2nd Annual International IPA Day

August 2: International India Pale Ale (IPA) Day was founded in 2011 by Ashley Routson and Ryan Ross.  They set out to start a movement desiged to unite the voices of craft beer enthusiasts, bloggers, and brewers using social media.  Their goal was to pick a day, August 2, and give breweries, bloggers, businesses and consumers the chance to connect and share their love of one specific type of craft beer.

Ok, whatever. 

For me, IPA day is just another reason I should drink a beer after work.  Maybe it will be an IPA and maybe it won't be.  Regardless of if it is an IPA or not, it will be a good beer, that is for sure.

After a 60-minute hellacious workout at bootcamp on Thursday night, I went out for a beer with my bootcamp partner in crime.  Our beer of choice?  90 Shilling from Odell.  Solid.  But I knew that the Husband had selected an IPA to share with me when I got home.

His selection?  The Brutal IPA from Rogue Ales in Oregon.  Previously bottled as the "Brutal Bitter Ale" and also sometimes bottled as "Portland State IPA" (2010). When I first smelled this after pouring it into my glass, I was scared.  It smelled like something I would very much hate. 

Brutal IPA (5.8% ABV)
Rogue Ales
Newport, Oregon

However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the severely hoppy smell didn't hold a candle to the taste.  It was hoppy alright, but it wasn't nearly as hoppy as it smelled.  It wasn't so hoppy that you would only want to order one of them.  4 stars.

Oh, and Gus gave this beer 2 paws up after sneezing 5 times but before passing out in his kennel.