Pryes El Camino Hazelnut Macaron Pasty Stout

Pryes El Camino Hazelnut Macaron Pasty Stout.

9% ABV, 28 IBU. Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

Maybe I said it, and maybe I didn't, but the facts are, folks, that the Bitter Nib is boycotting "pastry stout". Also, "pastry porters", "pastry ales", "pastry lagers"...everything "pastry." Did I mention why? Pretty sure I have, probably a hundred times. And, occasionally they slip in, though. Like when they don't call it a "pastry stout" on the front of the label and they do on the back. They tricked me! 

Also, if the beer falls into my possession somehow, through some other means than purchasing it by myself. And this one became mine when a co-worker could not drink another and gave her last can to me. I wanted to give her a beer, to make it a fair trade, but she refused, feeling it was unworthy of such retribution. How can I not be intrigued? I must try the thing that so turned her off. Perhaps she has become twice-shy after being bitten? Currently, she is exploring Belgian beers. I hope she finds the delight in them that I do and indeed becomes a convert. I think she has a good head on her shoulders and will come on into the good side. 

Enough palaver, let's crack it open and see what's inside...

Dark brown coloration, slim brown head, murky, to say it best. 

In the nose: Intense sweetness from the start, vanilla, coconut, caramel, chocolate. All the sweet, gooey-ness. "Rich hazelnut, cacao, and nougat" says the label. 

In the mouth: From sip one, nothing but sweet candy bar and cocoa. Hazelnut, sure, but all kinds of sticky-icky. Unbalanced malt out the wazoo. Saccharine sweet, treacly...I am truly finding no joy in this. Perhaps it's what you want, this out of control, sticky sugary mess. Not me. 

Look at this flavor wheel on the back. Not so strong with bitterness or roast, but lots or hazelnut, almond, fudge and cookie. Fudge and Cookie. 

It's a once in a while treat, a sometimes indulgence. Once a lifetime, maybe. This way lies diabetes. 

Damn, this could use some balance. A little, at least. These candy bar beers, and pie beers, and cake beers, and frosting beers, and cotton candy beers, and fucking French toast beers...it's way time people grew up and got over this shit. I've said it before, the infantilization of beer. This whole thing of holding ones toes, rolling on one's back and giggling, "whee! It's like drinking something I ate when I was three!!!" 

God, it's stupid. And now the high alcohol is starting to ring in. Good gravy, I'm going to get drunk on a "cookie beer". How low can I go? 

Pastry Stout | Hazelnut, Cocoa, Rich | 9.0% ABV | 28 IBU | El Camino is “The Way”. This beer is your path down the road to rich hazelnut, cacao and nougat. Prepare for a smooth ride. Away we go.

Fair State Life Ain't Fair Barleywine-style Ale

Fair State Life Ain't Fair Barleywine-style Ale. 

14.8 % ABV, 15 IBU. Fair State Brewing Cooperative, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. 

Dark as sin, deep black, reddish tinges, thoroughly opaque, brief brown head. 

In the nose: Massive malt. Dark fruits, plums and berries. Hugeness. Foreboding alcohol. 

In the mouth: Hooey! Immensely complex upon the palate. Richness compounded upon luxuriousness, deep, dense, thick, ominous. Boom, boom, boom, boom. Chocolate meets dark fruit, molasses, sweetness, wow...this one goes...almost to 15. This is pretty damned amazing. 

I'm going to need to snag one or more of these to stash away for a special day. 

Sometimes life calls for a barleywine and we’re here to provide. This is bound to keep you warm and satisfy your sweet tooth. We’re torn between saying it tastes like a liquid See’s Chocolate Caramels or a Riesen candy, but you get the point. Low bitterness and very, very malty.

Beaver Island Sweet Miss Chocolate Oatmeal Milk Stout

Beaver Island Sweet Miss Chocolate Oatmeal Milk Stout.

6.5 % ABV, 25 IBU. Beaver Island Brewing, St. Cloud, MN. 

Dark brown coloration, nearly black, completely opaque, this brown head. 

In the nose: Bittersweet. Mostly malty. Cocoa and coffee. 

In the mouth: Chocolate's on top, and from there on down it's rich, smooth and satisfying. Slight espresso hints. Medium bodied. Creamy. Yum a dum dum. 

I like a good chocolate oatmeal milk stout, and this is one. In fact, I feel this beer deserves greater recognition. I'll do my part. 

We sourced the finest ingredients from around the world to brew this decadent treat. Sweet Miss is made from a blend of the UK's finest malts, flaked oats, milk sugar and fair trade cacao nibs from Ecuador. This careful combination of flavors creates alchemy in the glass; thick, rich, and dangerously delicious. Enjoy!

Oliphant Rum Barrel Aged Spooky Squishy

Oliphant Rum Barrel Aged Spooky Squishy. Fruited Sour. 

5 % ABV, Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI. 

Dear  friends, Before I begin my notes on this beer, let me address the 900 pound elephant in the room. The picture at left could be better. The glass could have been a lot cleaner. I should have used a cleaner wash cloth when washing it, and in a thoroughly scrubbed sink, completely cleaned after doing dirtier dishes. There is no excuse for this. I goofed up. Please do not direct these pictures to the Dirty Glass Mafia, do not scold me on Twitter, know that I see my faults and will strive to do better, and I am ashamed. Lower your weapons, put down your pitchforks, let me repair my errors and do better next time. Let us move on from here. Also, don't do that shit to any one else. They learn on their own time. Dragging people through the dirt doesn't do anything to educate. 

On to the beer: 

Lightly clouded, deep amber appearance, slim white head. 

In the nose: Apple and spice comes first, followed by rum & alcoholic heat. Well-rounded, so far. 

In the mouth: Starts sweet, then sour, and all the while fruity. Rum barrel comes creeping up afterward, but not really enough to make a difference. Spicy and delicious, nonetheless. I feel that this should have been in the barrel longer, picked up more character. It's coming up short in that department. The base beer provides the goods, though, with just a touch of that rum barrel. I'm still enjoying it. It's still some good squishy.

Barrel-Aged Apple & Spices Sour Ale w/ sea salt, vanilla, & lactose.

Weldwerks Juicy Bits India Pale Ale

Weldworks Juicy Bits India Pale Ale. Brewed with Citra, Mosaic, and El Dorado hops. 

6.7 % ABV. Weldworks Brewing, Greeley, CO. 

Hey, heee's something new and fresh. Let's drink a hazy NE IPA. That never happens, right? True story: The other day a guy says to me, "Hey, I'm not really into hazy IPAs, but since that's all there is anymore, can you help me find some good ones?" Statements like that occur in this blog regularly. Was he reading my mind, or reading this blog? Or do dispirited minds think alike?

Anyway, I've never had one from this Colorado brewery yet, so that's something. Let's drink. 

All orangey and hazy with a fine white head on it. 

In the nose: Bright citrus notes with appropriate accompanying fuzziness. Touch of the dank. Nice.

In the mouth: Bold, brisk, hoppy, fruity, exceptionally expressive. Juicy, for sure. Moderate, but long-living bitterness. Full of hoppy goodness. And plenty of the yeasty fuzz everyone seems to like so damned much. It's very yum a dum dum. I admit it, sometimes I like these stupid things. Sometimes, they ain't so bad. 

Our flagship IPA features a huge citrus and tropical fruit hop character from the Mosaic, Citra & El Dorado hops and softer, smoother mouthfeel from the adjusted water chemistry, higher protein malts, and lower attenuation. The end result is a beer reminiscent of citrus juice with extra pulp, thus the name Juicy Bits.

Big Axe Stoutrageous Peanut Butter Stout

Big Axe Stoutrageous Peanut Butter Stout.

6.8% ABV. 44 IBU. Big Axe Brewing, Nisswa, MN. 

Strictly ebony hued, completely opaque, thin ring of a roasted brown head.

In the nose: There's the sweet, peanutty-ness right out of the gate. Chocolate lingers just below. 

In the mouth: Chocolate and peanut butter are at it again, moderate bitterness is here for balance, too. Not too sweet, not too strong, not too anything. Medium bodied, long lasting flavors, subtle finish. 

If you're looking for the most peanut butter, or the thickest stout, this will not qualify. But as it is, it's pretty damned tasty. There's something to be said for restraint. 

Lupulin DDH Hooey IPA

Lupulin DDH Hooey IPA.

6.2 % ABV, 60 IBU. Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN. 

Clouded-up, bright golden, slim white head. 

In the nose: Shining citrus and pine, all the fuzz. 

In the mouth: Bursting with hoppy goodness. Citrus explosion. Juicy as it gets. Fresh and vibrant. Medium bodied, long, hoppy finish, flush with flavor. Damn. I could drink this all night and never get tired of it. But, I only have the one. File under: Yum a dum dum. 

Don't be like me, go out and get a 4-pack, but don't drink it all in one night. Space 'em out, let the deliciousness last. 

Hop punch your tongue hole with DDH Hooey! We jacked up our hazy hop elixir with even more of the juiciest hops available. 

Arbeiter Black is Beautiful Stout

Arbeiter Black is Beautiful Stout.

5.3 % ABV. 32 IBU. Arbeiter Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

At last, I'm down to the final crowler from the seven that I bought just a little over a month ago. "What, it takes you a month to drink seven crowlers?" you're obviously asking me. No, if it was just about drinking them, I would have done them all weeks ago. But, I have to pace it out and space it out. One of the rules of this here blogging thing. This means it's time to return and try out the new beers they've put out since. On my next day off, I'm boldly venturing out into the polar vortex and drink some new beers. 

Ebon hue, complete opacity, dotted cocoa/tan head. Looking great. 

In the nose: Cocoa and coffee, hint of anise, dark fruits. Mostly malty. 

In the mouth: What style is this, exactly? Just a straight up American Stout, nothing frilly or fancy or nothing. Mucho malt in the mouth. Hearty, full-bodied. Flavors of cocoa and coffee on the palate, moderate, balancing bitterness. Excellent drinkability. 

We need some of these good ol' drinking stouts, sans maple syrup, sans marshmallow, sans barrel-aging, sans cookies and fudge. Just a good ol' beer. And you can drink it.

Our interpretation of the national Black Is Beautiful collaboration effort to raise awareness for the injustices People of Color face daily. A chocolate-caramel nose welcomes rich, yet smooth and clean flavors of dark chocolate and coffee with a subtle raisin essence in the background.

100% of the profits are being donated to Appetite for Change. AFC believes food is the key ingredient to nourishing wellbeing. Systemic barriers make accessing fresh food in North Minneapolis a challenge for many. Through youth and workforce development programs, social enterprises, and policy initiatives, AFC builds community capacity to engage with the food system in a fresh and sustainable way. 

Hitachino Nest White Ale

Hitachino Nest White Ale.

5.5 % ABV, Kiuchi Brewery, Naka-shi, Ibaraki, Japan. 

This blog has only three Japanese beers within it, yet so far. Four years ago was the last one, a can of Sapporo Black given to me as a sample. And before that, a can of Kirin Ichiban, and before that, Angry Boy Brown Ale from Baird, one of the few Japanese craft breweries available domestically, as far as I know. That's it. And nothing yet so far from one of the other better known Japanese craft breweries, Kiuchi, who market their beers as Hitachino Nest. Looking at BeerAdvocate.com, I've reviewed nine of their beers over there, and nothing here since. I can't tell you how many of their beers are still imported here, but there are just two available at the store where I currently work. One, really. This bottle that I purchased was the last one, until we get more. 

So, now we will drink a Belgian-style beer from a Japanese brewery, and I will share notes from 2006, which oddly enough, are not from a bottle, but from when I had it on tap at the Blue Nile. Which makes me wonder, did I have it on tap before I ever saw the bottles? Things get fuzzy after all these years. 

So, here are those notes from September, 2006: 

Highly hazed and golden-toned, a thin layer of bone white foam above, eventually narrowing down.

Lovely aromatics, a twist of lemon, hint of orange, and beautiful spices. I'd always assumed coriander, but recent research revealed to me they also use nutmeg in here. It works well.

Taste: light bodied, but sublime drinkability. Just enough flavor to keep the tongue happy. Zesty and refreshing. Minor hops, slight bitterness, a touch of sour, and a dash of sweet. 

Moderate carbonation, not too spritzy, just mellow enough.

Never dreamed I'd have a Japanese Belgian wit on tap, but, hey, crazier stuff has happened.

And look at that, I still have the glass the distributor gave me, fourteen and a half years later. 

This White Ale is brewed with wheat malt, and flavored with coriander, orange peel and nutmeg. Please enjoy the soft and flavorful taste.

Junkyard Aerial Scenario Hazy New England Style Double IPA

Junkyard Aerial Scenario Hazy New England Style Double IPA.

8.8 % ABV, Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN. 

It's all haze-ified, as advertised, lacking opacity entirely, full-on orange coloration, with a long-lasting, dotted ivory head on top. 

In the nose: There's all that yeasty fuzz, along with citrus notes, lemon/lime, orange, and a splash of pineapple. 

In the mouth: Juicy stuff, from the start. Moderate bitterness, abundant hop flavor. Citrus aplenty here, with tropical notes joining in. Joyously at play on the palate. Just delightful. Delicious. Yum a dum dum. 

And now, the high alcohol enters the scene...whoa...

Did I just say only a couple of days ago that maybe I don't like hazy DIPAs all that much? I make exceptions. This one I like a lot. 

Take your tastebuds on a flight to the tropics with this NE Double. It’s a fruity, citrusy haze bomb with an explosive tropical flavor & aroma profile unmatched by any of our prior DIPA’s!

El Dorado pairs up with the trending Denali hop + dry hop additions of Azacca, Citra, and a double dose of El Dorado to create this spectacularly bright beer with layers of pineapple, mango, lemon, and the right amount of zesty bitterness. It’s like sipping on sunshine.

Venn Peanut Butter Oatmeal Stout

Venn Peanut Butter Oatmeal Stout.

6.6 % ABV, 25 IBU. Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

"This time, for sure." (A reference to a story I won't tell.)

Solid blackness, utterly opaque, rich, brown head that crumbles quickly. 

In the nose: Peanutt-y and chocolatey, bing, bang, boom. Malt-driven, sweet, luxurious. So far, so good. 

In the mouth: Sweet and nutty, with loads of cocoa flavor. Lasting long on the palate. Medium bodied, smooth and easy-drinking. Quite enjoyable. 

Oatmeal Stout made with peanut butter. CONTAINS NUTS. NOT VEGAN.

Malts: Malted Oats, Domestic Pale, Munich 30L, Special B, Roasted Barley, Chocolate

Hops: Warrior

Yeast: American Ale

And: Lactose, Peanut Flour

Oliphant Seventh Squishy

Oliphant Seventh Squishy. Fruited Sour Ale. 

5.5 % ABV. Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, WI. 

Thoroughly opaque, deep reddish, raspberry-esque color, large pink head that drifts down quickly. 

In the nose: All the berries are here: the straw, the blue, the rasp. A pinch of salt, and a touch of the floral. 

In the mouth: Tart, fruity, puckering, but altogether smooth and delightful, ending dry. Sweetness never takes command of this fruit-forward concoction. Salt and hibiscus counter the sweetness of berries. But the berry flavor is strong, and remains delicious in this tasty sour. Lactose smooths it out a bit. 

Question: are these little guys with the Oliphant logo heads actually called "squishies"? So, are they like the seven dwarves in this label, mining berries from some strange cave? Where are the footnotes on this one? Ah, not yet, though they are putting out the stories on the blog as new ones come out. 

another soured Squishy fermented with Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, & Hibiscus. 

Lactose, sea salt, and vanilla to round it out! 

Bell's Light Hearted Ale

 

Bell's Light Hearted Ale.

3.7 % ABV, 36 IBU. Bell's Brewery, Comstock, MI. 

And here we have a beer that has been around for a few years, but I have never gotten around to trying because it just doesn't seem like the kind of beer I like to drink.  I wasn't going to pay for a 6-pack, and both my distributor rep and the Bell's brand ambassador (whoever that is...Andy...)were neglect in their duties. So, I bought a sampler 12-pack, which also yielded a new-to-me exclusive IPA. They called this one Jingle Bells because it came out in late November, not because any of them were holiday themed beers, no, all IPAs. So, let's drink this lo-call IPA, because who cares about spelling. 

Clear, bright golden hue, small white head. 

In the nose: moderately hoppy, sparks of citrus, portions of pine. 

In the mouth: Hop attack blazes the palate, and sticks around a bit. Body is significantly lighter than your normal Two Hearted Ale. Flavors vanish from the palate, leaving just a ghost of the IPA that was just in your mouth. Crisp, clean and just tasty enough. 

If you're in need of a low calorie ale, this is just right. I'm going to stick with heartier IPAs. No pun intended. 

Light Hearted is aromatic, balanced, and incredibly easy-drinking. This Lo-Cal IPA has only 110 calories, yet all the Heart. Centennial and Galaxy hops result in citrus and pine aromas, while a variety of specialty malts help give Light Hearted its body and flavor.

New Belgium Higher Plane Hazy Imperial IPA

New Belgium Higher Plane Hazy Imperial IPA.

8.5 %, 45 IBU. New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO & elsewhere. 

Hazy, bright orange hue, with floating pariculates that inevitably settle, under a stable layer of cloud-white froth. 

In the nose: Shining citrus, with a touch of pine, hints of pineapple and coconut. Creamy and sweet takes turns with the hoppy. Orange-sicle. 

In the mouth: Fuzzy. Yeasty. Bright and bold. Incoming alcohol. Citrus and pine and fruit. Little traces of tropical tastes. Medium bodied, medium hoppy. Just enough to keep the palate happy. Tasty stuff, but ...

...I probably just don't like Hazy Imperial IPAs. Actually, if you've been reading this blog long enough and thoroughly enough, you'll know this is true. Maybe someday, I'll be won over, but, I don't know how likely that is. I do know that I'll still keep trying them, and you know why that is...they keep making them, and they don't always tell us when they do. I'll keep getting tricked, over and over again. 

Higher Plane IPA achieves the perfect balance of delicately bitter flavors and tropical, juicy aromas. Channel your inner haze.

TASTING NOTES

VISUAL

Deep gold, medium-heavy sheen. Moderate white foam.

AROMA

Strong hop aroma with notes of mango, pineapple, and passionfruit. Hints of warm bready notes that invite you in.

FLAVOR

Slight-moderate sweetness through the middle, then a slight-moderate bitterness that grows to moderate and lingers slightly.

MOUTHFEEL/BODY

Smooth and slightly coating. Medium Body. 

Ayinger Ur-weisse Authentic Bavarian Dunkel Weisse

Ayinger Ur-weisse Authentic Bavarian Dunkel Weisse.

5.8 % ABV, 13 IBU. Ayinger Privatbrauwerei, Aying, Bavaria, Germany. 

So, here I am trying to close the loop as best as I can on this classic Bavarian brewery, and I inevitably get myself a case of glassware envy. Why don't I have any Ayinger glasses? Probably because I never sold a lot of it, in my career in bars, and never encountered any elsewhere. I don't remember ever tapping a keg of their stuff, except for Celebrator, four years ago at Acadia. I blame not my self for this, of course, but whoever had the job of selling it to me back then. Maybe if I stocked bottles of Celebrator and persisted enough, they'd have given me some. Alas, no Ayinger, especially no Celebrator glasses in my collection, so I went on eBay. Can't find any for less than $20, with an extra $20 shipping. But, I want it, though, I want it! I don't need it, but I want it. 

And now it is time to revisit the Dunkel Weisse, and I'm going to pour it into a SurlyFest glass, because. And I am going to recycle old notes, this time, looking back on what I wrote in August of 2005, over fifteen years ago: 

///

Lovely hazed magenta, soft cocoa, with a lovely, light layer of foam atop. Excellent look for the style.

Aroma: Ahhhh! this is dunkel weizen! Clove is huge, and banana behind it, with traces of grapes and melons and berries, too...a beautiful mix, really, and the sort of thing you only find in beers of this kind. Reminds me of why I like the style so much. Masterful.

Taste: mmmm...there's a lot to talk about...bubblegum, banana, spices, clove, dark fruits, ...but still quaffably refreshing!

An excellently sessionable brew, you can take several in all night long, 

classic representation of the style. 

Tasty, and quenching...gotta love it! 

Lightish body, lightly spicy finish, rich and delicious.

Loveable mouthfeel, lushly carbonated, great flavor, wondrous drinkability. Class act, all the way.

Yum.

///

And, all these years later, I might even add...a dum dum. 

“The union of wheaty freshness and dark malt often produces a fullness of taste and complexity”, explains the world-famous English beer commentator Michael Jackson.

This also applies to the Ayinger Urweisse, which is a strong amber-colored, yeast cloudy wheat beer. The beer is strong with the first taste and malty in aroma. The top-fermented, yeasty taste sensation is unmistakable. This beer is rich in sparkle and has just a touch of a special bitter quality. The fruity, malty mild aroma will have you won you over immediately!

Tin Whiskers Skate Bot IPA

Tin Whiskers Skate Bot IPA. With Citra and Calypso hops. 

6 % ABV, 37 IBU. Tin Whiskers Brewing,  St. Paul, MN. 

All clouded up (because of course), slight white head. 

In the nose: Citrus and pine, pinch of pineapple, and a good whiff of the yeasty fuzz.

In the mouth: Brief blast of bitterness, then all is mellow. Smooth stuff, and juicy, too. Lemon, lime, grapefruit. Light body. Fruity for a spell, then ending on a dry note, cleansing the palate for the next sip. Nothing too special about this one, but they don't all have to be. I'm enjoying it just fine, all the same. 

Brewed with Citra and Calypso hops for notes of grapefruit, pear, and lime, it's perfect for sipping between long grinds in the schoolyard and racking up big combos through the warehouse.

Hop & Barrel 5th Triple IPA

 Hop & Barrel 5th Triple IPA.

10% Alc./Vol. 85 IBU. Triple India Pale Ale, Hop & Barrel Brewing, Hudson, WI.

Clouded, bright golden hue, lasting white head, leaving some lace. 

In the nose: Fruity, spicy, floral. Citrus and pine. Dank. Pungent. 

In the mouth: Boom! Hop Bomb! Aggressive, potent, powerful. Just juicy enough, but quickly turning to the dry side. Resiny, oily, flush with happiness. All the citrus, a touch of the pine, much of the green. High alcohol rises up to match the depth and the power of the alpha acids. 

Yow. Big bitterness and big booze make a damned good beer. A decadent little treat. I'll be back for more.

The first beer in our Brew Like A Girl series, crafted by women from start to finish, is a massive triple IPA.

Waldmann Düsseldorf Altbier

Waldmann Düsseldorf Altbier.

5.6 % ABV. Waldmann Brewery, St. Paul, MN. 

Dark brown color, nearly opaque, large creamy/tan head. 

In the nose: Sweet malt, mild hops, nuts, cocoa and cola lead the aroma. 

In the mouth: Sweet from the start, malt-driven, smooth and tasty. Ultimately balanced, ending on a tidy dry note. More of the cola/cocoa/nut flavors, rolling off the palate. Hints of anise. Moderate bitterness, Exceptionally likable. Ridiculously drinkable. I can't recommend this highly enough. 

Originating in Düsseldorf in the early 19th century alter is a copper-colored session beer of well-balanced bittersweet drinkability. Brewed with a mix of German noble hops, our version is fermented with a classic ale yeast at cooler temperatures and then lagered for several weeks producing both the nutty malt aromas of an ale and the dry finish and lingering hop aromas of a lager. 

Junkyard Double Dry-hopped Vince Vega NE DIPA

Junkyard Double Dry-hopped Vince Vega NE DIPA with Citra Hops. 

8.1 % ABV, Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN. 

Clouded as it gets, bright golden hue, large, lush ivory head atop. 

In the nose: Bold citrus, lemon, lime, and orange. Splash of pineapple, too. Oncoming passionfruit.

In the mouth: Blasts of Citra bombard the palate. Bright and juicy. Flat-out delicious. Pow, pow, pow! Non-stop hoppiness, spilling juicy goodness all about. Medium/lightish bodied, long, hoppy finish. Never-ending tasty delights. This one is quite diggable. 

This New England style DIPA was brewed with a blend of Citra, Citra, and more Citra hops, and for the first time ever, we double dry-hopped it!⁣

It’s bursting with aromas of juicy orange, white peach and pear, followed by flavors of candied orange peel and stone fruits. The finish is lasting and resinous, which makes this beer big, bold and straight to the point, just like Vince.

Pipeworks Karate Cats West Coast Style India Pale Ale with Blood Orange Juice

Pipeworks Karate Cats West Coast Style India Pale Ale with Blood Orange Juice.

7 % ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL. 

Why did I buy a 4-pack of this beer? The price was right. ($12) I usually enjoy Pipeworks, and I like to sample as much of their wares as I can. (If they are the right style and the right price.) The name and illustration sold me. But...nunchucks and swords aren't karate, you guys, and, besides, how do the cats hold them in their little, non- opposable thumb kitty cat paws, anyway? Think about it!

Clear, bright golden color, slim white head. Looking good. 

In the nose: Nicely hopped. Citrus and pine. Sweet meets bitter.

In the mouth: Juicy mouthfeel at the start, accompanied quickly by brisk, sharp bitterness. Clean and smooth. Blood orange flavor starts to emerge, but remains a participant, not a player. Slightly tart, but hops are still in control. Citrus and pine at play on the palate, with a long, hoppy finish. Light-ish bodied, and effortlessly drinkable. 

Another yum-a-dum-dum Pipeworks beer. Go get some!