With the USA composting all kinds of rotting orange gourds (Congrats on the election yanks!) we celebrate the beginning of November with a fun box of IPA!

Source: https://www.pinterest.pt/goldensaintbeer/ with a little Zeke design on top.

We don't need a reason to celebrate and have fun with beer but this week, there are a couple additional reasons to do so. One of them is my discovery of an IPA Fun Box and fun is in the name! Set aside the pillaging of your kids Halloween candy for a sec and lets unbox this baby!

Before we get started...

Here is your IPA Fun Box! https://www.refinedfool.com/collections/beer/products/ipa-fun-box Aptly described as Foolishly Good IPA's, Refined Fool https://www.refinedfool.com/ is not a brewery IO have followed very closely. With all of the new and varied styles of IPA, this could be fun indeed.

Let's crack it open and see how much fun it really is!

Ozzy Ozzy Ozzy! Oy Oy Oy!

First up is Pouch Envy Australian IPA! Sarnia Ontario is perhaps as far from Australia as you can get but this one features Galaxy hops http://www.hopslist.com/hops/dual-purpose-hops/galaxy/ which hail from Australia and happen to be one of my preferred hops due to their incredible flavour and high percentage of of essential oils.

The label itself is not fantastic in design and has a couple curious warning signs. 5% ABV is a little low for an IPA and sessionable can mean watery when not done right. Citrussy is good though 35 IBU (International Bitterness Units) is a little low for my taste.

The description on this label actually proved to be accurate and not just key buzz words. It was lighter than my preference, though pleasantly hazy. The hop character and lack of a malt body made this beer a little underwhelming. While there is a place for lighter beers with hops, I can think of at least 6 better ones in this classification and will file this under "I Do Not Hate This."

Taking a long walk off a short pier

Next up is Short Pier, Long Walk Double IPA https://www.refinedfool.com/collections/beer/products/short-pier-long-walk-double-ipa A Double IPA can be hit or miss as it is either a cavalry rush of flavour, or an unrestrained sport hopping that just becomes a mess. Looks to have a little darker malt appearance so this might be alright.

Here is how it is described on the website, "Ever imagine coming to the end of a pier and wishing it just kept going? This is the same existential worm hole you will fall down when drinking this Double IPA. So go on, take one step further, one more sip. Allow the calm and clean tasting malt backbone to give way to a maelstrom of hops (Simcoe, Centennial, Columbus) that are rich, earthy and devastatingly tasty."

This one is definitely all of the 8.4% ABV and the IBU must be north of 80 to put it truly in the sport-hopped classification. The malt does turn out to be tasty and does a good job of balancing out the old skool hops (Simcoe, Centennial, Columbus.)

I enjoyed this on a solo night of catching up on a few shows rather than one of many on a gaming night. I could sip this and enjoy a book in front of a fireplace on a winter eve. It was foolishly enjoyable and I "Might Buy This Again"

Brut Force

Apparently, some guy named Zane has lost his avocado bag and the result may be this brew. It doesn't look like they are trying too hard with this label which holds an endearing and unique appearance that does make it stand out on the shelf from the others. This is half the battle and the gloves-off battle all the craft breweries are in leads you to appreciate the different look.

The beer itself is a BRUT IPA which was born in San Fran and has become a popular alternative featured by some of the more adventurous breweries. https://beerandbrewing.com/the-birth-of-the-brut-ipa/ I do like a progressive beer and, though I love the sweet strong IPAs, I have found I enjoy the odd brut for a nice change.

What impresses me most about this style of IPA is the strong and full taste despite the dryness (from the enzyme amyloglucosidase) and the very low IBU. I love IPAs because they generally taste like 3 beers in 1 can due to the hops. This one is dry and not hoppy but has a nice bold taste like the other well-done bruts.

All in all, this is my favourite as I have made it half way through the box of fun. Discovery is as important to enjoying beer as is finding your preferred ones and constantly buying them. I would buy this again and look forward to getting to the second half of this box of special treats.

#BEERSaturday!

I was gifted this wonderful #hive #beer by @spirall on Twitter! Join the Hive push with us.

I have had hundreds of beers with my #BEERSATURDAY crew. Week 178 is another step in this malty marathon and I invite you to pull up a brew and join us. @detlev/another-thirsty-beersaturday-week-178-calls-you-to-join is your link to click and wander into the longest-running beer-drinking club on any blockchain. Take some pictures, tell some suddsy pub tales, and become a Beerologist by posting your own story with @detlev and yours truly.