#BeerSaturday is at week 219 and I am checking in for a quick one before heading on the road.
Source: https://www.pinterest.pt/goldensaintbeer/ with a little Zeke design on top.
I became a beer blogger because of the years I have 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 make a stop on a road trip and visit an old favourite to stock up for a camping trip.
Pint of the Week!
Before we get going, I have to shine a spotlight on a beer enjoyed over business and pleasure during the past week. This week, it is a discussion over the latest brewery network we are building, and a crypto discussion revolving around the Helium Network https://www.helium.com/ This tasty beverage is one of a pair of tasty Buggy Whip IPAs https://untappd.com/b/abe-erb-brewing-company-buggywhip/869753from Abe Erb Brewery https://abeerb.com/, the original Waterloo location.
This is a beer I was happy to discover while helping with the computing network and point of sale system. What do you have for IPA? This. Immediately fell in love with the bold hoppy taste and full body. A brief scare came from the closing of the brewery a couple years ago but they are back in business and I love me some Buggy Whip.
Redline Brewery
I was on my yearly pilgrimage to Magfest, a cottage-based music festival thrown by 100 of the coolest people you would ever want to camp with, and I had to make a detour to visit an old friend. Later on this week, I will have to share with you the Magfest adventure but let's stick to the Redline Brewhouse http://www.redlinebrewhouse.com/ for this post.
You never know what you are going to get when you stumble into the bottle shop at your small-town craft brewery. I usually hope for full fridges, a fresh regular IPA, and a one-off playground brew I have no hope of getting back home. The first fridge looked a little like this without one of the special beers.
The second fridge looked way more promising with the 650ml bottles, some familiar labels and others that were completely new. This might be good!
Single Hop Series
The first pleasure I discovered was a pair of single hop experimental limited run brews. Truth be told, I am take it or leave it with single hops IPAs as I really enjoy the special combo of hops to create unique brews. With a single hop series, you get to really taste what a hop brings individually as far as taste and dryness/sweetness goes, and it is generally a fresh new taste.
Being a playground brew, Spark: Ella http://www.redlinebrewhouse.com/the-beers/spark-ella/ doesn't have a second panel on the label to describe the ideas behind the brew or the specific ingredients. The website (which needs an SSL certificate and we would love to help that happen!) has a good write up which is encouraging before even sampling:
Our second ‘Spark’ series release of the year features Ella hops. Bold and complex flavours of grapefruit and peach lead into a tropical finish. A genetic sister-hop to Galaxy (one of our all-time favourites), Ella’s flavour profile is unique and yet pleasantly familiar. Using a similar grain bill as our previous ‘Spark’ release, Ella has the same soft mouthfeel and just the right amount of haze.
Seeing that I LOVE Galaxy hops in an IPA, I am pleased to learn of Ella hops as a genetic sister hop, and discover it in an ale where it is not crowded with a symphony of other hops. I do enjoy the well done ales that are lighter in alcohol than the typical IPA and have enjoyed Clutch APA from Redline as a perfect example of this.
Simply fine beer and I am looking forward to more in this series!
5 Across the Lips!
Next up is a beer that, for those who follow this blog know, would likely jump off the crowded shelf right into my hand. IPA really is for folks who like a frothy/hoppy punch in the mouth. Colourful and fun designs, good impact, hops sprinkled on the can as a purposeful afterthought, and a kangaroo which is considered exotic in these parts. You damn right I picked a few of these up!
Here is that second label panel I love so much with the details of what to expect in Punch in the Mouth - Australian Hopped IPA http://www.redlinebrewhouse.com/the-beers/punch-in-the-mouth/ 6.9% ABV means you are in for a ride and theoretical IBU of 55 suggests that the wet-hopping and then combo punch of dry hopping with the same hops will make this one a battle not to be taken lightly.
It does smell serious and I was looking forward to Ella dancing with the rest of the uniquely Australian hops. There was a touch of dry and a hint of malt sweetness but the lack of a dry hop made it smooth to the finish though not timid. I pictured sampling this with some friends down under, raising my eyebrows in wonder and hearing Ozzie man saying something like "Fair dinkum really gits ya in tha wallabies doesn't it?!?" Now that is a really bad impression but it shows I need to get my ass to Australia for some beer and culture.....after they overcome the latest lockdown, rationing and control measures.
'Til Next Time
Feeling a little hazy after sampling a few of these, and I have another few to review in the next chapter of my love affair with Redline Breweries. Well done mates!
#BEERSaturday!
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220 straight weeks of raising a glass with 
This week, I am inviting my old friend 
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