Pagan Science
Oliver Brewing Company

Welcome (back, sort of) to the CANclusion of New Oliver Beer Sunday (Week 773), which I beCAN on NBS Week 771 & did not have a ChANce to finish. Not only does this further The CANQuest (tm), but it also helps to clear a logjam from my reefer. There really is a modicum of reasoning to this ongoing madness. At long last, we are CANming into the meat & potatoes of this brewery horizontal!

From the CAN: "The Double India Pale Ale Series"; "Long live rock and roll"; "Pagan Science is a Double IPA, Bittered [sic] with Ella and Mosaic, finished with Mosaic and then generously dry hopped with over 2.5lbs per barrel of Mosaic, Citra and Cascade per batch."; "Oliver Brewing Co. has been proudly brewing craft beer in Baltimore, MD since 1993."; "Riding Easy"; "Drink Fresh. Please Refrigerate."

This is is CANother one where I've done everything right! It was part of a "Heavy Hitters" 4-pack that went right into the reefer upon its arrival at Chez Woody. I CANebrated my success by Crack!ing open the vent & beginning a slow, gentle C-Line Glug into the awaiting glass. Man, the Pagans came roaring up to form just under two fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, eggshell-white head with excellent retention. They had their colors, I had my colors & the beer's color was an oh-so-slightly-hazy Amber (SRM = > 7, < 9). They smelled like sweat, leather, oil & gasoline while I smelled like roses (as I usually do) & the beer smelled like Scoats was making a Mosaic!

Dig this, man, Mosaic is a Southern Hemisphere hop that gives everything the kind of tropical fruitiness that takes me back to Subic Bay, Olongapo, P.I. in 1987 when I used to have a steady honey-honey who I would routinely give the action in a hammock on the dance floor in full view of everyone. As my "going-away" present, she & mama-san made an outfit out of fresh fruit, ala Carmen Miranda! 8=O I still smell & taste that night with Mosaic.

It wasn't full-on Mosaic, though. It had a pine-y dankness that is the new real deal, yo. Blend in some PNW hops with that Southern Hemisphere action, shake, stir, do whatever it takes, step back & enjoy.

Inna meantime, the Pagans were really on me, man. I explained that while I may be of the life, I am not in the life. I am the sincerest form of flattery, embodied, dig? I speak the lingo, I dig the rides, I'm wowed by the chicks, but I don't ride. I CAN't be affiliated if I don't ride. Mark me down as a "Nomad Wannabe" & leave me the f**k alone!

Mouthfeel was like the motor oil that they poured down my hatch in response. 8=( Man, this fuel lit off on my tongue & in my mouth like the rocket booster on a jet doing a carrier deck takeoff! JP-5? Felt like it, dig? Man, what a riot of flavor, ranging from sweet tropical fruit to knuckle-dragging, teeth-busting pine & grapefruit, much like what this chain gang was going to yours truly! S**t, if I'd ah known I was getting this kinda CANpony, I'd answered the door with a shotgun!

Okay, time's up, lads! Ye've had yers, now lemme get mine! My pals, the Marines, are Department of the Navy & they taught me early on, elevate, boy-o. You bring fists, I bring a knife. You bring a knife, I bring a gun. You bring a gun, I bring a bigger gun. Where does it end? My CANnon! 8=)

Now that the Unwelcome mat has been established on my porch, let's finish this beer!

Man, this was one smooth character! Pagan Science?!? This was a sneaky Pete! This was a cudgel slipped outta a pocket & applied to the fontanelle. This was literally the proverbial iron fist encased in velvet. This was the K.O. punch as a R-hook thrown by a southpaw to an unsuspecting moron.

I laid on the CANvas, reassessing my priorities in life as the ref counted me dahn & aht to a chorus of boos & cheers. F**k. I had established myself as "Billy Bad-A**" & a c**ksman of some renown as well as a proven winner at "Philippine Roulette" - an eating & drinking game involving a Lazy Susan laden with local "delicacies", mojo & Sammy GooGoo. You heard of a "glass jaw"? The Marines had glass stomachs! Between food, fisticuffs & f**king (in public), I pulled outta there a rich M-Fer!

Back to the beer. Man, this just smoldered in my mouth & in my throat! This was no playin' around time, kids! My eyes watered, although it did not bring me to tears. Phew! JMJ on a Sunday. Man, this was no playin' around to the point that I was back on my heels! Bring on the dancing girls! Let's do this again, real soon!

 

 

Slightly hazy golden-orange, not much head, no real retention or lace
Dank, muscadine grape, grapefruit, orange aromas
Heavy on the muscadine flavorwise, nice bitter finish, though
Mouthfeel is right where I like it for a DIPA, medium body, not sticky, med-low carbonation, clean finish, not hot.
Ehh, good enoguh

 

 

I ran across this beer accidentally and bought it because of the art on the can. I was pleasantly surprised opening it , pouring it into a glass. Nice golden in color with a white head building. The aroma of citrus invited for the firs, very refreshing sip. A very balanced hoppy feel of an imperial complimented the fruit flavor. Nice and smooth, but with the characteristic feel of an imperial, and most important, very drinkable!!