Other Half (2021)

Anybody know if the ACE at centre is Gowanus brewed?

 

Went to the Women’s Forum / Brave Noise release last night - awesome OH is involved and it was great to hear what the initiative meant to Katie and the team. First Women’s Forum I’ve been to and would definitely recommend - believe next one is around Pastrytown

Both the Brave Noise beers were solid, got some real fruity funk on the nose and swallow from the brett version

I hadn’t had any non-IPAs from FLX yet - thought Even If You Didn’t was good (would have liked it a bit more refreshing) but wow I really liked Cabernet Franc. Nose was a great mix of tart and funk, fruit notes from the lees came through wonderfully, acidity was well balanced. I will not sleep on the next mixed culture brew they put out - well done Katie!

 

It’s up on their site for ordering curbside along with 2-yr BA gravity gumbo.

 

Cracked a TDH Space Ghost, feeling a bit meh about it. The nose is very nice, a proper mix of rich/bordering on overripe fruit (mango/peach/pineapple papaya) with a slight bit of bitterness toward the back

The flavor is a bit of a letdown - given the amped up nature of the nose, would say it's a little muted overall and the (rather great) fruit character I get at first doesn't really build to much. There's a notable bitterness (more vegetal than intentional) toward the middle that carries through the finish - not sure if this is the galaxy issues coming into play or what, but it's a departure from the start of the swallow (and what the nose suggests). Before that bitterness sets in there's a nice balanced sweetness that doesn't reach TIPA status - not getting a noticeable boozy note from the abv

On the appearance front, the lacing is wonderful

I'm not regretting the cans, and I'll probably try it on tap if it hangs around to compare, but just in case folks are curious - cheers and happy Friday!

 

Stopped by Domino Park after work to pick up my 4-packs of TDH Space Ghost. They had regular Parish-brewed Ghost in the Machine on tap along with a new Nelson brew they claim is dry hopped to the same degree as DDH Ghost in the Machine (a grail beer for me, never tried). Had pours of both, both were solid but nothing to write home about. Ghost in particular was very green/hop burn-y. Will report back what I think about the OH/Parish collab.

 

GITM tasted off to me. Didn't look or taste like what I remember it being. Partially convinced I was given the wrong beer...

 

Both times I had GITM I didn’t think it was great. First time was a 6-7 month old bottle so I figured it was just the packaging, but I had the DDH at Green City and it was basically the same. Still wanna give it another shot but as of yet I don’t get the hype.

 

People in an OH thread saying they don't get the hype behind a beer like GITM is like people in a pre-covid Eleven Madison forum saying they don't get the hype behind [insert out of state three star restaurant here].

 

I mean NEIPAs are on some level, NEIPAs right? Early on when few places made them, GITM or ACE or Julius were a big deal and hyped. Now, questions about expansion and brewing changes aside, I no longer think it's worth my money or effort to buy or seek out NEIPAs from outside my region (unless I'm driving thru etc, like hitting up TH on the way to Portland). Fresh, well made, local-ish stuff is really good (I include NYC brewers in this). I don't need Welderwerks' or Great Notion's or even toppling Goliath 3 week old DDH hype can/ bottle. In context the DDH King Sue I had months ago, 2 weeks old, was good. Was it as good as I hyped it up to be in my mind? Nope. But honestly I bet if I had a time machine I wouldn't think as much of the 4th anniversary OH (BATCH 1) as I did at the time.
Also on the plus side I'm not tempted by beer fests with delta around and a tot at home, because I'm not worked up about trying a bunch of IPAs. (That doesn't mean there's no A plus stuff ever brewed, at least if you read about JJJUICE MACHINE in the treehouse thread or TDH ACE).
Of course scarcity and small batches still seem to do well (see: Troon, Fidens, Root and Branch... which are all high quality but aren't revolutionary).

 

EMP's switch to an all vegan menu is akin to Demiurge batch 2.

 

TDH Space Ghost is a must buy. Gorgeous nose and hops galore without being too sweet. I love this.

 

The finance bro private meat dinner is still available till the end of this year, for all the Patagucci types

 

considering the well documented global lamenting of all recent galaxy beers, I'd say this is one of the better ones of late. and yes, that vegetal bitterness is probably from that, but I'll take it as its not taking away from the other aspects of this particular offering that I'm digging. Also, full disclosure... my loving this beer could also be influenced by the fact that I'm on BA while the Rangers came back from 2-0 in the 3rd period to win 3-2. LGR!!

 

from the taps yesterday: tdh space ghost was green and burny, but great complexity and body, so i'm gonna sit on the cans for a week or two. brave noise mixed ferm was on some dry brett funky orval shit, could be nice to age for a while. the pale has that grassy fertilizery end note i get from many roc offerings that prevents it from being a total easy drinker

from the take home: the two DC anniversary specials (imperial ipa and all 1st everything stout) are exemplary, snap those up

 

Took the plunge and cracked a can. TDH Space Ghost is among the best IPAs I've had in 2021, rivaling some of the Fidens and Root + Branch mega-hype beers I've had.

Really great peppery Galaxy character--no burnt/diesel-y flavors whatsoever--and of the other hops in the mix I'd say Mosaic is the most pronounced. Very little funky NZ hop character if I'm being honest, so basically imagine the best batch of DDH Mosaic + Galaxy you've ever tried. This is that beer.

And unlike some of the other recent "TDH" offerings, this one actually tastes triple dry-hopped--just a smack in the face with bright juicy hops. There's a touch of green hop burn but it's a TDH IPA, after all. You kinda know what you're signing up for lol.

 

Well, I hope this my experience with cans 2-4

 

Had TDH Space Ghost on tap and it was far too green - lots of hop burn.

 

Tdh ghost shaping up to be “the dress” of 2021 releases

 

I had Ghost in the Machine on tap and that definitely tasted green, Space Ghost is good but honestly kinda muted for being TDH.

 

So now that I've had it myself, to split thr uprights, I think it is mildly green, but it is TDH (whatever that practically means, NERDS!). I think a week might do it good, but the aroma is top notch, so I think under 2 weeks is prime ultimately, before the aroma dies down. But I didn't detect the earthy galaxy nonsense so I'll take it. It's not a super sweet smooth triple though. I think if you look at it as a TDH DIPA you're solid. It's not really a triple to my taste. But I hate triples, so good for me.
Buy but don't kill yourself to get, or cry into a pillow if you don't get to have it.