We had a Total Wine & More open in Madison, and they had the largest pick 6 collection I’ve ever seen.
Pick 6 Winner: MKE IPA
Needless to say, I’ll be heading back here soon. I’m going to have slurred word poems for months with the amount of beer this place stocks. Oh boy. It was overwhelming. Picking these 6 wasn’t easy. After much hesitation, and picking up and putting a lot of bottles back, I finally settled on these beauties.
Uinta – Detour – 9.5% – DIPA
I’m gonna regret starting out with something this strong. Unita says: “Our trail blazing double IPA hauls a bold hop profile featuring heavy pine, orange rind, and guava with a sweet malty finish.”
At 9.5%, it doesn’t really taste like it’s 9.5%, which means this is gonna sneak up on me. I can see why after a couple of these someone’s plans are gonna take a detour.
It’s very malty. It’s creamy, sweet, and has lots of rich caramelly flavor. And it’s well balanced. The sweetness really zeroes out any bitterness, and there’s just a hint of pine and citrus. It’s like a big caramel smoothie.
‘There ain’t no road to follow
just highs n’ sometimes sorrows
don’t always have to be so sure
enjoy life’s lot of detours
toss back some cold beer cans
it’s a flash in the pan
anyway, you know
c’mon n’ enjoy the show.’
Milwaukee Brewing Company – IPA – 6.5%
MKE says: “Five different hops are used to create a well-balanced IPA which focuses on the hipster’s hops, Citra and Mosaic. The late addition of these hops gives the IPA a juicy citrus aroma while the light body leaves a crisp dry taste. This IPA is an approachable IPA with a juicy bitter flavor that appeals to all palates.”
That description is right on the money. It’s a juicier IPA with very little bitterness. The mosaic hops give it a tropical fruit flavor, and I also felt like there were notes of pear and apple and there’s a bready malt backend.
‘Sun sets
midwest rust
ain’t nothing
beat
summertime
in the city
by the Michigan
sea.’
New Belgium – Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze – 7.5% – IPA
New Belgium says: “Packed with bright tropical aromas and brilliant citrusy flavors, this unfiltered IPA wraps up with a pleasantly smooth finish.”
It does have some tropical fruit flavor and also some heavy citrus/grapefruit going on. It’s like taking a bite of ripe, plump, juicy mango. There’s also some spicey hop and piney/resiny bitterness, too.
‘I wish I could stay
in this hoppy haze
break away
from this day-to-day
monotonous malaise
find you, to color my grey
a light against the day.’
Good City – Velocity – 6.0% – IPA
I can’t get enough of Good City. Here’s what they have to say about Velocity. “Featuring Idaho 7 hops, this seasonal IPA pushes past the long winter months with a hop forward character. Push the envelope. Seek the Good.”
Man. The Detour is really starting to get to me. Whoa buddy. Alright. Velocity was a good, solid IPA. Like the description says, it’s a lot of hops, with a very subtle malt sweetness to balance it. The primary flavors I noticed were some orange zest, and tropical pineapple/mango, as well as grassy hops.
‘Grass seed
stars
this life
exotic bars
for a moment
the world ours.’
Deschutes – Twilight Summer Ale – 5.0%
Deschutes says “This clever golden-hued ale pours remarkably crisp and clean. A distinctive malt body complements a refreshing hop profile led by a heady dose of bold Amarillo hops. Enjoy.”
Enjoy I did. This beer was delicious. It had some notes of wheat, corny, and grain malts, with a little spicy pepper kick and lemony zest. It’s the perfect kind of hiking beer, refreshing summer chore beer.
‘I need them
twilight skies
ink lit n’ starshine eyes
smoky lights
jukebox playing Patsy Cline
walking just after midnight.’
Rogue – 6 Hop – 6.66% – IPA
Well. You shouldn’t be surprised that this one is extremely bitter. But not unpleasant at all, and refreshing in its own way. It has strong pine/resin notes that dominate. It tastes exactly like snow, the kind that’s runoff from a pine tree. 100% like that.
‘Lifes too short
leave the bitter
to the beer.’
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(Want me to write about your beer? Click here.
Curious about what the hell a pick 6 poem is? Click here.)