Brew Batch #79 Sittin' Session IPA

Inspired by Session Player from BlackStone, and part of my IPA or Die series I wanted to try my hand at a session IPA. Took some good tips from Red on it still needing to have a decent malt backbone to it so it's not too thin. This will also help me turn some hop inventory which makes for a good excuse to simply restock later. Not sure how this Calypso, Cascade, Citra brew will turn out, but I'm sure someone will have a pint or 2? OG 1.050+0.001 @63F. The Citra hop stand has the garage smelling so nice.

Brew Batch #77 Centennial IPA (cIPA)

Kegged up today with a fantastic red, brown color. Put it on 22lbs @42F and started cold crashing, because I'd like to squeeze a pint out Monday. FG 1.008+0.001 @67F to give it a "sessionable" 7.35%. I'm not overly impressed with the PacMan yeast but it got the attenuation job done.

Ten of Fitty Part Zes

And 10 ounces to grow on! Finally finishing strong with The Enabler's b'day gift of fifty ounces of good beer. Our last brew, Piraat, was a 33cl split wonder. Light amber colored, full mouthfeel and velvety thick head reminds you that the best beers in the world come from Belgium. The banana clove taste makes this 10.5%abv an easy drinker that probably has matured since it was purchased. This Belgian pale ale was described as "hoppy", but this American palate found it to be soft and very quaffable. Makes me want to break open a Westie!!

TnDC Field Trip #25 Tapping Reinke's Revenge 2016

Today is the day I got to have one of my beers on tap/sale at an brewery. Thanks to Red and Junk, I was able to invite Dr. Reinke up to BlackStone Tap House to enjoy his namesake from tap #15! Coming in a little astringent from my overuse of roasted malts, Red put it on nitro to soften the effects. After a couple of 10 oz tasters, I gave it a 5 on Untappd:) Beautifully dark in color with a muted nose, but the smoothest taste I've ever had on a 9% beer. Even Merry had 2. And since it was on nitro meaning no growler fills, I told the Doc to "drink up". So when we try this next, we'll back off on the dark grains (Black malt, Roasted barley, Chocolate malt) and pump up the 2-row and add some oats. Can't wait for October already.

Our Tastes- Avondale No Joka Mocha Stout

Not my 1st Avondale brew but I'll admit I haven't tried many. No Joka Mocha Stout was a neighborly payment for good deeds done, so I figured I'd lay some words on it. A coffee oatmeal stout that pours AND tastes exactly as entitled. A pure black opacity with clean white head. It wafts of roasted coffee and quaffs of the same. Full disclosure, I love coffee of all kinds. But for me this brew has too much ROASTED brew in it. The bitterness of the coffee bean is somewhat overwhelming instead of blending. However, if that's what they were aiming for, then it's spot on. 7.2%abv makes it easily repeatable, but not sure I would order more than a pint of this at any given setting.

Brew Batch #78 Chinook IPA

Next up to alleviate some inventory is a straight Chinook IPA. No bells and whistles here, just Chinook from beginning to end, then dry-hopped some more on....you guessed it, Chinook. I expect numbers close to Centennial. OG 1.056+0.001 @66F.

Our Tastes-- Sierra Nevada Beer Camp 2017

Another Beer Camp offering from SN, 2017 Golden IPA. This is a great concept by the SN folks to get you into the "what's coming this year" frame of mind. But this year's offering also makes me emphasize the marketing aspect to brewing as opposed to the real ingenuity of microbrews. Before I start this review, I'll admit I didn't even blog 2016 Tropical IPA. Because it was so tasty I blew through it and couldn't get more to post! This one, meh, not so much. Color, light golden, check. Nose, light hoppiness attached to 2 fingers of bright white froth, check.  Taste is good, but it's akin to Yeungling or SA IPLs. Last year had more body. In it's own right, a good beer, but I feel as though SN needed a "Beer Camp" brew and just threw great hops into a light beer and called it Beer Camp. Crisp and light at 6.5%abv, I'll drink it again, but look forward to next year...