#BeerSaturday is at week 204 and I am taking this opportunity to get into a summery mode!
Source: https://www.pinterest.pt/goldensaintbeer/ with a little Zeke design on top.
I became a beer blogger years ago because of the blockchain. I came to write either about that which I am learning, or know very well. The years I spent brewing for myself, the breweries I work with now on their technology and marketing, and the decades spent imbibing combine for the self-decreed title of the #Blockchain #Beerologist.
This week, I am anticipating the end of the lockdown and picking a couple beers from a sampler pack from one of my favourite regional breweries.
Shorty of the Week
I like to keep a few shorties in the fridge for those times when a smaller, different beer is the right one. I am hoping to pivot back to the Pint of the week as lockdowns appear to be easing and I have plenty of patio sessions on my dance card when restaurants and bars reopen.
This week, I am wrapping my garden grubby mitts around an old favourite. I have loved Anderson Craft Ales https://andersoncraftales.ca/ for a few years after meeting staff and suds during a beer festival in town. It has been a while since I featured their IPA https://andersoncraftales.ca/ourbeeras the shorty of the week though as there have been quite the variety of local and regional shorties available the last while.
As I have been enjoying many of the sweet and hazy IPAs recently, a return to this one was almost a surprised as it is fairly clear, not so sweet but so damn balanced with a slight malt character that just fattens up the whole experience.
I am busting out the coveted seal of approval early in this post as I have had to pause a couple times while sipping this one and admire the IPA I fell in love with years ago.
Summer Time!
It is no secret on this blog that I am a fan of Cowbell Brewing Company https://cowbellbrewing.com/ which is just up the road a ways. They started out well enough with a decent IPA and have really stepped it up lately with Hazy Days and many of their delicious one-off brews. I spotted a Summer Mix Pack on the shelves and remembered how much fun it was to wander through the Christmas season packs a few months ago.
I have tasted and featured more than one of these beers in the past and Hazy Days https://store.cowbellbrewing.com/collections/craft-beer/products/473ml-hazy-days-hazy-juicy-ipa is actually in my exalted Top 5© right now. Though a couple of them would be review, while a couple more are rather plain and mild for my taste, there were a couple I was really looking forward to tasting as I had not seen them hit shelves yet. Here they are.
Daddy Fruit Punch
Passion Fruit Punch - American Sour Ale https://store.cowbellbrewing.com/collections/craft-beer/products/passion-fruit-punch-1 is probably the final sour mouth punch I will have for a while as last week we were 100% sour. Whenever I crack one of these non-IPA beers, I have my better half taste the first sip. This is because she has a very moderate palate which makes for either a funny reaction or a surprisingly good beer. In this case, it was a twisted up mouth, a little sputter and watery eyes as she said it was hard to swallow. Maybe I will like this bold one then!
I would probably snag one of these off the shelf on the merit that it is new, has a vibrant design, and boasts a promise of tropical, fruit forward Cowbell goodness. Passion Fruit is a good flavour and packs such a sexy name though Guava is a bullshit fruit in my mind. Still, this beer comes as advertised. It was light yet bold and refreshingly sweet despite being solidly sour. I would probably not follow this one up with another but it was a nice surprise and great detour from my IPA obsession.
None More Hazy
The beer that really attracted my attention among the lineup in the box was the Hazy Pale Ale. Not only is it exclusive enough to not even appear on the website or online shop, I am always on the hunt for a good lighter beer with a bold taste fit for chugging in the hot weather. Another local beerologist calls these beers "elbow benders."
I was pleasantly pleased when I pulled this one from the fridge as you may be able to see that the blue dotted pattern on the can actually has a texture to it as a nice touch. Had I found this on its own on the shelf, I would have been hooked by the hops (Amarillo and Citra) as well as the description including citrus, tropical sunny and bready sweetness. Turns out this is a solid beer. I would classify it as an "I would buy this again" but fear that I will not have a chance. I am not about to purchase this whole pack again just for the Pale Ale and I can't seem to find it individually on site or shelf. So, I will probably have to classify it as "I am glad I tasted this."
Either way, BRING ON SUMMER!
#BEERSaturday!
Thanks again for this wonderful #hive #beer gift by @spirall on Twitter! Hop in on the marketing push with us and invite the world of beer bloggers to join us on Hive.
This is #beersaturday week 204 @detlev/beersaturday-week-204 for the blockchain beer drinking crew who have developed an immunity to hangovers. Make sure you pop by https://friends.beersaturday.com/ and drop a beer in the box to have a shot at being the Beer King this week.
I invite a friend to the party every week and this week I invite fellow Hive Hoser @wil.metcalfe who will probably agree Canada has an AWESOME beer game. 🍁
Cheers to our global family of beer-drinkers!!
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