576. Centerpoint Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Birdie

“This India Pale Ale was brewed with Mosaic and Pacifica hops that give this beer a fruity, citrus, and floral aroma with mild bitterness.”

The orange flavor from the Pacifica hops stands out both up front and on the back end, while the fresh pine flavor from the Mosaic sort of goes streaking by. There’s just a hint of bitterness in the finish, which nicely balances the sweetness of the orange flavor. Looking back over my other entries, I’m noticing how often I mention orange flavor when I try Centerpoint beers. Maybe that’s their thing. If it is, they’re pretty fucking good at it. For one goofy second there, I thought I was getting tired of IPAs; but this one brings right back to mind how wonderfully complex and interesting the style can be.

549. Centerpoint Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN) - El Gato

“El Gato is a smooth Mexican Lager that is thirst quenching and easy-drinking. Notes of corn and bread crust on the aroma give way to a grainy and sweet corn chip taste. A tight white head lingers and gives a crisp finish even on the hottest of days. Brewed in collaboration with Square Cat Vinyl, who did the can label artwork.”

Extraordinarily light, both in taste and color, it does have something of a corn chip flavor to it—but that is also very light. It’s very well done, and I like it; but a beer like this just isn’t interesting enough to merit craft beer prices.

349. Centerpoint Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Social Distance

Another gift from my buddy Shane, this is an odd specimen. Centerpoint brewed it, but it’s in a Daredevil can with an Industry Relief Series label slapped onto it. Sort of a melon-y taste up front—either that or age. But hey…beer is beer; and as my wife has grown fond of saying recently, it’s better than a sharp stick in the eye.

267. Centerpoint Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Hex

“This hazy Session India Pale Ale was brewed with local honey from Hunter’s Farm in Martinsville, Indiana. We heavily dry-hopped Hex Haze with Citra, Nugget, and Amarillo hops.”

The honey is almost like a peacemaker between the bitterness of the Nugget hops and the fruit of the Citra and Amarillo hops, giving the whole thing very nice body and balance. I don’t usually go for sessions, because I don’t like to pay craft prices for weak beer; but at 6% ABV, this might be the biggest session I have ever encountered. Absolutely spectacular beer. Run…don’t walk.

214. Centerpoint Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Bionic High Five

“Bionic High Five is an East coast hazy IPA brewed with pale, wheat, flaked oats, and biscuit malt. Hops are Amarillo, Lemon drop, and Sultana. Begins with notes of citrus, grapefruit, and lemon on the nose. Smooth, full mouthfeel with bready malt tones balance out this juicy IPA.”

I actually do get a little grapefruit on the nose, as well as some light citrus when I taste it. I don’t taste bready, exactly, but the malt does give it a nice bitter finish (which smooths out as it warms up). Very nice.

121. Centerpoint Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Duality

“Duality is our newest DIPA, brewed with a combination of Amarillo, Centennial, and Loral hops in hefty boil and dry-hop additions! Expect a bitter beer, with minimal alcoholic warmth.”

Yes, they do in fact describe the beer (at least on Untappd, because at the moment their current lineup feed isn’t populating on their website) as having minimal alcoholic warmth, despite the fact that it clocks in at 8.3%. And I would call it dry, rather than bittter; but let us not pick at nits. This is a very balanced beer, with strong orange notes and lots of malt, which gives it an almost—almost—sweet back end that opens up very nicely as it warms. Way too boozy to drink more than one or two of, but the flavor profile is excelllent. Would that there were a session version…

108. Centerpoint Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Blood Orange

“Using Amarillo and Simcoe hops, with added Blood Orange fruit, gives this IPA a sweet and refreshing flavor with a touch of bitterness.”

The touch of bitterness is definitely there, and it’s too pronounced for something on the low end of the alcohol scale (5.2%). The orange flavor is bright and refreshing up front, but that bitter finish gives it something of an identity crisis. I want to put three or four of these in a bucket with ice and go mow the grass, but the bitterness makes me want to sit in a smoky bar and talk about poetry.

Not to be deterred, however, I decided to go out on the porch and try one in the fucking summer soup, along with a Red Apple. Because when your wife is in fucking Myanmar and your kid is spending the weekend at his friend’s house, you can go out on the porch for a Red Apple whenever you fucking want. It’s still pretty bitter on the back end, but about halfway through the second one, I didn’t care as much. And my wife is still in fucking Myanmar.