No Blizzard Could Stop Snomaha

Winter collaborations always have an opportunity to leave fate to Mother Nature. When Kros Strain Brewing Company headed to Iowa City to brew with Big Grove Brewery, there was a chance Old Man Winter could ruin the day. Fortunately, these two incredible Midwest breweries got together to brew a West Coast Double IPA. The excellent hop profile of Chinook CGX and Centennial CGX hops, then dry hopped with Strata and Nectaron hops, came in at 8.5% ABV.

I opened the can, and as I poured the DIPA, I got a distinct orange and floral aroma. Citrus and stonefruit notes quickly transition to those nice dank hop notes. I enjoy West Coast IPAs, and this one didn’t disappoint! The crisp body accentuates the hops to take in the experience completely.

I am glad to see Big Grove Brewery now distributing to Omaha, Nebraska, and I am excited to see them open a new taproom in Omaha! Oh, and yes, the crew from Kros Strain made it back before the storm hit. Hopefully, these two breweries will collaborate more!

Cheers!

Nepo Baby is Out of This World

Nepo Baby is a hazy DIPA that is a collaboration between Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. and BlackStack Brewing. This 7.8% ABV IPA has a hop profile of Strata, Nelson, and Riwaka hops.

The nose on this one, for me, is distinctly pineapple. The notes are pineapple and stone fruit. The body is a bit lighter than other DIPAs I have had from Toppling Goliath. The finish is dank and holds on for a while.

Another enjoyable collaboration brew from Toppling Goliath.

Cheers!

What Happens When a Sharknado Meets a Cloud Jumper?

Santa looks happy to have a Shark Jumper!

Who doesn’t like a good Sharknado movie? I am sitting here imagining the shark landing on a soft cloud; hence, you have a Shark Jumper! Pint Nine Brewing Company knows how to make a good thing even better!

Shark Jumper is a hazy DIPA that takes all of the good qualities of the Cloud Jumper pale ale and takes it up a notch. This hazy has citrus (orange) and stone fruit (peach, apricot) notes in a slightly sweet body that finishes with mild hop bitterness. This is an IPA that everyone can enjoy! For those that frequent Pine Nine, I got Mr. Dunn to have one, and he never drinks IPAs!

It is hard to believe that it is 7.7% ABV. Shark Jumper is another excellent beer from Pine Nine Brewing Company. I would like to see them keep this one on tap more often!

Cheers!

It's Not Complicated it's Stupendous

I was at the Zipline Brewing Co. taproom shortly after Complicated Patterns came out this year. I had never had it before, but multiple people were ordering it. I was finishing up having a beer with a friend, so I got a 4-pack to go.

I cracked the can open, and there was a rush of citrus aroma that was utterly mesmerizing. The citrus and tropical notes upfront pulled me in. There is a slight bit of sweetness in the body of this hazy DIPA that is perfect. There is some warmth in this 8.5% ABV beer that finishes a bit dank to create a well-balanced experience.

This is one excellent Brave New Brew to experience, along with all the other awesome beers from Zipline Brewing.

Cheers!

Skip the Tango and go for Mango and Cash

I have never been a person that likes to dance, let alone tango, but if you find a beer by the name of Mango & Cash, you have to try it!

This 8.1% ABV and 84 IBU imperial IPA from Stone Hollow Brewing Company is made with 150 pounds of mango and five different hops. The front has nice, tart mango notes that blend in with caramel before finishing with mild hop bitterness. The body is on the light side and makes this IPA very enjoyable!

Make your way to Beatrice, Nebraska, to visit Stone Hollow Brewing Company, and if you haven’t been there, you will want to do a flight to take in their excellent craft beer and ciders.

Cheers!

My Idea of Cheeseburger in Paradise!

Hopsy, the frog, was excited to be outside, knowing spring was coming soon! I asked Hopsy if he would like a gas station cheeseburger. His response was a bit snarky: “And you want me to hold it with what hands? Also, you know I am lactose intolerant!”

I told him no, I have Kros Strain Brewing’s hazy DIPA called Gas Station Cheeseburger, and Hopsy was excited to dive in!

Kros Strain Brewing’s hazy IPAs have this fantastic body. I took my first sip and was immediately drawn to the smooth darkness of this DIPA. The citrus and stonefruit notes are subtle, but the earthiness shines in this one! A hop profile consisting of Citra, Strata, Simcoe, and El Dorado hops come together in this delectable 8.0% ABV hazy double IPA.

I agree with Hopsy; skip the dried-out gas station cheeseburger and go for Kros Strain Brewing’s Gas Station Cheeseburger!

Cheers!

This Dinosaur Knows How to Boogie!

Nothing is better than having Toppling Goliath beers on their patio at the brewery, but it’s over 70 degrees, and I had to settle for my own today!

Electric Dino Boogie is a DIPA brewed in collaboration with Pinthouse Brewing out of Austin, Texas. I cracked this one open in a 40 mph wind so I couldn’t grab much of the aroma. The fruit notes for me were definitely orange and tangerine. There is a decent about of pine and earthiness to this one. The body is on the lighter, softer side, which holds that darkness in.

A hop profile of Simcoe, Citra, and Galaxy hops to create this juicy 7.8% double IPA!

Now if I could only boogie like this Electric Dino!

Cheers to great IPA collaborations!

See You Later Rubber Ducky There's a New Ducky in Town

This is the second collaboration beer that I have had from Lua Brewing and Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. and it was everything I expected it would be!

OG Duckies is a hazy DIPA coming in at 8.5% ABV. The nose on this one is full of citrus aroma with a touch of earthiness. For me, the prominent notes are stone fruit, especially peach. The secondary notes are citrus that end up finishing on the dank side. The body is lighter for a hazy but fabulous!

This IPA has a unique blend of Citra, Strata, Idaho 7, and Cryo Pop hops. Incredible flavor to enjoy in the tub without your rubber ducky!

Cheers!

Wonder Twins

One of the most aromatic IPAs I have ever had is Wonder Twins from Scratchtown Brewing Company! I remember being at an event when a keg of Wonder Twins was tapped and this rush of grapefruit and citrus aroma hit me. It was intense and unforgettable! Opening the can tonight, I got that aroma again.

My first sip was highlighted with lots of grapefruit notes. I noticed at it warmed a little bit that grapefruit was still there, but now some berry notes were intermixed. I never get tired of the dynamic duo of Citra and Mosiac hops! Wonder Twins takes these two hops to another level.

The finish has those pine and earthy notes as the hop balance kicks in. I didn’t know what to expect out of 102 IBU DIPA! The body is incredibly light for a 7.6% ABV beer.

Just an incredible IPA!

Cheers!

Ferrari Backpack

The answer is Ferrari Backpack. The question for me would be: What is one thing I own and one thing I will never have.

All joking aside, this imperial IPA is so indulging that you think it is probably only available for the rich and famous. Fortunately, they had this one tap and to-go on my first visit to Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.! A great collaboration with Lua Brewing.

The first thing I noticed when pouring this beer is the rush of tropical fruit aroma! My nose is not the best one around, but this was so distinct! The flavor has packed full of citrus and tropical fruit notes in a very nice soft body. The finish is a little dank with a nice balancing hop bitterness.

The hop blend is made up of Riwaka, Strata, Citra, Sabro, and Amarillo hops. That is a lot to take in! The ABV is at 7.8% but doesn’t seem like it. Such a great IPA!

Cheers!

No More Blah Mondays

This dead head has a tremendous body

Monday blahs is a real thing. Searching for something that can wake up your taste buds was my cure for the blahs!

Haze of the Dead is from Destihl Brewery in Normal, Illinois. This hazy DIPA packs 8.5% ABV and 83 IBUs. The blend of Citra and Simcoe hops gives you citrus and pine aroma. The real magic happens when you take your first taste. There is citrus and stone fruit flavor upfront that give way to the dank, earthy, and piney notes. The transition is wonderful.

It is the body of this DIPA that has me mesmerized. There are oats and wheat, which right away you think is going to be a soft body. But there is something about the carbonation and the hop punch that tends to want to dance in your mouth making the experience more than you can imagine!

Highly recommend this IPA and the other hazy IPAs from Destihl Brewery.

Give your tastebuds the excitement they are looking for!

Cheers!

Upside Down

Upside Down, the song by Diana Ross has lyrics that speak to the Inverted Mosaic from White Elm Brewing Company. Whether upside down or inside out, the piney, earthy, citrus flavor remains constant in this Double IPA. The body is nice and soft. I enjoy the hop bitterness finish of this 8.0% ABV DIPA.

White Elm Brewing from Lincoln, Nebraska. has well-crafted beer in many styles. I am a big fan of their IPAs and incredible stouts! If you are not in the Nebraska area, I have heard that you can find some of their brews on Tavour.

Cheers!