472. Indiana City Brewing Co. (Indianapolis, IN) - Simcoe, Yo! Hazy Pale Ale

“Juicy, hazy pale ale, whirlpool and double dry hopped exclusively with Simcoe hops for big citrus, grapefruit, earthy hop flavor and aroma.”

I never get Indiana City beer anymore, and I kinda hate that; but then again, I ain’t made out of money, and their stuff was a touch pricey even before the world shit the bed. But god-fucking-damn can these cats drop an IPA. This one has got all kinds of shit going on, from melon up front when it’s cold, to stone fruit on the back end and a wee little bit of a citrus shine as it warms up. Those flavors get mixed up a little bit as it gets warmer, but it remains quite lovely—maybe even a little mysterious. It’s also got a fairly low ABV for a pale at 5.5%. They were making some of the best beer in Indianapolis before the world shit the bed, and now that the much-missed Central State Brewing is gone, they are definitely best in class when it comes to IPAs.

471. Four Day Ray Brewing (Fishers, IN) - Hot Pink Strawberry Rhubarb Jalapeño Blonde Ale

“Beat the heat with Hot Pink, a spicy and jammy blonde ale that pairs perfectly with the summer sun. This blonde is very fruit-forward with the freshness from the strawberries. The sweetness is balanced with a bit of heat in the back of the throat. This brilliant collaboration of flavors creates a beer that glows hot pink providing a fun, refreshing, unique drinking experience perfect for any occasion. Awarded a bronze medal at the 2017 Great American Beer Festival.”

Um. Yeah, so leaving aside the fact that it sounds like they think they reinvented the wheel, stop for a second and look at that picture. Seriously. Take your time. It ain’t getting any pinker. I was sort of hoping for something lurid like the watermelon variant of Sun King’s Sunlight cream ale, but this just looked like…you know…beer. It does have a genuinely jammy taste, however; it’s not sweet, but that strawberry flavor and aroma is exactly the same as the taste of the Smucker’s strawberry jam out of those little plastic disposable containers they give you for spreading on your toast at the diner. The jalapeño presents as spice rather than flavor and is more than “a bit of heat in the back of the throat”—at least on the first sip. It’s got a lot going on for a blonde ale, but it’s just a hair short of impressive.

470. Energy City Brewing (Batavia, IL) - Bistro Pineapple Coconut Cream Pie

“Fresh tropical pineapple and creamy coconut bring the flavors into perfect harmony in this delightful Berliner Weisse.”

This is a Coppertone commercial in a can, and possibly the most strongly-flavored beer I have ever encountered. Strong—almost overpowering—cococnut aroma and flavor upfront, followed by thick, sweet pineapple, especially as it warms up. It’s nearly as perplexing as the other “slushy” beer I’ve tried, a spectacularly overpriced thing from 450 North that I seem to recall being somewhat more balanced than this one. It’s pleasantly boozy at 6.5% ABV, but otherwise, it’s too much—too thick, too sweet, and too heavily flavored. It seems to do what a slushy is supposed to do, but I just don’t think I care for the style.

469. Switchyard Brewing Company (Bloomington, IN) - Run the World

“This is our International Women’s Day collaboration brew using the Pink Boots Blend from Yakima Chief Hops. Expect lovely citrus notes from this juicy New England Pale Ale.”

The flavors are very, very light—mostly peach, but with a touch of citrus as it warms up; and though those flavors work well together, the combination of light flavors and low ABV (4.7%), renders it just a little bit south of interesting. You could drink it all day, but I’m not sure why you’d want to.

468. DESTIHL Brewery (Normal, IL) - Deadhead

“Like the bold colors & patterns of a tie-dye shirt, this classic West Coast-style IPA is bursting with psychedelic hoppy & fruity aromas swirling with abundant American hop flavor & bitterness and a vintage malt backdrop.”

I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something going on here that I don’t like. The bitterness is upfront and fairly pervasive, to the point that what fruit flavor there is remains mostly obscured—and everything in the first part of this sentence increases notably as the beer warms up. The second one was better, however—less bitter, and with more evident flavors of papaya and lemon. It still feels empty, though; and it bothers me that I can’t figure out why I don’t like it.