Deep Thoughts #196

It’s almost hard to believe that the high quality people from Another Major Competitor would pitch a fit over something childish and stupid.

Deep Thoughts #195

I’m not wearing a mask, I’m putting my items in my usual reusable bag, and I’m paying in cash. The coins will be Canadian, though. Fuck you.

Deep Thoughts #194

It might just be lip service toward science, but hearing it from a Republican, in the fucktard state of Indiana, is a little bit refreshing.

193. Single Cut Beersmiths (Queens, NY) - Hop Sounds

“God only knows what we would do without this crushable light ale—A bright and refreshing dry ale, dry-hopped with a blend of classic US and nouveau European buds. Sunny and lemony, with aroma of citrus rind, fresh cut grassy flowers, and a crisp and clean finish—equally at home on the bar or the lawnmower. You can have all the hop you want without having to say those three little letters.”

Can’t really fault them for producing a simple beer, when that’s clearly what they were shooting for—but everything about it is light, from the color to the flavor to the alcohol (5.0%). None of that is bad, but it just isn’t all that interesting—at least for me. The best thing this one has going for it is that that low alcohol does not preclude diving right into a second one—so in the interest of quality research and reporting, here goes! (But the second one is pretty much the same. The citrus flavor expands as the beer warms up, but it’s not really adding anything.)

Deep Thoughts #193

It’s been almost four years. Surely the people who were stupid enough to vote for Donald Trump have learned by now not to drink Lysol—right?

Deep Thoughts #192

No, you know what, I’m posting this. Details matter. I like correct spelling. Those spicy peppers we all love? The word is chile, not chili.

Deep Thoughts #191

You know what would actually be news? If any Trump appointee ever was NOT an old, white, male, racist piece of misogynistic xenophobic shit.

192. Central State (Indianapolis, IN) - Sports Television

“This beverage is a real barnburner—sure to fill up the whole stat sheet. It’s a lineup stacked with a Murderer’s Row of Citra & Simcoe hops in the kettle, with a Cascade, Citra, & Simcoe Cryo dry-hop batting cleanup. And we can’t forget about the hometown hero: the Indiana-malted barley, wheat, & oats brought their A-game today, folks. They have unbelievable chemistry! True professionals all the way, these grains always play the game the right way.”

Alrighty, then. The interwebs tell me that Simcoe is supposed to impart funky pine notes, but these seem to be escaping me. I get mostly pineapple, with a little bit of citrus right before the smooth, dry finish. Sharpens a little bit as it warms up, but not in a bad way. Not the best thing I’ve ever had from Central State, but still pretty solid.

Deep Thoughts #190

Of course, these mouthbreathers also think that Mitch McConnell has some sort of value. You really can’t talk to people that fucking stupid.

Deep Thoughts #189

Even Matt Drudge says Donald Trump is a lying liar. Who are the inbred shit stains that still support this lying sack of narcissisitic shit?

191. Rhinegeist (Cincinnati, OH) - Hustle

“Off at the crack of the bat, spikes dug in, exploding with speed - Hustle breaks the game wide open. This India Pale Ale takes a hard, hoppy cut at a soft, fluffy hanging curve, driving notes of peach, tangerine and citrus back, back, back…gone.”

Grain usually takes a back seat in an IPA—or in the ones I drink, at any rate—but this one has a really nice malt backbone and playful hints of all that fruit. Nice shiny citrus on the back end. All kinds of interesting.

Deep Thoughts #188

And whatever you do, don’t listen to Fox News. It’s not information. It’s verbal diarrhea for mental furballs who fear knowledge and reason.

Deep Thoughts #187 - Special Topical The World Has Lost Its Fucking Mind Edition

When you start reading about people re-testing positive after they’ve recovered, please read the WHOLE article before you flip the fuck out.

190. Black Acre Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Dystopian Game Show

“A hazy, double dry hopped IPA brewed with Norwegian Farmhouse Yeast. Perfect for watching the jumbotron from the comfort of your own living room.”

I had never heard of Kveik yeast, so I had to look it up. It apparently lets you brew quite fast, and is very fruit forward, in addition to being easily mutable as strains move from one part of the world to another. “Farmhouse” makes me think funky, but that might just mean that I’ve had too many beers from Taxman and Central State. I don’t taste any funk here, but I do get a strong grapefruit flavor (which could be because poured into a mug it looks like yellow grapefruit juice) and a little bit of pine. The bitter finish is flavorful, and not just bitter. Love it—absolutely fucking love it. (The only problem is that, at $16 for a four-pack of tallboys, it’s too expensive. Fine to try, but not something to be had regularly. Hopefully they will have this on tap when the world stops shitting the bed and we can all go back to, you know, fucking working.)

189. Black Acre Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Juice Loosener

“’You got all that with one bag of oranges?’ Hopped with Mandarina, Citra and Cascade and brewed with vanilla and lactose.”

Sounds like this should taste like some sort of juice bomb, but I don’t think it does. The moderately high alcohol (8.5%) announces its presence right away, and then slides into a bitter finish that is more orange rind than orange peel. And yet…not bad. Too big to have more than one of at once, though. I just might update this post. (Hell, I got spare time.)

188. Kennebunkport Brewing Co. (Portland, ME) - Mighty Cascade

“Hooray for the Cascade Hop! The hop that changed the beer biz. This Brut IPA uses champagne yeast to create a crisp, dry IPA with a citrus backbone. The mighty Cascade hop helps deliver its classic floral aroma and spicy citrus notes on the finish.”

The flavors are all a little muted, but the finish is nice and dry. Doesn’t really do anything for me, though.

187. Terre Haute Brewing Co. (Terre Haute, IN) - Mango Tango

“Mango Tango is a delicious, and refreshing IPA brewed with Mango puree. Citra and Apollo hops provide a juicy profile that skyrockets the fresh mango sweetness, and the tangy-dry finish. Brewed with premium malt and oats, Mango Tango IPA brings a soft and smooth body to amplified notes of tangy-citrus that is simply out of this world.”

Yeah, they’re not screwing around with the mango, so if that ain’t your jam, then look elsewhere. It obliterates everything else. Even that tangy-dry finish doesn’t stand a chance.

186. New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, CO) - Voodoo Ranger Starship IPA

“Brewed with out-of-this-world Galaxy hops, Starship IPA will blast your taste buds with notes of fresh grapefruit and citrus.”

The flavors are nice, but it’s got a sharp finish that I’m not digging.

185. Almanac Beer Company (Alameda, CA) - Waves

“WAVES is our uber dry-hopped West Coast IPA fully maxed out on dank aromas of citrus and pine. It’s clear and it’s here, can you catch it?”

Very dry, almost bitter, finish; but I don’t think it qualifies as dank. Tiny little bit of stone fruit or tropical fruit up front, and then the citrus washes over you like a blissful anesthetic. The 6.7% alcohol seems just about right, and it was on sale at Stoney’s—$4.99 for a four-pack of tallboys.