Tramp Stamp

Tramp Stamp is a Belgian-style IPA from Clown Shoes which brews out of Ipswich Massachusetts.  In recent months I started noticing bottles from Clown Shoes on the shelves of the shops I frequent.  Clown Shoes is not an expensive beer and having a variety available is a good thing as I’ve now had about four or five different beers from them and I don’t have a bad thing to say about what I’ve tasted.  Sometime last year  I reviewed Hoppy Feet 1.5, a Double Black IPA I got in a trade and was released to commemorate their One Year Anniversary.  I gave Hoppy Feet 1.5, Five out of Five Beer Caps as I really loved the beer; check out the post here.  I think of Clown Shoes as a fun brewery especially with the clever names they come up for their beers like Muffin Top, Chocolate Sombrero, and Tramp Stamp.

The aroma of this beer is a mix of orange peel and ripe peaches, very summerlike and refreshing and with the biscuit and yeast funk present, it stays true to it’s Belgian roots.  Much of what is in the aroma can be tasted, like the orange peel and peaches with a hop bitterness up front and just enough malt to round the sip.  This beer is really delicious, it has the body of a wheat ale and is extremely refreshing.  Tramp Stamp has a bubbly tangy mouthfeel from the carbonation and you’ll get a smooth bitter finish after it washes down.  I enjoyed drinking this beer and it’s too bad it comes in a four pack instead of six.  These cute four packs really drive me nuts and it’s become a standard of so many breweries; just make a six pack and make me pay for six bottles, cut the cute packaging.  I know I can’t be the only one who’s had this thought right? 

Tramp Stamp is good, refreshing, and has great flavors, I recommend you pick some up before you head out back to start grilling this weekend.  Three out of Five Beer Caps for the Tramp!

Throw one back for me ~ cheers!

 

Furious IPA

The love affair I’ve had for years with IPA’s continues and today I’m reviewing yet another. I drink all sorts of styles, but I can’t seem to get away from IPA’s. When I get to the bar, an IPA is what I look for on a tap list and even look for them when I go beer shopping, it really is a favorite style of mine. Years ago, when I first got into this craft beer thing, I received a package from Michigan that my bud Steve sent me and it contained a few bottles of Hopslam by Bell’s Brewing. Even though Hopslam is a Double IPA, it was very drinkable for my novice palate and made me realize how beer can be complex and have great flavor like you’ve never experienced during your yellow piss water days.  Here’s the reason for all the talk about my love for IPA’s in case you haven’t figured it out by the title or pictures, I’m reviewing Furious IPA by Surly Brewing.

Surly Brewing is one of many breweries that can their beer and in recent years, some of the newer breweries are opting for this method to store their suds; this is a great idea I approve of simply for the recycling factor.  Furious IPA is an American style IPA with an aroma of hops, malt, citrus and surprisingly alcohol, surprising because it comes in only at 6.2% ABV; aroma unmistakably of an IPA. Furious pours a nice dark copper color and has a medium body with medium carbonation. You’ll experience a smooth and delicious flavor for this non-aggressive IPA, but still very hop forward and bitter. The malt in this IPA nicely rounds the sip with those sweet toasted notes and will have a dry citric finish.

In the past few months I’ve had the ability to purchase beers from Surly Brewing, sadly it doesn’t ship to California, but luckily a local spot has the hook up for their beers.  I’ve had a chance to drink Bitter Brewer, Bender, Coffee Bender, Overrated West Coast IPA, and Furious IPA, a few from their line-up and based on what I’ve had so far, Surly Brewing makes great tasting beers.  I wish I’d bought more of the Furious IPA as this one is up there with the rest of the Four Beer Cap IPA’s I’ve had; pick one up or any of the ones I mentioned above.

Throw one back for me ~ cheers!