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.