528. Cruz Blanca Brewery (Chicago, IL) - Freetown

“Inspired by the neighborhood of Freetown Christiania in Copenhagen, Denmark. Powerful, hazy, dank and fruity tropical expression of Sabro, Vic Secret, and Ekuanot Cryo hops.”

This is very much in the same vein as Palm Shade, but with a much bigger punch. The alcohol (8.5% ABV) is very strong up front, and it lingers, long and dry, on the back end—until it warms up, at which point it starts to taste like very ripe papaya and mango that have been macerating in grain alcohol for most of the day. I am entirely amenable to the idea that I like this one almost entirely because finding this place was one of those beautiful happy accidents that can somehow never quite be planned; but it’s also pretty solid without the background.

527. Cruz Blanca Brewery (Chicago, IL) - Palm Shade

“Tropical fruit hop aroma of a modern IPA with deeply quenching drinkability of a pale ale. Subtle bitterness, vibrant notes of mandarin orange, mango, and pineapple.”

At first, I was going to argue with the phrase subtle bitterness,” because it just seems like a long way to say dry; but after a couple of sips, I’m coming around. Tried this the first time on tap at the brewery, and then knocked out a couple of cans in the hotel room. This is the first one I have had since we got home. It definitely has a lot of tropical fruit going on, as well as some orange and stone fruit; and all of that fruit masks whatever dryness or bitterness there might be in the finish. I located this place by accident while randomly searching for “breweries near me” while we were killing time on Monday before our 4:00 tickets to the Shedd Aquarium, and it was a little bit of a walk from our hotel downtown—but totally worth it. We each got a lamb cheeseburger taco, and they were very, very good. They actually tasted like lamb, which is too often not the case when you order lamb in Indianapolis. Amy was also quite taken with the guacamole. This beer was just okay, and so was the other one I tried at the brewery; but the third one, which I got in cans to take home, was a knockout. You shall hear.

525. Bloomington Brewing Co. (Bloomington, IN) - Clown Convention

“Tropical Fruit Flavors of guava, passion fruit and strawberry. A smooth, hazy IPA.”

Oddly tart for fruits that should not be; and though it’s hazy, it ain’t remotely smooth—but it ain’t bad, either. It’s like dank, mixed fruit up front, and then bitter on the back end. I’ve tried a handful of beers from these cats, both on tap down in B-town and in cans up here—and I still don’t know what to make of them. My initial note says that it needs to warm up, and the one I’m working on now is sitting in a room temperature mug from which I have consumed a number of other beers today. This last can isn’t tart at all. It has sweet echoes of fruit up front, and just a hint of dry on the back end. It’s definitely better warm, and is so far the best thing I have tried from Bloomington Brewing Co.

526. Steel Hands Brewing (Cayce, SC) - Coffee Lager

“Rise & shine! A rich aroma of your morning coffee gently fades to an easy drinking lager. Golden, light and crisp, this beer is a classic style with the familiarity of a good ‘ole cup of Joe. A smooth and balanced taste that is sure to please beer drinkers and coffee aficionados alike. Infused with coffee from local roaster, Loveland Coffee.”

This beer has a monster coffee flavor up front, and it lingers all the way down. You get a little more of the lager character on subsequent sips, but the coffee backbone remains both prevalent and pleasant; and the bitter nature of the coffee complements the sweet-ish nature of the lager. Low-ish ABV beers (this one clocks in at 4.5%) usually aren’t my thing, but this one is very impressive.

524. Windmill Brewing (Dyer, IN) - Distant Early Warning

“English Dark Mild brewed with EKG and Fuggle hops. Brewed in collaboration with our friends at Fuzzyline Brewing in Highland, IN.”

I’m not familiar with this style, but those might be two of the best-named hops of all time. This one tastes like buttery shortbread cookies with hints of caramel, butterscotch, and chocolate. Doesn’t make my socks roll up and down, but the name of the beer is the same as the name of a Rush song from Grace Under Pressure. I can’t believe that’s a coincidence, but I can’t find anything on the interwebs to back it up, either.

523. Sun King (Indianapolis, IN) - Kangaroo Jumping Jacks

“Kangaroo Jumping Jacks is a Hazy IPA brewed with southern hemisphere hops for stone fruit and pine character.”

Soft pine aroma and juicy peach and apricot flavor up front, and it becomes a little more complex as it warms up. The peach and apricot linger very nicely on the back end, but I can’t decide if the pine flavor is trying to make itself known or not. (I also can’t decide if it’s interesting or not.)