a preference on beer styles?  Let me know in the comments!