February 8 - February 13

For those regular readers of this blog, you know that on February 8, I attended the 5th anniversary party of Twisted Trunk, one of my regular breweries.  You can find that review here. But, what that means for this column is a review of the unique beers (at least for 2020) that I had while at that party.  Let's get started, shall we?

 63.  Key Lime Chancellor Kolsch - Tequesta Brewing/Twisted Trunk - Tequesta, FL/Palm Beach Gardens, FL - 5.3% ABV

This is a specialty take on Tequesta Brewing's Der Chancellor Kolsch.  This was not the first one I had at the anniversary luau, but it was the first unique beer I ordered, which was because a few others with me had tried it.  Let's just say that I think it is very hard to do a good job with key lime and beer, as the 3 or 4 that I have had in my life both missed their mark. I didn't hate it, in fact I am glad I had it.  But, I will not have another.

64.  Hi-5 IPA - Twisted Trunk Brewing - Palm Beach Gardens, FL - 6.3% ABV

 This is a very good IPA, but was only a specialty beer for the 5th anniversary party.  I enjoyed it immensely, and I hope that they find a way to keep this around in heavier rotation, especially since the brewery doesn't usually offer many choices in the IPA realm.  This beer is named after the 5th anniversary, but also the fact that it is a mix of 5 different hops; cashmere, simcoe, el dorado, centennial and cascade.

65.  Pucker Factor Berliner - Steamhorse - West Palm Beach Gardens, FL - 4.2% ABV

 I don't drink a lot of berliners or sours, because I generally just don't like them, but I have to be pretty well-rounded for this blog, and what better time to try one that at a festival at the brewery where I can easily fall back into something I know I like later.  This was at the Twisted Trunk anniversary party because it was brewed by one of the sister breweries, and they share taps with each other.  I was surprised that I enjoyed this as much as I did.  Not too sour at all, and not a pungent aftertaste either.  It was a bit sour, as it should have been, but it didn't not take away from the flavor of the beer.  And, it takes the number one spot in its category, at least for now.

66.  Steamhorse Lager - Steamhorse Brewing - West Palm Beach, FL - 5.3% ABV

 Sticking with the Steamhorse, a palate cleanser was needed after the sour, and this hit the spot.  Not too much flavor as this beer is understated, but it is refreshing and enjoyable if you do not like heavier beers, or if it is hot outside and you still want to drink a bunch. 

67.  Nuttin' Fancy Chocolate, Peanut Butter Porter Please - Steamhorse Brewing/Twisted Trunk Brewing - West Palm Beach, FL/Palm Beach Gardens, FL - 6.2% ABV

 Reese's in a cup - and YES that is a good thing.

68.  Wynona's Big Brown Ale - Voodoo Brewing - Meadville, PA - 7.5% ABV

 Not only is this an amazing brown, but you also get to sing Primus every single time you order it.  And I did.  And I will!  And we have a new number 1 on the brown list!  (I hope this doesn't get me deported).

69.  La Rubia - Wynwood Brewing - Miami, FL - 5%

 This blonde ale actually carries a lot of flavor for a lighter beer.  Plus, it's name literally means blonde, so when the distributor of the brewery showed up at my home craft beer trivia location to give out samples, it was awesome to literally ask for a free blonde.  Somehow that seems funnier than a cheap or discounted blonde.  Plus, it is my number 1 ale to-date.

70.  B Rabbit Espresso Cream Stout - Copperpoint Brewing - Boynton Beach, FL - 6%

 There is a heavy coffee presence in this stout, that makes it stand out.  And, I can order it while singing the last battle rap scene from 8 Mile, and you have no idea how happy that makes me feel. Would be higher as it tastes amazing, but there is a high quantity of quality in the stouts already this year.

71.  Mango Wit - Proof Brewing Co. - Tallahassee, FL - 5.3% ABV

 It is hard to do a very good mango beer, as oftentimes the strong flavor of the mango overpowers everything else about the beer.  That being said, Proof does it right, as this is amazing.  Enough mango that you know it is mango, but you can still also taste the other flavors of the beer.  Very good, very easy, and is a good happy hour beer if your day is going well.  (If not, I suggest something heavier).

Ales

 1.  La Rubia - Wynwood Brewing

Pale Ales

1.  Guayabera - Cigar City
2.  420 - Sweetwater
3.  Dale's Pale Ale - Oskar Blues
4.  Infinite Trails - Infinite Ale Works
5.  Reef Donkey APA - Tampa Bay Brewing Company

IPAs

1.  Grapefruit Sculpin - Ballast Point
2.  Boomsauce - Lord Hobo Brewing
3. Brew Free or Die - 21st Amendment
4.  Hopsecutioner - Terrapin Beer Company
5.  Free Dive - Coppertail Brewing
6.  The Calling Imperial Double IPA - Boulevard Brewing
7.  Hi-5 IPA - Twisted Trunk Brewing
8.  Sunrise City IPA - Sailfish Brewing
9.  Hops for Teacher - J. Wakefield
10.  Cat Nap IPA - Memphis Made
11.  Knockabout IPA - Steamhorse Brewing
12.  Hanalei Island - Kona
13.  Last Stop IPA - Brew Bus Brewing
14.  Sunshine City IPA - Green Beach Brewing
15.  Tropical IPA - Biscayne Bay Brewing
16.  Elvis Juice Grapefruit Infused IPA
17.  Apeiron IPA - Infinite Ale Works

New England/Hazy IPAs

1.  Official Hazy IPA - Bell's Brewery
2.  Party Hat Hazy IPA - Sixpoint Brewery
3.  Hazy Jane - Brewdog Brewery
4.  Luminescence Hazy IPA - Florida Avenue Brewing

Reds/Ambers

1. Roundhouse Red - Steamhorse Brewery
2. Cafe Con Finn - Twisted Trunk Brewery
3.  Amber Ale - Bell's Brewery
4.  Finn McCool - Twisted Trunk Brewer
5.  Smithwick's
6.  Fireside Amber - Memphis Made
7.  Rolling' Dirty Red Ale - Brew Bus

Browns

1.  Wynona's Big Brown Ale - Voodoo Brewing 
2.  Bellaire Brown - Short's Brewing

Porters

1. Sweet Baby Jesus - DuClaw Brewing
2.  Nuttin' Fancy Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter Please! - Steamhorse Brewing/Twisted Trunk                 Brewing
3.  Porter Please! - Steamhorse Brewing

Stouts

1.  Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - North Coast Brewing
2.  Coco Vin Rouge Imperial Stout - Steamhorse Brewing
3.  Don't Doubt the Stout - Steamhorse Brewing
4.  Into the Dark Roast with Vanilla Imperial Stout -Infinite Ale Works
(Honestly, I would take both of these over most beers - even though they are #s 4 and 5 here)
5.  Into the Dark Unknown Imperial Stout - Infinite Ale Works
6.  B Rabbit Espresso Cream Stout - Copperpoint
7.  Guinness
8.  Half and Half - Both of these are about the same, it just depends upon my mood.
9.  Herd Mentality Stout - Playalinda Brewing Company

Wheats/Hefeweizens

1. Boujee Berry Raspberry Wheat - Steamhorse Brewing

Whites/Wits

1. Raspberry Witfinite - Infinite Ale Works
2.  Blood Orange Wit - Copperpoint
3.  Mango Wit - Proof Brewing Co.
4.  White Wizard - Barrel of Monks

Saisons

1.  Watermelon Saison - Twisted Trunk Brewing

Lagers

 1.  Fourth Wave - Breakside Brewing
2.  Yuengling Traditional Lager
3.  Steamhorse Lager - Steamhorse Brewing
4.  Tri County Common Lager - 26 Degrees Brewing
5.  Bud Light
6.  Coors Light

Pilsners

1.  Tiny Bomb - Wiseacre Brewing
2.  Palm Beach Pilz - Twisted Trunk Brewery
3.  Stella A
4.  Beck's
Kolsches

1.  Kaptain's Kolsch - Biscayne Bay Brewing
2.  Key Lime Chancellor - Tequesta Brewing/Twisted Trunk Brewing
Bocks

Belgian Strong Ales

Belgian Tripels

1.  She Devil - Meddlesome Brewing
2.  Tourist Trappe - MIA Brewing

Belgian Dubbels

Belgian Quads

1.  St. Bernardus ABT 12 - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV 
2.  West Floridan - Infinite Ale Works

Sours

 1.  Pucker Factory Berliner - Twisted Trunk Brewing

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