Beer 323/365 – Flying Monkeys Hoptical Illusion

Style: American Pale Ale

ABV: 5.2%

Purchased at: Roommate Dave brought it back from Canada on a road-trip.

What makes this beer different: Lots of flavor for an APA

Will I be drinking this again: I would if it were available in the states!

Grade: B+

9/27/2010: Canada… forever America’s top hat. I keed I keed. My roommate recently went on a business trip through the great white north, and of course I had him stop and grab me some brew that I can’t get in the states. Apparently Canada doesn’t have a big selection at thier 6 pack shops like do in the US, but he still got me a nice variety.

The nose of Hoptical Illusion (awesome name by the way) is mostly bready, with some fruity hops. The flavor has a great balance of malt/hops; Pale and bready malts, with some citrus (almost apricot like) and floral hops. Very crisp for the style. Average carbonation and mouthfeel, with a lot of carbonation. Also a bit creamy for the style. Good job on this one Canadia!

Picture of the day: Very witty and appropro (sp?) baseball illustration.

Beer 258/365 – Troeg’s Pale Ale

Style: American Pale Ale

ABV: 5.4%

Purchased at: Vecenie Beer – Millvale, PA

What makes this beer different: Very very bitter for a Pale Ale

Will I be drinking this again: Probably not, too bitter.

Grade: B-

7/24/2010: I drank this beer at a Pirates tailgate. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a die hard Pittsburgh sports fan, but I have all but given up on the Pirates. Actually I have been trying to avoid going to games completely as if me not going is really going to put a hurting on ownership’s pockets. The only reason I went to this game was because Steve Miller was playing a free concert afterward. But onto the tailgate, it was 97 degrees, and we were sitting on a black asphalt parking lot. I’m not exaggerating when I say this was by far the hottest I have ever ever been in my life. I just sat in my chair and didn’t move.

Usually I email myself notes on a beer through my blackberry as I’m drinking it, but it was way to hot for me to even move on this day. Therefore everything I am about to type is purely from memory. I can’t tell you what this beer smelled like because the air was so thick that nothing would penetrate the humidity. The flavor though was full of VERY bitter hops, with some pale malt in the background. It was well carbonated and relatively light which saved this beer a bit for me. Maybe I was just miserable from the heat, but this beer just didn’t do it for me.

Picture of the day: I see what you did there… also over here.

Beer 210/365 – Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale

Style: American Pale Ale

ABV: 5.8%

Purchased at: Parents brought it back from Florida for me.

What makes this beer different: A bit malty for a pale ale, but thats right up my alley.

Will I be drinking this again: Not available near me so based on that fact alone probably not.

Grade: B+

6/6/2010: Another below average quality photo, sorry about that! In my defense though, I was drinking heavily for most of my vacation. So the fuzziness of the picture is about on par with how things looked through my eyes at this point.

Fire Rock smells very hoppy for a pale ale, but the taste doesn’t make you think that. The taste is very sweet with a good bit of caramel malt. The hops are there but they definitely take a back seat to the malt. Mouthfeel is about average, and carbonation is a bit low, which was a big knock on this beer.

Picture of the day: How to piss of a hipster.

Beer 196/365 – Half Acre Daisy Cutter Pale Ale

Style: American Pale Ale

ABV: 5.2%

Purchased at: Sent as an extra in a trade.

What makes this beer different: Very floral/citrusy for an APA

Will I be drinking this again: If they sold it around the burgh, I would say yes.

Grade: A

5/23/2010: This might be one of my favorite pictures so far, the colors turned out awesome. I think I might be trading a bit too much lately for my own good. I am starting to lose track of who sends me what. But if you are the person who sent this to me as an extra, and you are reading this, thanks!

I think there was a lot of truth in advertising with this beer. You get the general idea about the smell and taste from the label; floral hops and grassy. This almost drinks like an IPA, as it is pretty damn hoppy. The hops are crisp and clean, mostly floral, a good bit of citrus, and a nice malt base for it all to rest on. A little bit bubbly but I was drinking this on an 85 degree day, so the carbonation was nice. Overall this beer is just very well put together, and a great great summer beer.

Picture of the day: The new official BP Logo.