Deep Thoughts #237

It prolly makes me sound like a Retardlican, but I am now calling face masks “useless face diapers,” for all the fucking good they’re doing.

Deep Thoughts #236

When a frog like Bill Barr is making sense, the rest of you inbred fuckwits sound even stupider than ever; and that is a tall fucking order.

340. 18th Street Brewery (Hammond, IN) - Orange Shaker

“6.3% Milkshake Style IPA with Orange and Vanilla Beans.”

The 18th Street version of the popular beer version of the classic Creamsicle, and it’s much better than the Sun King version. I don’t remember the Rochester Mills version well enough to have an opinion, but the 18th Street version is not off-putting in any way; and I’m pretty sure that makes it the winner.

339. 18th Street Brewery (Hammond, IN) - The Fox and the Goat

“Light body with a hop bite. Pale ale brewed with Centennial, Dry hopped with Amarillo. Made in collaboration with Chicago’s Girl and the Goat.”

Springs from DNA similar to Bait and Click, but less overtly fruit and more straight-up (now tell me, do you really want to love me forever?) hoppy. It’s now several hours away and I have forgotten much of it…but I liked it.

338. 18th Street Brewery (Hammond, IN) - Bait and Click

No description, apart from the brief listing on their on-site menu, which indicates DDH Pale Ale. First of three I had at the 10th Street taproom this afternoon, on my 45th birthday. (And if you’re sitting there thinking, “Shit…he made it to 45?”, well, I’m right there with you.) This one is like being smacked in the mouth with a fruit mash-up of oranges and peaches. Off-putting at first, but it mellows out as it warms up. Not the best thing I’ve ever had from 18th Street, but light years from bad.

Deep Thoughts #235

After this shit ends and things to back to something like normal, who do we blame for the lemmings hooked on hand sanitizer like a narcotic?

336. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Chico, CA) - Hazy Little Thing

“Juicy hops and silky malt meet in a Hazy Little Thing with fruit-forward flavor, modest bitterness, and a smooth finish.”

They managed to nail both bitter and smooth in the finish, but I think the fruit up front is at least matched by pine, if not eclipsed a little bit. Not that any of that is bad. It’s more interesting than the New Holland thing I tried before it.

335. New Holland Brewing Co. (Holland, MI) - Hazy River

“A true testament to our brewers’ expertise and their passion for innovation. Hazy River is smooth and juicy with a beautiful hazy-golden apperance.”

Very light tropical and citrus flavors, and very light mouthfeel. Nothing too impressive going on here, but it’s very drinkable.

334. Sun King (Indianapolis, IN) - German Chocolate Oktoberfest

“German Chocolate Oktoberfest is a German-style lager with a dessert-style twist thanks to additions of chocolate and coconut.”

The first sip was confounding, and then it grew on me. It starts out too sweet, but then the flavor kicks in—soft chocolate and coconut—and then the flavors spread out and get a little bit bready, to remind you that it’s a Märzen. The finish is almost dry, which is saying something, considering how sweet it is up front. This is easily my favorite Sun King beer ever, and it would be a contender for my favorite beer of all time, if such a list existed. (And so guess what I’m going to start working on tomorrow—since I have, you know, all this free time on my hands?)

332. Scarlet Lane Brewing Company (McCordsville, IN) - The Stuff

“Marshmallow Root, Vanilla & Lactose.”

Those three flavors all sort of whirl together and strike as a sweet composite in the first sip—and the finish is pretty bitter for something that claims only 10 IBUs; but after that first sip, everything mellows out a little bit. The finish is still a little bitter, but not bad.

331. Scarlet Lane Brewing Company (McCordsville, IN) - Ghost 4.0

“Classic IPA w/Fruity Yeast Esters.”

Mostly what comes across for me is the incredibly bitter finish. There might be a little of hint of some unspecified fruit, right upfront, but it’s swept away almost immediately. Not actively unpleasant, but disappointing.

Deep Thoughts #234

I’m sick to my bones of hearing the phrase “social distancing.” We know already. For the love of Darwin, please shut your fucking pie-holes.

330. Triton Brewing Co. (Indianapolis, IN) - Star 19

“Star 19 is an homage to Indiana, the 19th State of the Union. With 19 IBU’s, this juicy double dry-hopped IPA is brewed with Citra, Chinook, Cascade and Glacier hops. The citrus flavors, and crisp, dry finish are the ‘Star’ of this juicy Ale!”

There are all kinds of interesting hops things going on here, from a nice, soft, tropical start to a shiny citrus middle, to a slightly spicy finish. (Or we could quibble over the semantics and call the finish either “dry” or “bitter,” but I’m going with spicy. I looked up the different hops they use in the beer, and a couple of them had the word “spicy” as a descriptor, so maybe that was cheating, and the idea was already in my head and shouldn’t count—but I’m going with it. I WON THE ELECTION—BIG TIME!) Not much changes with the second one, except that that spicy finish becomes a little more pronounced. Stupid name and description—nobody needs that much of Indiana’s limp dick in their mouth—but excellent beer.

Deep Thoughts #233

Just when I thought Republicans couldn’t get any batshit-fucking-crazier than Trump and McConnell, here comes giant horse’s ass Mike Pompeo.

328. Heavy Seas Beer (Baltimore, MD) - Night Swell

“Night Swell’s arctic winds and northern tides make their way south, a darkness descends upon the Atlantic, and even the most hardened hop head feels the pull of the darkness. Night Swell’s nor’easter blast of hoppy aromas combines with a warming dark roast and rich malt sweetness for a full-flavored, full-bodied IPA that stretches the boundaries of the style. Surrender to the darkness and ride the swell.”

The first sip made me think of the Samuel Adams Triple Bock that I managed to luck into trying twenty-odd years ago. That one was big and thick, with a consistency somewhere between beer and syrup. This one has a consistency more like beer, with strong flavors of molasses and chocolate up front, and possibly the echo of a bourbon barrel in there—though I suspect that if that were the case, they would have mentioned it. Not sure I like this one either, but it, too, is interesting.

327. Black Acre Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Confused Dinosaur

No description I can find except for the style, which is weizenbock. This was possibly the last really good day for a beer outside in the Black Acre Garden, so Amy and I took advantage after we hiked around Holliday Park for an hour or so. There was something familiar about the flavor, and it might have been a hint of the kinds of spices they use in their Oktoberfest and Pumpkin Thief, but not nearly as heavy. It wasn’t exactly bready or sweet, but it also wasn’t bitter or dry at all. Can’t say for sure if I liked it or not, but it was interesting.

Deep Thoughts #233

This election should not be close. Rural people are retards. Stop voting, and stop fucking your brothers. Try going to school. Walk upright.

325. Deschutes Brewery (Bend, OR) - Chainbreaker

“Thirst-quenching hopped up wit beer. Citrus aromas from hops, orange peel and coriander that meld with the fruit and spice esters of the Belgian style yeast strain dubbed ‘Forbidden Fruit.’”

More of a witbier than an IPA, but it’s got a nice little bit of citrus shine on the back end. It’s not bad, but I don’t like it very much.

324. Black Acre Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Pumpkin Thief

“Ale brewed with 20 pounds of pumpkin per barrel and spiced with cinnamon, ginger, orangepeel [sic], all spice [sic], nutmeg, and clove.”

Needs to be fully decanted to get the whole flavor profile. My mug is just a hair under sixteen ounces, so I don’t always get the full effect in the first couple of sips—and it makes a big difference with this beer. Almost chewy from all of that pumpkin, and fairly well balanced by all of that spice. I say fairly because they use a pretty heavy hand when they spice their beers. I thought it might have been an exception with their Chai Guy milk stout, but it’s pretty prevalent here, too.

323. New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, CO) - Accumulation

“This winter, IBUs start accumulating like snow in Colorado with our new Accumulation White IPA. Brewing a white IPA was not only a way to salute the white beauty falling from the sky, but a direct revolt to the longstanding tradition of brewing dark beers for winter and winter seasonal beers. At least that’s what our rebellious brewers like to claim as they shovel in plenty of mosaic [sic] and Amarillo hop varietals and a bit of wheat for a smooth mouthfeel. Stack up a few cases of Accumulation White IPA to keep your long nights glowing blizzard white.”

Um. Okay. The hops taste more like Citra to me, but I think they’re bang on with respect to the smooth effects of the wheat. It’s also bigger (6.7%) than it tastes. That could be either Citra or Mosaic, and I don’t fucking care anymore. I’m out.

322. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Chico, CA) - Dankful

“A better tomorrow is why we brew Dankful, a resinous West Coast IPA that supports nonprofits standing up for social equality, economic well-being, and environmental protection. Through this philanthropic pledge, we work with nonprofit partners dedicated to moving our communities forward. We’re Dankful for that.”

And if that means doing everything they can to vote Republicans the fuck out of office, then I’m buying stock in the company.

(Yeah? Bite me. Nothing they said was about the beer, either. I don’t know why that particular blurb on their website put this bug up my butt, but there it is. When we were down in Madison a couple of weeks ago, I had the misfortune of having to endure Fuckwit McConnell ads on TV between segments of Jeopardy!; and those ads desperately made me want to vote for Amy McGrath for U.S. Senate, even though I don’t live in Kentucky. I am so Dankful that I met good people in college, people whose examples made me finally understand that all of the conservative shit my father has been spouting since I’ve been born is fucking ridiculous.)

321. Black Acre Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Glitteratae

“No Hollywood elite influence here! This baby is straight out of New England. If we could turn back time, we’d make this beer again and give it all to you.”

Nice pine aroma, but the flavor is too sweet, and passes so quickly that I can barely tell it’s there. That could maybe be melon, or maybe pineapple—and it’s not bad, but it’s sort of soft in a way that does not eventually become interesting. Black Acre’s one-off IPAs are usually pretty solid, but this one is disappointing.

320. Firestone Walker Brewing Company (Paso Robles, CA) - Luponic Distortion No. 016

“Our Luponic Distortion IPA series makes a statement with this newest release featuring bold flavors of peach, pear drop and dragon fruit, all derived exclusively from 100 percent natural hops from Germany, the Pacific Northwest and New Zealand.”

Nothing stands out, bit it’s round and light and very drinkable.

319. Hi-Wire Brewing (Asheville, NC) - Hi-Pitch

“A balanced Western North Carolina IPA with bright citrus and tropical fruit aromas. Expect big grapefruit, tangerine and subtle melon flavors from the chorus of Mosaic & Centennial hops to balance out the malt in this dank & drinkable ale.”

Nothing really stands out here, either, except an echo of pine from the Mosaic and of that vague qualifier dank on the back end—and both of those mellow as it warms up, letting a little bit of citrus shine into the mix.

318. Stone Brewing (Escondido, CA) - Tangerine Express

“This creation’s uniquely hazy appearance is a credit to the glorious whole tangerine purée in every batch. Using the whole fruit allows us to harness every bit of its natural depth of character. Pithy, crisp bitterness complements its distinct juicy citrus. Just the right amount of pineapple and, this being Stone, a whole lot of hops round out this beer in an amazingly hazily citrusy tasty paradise of flavors and aromas.”

Citrus shine and moderate bitterness up front seem to mask any specific fruit flavor, but the citrus lingers on the back end a little bit—and makes me feel like I should be tasting something specific. The bitterness gets a little more pronounced as it warms up, but so does the fruit flavor. I hope I’m not losing my sense of taste—or smell—or coming down with a cough.

Oh, shit.

Deep Thoughts #232

It just occurred to me that maybe I should have blogged about an Indianapolis beer for #317. Should I rewrite history or let the train sail?

317. New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, CO) - Voodoo Ranger

“Bursting with tropical aromas and juicy fruit flavors from Mosaic and Amarillo hops, this golden IPA is perfectly bitter with a refreshing, sublime finish.”

The description is a little bit hyperbolic, but the beer is fine—tropical and dry, but not exactly bitter or juicy. If this is the original Voodoo Ranger, then it’s a pretty good baseline for the multiple variants they’ve brought out since.

316. Hi-Wire Brewing (Asheville, NC) - Lo-Pitch

“This easy-drinking hazy IPA packs a bright citrus hop punch without all the bitterness. Juicy American hops and a light malt bill make Lo-Pitch the perfecft pairing for sandy shores, mountain tops, or backyard hangs.”

Starts off citrusy and dry, with a little bit of strone fruit as it warms up, and then fades into a soft echo of Fruity Pebbles on the back end. Oddly compelling for such a light, simple beer.

315. New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, CO) - Voodoo Ranger Xperimental IPA

“Our latest IPA experiment. Exclusively dry hopped with Citra Hops.”

There are apparently at least two versions of this beer, and I’m pretty sure I have the first. The second one sounds much funkier and hazier, and the one I have is crystal clear and tastes like it might very well have been brewed with nothing but Citra, as the description on Untappd would indicate. It’s bright and refreshing, with good flavor and aroma. I had a huge crush on Citra there for a while, but that fervor has diminished somewhat. This is a fine beer, but it doesn’t rock my world.

311. Against the Grain Brewery (Lousiville, KY) - Gettin’ Limboed in Kentiki

“Inspired by D.C.’s vacays on the Ohio River banks here in Kentiki, we give you a pineapple, mango sour ale that’s as tropical and tikified as D.C.’s riverside cabana. It’s so tasty you might find yourself doing a lil’ limbo. So go ahead, Kentiki, bend over backward and blow out a flip flop for this one!”

Um…well. It does not taste strongly of either pineapple or mango, which strike me as flavors that are far too subtle to make themselves known in a sour. However, this beer was only moderately sour, and not the aggressive slap in the face toward which the style seems to be trending. I got a little bit of pineapple as it began to warm up, but nothing that brought the word mango to mind. It was a pretty good sour, just not an especially flavorful one.

309. Crown Brewing (Crown Point, IN) - “The Dude” Java Porter

“Our Industrial Porter flavored with cold-brewed White Russian coffee for a distinct smooth yet robust profile. One of the best coffee porters around. But that’s just our opinion man…”

Yes, and their Industrial Porter boasts “roasted and caramel malt flavors”—and I wanted to like it, I think, but there’s just too much going on. It doesn’t say what kind of coffee they used, but I’m guessing it was some sort of White Russian-flavored coffee, and that it’s the White Russian flavoring in the coffee that is the overwhelming component here. I don’t know if the caramel is working against everything else, or if it’s a Kahlua-based White Russian that doesn’t play nice with others—but something isn’t right here. It’s pretty rare for me to actively dislike something, but I do not enjoy this beer at all.

308. New Madison Brewing Company (Madison, IN) - Raspberry Wheat

“Our wheat beer brewed with lots of raspberries, dry and refreshing.”

This is the aforementioned offering that I was lucky enough to happen upon when we stopped at the Off Broadway Taproom. Amy’s parents were kind enough to let Jackson stay over for a few days, so that Amy and I could take the little three-day trip we like to take each year during her fall break, and this year we went to Clifty Falls State Park, in Madison, Indiana. Madison boasts two independent craft breweries, but their open hours do not coincide with the time that we were going to be there. I was afraid that I would miss out on the chance to try their beer at all, but we decided to walk around “downtown” Madison on Tuesday afternoon, and we stopped for drinks and appetizers at the Off Broadway Taproom. They had this offering from New Madison on tap, and it was solid. The wheat backbone is nice and crisp, and the raspberry flavor is strong without being tart or overpowering.

313. 450 North Brewing Co. (Columbus, IN) - Pumpkin Pecan Spice Latté Slushy XL

“Pumpkin Pecan Spice Latté XL is conditioned on Pumpkin, Pecans, Spices and French Vanilla.”

This is, without a doubt, one of the strangest things I’ve ever tasted. They call it a Berliner Weiss, but it pours thick like I sort of imagine pumpkin juice would pour in the world of Harry Potter. It has a bright sour tang, but also sweet notes of pumpkin and spice. Pecan and vanilla may be there, but they’re bit players. Not sure if I like it or not, but it’s an impressive beer.

314. 450 North Brewing Co. (Columbus, IN) - Swirrrly

No description for this stout, apart from “chocolate and vanilla” and the 8.5% ABV notation on the board at the taproom. I tried it cold, and I also let it warm up for a good long time; but I don’t get any kind of chocolate apart from the chocolate malt. There might be an echo of vanilla in there, but the high alcohol gives it an almost astringent shine that is right on the cusp of unpleasant. It gets better as it gets warmer, but we’re not talking the 15-20 minutes it takes to drink it; we’re talking an hour or two. This is the first beer I’ve ever had where I feel like it needs to breathe like a fine wine.

310. Country Boy Brewing (Georgetown, KY) - Cliff Jumper

“Your foot leaves the rock ledge and now you’ve committed. That split second of euphoria is trapped in the can you’re holding. Cliff Jumper is a straight forward, all-in citrus IPA. With a blend of four different hops over a balanced malt backbone, this ale is approachable to the uninitiated, but bold enough for the serial hop lover.”

This is my first Kentucky beer for the blog, which brings my total to 23 states—or 21 states and 2 commonwealths. Right out of the can and into a cold mug, it’s got a light, tropical flavor up front, with some citrus shine on the back end. Picked this up on our three-day jaunt to Clifty Falls State Park—the 9th State Park we have visited since the world shit the bed. Unfortunately, Madison, Indiana, is not yet a serious player in the craft beer scene. They have two breweries, and neither of them are open Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. I was lucky enough to happen upon a beer from New Madison Brewing Company when Amy and I stopped for drinks and snacks at the Off Broadway Taproom, but that was the only distribution I could find.

(Madison isn’t nearly as hip as it thinks it is—way too many Trump flags and In God We Trust license plates, plus a paucity of liquor stores and the worst craft beer selection I have ever encountered at the only grocery store we visited while we were there. That said, the Off Broadway Taproom is fantastic. Decent tap list and great snacks—the hot pretzels came with a honey-dijon mustard that was so good, I could have happily eaten it all by itself, out of a cereal bowl with a spoon. And while Madison is no Columbus, if you’re into rugged hiking, Clifty Falls State Park will definitely scratch you where it itches.)

And now that I have gone on and on about all of that, the beer has had a chance to warm up a bit, and the profile hasn’t changed very much. Pretty solid beer, but maybe not the citrus bomb they wanted it to be.

307. Maplewood Brewing Co. (Chicago, IL) - Charlatan

“An American Pale Ale generously hopped with Citra, Centennial, and Simcoe hops for fresh citrus flavors with mild earthy pine notes.”

This is lovely. Excellent balance of tropical, pine, and citrus flavors, with just a hint of a dry finish. I think it works a little bit better very cold—all of the flavors are there, and it’s crisp and refreshing. It’s still very fine when it warms up, but that crisp, cold punch in the first sip is where it’s most impressive.

306. Bier Brewery (Indianapolis, IN) - PDG

“Continuously hopped, this pale ale showcases the balanced hop and malt profile.”

A little bit citrusy, a little bit flowery, and a little bit dry at the end. Utterly unremarkable.

305. Big Lug Brewing Co. (Indianapolis, IN) - Ragged Company

“Hazy, low bitterness with high hop flavor and aroma. ‘Juicy’ character, with notes of tropical fruit.”

I can’t quite make out which fruit flavor that is, but it’s huge up front, and almost cloyingly sweet. Could be vaguely tropical, I suppose…so I’m going with papaya. Perhaps a little bit of citrus shine on the back end. I had three of these yesterday, and I thought they all had that cloying sweetness I mentioned earlier; but it’s much less pronounced in the one I poured today, and the fruit flavor isn’t as big up front. It’s still a little too round and sweet overall, but really not bad.

304. 3 Floyds Brewing Co. (Munster, IN) - Barbarian Haze IPA

“At long last, we bring you our take on a Hazy IPA. It’s no secret that most of our portfolio is hop forward, flavorful, and unfiltered. With Barbarian Haze, we took the hopping protocol a bit further, using some new age brewing alchemy coupled with our old school heavy handed approach. Fans of the style will recognize the complex soft malt character that helps balance the generous hop additions for supreme drinkability.”

This is surprisingly drinkable for a 3 Floyds offering, with a very light mouthfeel and strong flavors of stone fruit and citrus up front (plus a little pineapple as it gets warmer). The finish is too smooth for it to be thought of as balanced, but the whole thing is oddly appealing. I don’t know if I would go so far as to call myself a 3 Floyds convert just yet, but I might be starting to come around.

Deep Thoughts #231

And I hope you pass it on to your greasy offspring, so they can pass it to the rest of the Republicans and all of you motherfuckers can die.

Deep Thoughts #230

Hey Donnie, I heard you got the roni, you ignorant asshole. I hope you and the Balkan wop you married die choking in front of your children.

302. New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, CO) - Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin

“At 6.4% ABV, Atomic Pumpkin is perfectly positioned to capture the fall beer drinker who wants more than just an ordinary Pumpkin or Oktoberfest beer.”

There are four blurbs of Tasting Notes on the website, and between those four blurbs, they use the words ‘slight’ or ‘slightly’ six times, with respect to other descriptors such as sweetness, bitterness, herbal, spiciness, alcohol-warming, and astringent. The Beer Facts (keep scrolling after Tasting Notes) reveal that Saigon cinnamon and habanero chile have been incorporated into the brew. I don’t drink many pumpkin beers, so maybe I’m just missing the pumpkin in this one; or maybe pumpkin is a subtler flavor than I expect it to be; but unless that is a flash of pumpkin in the brief, initial sweetness, then this is just a spicy cinnamon ale that is going to give me heartburn. And yet…I can’t quite bring myself to call it bad. It’s certainly not something I would ever buy again, but it is one of the more interesting beers I have tried in a long time.

301. Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, FL) - Florida Man

“Unpredictable varieties of hops used in nearly-criminal volumes combine to create a bold, citrusy Double India Pale Ale brewed to pay tribute to ‘the world’s worst superhero,’ Florida Man.”

The high alcohol (8.5%) makes the finish a little more bitter than it seems like they meant for it to be. The tropical, citrus, and peach flavors manage to balance each other nicely once it warms up—but are not sufficient to balance the alcoholic bitterness. The plus side of the 8.5% is that by the time I finished the first one, I no longer cared that the balance was off. The second one, on the other hand, was balanced and delicious in all kinds of ways that the first one was not. I’ll probably never shake the belief that beer should be served cold—but I’m not unwilling or unable to acknowledge the occasions when a particular beer would be better served by being served something other than ice cold. This is one of those occasions.

300. Fountain Square Brew Co. (Indianapolis, IN) - Hop for Teacher

“Pine & citrus aromas proceed [sic][?] a truly balanced body with a smooth & clean finish.”

And something floral in there too, but it ain’t anything to write home about. Not bad, but not interesting, either. I should probably have another go at this one too, but who knows when I will be in anything like a good place again?

Deep Thoughts #229

Now Fuckwit Hogsett has the blood of Duos Indy on his hands. Please don’t forget how bad he fucked all of us when it’s time to vote in 2023.

299. Daredevil Brewing Co. (Indianapolis, IN) - Hop Pilot

“A New England style IPA that showcases our love of aggressively hopped beers.”

Sweet, fruity, and very smooth, with some bright citrus on the back end as it warms up and lots of stone fruit up front. It has a deceptively light taste to it, and I’m not sure the word aggressive applies here. It’s really good, but I feel oddly indifferent toward it. Beer #300 is going to be Fountain Square’s Hop for Teacher—which seems sort of appropriate, considering what my wife does for a living.

298. New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, CO) - Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze

“Packed with bright tropical aromas and brilliant citrusy flavors, this unfiltered IPA wraps up with a pleasantly smooth finish.”

Very similar to the Higher Plane I just tried yesterday, but drier and not quite as big. I probably like this, but I’m not in a very good place at the moment. May reeevaluate later, but can’t now; world ending.

Deep Thoughts #228

I shall do my best to support as many of these businesses—and anyone who wants to give Fuckwit Hogsett the ass fucking he deserves—as I can.

Deep Thoughts #227

Maybe now you’ll think about the Supreme Court the next time you vote? Maybe you’ll actually vote this time? Fucking Bernie Bro shit stains.

297. New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, CO) - Voodoo Ranger Higher Plane

“Higher Plane IPA achieves the perfect balance of delicately bitter flavors and tropical, juicy aromas. Channel your inner haze.”

Doesn’t really taste bitter at all, even when you factor in the high alcohol (8.5%). Definitely some nice pineapple going on there, with a little bit of papaya underneath. Very smooth finish. Tastes like they brewed it sweet with the intention of balancing that sweetness with the alcohol.

296. Great Lakes Brewing Co. (Cleveland, OH) - Hazecraft IPA

“3, 2, 1…we have haze! A cloudy cosmos of Azacca, Lemondrop, and Simcoe hops awaits exploration. Blast into orbit through a hazy galaxy of otherworldly tropical fruit aromas.”

For me, this is indeterminately tropical, with an echo of lemon on the back end, and a bitter finish that is disproportionate to the rest of the flavor profile. As it warms up, the bitterness softens a little bit, and I get a hint of papaya. Tried a second to see if anything changed, but nothing did. It’s not bad, but it’s nothing to write home about, either.

295. Metazoa Brewing Co. (Indianapolis, IN) - Puppy Slumber Party

“It wouldn’t be a puppy party without a big nose full of peanut butter. And the first whiff of this dark, malty brew delivers. A rich creamy mouthfeel with notes of dark chocolate and a touch of roastiness from the malts is rounded out with a sweet yet cozy finish. And it’s peanut butter all the way down. It’s the thing of puppy dreams, but who would sleep when they could have this on the roof of their mouth?”

Strong peanut butter flavor and a crisp malt backbone, with a little bit of a dry finish. Won’t be taking the place of Peanut Butter Busted Knuckle anytime soon.

Deep Thoughts #226

Is Donald Trump more or less fit for his current job than Kramer is for his job at Brandt/Leland in the “Bizarro Jerry” episode of Seinfeld?

Deep Thoughts #225

I desperately wish that there were some way to make sure that all of the women rushing to the drugstore for RU-486 today also voted in 2016.

Deep Thoughts #224

And for the Bernie Bros—especially the women—who didn’t vote in 2016: the next Supreme Court justice is on you. Every. Single. One. Of. You.

Deep Thoughts #223

I can conceive of no situation in the near future in which the following sentiment would not, to some degree, be warranted: Fuck you, Mitch.

294. Fountain Square Brew Co. (Indianapolis, IN) - Hop Your Face

“Featuring Amarillo, Citra and Mosaic hops, along with 100 pounds of honey, this years [sic] Hop Your Face is sure to scratch the itch of any hop-head.”

Strong pine aroma and flavor up front lead to a stiff and bitter (but not unpleasant) finish, and all of that fades a little bit as it warms up. That makes some room for a little bit of shine from the citrus, but by the time it does, the 9.98% ABV is beginning to do things that make you feel happier than you really are. It doesn’t drink all that big, though, which could be dangerous. I’ve had Fountain Square beers before, but this is the first one I have posted—and possibly the first one I have had since I started this odyssey. I still have this cigar that Jackson’s friend’s dad gave me when we were in Honduras last year, and this would be an absolutely perfect beer to linger over while smoking that bad boy.

293. Sun King (Indianapolis, IN) - Bourbon Barrel-Aged Donuts

“Bourbon Barrel-Aged Donuts is a collaboration Pastry Stout aged in bourbon barrels. Made with 500 Jack’s chocolate donuts, chocolate malt, flaked oats, lactose, and semi-sweet chocolate, the barrel-aged version adds bourbon character to an already tasty treat.”

I don’t usually dig on bourbon barrel beer, but this one is very nicely balanced. In fact, the more it warms up, the more it drifts toward the chocolate and away from the bourbon. Awfully big at 10.4%, and certainly not the kind of thing that should be attempted very often; but it was pretty dope to try.

292. Scarlet Lane Brewing Company (McCordsville, IN) - Dorian Coconut Stout

“Distinctively ever changing and always unforgiving in its character, Dorian aims to change your thinking of Stouts. Each revolving Dorian Stout incorporates unique and artful approaches to the painting canvas of this traditional beer. A combination of carefully selected Northwest hops, masterfully selected malts and distinct additions will take you to a new discovery of Stouts. Don’t go mad however, it’s not you changing, it’s the Dorian Stout constantly rediscovering itself. Sit back with a book or friends and make a toast to that portrait of yourself with Scarlet Lane Brewing Company’s Dorian Stout.”

Oh my. I’m on the fence about Scarlet Lane (and not just because of the bad writing), which I may try to hash out in a blog post all its own; but this version of their flagship Dorian Oatmeal stout is solid. The menu said Dorian Coconut Stout, but there’s obviously some of the espresso variant in there, too. Strong coffee flavor up front, with what I initially thought was just a hint of coconut on the back end; but as it warmed up, those flavor profiles traded places, though the coconut never got as strong as the coffee. This would be an excellent beer to linger over with a good cigar and some close friends.

291. Scarlet Lane Brewing Company (McCordsville, IN) - Tiberius

“Without apology and with strategic layers of palate diplomacy, Tiberius rules your senses with 100 IBUs of masterful balance and scholarly oversight. With swift and precise layering of hops and aligned malts, Tiberius is not to be underestimated in the reign of IPA emperors. Clean and swift hops frontline a legion of high quality malts to march the 100 IBU India Pale Ale to the gates of your IPA discoveries.”

Oh my. Somewhat tropical and floral, but not overly so in either direction. Biggish (8%) and very bitter, and the two combine for a finish that is a little sharp even for me. This is possibly my first Scarlet Lane beer, though I suspect that the Midsommar ale I had at Cannonball (after Scarlet Lane had taken over, but before they changed the name) awhile back was actually brewed by Eilise Lane, given her affinity for horror and the tone of the film.

290. Black Acre Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Watermelon Wheat

“An incredibly refreshing American Wheat Ale, with an added Hoosier favorite: watermelon!”

Is it bad of me that I was afraid this was going to be a lurid pink when I poured it into the mug? I’m not big on watermelon (which doesn’t make me a very good Hoosier, though—as I’m sure you can guess—I could give a shit about that), and wasn’t necessarily expecting to like this; but it sounded sort of interesting, and for me, at this point, Black Acre can do no wrong. It’s almost a sour, but not quite; and the watermelon is so faint that you might miss if you did not already know it was there—and yet it lingers, in an oddly pleasant way.

289. Fat Head’s Brewery (Middleburg Heights, OH) - Head Hunter

“Head Hunter is an aggressively dry-hopped, West Coast-Style IPA with a huge hop display of pine, grapefruit, citrus and pineapple. A punch-you-in-the-mouth brew for those who truly love their hops! Uncivilized. Aggressive. Award-winning.”

And when the battery in your 14-year-old lawn mower is not equal to the task of cutting both your front yard and the front yard of the neighbors next door who never cut theirs, one of these bad boys is a damn-near-perfect way to kill some of the time it will take for the mower’s battery to recharge. The resin-y taste of pine is all over the place, but the delicate flavor of pineapple also manages to makes its presence known. At 7.5%, it almost begs to be compared head-to-head with Daredevil’s Lift Off—and that just might have to happen one of these days.

288. Sun King (Indianapolis, IN) - Cherry Busey

“Cherry Busey is a Flanders-style Oud Bruin Ale produced using a complex cocktail of wild yeasts and aged in a bevy of barrels. A multitude of Montmorency cherries were lovingly liberated to give the beer its tart cherry tang.”

Strong aroma of red wine and fruit, and then a pleasantly—but not aggressively—sour cherry and wine flavor up front. A little bit of funk in the background, as well as the echo of wine barrels. I was afraid that this beer would be a kick in the teeth, but it was actually almost understated—a thoroughly pleasant surprise, and one of the best Sun King beers I have tried yet.

287. St. Joseph Brewery (Indianapolis, IN) - Confessional

“This IPA is made with a blend of German and American hops giving it characteristics of grapefruit and melon.”

The one I tried on draft at the restaurant while Amy and I waited for our lunch today tasted floral and fruity in nonspecific ways; but this second one, from a four-pack of tallboys I got to take home, most certainly tastes of melon—with maybe a hint of grapefruit on the back end. The finish is somewhere between dry and bitter, and while not the greatest IPA ever, it is the best thing I’ve tried from St. Joseph so far.

286. Taxman Brewing Co. (Bargersville, IN) - Blackberry Wit-Held

“Nothing was ‘Wit-Held’ in creating this refreshing session ale. Coriander, orange and lemon peel combine with oats and white wheat to showcase zesy spice and malty sweetness. Signature Belgian flavors and tangy, refreshing blackberries round out this distinctive white ale.”

It’s possible that I have already had too much to drink on this lovely Sunday afternoon when my crew is down in Brown County camping and I am up here not; but I am not getting the flavor of the blackberries. I get the tart, and the funk from the Belgian yeast, but not the fruit. It’s also possible that Taxman should not be meddling in the session fields. I suspect I am not in any position to say; but while my dinner heats up downstairs, I will have another one of these and see if I can come to some kind of conclusion. Alas…it’s just tart and funky. (Not bad, though. Actually pretty good.)

285. Sun King (Indianapolis, IN) - Genevieve

“Genevieve is a Belgian-Style Amber Ale with malty sweetness, fruity character, and a hint of spice.”

Smooth and creamy, with a tiny little bit of funk from the Belgian yeast that combines very nicely with the hint of spice. The sweet, malty backbone deepens as it warms, but I’m not catching any of the fruit. I’m not entirely sure I like it, but it’s a lot more interesting than I thought it would be.