605. Kismetic Beer Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Banana Nut Bread Hefeweizen

“A hefeweizen style wheat beer, hot and cold steeped with Nelson’s Tea Banana Nut Bread rooibos tea blead [sic], rich and bready, with notes of ripe bananas and walnuts.”

Very bready up front, with a hint of chalky walnut and a smooth, soft finish. A little bit of banana flavor lingers, and this batch has less baking spice flavor than the previous batches. Still very good, but if I didn’t know this was the banana nut bread version, I might not have guessed.

604. Kismetic Beer Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Amaro Saison

“Our version of an Aperol Spritz. Brewed with 6 row barley, pale ale, Caramunich, white wheat, and rye. Hopped with Magnum and Lotus. Cold and hot steeped with gentian, chinchona, grapefruit peel, lemon peel, orange peel, rose hips, orris, grains of paradise, chamomile, fennel, star anise, black pepper and a few other spices. Aromas of black licorice and spicy phenolic, balanced with flavors of bubblegum, pepper, and Good and Plenty’s [sic]. For the fans of amaro, herbal liqueurs, or even an Underberg.”

Minty aroma and a minty, spicy taste up front that drifts into a pleasantly bitter finish that smooths out as the beer warms. Possibly some grapefruit pith in there contributing to the bitter finish, and then bright orange flavor as the bitterness smooths. Even more complex and spectacular than the Marzen. (And much like with the Cold IPA, I may have to update this post after I have tried a second one.

603. Kismetic Beer Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Cold IPA

“Our take on a new style out of Oregon. Described by the originator as more West Coast than West Coast, this IPA is brewed with America pilsner, Vienna, and flaked rice. Hopped with Azacca, Apollo, and Amarillo. It is fermented with lager yeast at ale temps. It is dry hopped at the tail end of fermentation to achieve some fruit forward bio tranformation [sic]. Crisp and dry, with aromas of pine and citrus, bitter and crisp on the palate.”

Piney aroma and taste up front. Dry finish. Any fruit in there does not assert itself in the first couple of sips, but turns into a slight citrus shine as the beer warms. There’s a fresh, herbal taste that eventually comes up and makes me think of fresh fruit that isn’t quite ripe yet. Also excellent, but I’m too inured to IPAs. I will try this one again and may update the post.

602. Kismetic Beer Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Marzen

“Brewed with Munich, Vienna, Caramunich, rye and chit. Hopped with Magnum and Sazz. We went as traditional as we could and brewed in March and then lagered for 6 months. Bready and rich, with notes of toffee and brioche on the nose. Sweet malty complexity is balanced by a firm, bitter backbone.”

It’s got a light roasty taste up front, with a dry finish that smooths out and begins to feel more like the light spice of rye about halfway through. A little bit of caramel floats around almost playfully, but never quite asserts itself. There might be a hint of dried fruit in there, too—especially on the nose. Full and complex, but not heavy. Spectacular.