Something of a citrus shine up front, but not much else to remark. Not bad, but not impressive or interesting, either. I gave it a fair shot, but it never spoke to me.
Sunday, May 28, 2023
542. Sun King (Indianapolis, IN) - Koi Decoy
“Koi Decoy is a Hazy IPA with Galaxy, Nugget, and Liberty hops for a blend of citrusy and piney character.”
Something of a citrus shine up front, but not much else to remark. Not bad, but not impressive or interesting, either. I gave it a fair shot, but it never spoke to me.
Something of a citrus shine up front, but not much else to remark. Not bad, but not impressive or interesting, either. I gave it a fair shot, but it never spoke to me.
541. Sun King (Indianapolis, IN) - 14 Karat
“14 Karat is an anniversary IPA brewed with a blend of 14 hops for a full host of hop character.”
They call this beer a “Golden IPA,” and at first I thought it wasn’t very interesting; but then I kept getting hints of mango and peach on the back end, and a pleasantly bitter finish that lingers to the back of the throat. Sort of took me by surprise, so I may have to hunt down a couple more of these and then come back to it at some point.
They call this beer a “Golden IPA,” and at first I thought it wasn’t very interesting; but then I kept getting hints of mango and peach on the back end, and a pleasantly bitter finish that lingers to the back of the throat. Sort of took me by surprise, so I may have to hunt down a couple more of these and then come back to it at some point.
Saturday, May 20, 2023
540. Kismetic Beer Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Post. Cold IPA
“Collaboration with Pax Verum for the 2023 Post. Music Festival! Cold IPA brewed with Magnum, Simcoe, Strata & Belma hops.”
I had a sample of this last night at Kismetic, and that sample tasted strongly of grass and herbs, with a classic “hoppy” flavor up front, and some light floral notes that lingered on the palate. The full pint I had tonight at Kismetic almost tasted like a different beer. It was lighter and fruitier, with a dry, rather than bitter, finish. This is also, as far as I know, the first beer from Kismetic that has been available in cans for carry-out. The one out of the can tasted like the ones I had in the taproom tonight—light and fruity, with a dry finish. The 6.9% ABV is a little high for one of Ryan’s joints, but it doesn’t drink like it’s that big. I wish that the ones I tried today had more of the earthy flavor that last night’s sample had, but it’s still a pretty good beer.
I had a sample of this last night at Kismetic, and that sample tasted strongly of grass and herbs, with a classic “hoppy” flavor up front, and some light floral notes that lingered on the palate. The full pint I had tonight at Kismetic almost tasted like a different beer. It was lighter and fruitier, with a dry, rather than bitter, finish. This is also, as far as I know, the first beer from Kismetic that has been available in cans for carry-out. The one out of the can tasted like the ones I had in the taproom tonight—light and fruity, with a dry finish. The 6.9% ABV is a little high for one of Ryan’s joints, but it doesn’t drink like it’s that big. I wish that the ones I tried today had more of the earthy flavor that last night’s sample had, but it’s still a pretty good beer.
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Deep Thoughts #309
Donald Trump is a lyng rapist, and you voted for him twice—you uneducated bumpkin. Microwave your spawn before they further your inbreeding.
539. Indiana City Brewing Co. (Indianapolis, IN) - Red Collar
“A rich, malt-forward, heavily hopped Red IPA that finishes with a crisp bite. Red Collar is [a seasonal beer], brewed to encourage everyone to continue writing their own story one pint at a time.”
Apparently the swan song for these cats hasn’t finished playing yet. A couple of the Total Wine stores in the metro area still have some of their stuff in stock, and I’ve been hoarding. This one is interesting—one of the few things I’ve tried from Indiana City that isn’t a straight-up IPA. It’s basically everything that they say it’s going to be in that description up there, and it goes all kinds of places—bitter, caramely, vaguely hoppy. The 8.5% ABV cuts a little hard, but it’s Wednesday, and I ain’t working today. Writing a little, maybe, and making dinner…but that’s all I got.
Apparently the swan song for these cats hasn’t finished playing yet. A couple of the Total Wine stores in the metro area still have some of their stuff in stock, and I’ve been hoarding. This one is interesting—one of the few things I’ve tried from Indiana City that isn’t a straight-up IPA. It’s basically everything that they say it’s going to be in that description up there, and it goes all kinds of places—bitter, caramely, vaguely hoppy. The 8.5% ABV cuts a little hard, but it’s Wednesday, and I ain’t working today. Writing a little, maybe, and making dinner…but that’s all I got.
Sunday, May 14, 2023
Deep Thoughts #308
Want to write Christianity—or any religion—into the U.S. legal system? Maybe you should research the penalty for treason, you fucking idiot.
Deep Thoughts #307
You cannot expect that you will be taken seriously by people who walk upright if your legal team was founded by a lunatic like James Dobson.
538. Schlafly Beer (St. Louis, MO) - Hazy Punch IPA
“Hazy Punch IPA features a blend of Citra, Eclipse and Mosaic hops that lend a juiciness to this hazy that only gets amplified with additions of cara cara orange and pineapple. The fruit alongside the hops come together for a juicy combination that puts this hazy over the top. You may find yourself wondering if someone poured a beer in the punchbowl or did we pour some juicy punch in our beer?”
Super fruity, with a good amount of stone fruit to go with the citrus and pineapple. In fact, that stone fruit becomes even more pronounced as it warms up. I get nothing of the traditionally “hoppy” balance that should come with Mosaic hops. That’s not necessarily bad…but I’m not sure it’s a recommendation, either. I kinda know that I’m picking at nits here…this is a fine beer, but I think it could have been better. (Or maybe I just wish they hadn’t teased the Mosaic hops when the beer doesn’t deliver.)
Super fruity, with a good amount of stone fruit to go with the citrus and pineapple. In fact, that stone fruit becomes even more pronounced as it warms up. I get nothing of the traditionally “hoppy” balance that should come with Mosaic hops. That’s not necessarily bad…but I’m not sure it’s a recommendation, either. I kinda know that I’m picking at nits here…this is a fine beer, but I think it could have been better. (Or maybe I just wish they hadn’t teased the Mosaic hops when the beer doesn’t deliver.)
Sunday, May 07, 2023
537. Sixpoint Brewery (Brooklyn, NY) - Stooper
Okay, this one has two descriptions; and since I genuinely can’t decide which one is better, y’all are getting both. Here we go.
"THE BEER-AFTER-YOUR-SHIFT and the beer-on-your-day-off. You know. At the park, in the shower, or CHILLIN’ ON THE STOOP - there’s NOTHIN’ BETTER. Stooper™, a 6.4% Hazy IPA-FOR-THE-GOOD-TIMES, is bursting with TROPICAL and CITRUSY aromas from copious Galaxy and Citra hops. GRAB A STEP."
And all of those words in caps are in bold on the website description—I’m sorry, The Story. We also have Lab Notes; to wit:
"A soft and light hazy, the Galaxy and Citra hops come together for a beer made to be crushed!"
Oy. You can’t crush a beer that’s 6.4% ABV. But as to what I think of it otherwise…yeah, okay. It’s tropical up front, mostly papaya, but there’s a bit of citrus shine on the back end. I suppose that tropical could be guava, but I don’t have a good sense of what guava tastes like on its own. Apart from the writing, the beer is fine; but that writing is so fucking bad that I can’t quite get past it. Also, I like to drink beer way more than the average bear (which prolly ain't news if you stop by my internet diner at all regularly)—but in the fucking shower? I think not. Even me. Take that for what you will.
"THE BEER-AFTER-YOUR-SHIFT and the beer-on-your-day-off. You know. At the park, in the shower, or CHILLIN’ ON THE STOOP - there’s NOTHIN’ BETTER. Stooper™, a 6.4% Hazy IPA-FOR-THE-GOOD-TIMES, is bursting with TROPICAL and CITRUSY aromas from copious Galaxy and Citra hops. GRAB A STEP."
And all of those words in caps are in bold on the website description—I’m sorry, The Story. We also have Lab Notes; to wit:
"A soft and light hazy, the Galaxy and Citra hops come together for a beer made to be crushed!"
Oy. You can’t crush a beer that’s 6.4% ABV. But as to what I think of it otherwise…yeah, okay. It’s tropical up front, mostly papaya, but there’s a bit of citrus shine on the back end. I suppose that tropical could be guava, but I don’t have a good sense of what guava tastes like on its own. Apart from the writing, the beer is fine; but that writing is so fucking bad that I can’t quite get past it. Also, I like to drink beer way more than the average bear (which prolly ain't news if you stop by my internet diner at all regularly)—but in the fucking shower? I think not. Even me. Take that for what you will.
Monday, May 01, 2023
536. Moontown Brewing Company (Whitestown, IN) - Cecil
“Our flagship IPA is made with 100% local Sugar Creek malt (Lebanon, IN) and oats. This juicy number was inspired by our early pilgrimages to Vermont and features a nice, healthy haze with layers and layers of delicious hop character.”
This one calls itself an IPA, and also comes from oats, but is higher in ABV (6.8%) and, oddly, smoother than Bam Bam; and it works in a way that Bam Bam doesn’t, probably because they shot for an IPA and got it, whereas with Bam Bam they tried for the middle ground between a session and an IPA and didn’t quite get either one.
This one calls itself an IPA, and also comes from oats, but is higher in ABV (6.8%) and, oddly, smoother than Bam Bam; and it works in a way that Bam Bam doesn’t, probably because they shot for an IPA and got it, whereas with Bam Bam they tried for the middle ground between a session and an IPA and didn’t quite get either one.
535. Moontown Brewing Company (Whitestown, IN) - Bam Bam
“Brewed with a variety of wheat and oats, this incredibly light juicy pale ale bursts with fruity flavors, an abundance of citrus aromas, and drinks super smooth. Generously hopped with Amarillo, Simcoe, and Citra hops.”
The one I had in the taproom was lightly carbonated, with strong pine flavor up front, and smooth, light fruit on the back end. Took me forever to try this place the first time, and now I’ve been there twice in the last month and change. The two I’ve had in cans since then are slightly more fruity and slightly less carbonated. Generally unimpressive, but not bad, exactly. It checks all the boxes you would expect from an IPA (though it calls itself a “pale ale,” and not an IPA)—strong pine, strong fruit, dry-to-bitter finish, hazy appearance—and then it comes in at 5% ABV, which sort of implies that you could drink it all day. Honestly, though…I’m not sure I’d want to. It’s fine…but it’s not impressive.
The one I had in the taproom was lightly carbonated, with strong pine flavor up front, and smooth, light fruit on the back end. Took me forever to try this place the first time, and now I’ve been there twice in the last month and change. The two I’ve had in cans since then are slightly more fruity and slightly less carbonated. Generally unimpressive, but not bad, exactly. It checks all the boxes you would expect from an IPA (though it calls itself a “pale ale,” and not an IPA)—strong pine, strong fruit, dry-to-bitter finish, hazy appearance—and then it comes in at 5% ABV, which sort of implies that you could drink it all day. Honestly, though…I’m not sure I’d want to. It’s fine…but it’s not impressive.
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