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    Hop Gun

    December 1, 2010
    / Beer Review /
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    Name – Hop Gun
    Country – United States
    Type – American IPA

    A couple weeks ago I put up my first review for a Funky Buddha beer made right here in Palm Beach County.  Now this week I have yet another for you.  Thanks to my girlfriend Melinda she brought over a growler of Funky Buddha’s IPA, Hop Gun.

    Might I say that the names they come up with for a lot of their beers are absolutely awesome.  Couple that with sometime hilarious descriptions and you have a brewery that takes their brewing serious but has fun doing it too.  As you are pretty aware by now Hop Gun is a play off of the movie with the crazy guy that jumps on Oprah’s couches.

    So I crack open the growler top and pour it into my Funky Buddha pint glass (because it only makes sense) and it comes out a very clear golden color.  There is a nice sized white head that leaves a pretty good amount of lacing along the glass.

    The aroma is big in citrus hops also with a scent of pineapple.  But it’s not all hops in the nose as there is a nice malt backing to it.

    I always hate when I have to say this about a beer but the taste is much like the smell.  Great balance between the citrusy hops and the malts.  I’m not normally a fan of pineapples but I like that taste I get in here.  It’s something different you don’t see in IPAs to often.  And it sort of gives a tropical Florida feel to it.

    This was one of the very first beers the Funky Buddha concocted for when they were getting ready to be a brew pub.  And it has under gone some transformations slightly in the recipe.  I really like where it has landed here.

    To me there are two types of IPA drinkers.  The ones that want super hoppy.  Then there are the ones that want balance.  I can see either ones point.  I myself sometimes love a super hoppy IPA but sometimes I want something balanced.  Hop Gun is the later of those two.  It won’t tear the enamel off your teeth but rather leave you satisfied with a really good taste in your mouth.

    Grade – B+

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    Cigar City vs Tampa City Council Comes to a Head

    November 30, 2010
    / Beer News /
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    So this Thursday is the date of Cigar City’s meeting with the Tampa City Council in hopes of renewing their wet zone license.  Cigar City has posted the details of the meeting for those that wish to attend.

    For anyone planning to attend the City Council meeting where the wet-zoning for the Cigar City Brewing Tasting Room will be voted on this is the pertinent information.

    Date: Thursday December 2nd
    Time: 10:30 AM
    Location: 315 East Kennedy Boulevard (Downtown)
    City Hall, 3rd Floor
    Tampa, FL 33602

    This is a public meeting so anyone may attend and speak if they so choose or just attend to show support. We encourage everyone that has the time to attend. Thanks again for the overwhelming support and well wishes. Win or lose we are humbled by the support from the community and beyond.

    Cheers,
    Joey Redner and the CCB Staff

    If you are in the Tampa area and can get off or are off I highly recommend going.  You don’t have to speak but you can show up and show support for CCB.  Let’s see if our speaking out has helped.

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    Flying Fish Exit 4

    November 28, 2010
    / Beer Review /
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    Name – Flying Fish Exit 4
    Country – United States
    Type – Tripel

    Well after a few days off from posting anything I’m back.  Hope your Thanksgiving was nice and that your Black Friday was hectic.  This wasn’t a normal 4 day weekend for me as I worked Friday for a few hours and have worked Saturday and today.  But alas next Thursday through Sunday I am off and boy am I looking forward to it.  Not just to relax be Phil from Dos Beerigos birthday party.  It is going to be awesome to say the least.

    So Friday night I cracked open a bottle of the Flying Fish Exit 4 that I mentioned in the previous post of their arrival at Total Wine.  This is an proclaimed American version of a Belgian Tripel.

    I make no attempt to cover up my normal distaste for this style.  They all just taste the same to me with Belgian yeast, banana, some other just sweet flavors.  But when Ed Roberts brought this over for a recording of United We Drink I was floored that this was a tripel.  So I grabbed some and had to sit down and try it again.

    It pours into my Dogfish Head snifter a hazy orange color with a thin white head.  The head is gone pretty quickly and doesn’t really leave any impression with lacing on the glass.

    What is this in the nose?  Hops?  Why yes, there are big bold grapefruit hops in the nose.  This is unlike any tripel I’ve ever had before.  I get some other pleasant citrus aromas in there.

    The sip is definitely more of the hops but then you get your Belgian yeast character and some just sweetness.  But luckily the hoppiness balances everything out.  There is a bit of an alcohol bit there too, especially as it warms up.

    I almost don’t want to call this a tripel as it is just nothing like any other I have had before.  Maybe Belgian American Pale Ale?  I love the hop profile on this beer and could just smell it all day.  Body spray Flying Fish?

    So if you like traditional tripels try this.  You will appreciate something different.  If you are like me and hate traditional tripels then still try this.  I think you too will be blown away with how a slight twist can make a dull style better.

    Grade – A

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