333 weeks in a row seemed like a pipe dream when #beersaturday started over 6 years ago?!
Being The Blockchain Beerologist definitely has its perks, including but not limited to getting paid to tour breweries and sample new beers! When I am not globetrotting and chugging pints, my fridge looks like a colourful mosaic of regional craft beer I enjoy sharing with the #beersaturday alliance of #beer bloggers on #hive.
This week, I deliver the much-anticipated sequel to the IPA tasters pack I tore into last week!
IPA Fun Box! 7th Edition!
As discussed way back in week 332, I love finding seasonal variety packs and even more so when they are all IPA likeRefined Fool Brewing likes to do with their IPA FUN BOX! This is a repeating series with a couple old favourites and a few new beers you might not find again in places other than the brewery.
I have sampled most if not all of these funboxes but was pleased to discover the 7th Edition of the IPA Fun Box. Last week, we tucked into a comfy Track Suit and spied on Darren's Internet Search History.
Short Pier Long Walk
It had been so long since I enjoyed this double IPA that I totally forgot it was in the first ever IPA Fun Box. Pretty close to the time I discovered this brewery. They describe it as 8.4% Double IPA: This classic West Coast DIPA has a calm malt backbone making way for a maelstrom of rich, earthy and devastatingly tasty hops (Simcoe, Centennial, Columbus).
This is what it looked like back in 2020 when I first discovered it. Apparently the camera on my phone was not as good as this model or I hadn't developed the habit of wiping off the lens before taking pics. Solid beer and decent IPA though I found it a touch syrupy as many Double IPAs are. Neat addition of Centennial ale hops but there was just too much residual sugar for the dryness to punch through. It poured nice and foamy and was a bit of an adventure to get through but damn good enough.
Nothing to See Here
The last new one to sample is what claims to be an east coast IPA which should be nice and full and sweet. I wondered what Cryopop is and am happy to learn that it is a blend of hops that proclaims to deliver massive tropical, stone fruit and citrus aromas. I like these things in an IPA!
Not much imagination evident on the back label except maybe a leap of daiquiri. Turned out to be a beautifully sweet yet dank unfiltered hipsters paradise as far as I am concerned. The website describes it as Nothing to See Here — 6% East Coast IPA: This juicy chaos in a can is brewed with Cryopop, a supercharged hop with notes of peach, pineapple, grapefruit and even a hint of daiquiri and I can agree with that. I am notsure what the possibility of catching this brew on its own and not having to buy all 6 of the others in order to taste it again, but I would consider it. This is my pick for the batch.
We don't have as great a relationship as I have with other breweries but I appreciate how many different IPAs you pump out trying to find your groove. These are turning out nicely and the dumbass names can be forgiven as you experiment and explore the latest hops.
#BEERSaturday!
@detlev and instantly become a beer blogger here (https://hive.blog/hive-187719/@detlev/beersaturday-333)
This week for #BeerSaturday, I was going to invite
@michelmake but I see he has already taken up the challenge! Take a few pictures, tag #beersaturday and raise a glass with us on Hive! Beer = retirement fund!