Crux in WA

Well that's a bit of good news.

 

Nice! Didn't realize Mosaic was being bottled.

 

Sweet.

 

Very Nice. The return leg of my Portland trips now have become a little lighter.

 

Sweet! I definitely love the Mosaic and the Doublecross!

 

I love your avatar. That chic has an amazing rack.

 

I thought the same thing. Two of my favorite things going on in that picture.

I like geography too. Been forever trying to figure out what maps are in the background.

 

Left and right?

 

Breasts aside, I have a few beer related questions. ;-)

Is the "Half Hitch" Mosaic the same one listed on BA?

I've had doublecross - but this Barrel Version is different, correct? Anyone had it? I thought doublecross was fine, but nothing I'd seek out again.

And though it doesn't say barrel aged in the name of the listed beer, the Freakcake description on BA says it is barrel aged. Is there a barrel aged and a non-barrel aged version of the Freakcase, or only the barrel aged?

From what I can tell, Crux is using the word "banished" to describe their barrel aged beers rather than calling them barrel aged. I like that they're trying to avoid doing the same type of naming / branding as everyone else ... but it also seems to lead to confusion.

 

Tough Love, Barrel-Aged Doublecross and Freakcake are all Banished beers. They're all barrel-aged. BA Doublecross and Freakcake bottles were released yesterday at the brewery.

The Mosaic IIPA just got the name Half Hitch for bottling. Same beer.

 

I was just there, btw. A dude behind the counter told me they were only getting kegs and had no bottles. It was also super busy with Santa being there and all, so he might just have been twitterpated.

I'm mad at myself for leaving without pursuing it further, because I'd really like some BA Doublecross.

 

Bottleworks got bottles.

I think I'll wait and have family pick me up bottles when they go visit the Crux Co. for New Year's.

 

Picked up 4 bottles today:

Half Hitch IIPA: Meh - Nice nose but the flavor fell off quickly without much of a hop punch compared to other PNW IIPAs.
Freakcake: Subtle tartness followed by huge breadiness - Not worth anywhere near $18
Doublecross
Tough Love

I don't have a lot of faith in the other two after the disappointments I've already tried. Great labels but I don't get the beer so far, especially at the price points for the Banished series.

 

$18?!? Tough Love was $12 back when it was released at the brewery...

 

Tough Love was still $12. Freakcake and Doublecross were $18

 

No spiciness? No zesty fruit? No warm barrel character underneath it all? That sounds very different from the beer I enjoyed so much at the Holiday Ale Fest. And not the good kind of different.

 

I've noticed some big variations between bottled and tap Crux beers in the past.

 

They just released a barrel-aged Doublecross. Same size as Tough Love.