Cosmic Farmer
Clown Shoes

I'm working with an old can from September 2017, so it's tough to distinguish what's an age issue and what's simply odd due to the self-proclaimed "red wheat IPA" style. In any case, this is what I've got: a cloudy brown-amber with noticeably lighter suspended sediment, despite a careful pour. More viscous than expected, with a finger of head and moderate retained lacing. Strong malt and wheat on the nose and palate push heavily in the English direction. I'd be interested in trying it fresh and will update accordingly with a fairer score if that ever happens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours into an imperial nonic a deep copper/bronze with a craterous thick slight off white mass atop.Pine resin stands out most in the nose with a light toasted element as well.More fruitiness imparted from the hops on the palate,get some tropical-like mango and some tangerine,the pine is there as well but more subtle.A bit of nuttiness underneath the hops with a lightly sweet biscuit note as well.A pretty well rounded palate,seems lighter than what it is to me.

 

 

 

22oz bottle from IAmJacksHopTongue (thanks for feeding my need for MI-only Clown Shoes!). Bottled 8/4/15. Served in a Clown Shoes snifter.

Pours a deep rose gold with about a finger and a half of dirty sand hued head. The froth takes its time settling to a thin layer with a healthy collar that laces quite well.

Smells of pine, citrus rind, peach, and a subtle dull bready sweetness. Lots of unspecified fruit notes with a definite malt backing.

Initially I thought Cosmic Farmer tastes similar to Galactica but as it warms the difference in malt structure become apparent. Orange peel, berries, melon rind, sugared wheat toast, lemon, vaguely spicy grain, pine and a little black pepper. A through line of citrus and spice remains but the specific fruity hop flavor notes seem to vary with each sip. Goes down easy with no overt alcohol.

Smooth, medium body with lively carbonation. A blend of citrus, wheat, berries, pine and pepper make for an interesting aftertaste.

Clown Shoes have put together another interesting IPA with Cosmic Farmer. Between this, Space Cake, Galactica, Lemon Drop, Hoppy Feet and Photosphere Phil I think Clown Shoes could put out a mean mixed IPA pack!

 

 

I picked a bottle of Clown Shoes Cosmic Farmer last week for $6.99 at The Lager Mill. I love it when Clown Shoes makes a Michigan only beer, so of course I'm going to give it a try, lets see how it goes. 2015 Vintage. Poured from a brown 22 bottle into a teku.

A- The label looks good, it's got a nice design to it and it's eye catching. It poured a crimson amber color that takes more of a red and ruby color when held to the light with a finger and half worth of creamy slightly tan head that died down to a thick bubbly ring that stayed till the end and it left some patchy lacing behind. This is a good looking beer, I have no complaints.

S- The aroma starts off with a slightly higher amount of medium sweetness with the hops being the first to show up and they impart some big fruit flavors with some nice pineapple and mango like aromas with some floral aromas showing up in the background. Up next comes the malts which impart some slight toasted malt aromas with some caramel and wheat aroma also showing up. This beer has a pretty nice aroma, the malt base works well with the hop profile.

T- The taste seems to be similar to the aroma and it starts off with a slightly higher amount of medium sweetness with the hops still being the first to show up and they impart the same aspects that they did in the aroma, but this time they are just a little lighter. Up next comes the malts which are also a little lighter than they were in the aroma, but they still impart those same nice malty aspects. On the finish there's a medium amount of bitterness that lingers just for a little bit and there's a hoppy flavors showing up in the aftertaste. This is a good tasting beer, the balance is good and the hops work well with the malts.

M- Smooth, just a little crisp, slightly creamy, on the thicker side of being medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. The mouthfeel is good and it works well with this beer.

Overall I thought this was a good beer and good example of the style, to me the red wheat impart more a flavor that was like a mixture of caramel malts and wheat, I liked it and I thought it fit in nicely with this beer. This beer has good drinkability, I had no problem drinking the full bottle and I think two glasses is a good amount for me. What I like the most about this beer is the balance and how well the hops and malts work well together. What I like the least was the aroma, it's not bad, but I wish the hops were just a little brighter. I would for sure buy this beer again and it would be nice to see Clown Shoes bring this one back for next year. I recommend trying this beer, it's just a good beer and it's unique in it's own right. All in all I was happy with this beer, I liked the idea behind this beer and I can tell it was executed very well. so far they are two for two on these Michigan only releases. It's not a favorite Clown Shoes beer, but it is one of the better Wheat IPA's I've had. Good job guys, this is one tasty beer, keep it up.

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 8/4/2015. Pours slightly hazy deep reddish copper color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense off white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass. Aromas of big grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, mango, peach, lemon zest, orange peel, citrus rind, light pine, honey, brown sugar, wheat, toasted bread, and floral/grassy earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of juicy citrus/tropical hops and moderate dark/bready malt sweetness; with good strength. Taste of big grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, mango, peach, lemon zest, orange peel, citrus rind, light pine, honey, brown sugar, wheat, toasted bread, and floral/grassy earthiness. Fair amount of pine/grassy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, mango, peach, lemon/orange peel, light pine, honey, brown sugar, and floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice robustness, complexity, and balance of juicy citrus/tropical hops and moderate dark/bready malt sweetness; with a great malt/bitterness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth and moderately creamy/sticky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a very nice wheat IPA. All around good robustness, balance, and complexity of juicy citrus/tropical hops and moderate dark/bready malt sweetness; and very smooth and easy to drink for the ABV. A very enjoyable offering.