It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of stouts and porters. In fact, I’m pretty sure I profess my love for them every third or fourth post here at The Barley Blog. I can open one up and thoroughly enjoy the dark frothy goodness regardless of the setting, weather or time of day — even after mowing the yard, sitting on the back deck in 90 plus degree Virginia humidity. But, and it breaks my heart to say this, stouts aren’t everything.
That brief disclaimer aside, the Summer for my wife and myself is all about IPAs. Hopstoopid, Hop Wallop, 90 Minute, Hopslam… You get the picture.
The hoppier and more crisp it is with that tell tale biting finish is what the Summer heat calls for. Sure one can only take so many IBUs consistently so we break up the flow of hops with browns and lagers and what not, but the IPA is the ubiquitous hot weather brew.
Narrowing it down to a single brew to designate as a favorite is tough. I can tell you that I have been drinking the hell out of some 21st Amendment’s Brew Free or Die IPA. There’s just something about pulling a cold can out of the fridge, forgoing the glass and pulling in that sweet nectar of the gods. I know I should be pouring it into a pint glass in the least, but a cold aluminum can full of quality craft beer is just too much to for my heat swelled melon to handle.
So, I guess, to sum up my first Session contribution is far too long, I am proclaiming my lover for a canned beer — a finely tuned, hand crafted IPA of the highest order mind you, just in can form.
Damn, now I’m thirsty.
