Drinking down the Mississippi River.
An now, two beers from states the Mississippi River borders/flows through.
First stop is Schlafly in Saint Louis, Missouri. I chose their Irish-Style Extra Stout because, why not? Extra Stout is a descendant of British and Irish porters of the 18th century. This one magnifies the traditional, drier flavors from Ireland by adding roasted malt and Dark Crystal malted barley resulting in flavors of chocolate, dried fruit and molasses. Topped off with a considerable amount of hops to combat the sweetness of the malt, this brew is quite tasty. I enjoy traditional stouts from time to time, especially when there's some unique twists and turns to it. I had it on Superbowl - for reasons I don't know - and it was a nice contradiction to the typical lagers associated with the game. With an ABV of 8% it's perfect for a chilly Sunday night watching the Superbowl Katy Perry Missy Elliot performance.
Last stop on the trip is Abita Wrought-Iron IPA. I actually forgot I picked up this beer and have no idea why I chose it for this theme because Louisiana is not in the Midwest, but hey, beer is beer! I can't say I'm mad I picked this one up because it's INCREDIBLE. Modeled after "the resilient, indestructible nature of New Orleans", it's brewed with Apollo, Equinox, and Mosaic hops and uses pale malt to give it that golden color "as bright as iron from a fiery forge". I love Abita regardless, so I had high hopes for this one and it definitely didn't disappoint. It has a ABV of 6.9% so it's not crazy-strong but it's packed with flavor. It's quite fitting I'm writing about Abita, since it's almost Mardi Gras (Almost Mardi Gras Bock time!). If you are going to New Orleans for that, don't talk to me because I am beyond jealous. Anyway, try this beer, like, as soon as you can.
Stay tuned for next weeks lineup - beers in cans! Woohoo!
Also, bring on the recommendations/suggestions!