A #BeerSaturday Box of Fun! - The Sequel!

Here is the long-(7 days)-awaited sequel to the Box of Fun. I saved the best for last so pull up a bar stool and let me share them with you!


zekes-hops.jpg

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

Last week, we dove into a nice variety box to sample 6 new IPAs I had never tasted..which is a feat in an of itself.
https://hive.blog/beersaturday/@zekepickleman/a-beersaturday-box-of-fun We have a van, a murder and some skippity-do-dah for a nice finish of the IPA adventure in a box.

Lets tear into that strange box and see what we get.


image.png

Before we get started...


IMG_0138.jpg

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.

The first 3 ranged from Meh to I would try this again so here are the last 3 for your pleasure.


IMG_0140.jpg

Let's crack it open and finish off the fun!


image.png

Road Trip!


IMG_0176.jpg

Recently gone at the days when we would pile into Jimmy Freedom's VW Vanagon with too much beer and get loaded on the way to the cottage. If this kind of adventure had a commemorative beer, this might be it. Van Full of Weirdos CRYO Simcoe IPA from Refined Fool Brewing Co. https://www.refinedfool.com/ is a step away from the norm for sure. A Cryo(genic) IPA uses a different hop process in that they are chilled with liquid nitrogen. This separates the essential oil carrying parts of the hop from the leaves and stems for a more concentrated dose using less hops.


IMG_0177.jpg

The beer itself was not bad. Simcoe hops are rather pedestrian by themselves in my humble opinion but the cryo seemed to make them zing a little more than the simcoe beers I have had in the past. Nice and hazy, rather smooth and bold enough, I definitely didn't hate this. The fun on the label with the unique styling should catch the eye of adventurous craft beer discoverers on a busy shelf but it seems like a limited run with limited distrubution. Definitely glad I had a chance to taste it and I would buy it again for a second taste if it is available in singles.


image.png

Murderous Black IPA


IMG_0233.jpg

Murder of Crows Black IPA https://www.refinedfool.com/collections/beer/products/murder-of-crows-black-ipa leans into the theme with a 2-colour, high contrast design with a mesmerizing pattern. Black IPA has always been a contradiction in terms when you consider the P stands for Pale...which this brew is definitely not!

If you hit the link, you will see it described in part as, "This black IPA looks positively mesmerizing in the glass, with its opaque ebony hue and thick, frothy head of khaki-coloured foam. Mouth-watering aromas of dark malts, caramel and a hint of raisins and plum will lead you into temptation, while rich flavours of roasted grains and coffee grounds will most certainly seal your fate." Fairly accurate and well written if I do say so myself.


IMG_0234.jpg

Being honest, I have never met a Black IPA I was particularly thrilled about. I do like malt, and I do love hops. In a good balance, they are magical. When the malt is so much that it is black, that is not balance for my palate. The description continues, "1t’s a well-rounded, yet intensely flavourful beer that combines the best aspects of both stouts and IPAs into a single glorious (and delicious) whole—a must-try for both hopheads and malt maniacs." It definitely is a must try for both hopheads and maltheads who are searching for that holy unicorn of a black IPA that is not a mess. As it is, Hopheads I know will not like the malt at all. Maltheads will scrunch up their faces with the stronger hops and resent how it screws with the malt character and texture.

I will have to file it with the Black IPAs of past adventures, I am Glad I Tasted This and it is another notch on my riddled belt as I try and sample every beer on the planet.


image.png

Saving the Best for Last


IMG_0207.jpg

This colourful retro-jacketed brew is Rip Zip Skip New England IPA https://www.refinedfool.com/collections/beer/products/rip-zip-skip-new-england-ipa When you hit up the website, they are conservative with words and simply summarize their thoughts with "Juicy, hazy, hoppy—it's our New England IPA! And it's a good one." Short and sweet, just like the beer.


IMG_0208.jpg

If any of the beers in this variety pack deserve the moniker *Foolishly Good Beer", it would be this one. Seeing this on the shelf, it would grab my attention with the colours, and I would be forced to bring it home because of the New England words in succession alone. When you add Juicy, Hazy, Hoppy to the description, there is not a doubt in my mind as there are few of these I have not enjoyed.

It is the best of the lot and I would definitely buy this again to stack it up against the other NEIPAs I have come to enjoy regularly. I may now have a reason to visit Sarnia as it would be great to taste this one on draft, and I HAVE to ask what the significance of Rip Zip Skip is as it is lost on me. No matter, good beer.

beerologistapproved.png

#BEERSaturday!


image.png

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. It is week 178 for #beersaturday and I can't even remember when I first joined with ll those drinking session over the years. https://hive.blog/hive-187719/@detlev/beersaturday-week-178-calls-everyone-to-join-and-win 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.

text16.png


zekepicklemanbeerologist.jpg

I am honoured to curate for:

gPCasciUWmF5VZucjWuzmpXUomGMznGBossDDhhbxsv4o487wdZdsb3ASXRMf62sjs1HUwqb5DTZ2Zui3ZaiztAHSSu6S3QkVTp6wDRybhjkQBzs6LKK5dFVjUtX1HiTiYRVNg7aDm8JmQFBDq.png



Who wants to share my next Box of Fun?



0
0
0.000
21 comments
avatar

how are you friend @zekepickleman good afternoon
Without a doubt, this batch of six beers that you have bought has not disappointed any of them, I am not a lover of dark beers, however I would take it with pleasure. Congratulations on the success obtained in this purchase, the tasting and the presentation of the beers and their attributes great as usual
that you enjoy it a lot.

happy weekend

0
0
0.000
avatar

With global drinkin' buddies like you on the blockchain, it makes it so much more rewarding to enjoy beer and share the profit of my hoppy addiction for sure. Cheers.

!BEER

0
0
0.000
avatar

You are really trying to taste every beer on the planet? I like this idea. Too bad I don't like beer much, but then, I've never given beer as much attention as you do.
I thought murder of crows sounds great, if only for one sip to seal my fate. I have crows on my mind a lot these days. Is all that written on the label?

0
0
0.000
avatar

It's okay...I like beer a little too much.

Murder of Crows was pretty dark and plenty bold. Gets you right in the mond.

!BEER

0
0
0.000
avatar

Great review as always 😎🍺. That "cryogenic" IPA sounds really crazy to me 😎😎. What else will they invent?
btw: is this you here? https://beercollection.substack.com/

0
0
0.000
avatar

Great idea this fun package. Need to find something like here in Europe.

The artwork of the #hive #beer by @spirall is awesome. love to use this in our community.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I bet there are some nice packages closer to the holidays so that the designated drivers can buy their beer drinkers a nice present! I have seen Grolsch gift packs so surely you have something like that in the land of beer.

Another great idea for the blog here as well!

!BEER

0
0
0.000
avatar

Van full of weirdos haha excellent. I would kill for a Murder of crows though. I do love the dark stuff.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I do enjoy the malty dark stuff as well. Usually the malt lovers are not big on the hops like in this one but it was not bad.

!BEER

0
0
0.000