Pints & Purls Edition 35: Hopothermia – back at long last!

This is the thirty-fifth in a series of installments that will highlight one of my favorite brews and which knits to go with it!  None of the breweries or yarn companies are compensating me – these are just my opinions on my personal experiences!

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Brew: Hopothermia

Brewer: Alaskan Brewing Co

Malts:

Hops: Nugget, Apollo, Amarillo, Citra, Centennial

IBU:

ABV: 8.5%

Flavors: Full-flavored, hoppy but with a touch of cream. Citrus undertones without being fruity.

Knit Pairings: This beer stands on it’s own but it isn’t going to distract from your knitting which means that you should feel free to tackle a project with textural interest – knits and purls based would be my recommendation, I think cables might be too much for the beer!

Notes:

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Let me know what you think!  Suggestions for future beers, more/different information to include, this is a work in progress so I won’t be offended by constructive advice!

Pints & Purls Edition 34: Castaway

This is the thirty-fourth in a series of installments that will highlight one of my favorite brews and which knits to go with it!  None of the breweries or yarn companies are compensating me – these are just my opinions on my personal experiences!

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Brew: Castaway IPA

Brewer: Kona Brewing

Malts: Pale (Premium 2-row)

Hops: Galaxy, Citra, Simcoe, Milenium

IBU: 50

ABV: 6%

Flavors: Citrusy and floral, this is a great IPA for the summa’ time!  Crisp and easy to drink with enough hop/malt balance to keep it from being too heavy and filling.

Knit Pairings: This beer would be a great addition to some “afternoon in the hammock” knitting – I’m talking linen, hemp, cotton, silk and all the blends.  Whip up a cute little market bag or light summer cardigan and sip on the beer through the process, they’re a match made in heaven.

Notes:

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Let me know what you think!  Suggestions for future beers, more/different information to include, this is a work in progress so I won’t be offended by constructive advice!

Pints & Purls Edition 33: Abbey

This is the thirty-third in a series of installments that will highlight one of my favorite brews and which knits to go with it!  None of the breweries or yarn companies are compensating me – these are just my opinions on my personal experiences!

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Brew: Abbey

Brewer: New Belgium

Malts: Pale, Chocolate, Carapils, C-80, Munich

Hops: Willamette, Target, Liberty

IBU: 20

ABV: 7%

Flavors: Sweet and malty, this beer is well-rounded from the beginning and leaves you with a slightly warming feel at the finish.

Knit Pairings: This beer is one of those that can stand alone but would also be great paired with something rich for dessert.  It’d pair well with a smooshy worsted merino beanie or a chunky, simple to knit cowl.

Notes:

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Let me know what you think!  Suggestions for future beers, more/different information to include, this is a work in progress so I won’t be offended by constructive advice!

Pints & Purls Edition 32: Mission IPA

This is the thirty-second in a series of installments that will highlight one of my favorite brews and which knits to go with it!  None of the breweries or yarn companies are compensating me – these are just my opinions on my personal experiences!

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Brew: IPA

Brewer: Mission Brewery

Malts:

Hops: Cascade, Centennial

IBU: 66

ABV: 6.8%

Flavors: Complex, bitter and crisp with just enough malt to keep the beer balanced and easy to drink.

Knit Pairings:  This beer is kind of like lace that is only worked on one side of the project and you’ve got a wrong-side row or even-knit round to chill out, let your shoulders retreat from your earlobes (is that just me?) and come back around to being able to handle another row of focus-worthy lace.

Notes:

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Let me know what you think!  Suggestions for future beers, more/different information to include, this is a work in progress so I won’t be offended by constructive advice!

Pints & Purls Edition 31: Belgian-Style Apricot Ale

This is the thirty-first in a series of installments that will highlight one of my favorite brews and which knits to go with it!  None of the breweries or yarn companies are compensating me – these are just my opinions on my personal experiences!

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Brew: Belgian-Style Apricot Ale

Brewer: Lakefront Brewery

Malts:

Hops: Saaz

IBU:

ABV: 6%

Flavors: Fruity and malty with a leeetle bit of hoppy bitter to keep the finish crisp.  A warming spice with a sweet beginning keep this beer interesting.

Knit Pairings:  this beer is a good staple with a bit of pizazz and would pair well with a project that’s similar.  The crispy, spicy notes make me think of that really interesting yarns from Habu with bits of metal in it, wouldn’t that be fabulous?  Something fun and funky but in earthy, neutral colors.

Notes: It’s not an IPA!  Woo!  I’m going to be better about non-IPAs getting featured….promise….sorta.

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Let me know what you think!  Suggestions for future beers, more/different information to include, this is a work in progress so I won’t be offended by constructive advice!

Pints & Purls Edition 28:

This is the twenty-eigth in a series of installments that will highlight one of my favorite brews and which knits to go with it!  None of the breweries or yarn companies are compensating me – these are just my opinions on my personal experiences!

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Brew: Rocky Mountain IPA

Brewer: Fort Collins Brewery

Malts:

Hops:

IBU: 81

ABV: 6.2%

Flavors: Whew! This beer has some awesome spicy flavor and bitterness with a sweet undertone that hop-fanatics (like myself) appreciate.  This is a dry hopped beer and the citrus notes are very apparent in the scent and initial flavor.  With a bittery finish, the mouthfeel lingers and you can’t just have one sip.

Knit Pairings: I recommend knitting something with tang while drinking this beer.  Because the taste is so abundant but keeps you going back for more, I think a great lace pattern with shorter repeats would be perfect!  You can work out a fiddley repeat while soaking up the taste of the sip you just had and by the end of it (and hypothetically during a moment of “down time” while you prepare for the next repeat), you can sip the beer and basically double-fist one awesome, complex project for another.

Notes:

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Let me know what you think!  Suggestions for future beers, more/different information to include, this is a work in progress so I won’t be offended by constructive advice!

Pints & Purls Edition 27: Lasso

This is the twenty-seventh in a series of installments that will highlight one of my favorite brews and which knits to go with it!  None of the breweries or yarn companies are compensating me – these are just my opinions on my personal experiences!

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Brew: Lasso

Brewer: Great Divide

Malts:

Hops: Columbus, Centennial, Cascade

IBU: 50

ABV: 5%

Flavors: Lots of flavor in this bottle, a sweet bitterness that starts out floral and ends citrus-y.  Heavier than the light IPAs and lighter than the heavy IPAs, it’s got a lengthy finish of hoppy bitter.

Knit Pairings:  This isn’t a mild beer and you shouldn’t be knitting a mild project!  No garter stitch scarves here, I recommend pairing this brew with something more complex and in the “Wild West” spirit this brew boasts – a bandana-shaped shawlette or even a cowboy hat (seriously, you can totally do that).

Notes:

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Let me know what you think!  Suggestions for future beers, more/different information to include, this is a work in progress so I won’t be offended by constructive advice!

Pints & Purls Edition 25: Sunshine Wheat

 

This is the twenty-fifth in a series of installments that will highlight one of my favorite brews and which knits to go with it!  None of the breweries or yarn companies are compensating me – these are just my opinions on my personal experiences!

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Brew: Sunshine Wheat

Brewer: New Belgium

Malts: Pale, Carapils, Wheat

Hops: Target

IBU: 14

ABV: 4.8%

Flavors: This is light, citrus-y spiced beer with a crisp feel.  It’s not a watered-down wheat, it’s got plenty of flavor and a tiny bit of hoppiness.

Knit Pairings: My biased opinion thinks that you should be knitting the Sweet Summer Rays since I was knitting it the last time I was drinking this brew and it’s a perfect bring-along project since it’s light and portable – like the beer.

Notes:  I thought we needed a bit of warm sunshine this week, winter is great but I’m glad it’s not all year long!  Also, starting with this post I’m going to start including the IBU and ABV information on the beers, what do you think?

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Let me know what you think!  Suggestions for future beers, more/different information to include, this is a work in progress so I won’t be offended by constructive advice!

Pints & Purls Edition 24: Bridal Veil Rye Pale Ale

This is the twenty-fourth in a series of installments that will highlight one of my favorite brews and which knits to go with it!  None of the breweries or yarn companies are compensating me – these are just my opinions on my personal experiences!

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Brew: Bridal Veil Rye Pale Ale

Brewer: Telluride Brewing Co.

Malts: German Rye

Hops: Cascade, Magnum, Chinook, CTZ, Citra

Flavors: Very earthy and, almost creamy.  This beer has a complex flavor profile with a tiny bit of spice at the end.  Plenty of hops but easy enough to drink so that non-IPA fans would also enjoy it.

Knit Pairings: This beer would really highlight that cold-weather knitting you’ve been up to this time of year.  Because it’s brewed in Telluride, CO at an altitude of 8750′ it’ll be a great match for hardy winter wear that’ll last a lifetime but is still pleasurable and simple to knit.

Notes:  I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday and are enjoying plenty of knitting time as well!

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Let me know what you think!  Suggestions for future beers, more/different information to include, this is a work in progress so I won’t be offended by constructive advice!

Pints & Purls Edition 22: Falco

This is the twenty-second in a series of installments that will highlight one of my favorite brews and which knits to go with it!  None of the breweries or yarn companies are compensating me – these are just my opinions on my personal experiences!

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Brew: Falco

Brewer: Evil Twin Brewing

Malts:

Hops:

Flavors:This is a bitter IPA with very little of the creamy undertones other IPAs come with.  It tastes pine-y and floral and has a crisp aftertaste.  It also seems to hold the chill longer (although there’s no scientific proof of that).

Knit Pairings:  I’d pair this beer with something modern to knit – not your stand-by wool hat or sweater, something with pop and color, possibly graphic designs, neon and a unique blend of fibers!  Have fun with it, try something new!

Notes:

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Let me know what you think!  Suggestions for future beers, more/different information to include, this is a work in progress so I won’t be offended by constructive advice!