Hinchtown Hammer Down

For all you Indy natives, you know the end of May means one thing, and one thing only, race week. People outside of Indy don't understand this is not just an event, it's the official start of summer around here. The track is open for two straight weeks so you can watch your favorite drivers practice and warm up their cars.

If you've never been to an Indy car race it's hard to describe. The thunder of thirty three engines all starting up at the same time and the roar of the cars passing your seats can only be described as awe inspiring. I'm by no means the biggest race fan but as an Indy native, I love watching the race live. There is something that goes beyond words about watching the speed and control of these cars flying around the oval. After 18 consecutive 500 races, I've learned a thing or two.

1. Never forget your butt cushion
2. Seriously, never forget your butt cushion!
3. Always bring extra beer because you never when you might make a friend

This year I had to turn around and go back for my butt cushion, but I didn't forget the extra beer. Local Brewery, Flat 12 Bierwerks, just changed their standard lineup, removing Upside Down Blonde and replacing it with Hinchtown Hammer Down Golden Ale, named after James Hinchcliff a great Indy car racer. Spoiler alert, even with a beer named after him, Hinchcliff didn't win this years Indy 500. Because this is supposed to be a race beer, the brought it out in bottles as well as cans, so you can bring it just about anywhere. I figured I should give the new brew a try, plus what better beer to take to the 500 race than one named after a driver.

Hinchtown Hammer Down Golden Ale was designed to be a track beer. If you've ever been to an Indy car race or a NASCAR race you know that you need a crisp flavored light bodied beer that will quench your thirst in the hot summer sun, and that won't get you sideways too quickly. It needs to be light and sessionable, but as craft beer lovers we never want to sacrifice flavor and total experience. Flat 12 did a pretty good job packing as much flavor as you can into this 5% ABV beer with a nice, light 27 IBUs.

Hinchtown Hammer Down pours out a crystal clear straw yellow color with a thick white head. It smells sweet and grainy with hints of corn. The flavor is light and crisp with a hit of cereal sweetness. The beer has a light mouth feel and is bright and effervescent.

This is probably one of the most approachable beers that I've had and it does a good job of maintaining a solid craft appeal. Next time you're packing up for the big race, or just a summer afternoon of yard work check out Flat 12's Hinchtown Hammer Down. You wont be disappointed!

So what are you bringing to the track???

Last year I put together a post with some canned beer options to bring to the motor speedway. I decided to keep the tradition going and give you some of our great new Indiana options. The requirements are the same this year as they were last year as far as coolers are concerned:

Coolers must be no bigger than 18x14x14

Purses and backpacks must be no bigger than 14x14x14

Food and beverages are allowed, but no glass containers

Carts and wagons are allowed everyday BUT race day

Personal items are your responsibility, the Speedway does not care if they are lost or stolen 

Cans ONLY! no glass bottles allowed

Since we can't bring bottles into the Speedway we have to look to canned beers. There have been a ton of canned beers popping up in liquor stores in the last year, so there are a ton more options than we had last year. With all the options available now it can be hard to narrow them down. Not everyone has spent a lot of time checking out all the canned options we have here in Indy so for the second year in a row we've asked the Barons what are their favorite canned beers. So here are my favorite Summer canned options:

The Big Guy: 

1. Sun King's Fistful of Hops Green. Nice crisp hop profile with an easy drinking malt profile
2. Two Brother's Side Kick Pale Ale. Light hop profile with a clean refreshing flavor that makes it crushable sitting at the hot track
3. Daredevil's Liftoff IPA. Easy malt profile with a great big hop backbone. Get it fresh for biggest impact.

Russ:

1. Daredevil's Liftoff IPA
2. Bell's Two Hearted IPA. The classic Midwest IPA. Nothing says summer like Two Hearted
3. Two brother's Side Kick Pale Ale

Kevin:

1. Oskar Blues' Dale's Pale Ale. An almost perfect Pale Ale from Colorado that just came to Indy last year
2. Founder's Centennial IPA. A big Midwest IPA from Founders now in cans
3. Sun King's Osiris Pale Ale. An Indiana favorite, light clean and crisp

O-Dawg:

1. Brooklyn Brewery's Summer Ale
2. Founder's All Day IPA. All Day IPA because this is so light you can drink it all day in the blistering sun of the track
3. Two Brother's Dog Days Dortmunder Lager. A lager that goes down clean and smooth

El Duque:

1. Daredevil's Liftoff IPA
2. Sun King's Osiris Pale Ale
3. Sixpoint's Sweet Action Cream Ale. Light and easy drinking, perfect for a hot day

Professor Beer:

1. Sun King's Wee Mac
2. Sun King's Fistful of Hops
3. Daredevil's Liftoff IPA

Brie:

1. Brooklyn Brewery's Summer Ale
2. Sun King's Fistful of Hops
3. 21st Amendment's Hell or High Watermelon- If you could get your hands on this it would be amazing for a hot day at the track.

I would also like to give a shout out to Flat 12 for their Hinchtown Hammerdown. On their website Flat 12 says, "We live in a racing town. In tribute to one of the brightest racing talents out there, we created Hinchtown Hammer Down, a crisp and refreshing ale perfect for the month of May."  I haven't gotten my hands on it yet, but I will make sure it finds its way into my racing cooler. 

Jungle Room Vs. Bitch'n Camaro

**Picture source from:  Fox59.com "2013 Indianapolis 500"page 

http://fox59.com/news/stories/2013-indianapolis-500/#axzz2UE7Grrfh

Race Weekend might be over, but us race fans are still in the process of coming down from the high that goes along with the annual Indianapolis 500 and the corresponding inundation of red neck, beer swilling, race fans!  Or as I like to call them, family!

Every year my good friend has a party before race day.  Family, friends, acquaintances, all come over to drink, eat, and be merry.  For him it is a family reunion of sorts, for me it is part fraternity meet up, part extended family meet up.  We all know what happens when you get family together... YOU DRINK!

Every year my Uncle Billy (fraternity family) and I have a craft beer off.  I always try and find something he hasn't had that is better than everything he brought and vice versa.  I get blown out of the water about 50% of the time.  This year however I have TWO secret weapons, Bitch'n Camaro and Jungle Room!

I have been sitting on a sealed growler of Jungle Room for the better part of three months.  I know right!? How could I have the self control to not open it?!  Beer Science and patience a mile long for you dear readers!  The Big Guy attended an official beer tasting class months ago and was being blown away by some of the knowledge bombs that were being dropped on him.  The professor running the class stated that you could keep beer fresh in unopened growlers for 3 to 6 months. I decided to test this theory...

Cut to this month.  Bitch'n Camaro comes out.  I have heard rave reviews from hop heads around town!  All I heard was "Dude, you should so try this!"  Other comments that have been thrown around were "I have heard this will be the next bottled in the Kings Reserve Series!"

I have been curious to see what the compare and contrast between a Rye x2IPA and a "regular" x2IPA were.  The topic was spawned from discussions with The Big Guy and others about up and coming articles for the site...

Huh...  well then... (Beer Science experiment + two x2IPA's from the same brewery) / Head to head article on differences between x2IPA styles * Race party one ups... As Gru would say "Light Bulb!" The Perfect storm!

Creation:  Bitchin' Camaro
Style:  Imperial Red Rye DIPA
Masterminds:  Sun King Brewing
Location: Indianapolis, IN
ABV: 8.7%
IBU:  89
Hops:  American Citrus
Availability: Seasonal, The Month of MAY!  Draft only.  
Drinkability:  Drinks like a light single Rye IPA, but has a little bit more under the hood.  Very sessionable, but the ABV's will reign you in.

Served... Cold right out of the BRÄULER

Pours...Clear amber, more on the red side of amber. Thanks Rye!  

Head...Fingers width that sticks around with minimal lacing.

Nose...Smells like a great DIPA should... Pronounced citrus hop nose with a subtle rye spice to give your pallet a que that it isn't a normal DIPA.

Body... Light to medium body.  Notes of caramel and citrus.  Malts really balance it out.  The rye gives it a great mellow spiciness.

Finishes... Semi-Dry with a rye kick that cuts the typical bitterness associated with DIPA's.

O-Dawg:
Solid 4.5 

Creation:  Jungle Room
Style:  Imperial DIPA
ABV: 8.6-10%
IBU:  78
Hops:  Hops from Grapefruit Jungle + Cream Dream + American Citris
Availability: Specialty, brewers discretion, draft only
Drinkability:  Goes down easy, almost too easy.  Very sessionable.  High ABV's are killer though.  "Welcome to tha JUNGLE!"

Served...Cold right out of the Hydro Flask.

Pours...Clear Amber, leaning to the lighter side.   

Head...Mustered a finger and a half of head with normal lacing throughout.  Lost a lot of the carbonation from when I had it fresh off the tap.  Not surprised, sitting in cold storage for 3 months I expected this.

Nose...Still had the tropical explosion of fruits and hops, just toned down to 9 from eleven...  Notes of pineapple/mango/peach with a more subtle touch of toffee.

Body...Light to medium body.  Went from a potent 11 of citrusy pineapple/mango/peach with a little more pronounced flavor of toffee/brown sugar malt profile than the nose suggests.  After 3 months:  to a slightly milder 9.  Flavors became much more rich and blended, pronounced creaminess that smoothed out the flavor ride of lightning.

Finishes...Went from an aerial guitar solo of wet and Bitter hops to a mellower rock ballad.  Still fantastic!

O-Dawg:
4.5  Teetering on the edge of a 5!

The Dish:
Rye DIPA vs. DIPA...  I say Jungle Room edges Bitch'n Camaro!  I am a hop head and I love my hops!  The big difference between the Rye DIPA vs. DIPA is the rye cutting that bitter hop flavor that I love in the body/finish.  The rye adds a great spiciness to the body which is nice, but not really what I am looking for.

3 months till tapping your favorite brew's growler...All in all, not that bad.  I expected the ABV to carry it over, but as with cellaring hoppy beers you start to loose the hop nose/flavor.  The reward for Jungle Room's growler "aging" was a more creamy mellowness that was still a huge hit with me.  I may have to try this little experiment with a porter/stout.  I have a feeling they will hold up better.

One-Upsmanship...  I think I got Uncle Billy this year!  He was all about the Jungle Room!  He had a growler of PDG from Bier Brewery and a few bombers of John John Dead Guy Ale from Rogue that he and his wife were willing to share.  The JJDGA did not come close to the flavor trip that is Jungle Room.  He may have had a sporting chance if he had shown up with DFG from Bier Brewery (their version of DIPA).  Ah well... there is always next year!

If you have the time... and want to see where some of the inspiration for Jungle Room came from... Hit up Sun King Brewery's Four Year Anniversary party July 6th, 2013, 4pm-10pm @ Sun King Brewery's South Parking Lot.  Tickets available at MOKBPresents.com and in the Tasting Room!

**Sun King Brewery Images source: Sun King Brewery Facebook.com photo stream page

https://www.facebook.com/sunkingbrewing/photos_stream

The Big Guy: For me it was no contest- Bitchin Camaro was the standout. I liked Jungle Room, it's a great beer, but at the end of the day its a DIPA with a little extra Grapefruit flavor. I didn't find it super outside of the box. I have been doing a lot of trading lately and the Jungle Room totally stands up to some of the best DIPA's out there (Simtra, Green Flash, etc) but for me there wasn't enough that was special about it.

Bitchin' Camaro on the other hand was one of the better, more IPA-like, RyePAs I have ever had. I loved Rye da Tiger by Three Floyds and I would put this on about the same level. The rye was a very nice malty backbone to a strong hop forward flavor. Everything blended well without overwhelming or overshadowing any of the other flavors. At the end of the day though, they were both good beers. It was about as close as it can get.

Jungle Room Gets a 4

Bitchin' Camara Gets a slightly larger 4

SideKick Extra Pale Ale

As you may or may not remember we just did a post about all the great canned beer options here in Indianapolis that you can take with you to the race, or tailgating, or a park... I really don't care. O-Dawg recommended a beer by Two Brothers Brewing Company out of the Chicago-land area called SideKick Pale Ale. I am not the biggest hop head by any stretch, and bringing a hoppy beer with me to a hot May race just seemed like a bad idea.

It seemed like a bad idea, until I tried it that is. O-Dawg hit the nail on the head for this one. SideKick is a delicious mildly hopped up pale ale. It pours out a light yellow to golden color. There is a solid amount of head and it has a wonderful tropical fruit / citrus fruit aroma.

The beer was everything I wanted in a race beer. It was crisp and sweet with a nice bit of hop backdrop to round it all out. The flavors were big and vibrant while still being sessionable. SideKick tastes like summer should taste, bright and alive with just enough sweet flavors to help quench your thirst. This is by no means the most complex or well balanced beer I have ever had, but it is super drinkable and perfect for the race. At 5.10% abv this beer goes down fast and easy. It cleanses the palate without making you feel full or giving you a syrupy mouth feel.

So many beers that we have deemed, American Sessionable (under 5.5% abv), have left me wanting so much more. This brew really delivers. Out of everything that I filled my cooler with on race day, this was by far the stand out.

I give it a solid 4

O-Dawg: My discovery of this not too lauded/discussed beer came about after a discussion with my Hippy Beer Guy.  I asked him what would be a great beer to take over to a friends house that isn't as much of a hop-head as myself, but would be something I would enjoy drinking as well.  The immediate response was "SideKick!  I'll be right back!"  I literally saw the aerial streaks and outlined puff of smoke as he sped off to introduce me to this delightful gem of a beer.  The only thing that would have made it complete would be the comment painted on a wooden sign spinning in the wake of his departure.

I drank it so fast that I did not even think to check it into Untappd or write a review.  It was just a great every-day/post-lawn mowing beer.  I do not know what else to add to The Big Guy's post and my previous recommendation other than "Thanks Hippy Beer Guy!"

I hope you all enjoy it! Solid 3.5

The Scene: Indy Motor Speedway

No matter where you go, Indianapolis is known for one thing above all others: Racing. This weekend, the 97th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will be taking place. Whether you are a race fan or not, there is no denying that this is the biggest party in town.

Now you will not be able to buy good beer at the track... You will not be able to buy okay beer at the track... You will only be able to buy boring domestics at the track. Lucky for all of us beergeeks we are allowed to bring in our own beer. There are a few regulations about your cooler and what you can bring:

• Coolers must be no bigger than 18x14x14
• Purses and backpacks must be no bigger than 14x14x14
• Food and beverages are allowed, but no glass containers
• Carts and wagons are allowed everyday BUT race day
• Personal items are your responsibility, the Speedway does not care if they are lost or stolen 

To help you determine what to pack in your cooler, we put together a short list of our favorite canned beers. We were also looking for beers that you can have a few of while you are outside in the hot sun. This meant checking for sessionable brews and what we have no dubbed "American Sessionable" (under 5%abv). There's a lot of beer out there in cans, but some is clearly better than others. If it were up to us, we'd have coolers full of the following selections:

• The Big Guy: Sixpoints, Apollo, Kristalweisen. Damn its good on a hot day, sweet, sour no real hop flavor to it. All around a cool and refreshing brew
• O-Dawg: Two Brothers, Sidekick Extra Pale Ale, American Pale Ale. Just enough hop floral and bitter to keep you interested but not heavy and complex enough to make your head spin under the heat/sun of the track
• El Duque: 21st Amendment, Hell or High Watermelon, watermelon wheat beer,
• Professor Beer: Sun King, Wee Mac, Scottish Ale. Malty but not too heavy. Easy drinking even in the summer

Honorable mentions:

• Sierra Nevada, Torpedo, Extra IPA. A classic in the craft beer community
• Coorse, Third Shift, Amber Ale. Something a little bit different
• Sun King, Sunlight Cream Ale. Crisp and easy drinking. You can drink this thing fast and hard.
• New Belgium, Fat Tire, Amber Ale. Great beer, a little bit heavy but remember always drink in moderation.
• Abita Purple Haze. Crisp American style wheat beer
• Brooklyn Brewery, Summer Ale, Pale Ale that comes in light and refreshing
• Schlafly American Brown Ale is a sessionable light bodied easy drinking brown

I hope everyone has a great time out at the track this weekend. Just make sure you don't sacrifice quality for convenience when it comes to your brews...So, what will you be putting in your cooler this year?