Clown Convention
Bloomington Brewing Company

Had Clown Convention IPA poured from pint can, bottom stamped "CANNED ON 01/28/25," but bought on 11/15/2025 at Lennie's, Bloomington, Ind., which hosts the Bloomington Brewing tap room, into nonic pint.

Pours slightly cloudy, but the cloudiness clears up, and a bit orange but mostly deep gold, with 1-finger, creamy off-white head, with good retention, leaving thick rings of lace etched down the glass. Aromas of fresh grapefruit and biting lime off the pour, and also of a little coconut, sweet stone fruit, hop spice and florals, with the lime aroma continuing and hop spice growing, joined by sweet orange, tart peach, sweet pineapple and mild strawberry aromas as warms. On tasting, begins sweet orange with an immediate piney bite, which give way to coconut and sweet lime over a smooth malt body, with tart stone fruit and sweet pineapple interrupting, before a drying, biting lime, even piney but not too bitter finish.

There is, not surprisingly for the hop bill, a lot happening with this beer, which is nevertheless a functional, almost coherent, mostly fruity experience with a nicely crisp finish. If the taproom did sell a 4-pack over nine months old, I'd really like to try this fresh.

 

An amber hued, hoppy aroma a heavy mouthfeel more akin to wine. poured from 16 oz can into a pint glass. Tastes like a generic ipa leaning dank, with some pine, grapefruit notes. Has an unfiltered haze and heaviness.