Karben4 Fantasy Factory

Today, I have Karben 4's Fantasy Factory in my glass.  Love it or hate it, this beer might be most famous for its artwork, which is typically a bad sign.  That said, in a country awash with IPAs, it's easy to notice the one with a headband-wearing, gun-toting,  unicorn-riding cat on it.  Did I mention the unicorn's glowing red eyes or the fire shooting from its nostrils?  Fortunately, Karben 4 has more going for it than eye catching artwork.  This flavorful IPA packs plenty of sweet, juicy hop flavor without overwhelming bitterness.  I recall it being better on tap than in the bottle, but this bottle is certainly not disappointing.  Fantasy Factory is probably one of my favorite beers coming out of Wisconsin at the moment, so do yourself a favor and try one if you haven't already!

Central Water's Space Ghost

Today I have in my glass, Space Ghost from Central Waters.  Before diving in I will say this:  I have a little experience with peppered beers, and some have been favorites (Mikkeller Chipotle Porter, I'm looking at you) while others were less exceptional.  I was intrigued when I first heard of this one, but intimidated by the thought of anything made with ghost peppers.  This came recommended by a friend who professed it to be "not too hot but really good," so Scott, I'm going to hunt you down after drinking this and either give you a hug or a punch in the face.  I think that's fair.  Pours out plenty dark, with a decent finger of mocha head.  Noses peppered chocolate, though not too hot.  I'm digging it so far.  There's a definite burn to this one, more subtle initially and building in the finish, lingering in the back of my mouth long after I swallow.  I've never had anything like this before. I don't think I would buy another, but I am glad to have this one.  I think the nose is probably my favorite part, and the finish my least favorite, but overall I like this one much more than I dislike it.  Scott, you get neither a hug nor a punch, but you can take a high five if you want it.

Lakefront IPA

Today I have Lakefront's IPA in my glass. For my money, this is the best regular... blah blah blah. It's good beer. It's an IPA. It tastes like hops. There isn't much about this beer that makes it better than the other IPA beers that I like, but there isn't anything wrong with it either. The hops in this one aren't my favorite hops (those taste sweeter and funkier) but they taste good.

Maybe part of the reason that I like this beer better than some of the other ones is because I can often get it fresher than beer from California, or even Michigan. Most beer taste better when it's more fresh. You should always check to see how fresh your beer is before buying it.

If you live in or around Milwaukee you should try Lakefront IPA. If you don't live around here you might still want to try it. It's not the best beer, but it is a good one, and that's worth something. Maybe next time I will try my favorite beer. Just kidding, I don't actually have a favorite.

Thank you for beer'n with me today. I hope you tune in next time.