It’s March once again and the madness… well, it exists for those of us who are big fans of basketball. For most of us, however, we’ve just got our fingers crossed that the warm weather will return this month and we can walk around outside comfortably. One of the small pleasures of the early Springtime is the release of so many new beers.
Equilibrium Ambrosia Punch out of New York state is an India pale ale with an uncommon twist. This fruity IPA is made with all the flavors of classic fruit punch: cherry, orange, pineapple, raspberry and even marshmallow in case you needed just a hint more vanilla sweetness. As someone who isn’t as big a hophead as others, and who usually prefers certain other styles, I am a big fan of fruity beers and sour ales. Someone else I know offered me a taste of their Ambrosia Punch, and who am I to say no to a gift, especially when it means trying something new? I knew it was a pale ale, but I also knew it was punchy, and when I was able to give it a try, I was pleasantly surprised. The pine and resin scents and flavors were present, but they weren’t at odds with the fruity, tangy flavors reminiscent of actual fruit punch. While this is technically a hazy IPA, I still recommend it to anyone who is a fan of either mild sours or pale ales as long as they’re also into the fruity side, because this one clearly contains quite a few of them.
The good old Midwestern state of Oklahoma is home to American Solera, a brewery which has recently brought to my attention Chi Chi Boom Boom. Chi Chi Boom Boom is an imperial gose with, I’ll be honest, a lot going on. Pineapple, coconut, macadamia nut, marshmallow, vanilla, milk sugar and sea salt make up the checklist of flavors that will wash over your senses during the sipping process. The Boom Boom is a little thick for a gose-style sour, which is in part from the milk sugar, but it works. It reminds me a little of coconut cream pie. The sour still comes through with the help of the sea salt, but this is on the sweeter side for a gose. I am personally a big fan of those styles coexisting in a single can, at least in this case, but I understand some people prefer their sweet beers and their sours stay on their respective sides of the beer fence. What I wouldn’t give to have a beer fence, by the way.
Another great Springtime brew also available at many stores in the area is Bell’s Oberon. It’s got smooth flavors of orange and wheat, and if you are a fan of Blue Moon but haven’t tried Oberon, head to the store, because as far as I’m concerned, it’s simply an upgrade into the craft scene. Maybe you love it and decide to keep searching for other Belgian wheats – have no worries because there are plenty out there. Avery White Rascal is another version of the same style but packs more punch and flavor than some of its Belgian white counterparts.
Whether you’re here for the beer or just looking for something to read, you’re always welcome to do both at Mellow Mushroom. The draft beer selection is, according to many bar regular types, the best in town, and they’re constantly rotating close to 90 percent of their 32 taps as soon as the last one runs out. That’s not to mention all of the bottles and cans, both domestic and craft, they update on the reg as well.
-by Josh Helton
