Deep Thoughts #353

You know how you can tell your local coffee shop is awesome? The song playing on the overhead speakers when you walk in is “Down in a Hole”.

632. Gatlinburg Brewing Company (Gatlinburg, TN) - Breakfast Juice

“Tropical fruit flavors and aromas are complimented [sic] with a pillowy mouthfeel in this interpretation of a New England IPA.”

The beers I tried in the taproom were much better than this one out of a can; I genuinely can’t come up with anything to say about this beer. Yes, there is fruit there; but it tastes more like stone fruit than tropical fruit to me, though whatever that flavor might be is light. That said, I maintain a species of affection for it, because the Gatlinburg outpost of this company is a very lovely place to sit and have a drink. We went twice, sat at the same table both times, and were both dismayed and amused by the fact that there was a Trump Store across the street. I was a tiny bit disappointed with the pizza, but the service was exceptional. If you go, ask for Rachel.

631. Smoky Mountain Brewery (Gatlinburg, TN) - IPA

“A west coast American IPA. Small amounts of honey malt and biscuit malt balance beautifully with loads of late-addition aroma hops.”

I got a six-pack of these to go and was unimpressed with the three I had while we were still in Gatlinburg. However…the one I’m having at home right now, poured into the frosted mug, has a strong bready aroma on the nose, a much smoother finish, and a hint of honey on the back end. It’s so much more interesting than I originally thought that I almost wish I had tried one on tap while we were in Gatlinburg. (But not really. Some of the other Smoky Mountain Brewery beers I tried were just straight up bad. I would say that you shall hear, except that I only had one each of the other four I tried; those were all in the restaurants; and I didn’t make notes about any of them. Journalistic ineptitude strikes again!)

630. Kismetic Beer Company (Indianapolis, IN) - My Dog’s From Denver

“Collaboration beer brewed by more than 13 local Indiana breweries. Featuring El Dorado and Chinook hops with a touch of Cascade. 6% of sales are donated to FACE animal clinic.”

This is a new 7.4% American Pale Ale that they have just tapped, and it’s the first beer I can remember having here that has a name. It’s definitely one of the biggest beers they have ever served. Smooth and caramelly up front, with a slightly bitter finish that holds up through the first several sips. There’s a vaguely fruity flavor that might be cherries or almonds, and the overall flavor might be what is so often bandied about as “dank.” The bitter finish softens a bit as the beer warms, but the fruit stays just out of arm’s length. With 12 other hands in the mix, though, no way to know how much of this is Ryan; but it’s one of the best beers I’ve ever had here, though not my favorite.