O'Fallon 5 Day IPA: Proof that a Smooth Drinking IPA is not an Oxymoron

It's always difficult when you have your favorite seller of beers and you see a different one that sounds great and tempts you, but if you never heard of the brewery you might be skeptic like us, but so is true with indie rock often the best bands (er, beers) are yet to be discovered.

Case and point: O'Fallon 5 Day IPA.  Smooth IPA might seem like an oxymoron, but that's what this is - nice amber color, very drinkable, nice with cheese (we're enjoying with a Savoie from Heinen's), lighter style, winning best St. Louis beer in 2008.  Much better than some other brewery also based in Missouri, whom we won't mention.

For those not fans of the hop, embrace a local jam maker - for us, we purchased a lovely "Train Wreck Everyberry Jam" via Lyons Market (located in Garrettsville, OH yet can bet purchased at your local Heinen's) that adequately balances and compliments the bitterness.

When served closer at room temp, the IPA tastes closer to something more familiar - these hops are never going to knock you out like something from Hop Devil, Hopslam, or Hopback.  However, this is most definitely the perfect beer to introduce somebody to hops with*

Bonus: While creating this post, in addition to being fueled by the ingredients above, the soundtrack was provided by (the pretty much always amazing) Arcade Fire. We strongly endorse this track from their new album, The Suburbs, out NOW.

{mp3} Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

Enjoy!  And have a wonderful weekend  :)

Can you feel this tranquility?

This was the first image I saw this morning as I stepped outside to head to the gym. Thought it was worth taking a picture of even it was just with my blackberry. Instantly upon viewing the clouds in this formation The Orb classic 'Little Fluffy Clouds" popped in my head as I  completed my walk. You all probably remember it from when it was used in v-dub ad back about 10 years ago. When I used to be in my "raver phase" I used to love to listen to stuff like this, Moby, Fluke, Keoki, Chemical Brothers etc. This is the shorter version, the original house version of this track is like 8+ minutes in length. Still a nice song to help you easw into your morning as we slowly transition from summer to fall. Here is hoping to an Indian Summer this Fall!


(mp3) The Orb - Little Fluffy Clouds