Is there a better way to finish off the most laid back, sizzling months of the year than sampling the hoppiest of beers from local breweries? I couldn't tell you- because that's precisely what my friend Conor and I did to ring in the new school year, at the Hops and Flops Beer Festival.
To be honest, I felt like kind of a dingus walking into the courtyard at Daredevil Brewing Co.This many options of sophisitcated beer was intimidating to my college-party-beer palatte. Thankfully, most people had started sipping before I arrived so my less-than-cultured questions didn't seem quite so dumb.
As a member of the latter community, I really appreciated the descriptions and suggestions made by brewers. I ditched my brew-savvy friend to chat with them for a few minutes and came back with some impressive new adjectives like floral, clean, citrus-y, earthy, and of course, hoppy. Boom, educated.
Thanks Triton Tap, for helping a sister out.
So we talked and sampled and learned a lot! Some of my favorites were the Blueberry Mead from New Day Meadery and the House beer from Central State Brewing, which they mixed with Rosé. Ok, I like pink beer. So sue me.
My main request (as the NUVO NightCrawler) was for people to describe to me their perfect beer. I got a wide range of responses, but a few in particular blew my mind.
Wild fermented, wonderfully balanced, a hint of magic, and well considered. | It needs to have a floral smell like the interior of 'Watts Blooming' on Mass Ave and a complex body that hits the front and back of the palate how I like it with a crisp, clean finish. |
Shoot, bro. Sheer poetry. But I'm not quite on that level... Maybe I need to come to a few more of these.