Our Tastes-- Surf Wax IPA

A "Junker" with almost perfection. This IPA made with Golden Promise and Crystal 120 along with a touch of wheat was amazing. Danked up by Centennial and Columbus then dry-hopped with Citra and Mosaic, it's aroma leapt from the can. A luscious flagship by Burial Beer Co. that has left an impression from the label artwork to the gullet. 6.8% brew that I could make a year-rounder in the beer fridge. It's hard for me to fathom that this place is a 1 barrel pilot brew system on a 10 bbl production system.

Our Tastes-- Grass Monkey

Available in the recent spring variety 12 pack along with their new Mosaic "Hatchery" offering, I would turn Grass Monkey down. A light golden hue with HEAVY particulate. When I first saw this brew, I was hoping for more than I got. The Lemondrop hops do lend a good lemony zest considering it's only made with 2-row and wheat, hence the pale wheat ale style. Alphas on these bad boys is roughly 0-5%, along the same lines as Medusa. The lemongrass addition adds to the somewhat lemony scent on the aroma. But overall, it's a 5.4%abv pack filler. I cleansed my palate with a SW IPA and moved on. 

Our Tastes-- Woodshed

A Junk's Junk gimme, Woodshed, is Mill Creek's session IPA offering. I couldn't help but notice he was spending a lot of time at their new taproom (must have been a hard 15 mile drive), so I hit him up for some samples. Low and behold, this little 4.5%er "drink pretty good" --Alvin Holmes ca 2008. Woodshed has a good hop bitterness with just a touch of sweetness which means you can crush a growler and still cut straight lines in the lawn! It's no Session Player, but I'll be having more of it since they have now started distributing here.

Our Tastes-- KBS 2017

KBS has become not only an annual favorite of mine but somewhat of a unicorn spotting and capture event. Though there seem to be more barrel-aged beers now than ever, this one still seems to hold a place in the "rare experience" column. Except for those that have friends and wives that make it a bottle shop interception operation! This year's release sports a heavy whisky tone to it. Of course it's "dark", you would be too if barrel aged for a year. Nose was surprisingly light with molasses notes. The taste is a sticky sweet EtOH hot tongue turtleneck with vanilla undertones. I've got to barrel age Reinke's one year! I'm committing to that. Alas this one has come and gone in about a week. Thanks to Wee Nay Nay and Junk for the "Age Me" and Pies N' Pints for the quarter barrel commitment from the distributor.

Brew Batch #79 Sittin' Session IPA

Kegged today with FG 1.004+0.002 @73F to yield 5.9%abv. Not as "sessionable" as I had hoped, that yeast just got down! The Citra, Cascade dry-hopping though turned out a stellar aroma. Cold crashing the "Red" way and should be sipping by this weekend.

Our Tastes-- Pernicious IPA

A Wicked Weed, Junk bootleg, Pernicious IPA ran around my palate tonight. Almost a lager light color topped with supple white head, it goes into my nonic. The aroma was barely hop noticeable even though made with Mosaic, Citra and some NZ hops; apparently it's supposed to bring mango and papaya to the forefront. Taste is a sweet floral with a light slickness on the palate during the finish. First brewed in 2015 and also medaled with silver at GABF the same year. I'll give it this, to be a 7.3% IPA of such a blonde color and light aroma it is somewhat "mold" breaking. Fully destroyable but only made in limited quantities right now due to the NZ hops used. "It's no Pliny!", but good in it's own right

Not-so Unimpeachable Pale Ale

I've already emailed Salty Nut and asked them to brew it again, based on tonight's event. Sorry, Wanda. But they're doing this instead.

National Beer Day 2017

Happy National Beer Day! Now download the Untappd app and badge up like the rest of us. I've chosen my bevvy, Athena from Creature Comforts. Considering this day's roots I figured something around the 4% mark would be more apropos. Signed into law by Teddy Roosevelt on March 22, 1933, it allowed for low-alcohol (roughly 4%) beer sales months before the actual repeal of Prohibition. Now raise a glass to the 4000+ breweries or which about 2400 are micro.