What Beer Are You Drinking Now? #4952

I mixed up the brewery previously as it's Swedesboro Brewing Company, not Raccoon Brewing. I was thinking of their Raccoon IPA.

Harker's Glory is delicious! No best-by or birth date, but it should be very fresh.

Macro up close and frothy!


Yes, we CAN enjoy this easily!

 

1) Hop Butcher Arid Grit (8.0% canned 4/7/26): A NEIPA from Chicago with NZ Cascade, Mosaic, Riwaka, Rakau Nelson Hop Juice for flavors of tropical white grape, juicy pineapple, berries.
versus
2) BlackStack Estate Sale (8.2% 3/11/26): A NEIPA from Minnesota with Comet, Centennial and Deep Cut Cascade for flavors of orange, pineapple, peach, pineapple, berries, mango skins. (Correctly matched the two blind)

Hop Butcher versus BlackStack IPA Battle featuring some NZ Cascade. First is Hop Butcher Arid Grit. My first try at this. NZ Cascade plus some more New Zealands hops and Nelson juice, whatever that is. Flavors of orange, tropical white grape, juicy pineapple, and berries. Juicy, tropical, and amazing complexity.
Next is BlackStack Estate Sale. Similar, but sweeter and shows the alcohol more. It's not aging well.
Hop Butcher just keeps putting out some great hop juice and somehow I know get regular Hop Butcher distribution. Those words bring me tears of joy that I never thought would happen.
Winner: Hop Butcher Arid Grit

 

Thank you, sirs!

 

And of course Hoppy BEERTHDAY!

 

Thanks, Giovanni!

 

Happy Hour at one of the better cocktail bars in town...or really anywhere (yeah I said it...)

Anvil Bar & Refuge...

But starting with a classic Saint Arnold Amber, as I also start Elizabeth Strout's new novel...one of the best living writers...

 

SN Pale Ale
Cheers

 

Another Saint Arnold Amber from Anvil...and a simple, but really good pastrami sandwich.



I can't be at one of the best cocktail bars during happy hour and not get a happy hour cocktail ha.

The Byrrh Cocktail (pronounced Beer ha). It is byrrh quinquina, Its like a wine based tonic with over proof rye..oh this is interesting.



Back home...maybe some reading out in the courtyard with book and pupper...not sure what the libation will be...either beer or some kind of whiskey. Will see

 

Setting up camp for the night… drinking a beer I got at the brewery today - Big Grove Brewing’ “Arms Race” pale ale:



Malt forward and mildly bitter. Sunny cool 60s evening. Looking forward to just hanging out. Cheers from Iowa City y’all!

 

Cold Rush by Great Lakes. New to me. A light lager. Cheers.

 

BIG shout out to @CarolinaCardinals, this is one finely brewed Pilsner!!



Glen was really underrated as a guitar player. Not everyone's style of music but the technical ability here is off the charts. Guitar nerd time:



!!

 

A Pilsner? Jeff, are you OK?

 

Several of us have given up on Postimages and started using Freeimage.host - much better, and not indundated with ads and popups.

freeimage.host

 

Focal Banger ...

 

Dragon Point IPA named after a local landmark, a bizarre huge metal dragon built at the southern tip of Merritt Island by someone with some screws loose. Agree with @jjamadorphd that this is the best IPA in our local market(but that’s a low bar), anyway….Cheers!!

 

OJ Run ~ Narrow Gauge


I Found That Essence Rare ~ Gang Of Four

 

Got a ton done at work today. Time to celebrate.

 

Shameless self promotion for my nephew Jack...he is playing in his little league baseball game today. Starting soon at 5:45. He is the lead off hitter and it is being broadcast on Champaign/Urbana, IL WDWS Radio station...which is a big deal for him ha.

https://www.news-gazette.com/wdws/

Just click listen live