The last time I was at BevMo they were having a small Firestone tasting, in the back near the bathroom. Talk about happenstance, I was just talking about Firestone to my husband. My friend Sherm, a chef at a Gatro-Pub in Philly, introduced me to Firestone beer on a trip she made out west. Tasting the Firestone made me fondly remember our time lounging and grilling in the backyard during Shermy's visit. The tasting also got me in a beer state of mind. Afterwards, I wheeled about the store, filling my basket with beers from several states, excited to try something new and get my malt and hops on.
Mojo's particular description just flat out slapped a smile on my face, knowing that some brew peeps in Boulder Colorado were at it, unknowingly, on my behalf, making interesting beer that allegedly would be a citrus dream. And Mojo, my drinking friends, is indeed a citrus-lover's dream. Apparently, the Amarillo hops gives the beer its citrus character. I won't talk about how many fingers of head it has, because, well, I just don't think my mom would approve of such talk.
This beer is somehow summer and fall in a bottle, perfect for a fast-approaching California Halloween. It is creamy and floral and bitter and screams, charmingly, of grapefruit peel. Several other flavors show up, like pine, that make this beer simultaneously interesting and easy drinking.
Delicious people. truly delicious.
Get this beer for Halloween, don't be scared.
American IPA
7.2%
A little history, because that's just fun...
IPA was born out of necessity. When the British were colonizing India, the beers they sent down to their troops kept spoiling during the long sea voyage. With an extra healthy dose of hops and alcohol (40-65 IBU and 5% -7.5% ABV respectively), both having great preservative value, their problems were solved, and the world had another distinctive beer style.
CHEERS!
