Thursday, August 22, 2013

Columbus Brewing Company IPA





So, a couple things I must note before reviewing this. We apologize for the lack of activity on the blog this month. It's nothing against you readers, it's not that we've ran out of beer (in fact there's still 10-12 that we have on hand right now to review), and it's not that we've lost the drive. There has just been a lot going on in our personal lives that had to take precedence over beer reviews. The other thing I must mention before the review is this is a non-normal review, due to the simple fact that this was supposed to be a 12 ounce brew per person for review, well, that didn't happen as one was frozen and although a beer slushy review would be unique, it won't come out of the bottle.

That being said, this is our first Columbus Brewing Company brew that we've reviewed. Slightly bizarre that it's brewed here in town, but such is life. There's a long history with Columbus Brewing Company. From research we're doing independently about the history of Columbus and Central Ohio's multitude of breweries throughout history, we ran across Columbus Brewing Company. Founded in 1830 and existed until 1904 when they merged with other breweries to form the Columbus Associated Brewers Co. 1919 is when that folded, when the bat shit crazy notion of Prohibition hit Ohio (one year before it was nationwide with the 18th Amendment of the Constitution).  In 1988 Cameron Mitchell Restaurants opened The Columbus Brewing Company, making it part of his ever growing dynasty of restaurants. In 2011, Brew Master Eric Bean purchased the brewery portion of it, and has done amazing things. They had the Hop Odyssey brews a couple years back, a different hop oriented brew per month with special releases. One gained so much popularity, Bodhi, that it is now available year round in draft-only.

So enough of the history. You're here for the beer, not the jibber jabber. Anyways, this is left over from our friends' wedding ceremony. Congrats again to my Brother-from-another-mother and his lovely wife. This post is dedicated to them (along with artwork of ours).

This pours a gorgeous clear amber with small amount of white head that dissipates quickly. The aroma on this is fantastic. Piney, grapefruity, some earthy and lighter malty tones. This aroma is what I look for in an IPA. This is why it's a 94 at beeradvocate and 97 rating at ratebeer. Well, maybe that and the flavor. Pine, citrus, grapefruit BLAST as soon as you take a sip. There's then an herbal and earthiness that combines with the biscuit tones of the malt to make it an IPA lovers' beer. Hopsus be Praised, I've been craving an IPA like this all day. There's some resin left on the backend that lets you know this beer was here. It rocked your mouth, much like Brian Setzer and the Stray Cats rocked this town inside out. This is a lighter bodied beer that drinks much like.... damn.... I want to insert a 'your mom' joke there, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate.

4.5/5 caps as I get crop-dusted by the cat

-Nathan-

Well, now, that was a history lesson! And Nathan, Jess, at least, prefers to be called partners (or better yet, partners-in-crime), not husband-and-wife. But definite congratulations again to both of you. They're quite a lovely pair, much like this would pair with a wonderful aged cheddar. Or some nice vegan curried chickpeas, since said female partner-in-crime is vegan.

Since my portion has warmed quite a bit since pouring, I find a lot more pine in the nose than grapefruit. Actually, I really have nothing to add or contrast with Nathan's description, because it was so accurate. Right down to the Brian Setzer reference.

Also, I kinda want to flip off Carrie Nation. Just for Prohibition. I mean, really, Westerville (Ohio) has only not become dry within the last five years. Prohibition ended eighty years ago! Way to stay current, you. 

4.7/5 caps -- because I wasn't drinking this while getting cropdusted

-Jennie

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