Not Forever, But For Now by Chuck Palahniuk

I’ve been a fan of Chuck Palahniuk since…. well… probably over twenty years now; since I was in high school really. I remember reading Fight Club, Rant, Choke, and Invisible Monsters in high school or soon after high school / college. But over time, the wording “fan” has probably changed a bit when regarding my interest in Palahniuk. Firstly, I think most of his newer novels have been very low quality, secondly, even re-reading some of the older works I’ve found myself enjoying them less.

Chuck Palahniuk

Palahniuk at BookCon in June 2018 (photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Chuck Palahniuk might be best known for Fight Club; his first published (but not first written) novel – published in 1996. Hes credited with over 20 novels, films, short story compilations, short fictions, essays, and non-fiction works.

The following quick summary of Chuck Palahniuk comes from Wikipedia:

Charles Michael “Chuck” Palahniuk (/ˈpɔːlənɪk/;^[1][2] born February 21, 1962) is an American novelist who describes his work as transgressional fiction.^[3][4] He has published 19 novels, three nonfiction books, two graphic novels, and two adult coloring books, as well as several short stories. His first published novel was Fight Club, which was adapted into a film of the same title.

Palahniuk was born in Pasco, Washington, the son of Carol Adele (née Tallent) and Fred Palahniuk.^[5][6] He has French and Ukrainian ancestry.^[7] His paternal grandfather migrated from Ukraine to Canada and then to New York in 1907.^[8]

Palahniuk grew up living in a mobile home in Burbank, Washington. His parents separated when he was 14 years old, and they subsequently divorced, often leaving him and his three siblings to live with their maternal grandparents at their cattle ranch in eastern Washington.^[9] Palahniuk acknowledged in a 2007 interview that he is a distant nephew of actor Jack Palance, and that his family had talked of distant relations with Palance.^[10]

Palahniuk attended the University of Oregon, graduating with a degree in journalism in 1986. He interned at the local public radio station, KLCC, as part of his coursework.^[11]

– Chuck Palahniuk (Wikipedia Article)

Quick Book Review

Chuck Palahniuk is a name long associated with provocative, boundary-pushing literature. Known for his signature shock value and dark commentary on the absurdities of society, Palahniuk has captivated readers with books like Fight Club, Invisible Monsters, and Survivor. But, with his latest novel, Not Forever, But For Now, fans are feeling conflicted. Does it live up to Palahniuk’s legacy, or is it simply another installment of chaos for chaos’s sake? Let’s dive in.

For many, it’s been a while since a Palahniuk book really hit the mark. Some fans still find moments of brilliance in his work, but others feel his recent novels lack the depth that once balanced out the shock factor. In Not Forever, But For Now, that shock factor is turned up to eleven, but the substance behind it feels tenuous at best. Palahniuk’s approach here raises the question: how much is too much?

The story centers on Otto and Cecil, two brothers raised in a twisted lineage of assassins. Their privileged, grotesquely eccentric lifestyle is filled with hedonism and depravity, from murder to an assortment of disturbing obsessions. The narrative moves in erratic fragments, blending scenes of violence and debauchery with sporadic jumps to famous celebrity deaths and chilling family traditions. The overall tone feels forced, as if Palahniuk is determined to outdo his past works, even at the expense of storytelling.

One recurring complaint from readers is the novel’s mind-numbing repetitiveness. The phrases “having a go” and “having it off” are repeated endlessly—appearing over 180 times in a 256-page book. By the end, it’s hard not to feel exhausted by the lack of linguistic variety and to wonder if Palahniuk is simply running out of ideas. Gone are the insightful, twisted trivia and clever asides that once peppered his novels. Here, we’re left with repetitive dialogue that dilutes the impact of the narrative and any chance of connection with the characters.

The characters themselves—typically a saving grace in Palahniuk’s worlds—are flat. Otto and Cecil are self-indulgent, shallow, and virtually unchanging throughout the story. Their psychopathy lacks the nuanced edge of Palahniuk’s earlier protagonists, and instead, the brothers come across as hollow caricatures. Their antics seem designed solely to elicit shock rather than offer any real commentary. It’s hard to sympathize or even find intrigue in characters so lacking in complexity. Palahniuk’s knack for dissecting and humanizing dark, twisted psyches seems absent, leaving us with a cast that feels more grotesque than compelling.

Adding to the frustration is the lack of a coherent plot. What storyline exists feels derivative, a watered-down version of Fight Club without the depth. The book reads like a series of darkly comic skits with Otto and Cecil at the center, but there’s no overarching conflict or development. This structure—episodic and staccato—prevents the reader from becoming fully immersed or invested, and by the time Palahniuk hints at the novel’s purported theme of addiction in the afterword, it feels like an afterthought, tacked on to lend some semblance of meaning.

For long-time fans, this book is a tough pill to swallow. Many remember Palahniuk’s glory days, when his “edgy” style came with wit and a message, no matter how darkly delivered. But Not Forever, But For Now feels like it’s all edge and no center. Those shocking elements that once served as vehicles for exploring society’s flaws now feel like shock for shock’s sake. Readers who have followed his work for years—some since the early 2000s—are feeling more disappointed than disturbed, lamenting the loss of the writer who once brought so much raw, meaningful provocation to the page.

Ultimately, Not Forever, But For Now may appeal to those who can stomach its graphic content and relentless absurdity. It’s not a book for the faint-hearted or anyone expecting to find a redeeming arc within its twisted storyline. If you’re a die-hard Palahniuk fan, you may want to approach this one with caution; if you’re new to his work, there are better starting points.

As one reviewer aptly put it, reading this book feels “like a fever dream of nonsense trying to be something.” Palahniuk is undoubtedly talented, but in Not Forever, But For Now, that talent seems buried beneath layers of gratuitous grotesquerie, leaving readers wondering if he’s lost touch with the insightful, acerbic commentary that once made him a literary icon.

For those who remain undeterred, this book is available at your local library—and perhaps that’s the best place for it. No need to add this one to the shelf. It’s unlikely you’ll want to revisit it.

Book Summary and Back of Cover Blurb

This is the back of cover blurb (according to GoodReads):

From the bestselling author of Fight Club comes a hilarious horror satire about a family of professional killers responsible for the most atrocious events in history and the young brothers that are destined to take over.Meet Otto and Cecil. Two brothers growing up privileged in the Welsh countryside. They enjoy watching nature shows, playing with their pet pony, impersonating their Grandfather…and killing the help. Murder is the family business after all. Downton Abbey, this is not. However, it’s not so easy to continue the family legacy with the constant stream of threats and distractions seemingly leaping from the hedgerow. First there is the matter of the veritable cavalcade of escaped convicts that keep showing up at their door. Not to mention the debaucherous new tutor who has a penchant for speaking in Greek and dismembering sex dolls. Then there’s Mummy’s burgeoning opioid addiction. And who knows where Daddy is. He just vanished one day after he and Mummy took a walk in the so called “Ghost Forest.” With Grandfather putting pressure on Otto to step up, it becomes clear that this will all end in only two a nuclear apocalypse or just another day among the creeping thistle and tree peonies. And in a novel written by Chuck Palahniuk, either are equally possible.

– Not Forever, But For Now (GoodReads)

Currently it has 717 reviews, and 4,059 ratings on GoodReads with an average global rating of 3.10 (as of 11.8.24). It was first published on September 5th, 2023.

Book Review: “Not Forever, But For Now” by Chuck Palahniuk – A Disheartening Foray into the Grotesque

(The following is my full book review. It is quite long and lengthy.)

It’s been a long time since I truly enjoyed a Chuck Palahniuk book—my last favorite being Pygmy in 2009. Perhaps it’s because he’s changed, or maybe I have. Palahniuk, who made his mark with sharp, transgressive fiction, seems to have lost his edge in a way that’s less about maturity and more about shock tactics growing stale. His latest book, Not Forever, But For Now, was a chore, one that feels more like a caricature of his earlier work than an actual evolution of it.

A Lackluster Attempt at Shock Value

If Palahniuk is trying to provoke, he’s doing it in the most uninspired way. Not Forever, But For Now features two depraved brothers, Otto and Cecil, who come from a family of hitmen and pass their time committing heinous acts with nihilistic indifference. Rather than being cleverly subversive or thought-provoking, the book relies heavily on crass depictions of taboo topics—incest, necrophilia, and casual violence—served up without much nuance or narrative purpose.

The book is awash in repetitive language. Every mention of “having a go” or “having it off”—phrases meant to stand in for sexual acts—is jarringly overused, coming across more like a gimmick than anything artistically meaningful. In fact, it happens so often that it begins to feel like padding in an already thin story. The sheer redundancy detracts from the impact of the story and draws attention away from any attempt at deeper commentary. There’s an unsettling sense that Palahniuk is merely trying to be offensive for offense’s sake, without bothering to ground it in anything substantial.

Characters that Fall Flat

Characters are central to any story, but the two brothers in Not Forever, But For Now come across as shallow and undeveloped. They seem more like grotesque caricatures than people, with no redeeming qualities or growth throughout the novel. This would be less of an issue if there were at least something intriguing about them or if the plot gave them a purpose beyond nihilistic thrill-seeking. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case here. Palahniuk has managed to make Otto and Cecil dull, despite their appalling behavior.

For longtime Palahniuk fans, this lack of compelling characters is especially disappointing. His early works, like Fight Club, succeeded not only because of their shock value but because the characters were multifaceted and served as vehicles for larger, often biting social commentary. In Not Forever, But For Now, that balance is lost. What remains are over-the-top personalities without any depth or context, making it difficult to care about anything they do.

A Plot that Never Quite Takes Off

One of the most frustrating aspects of this book is its lack of a cohesive plot. While Not Forever, But For Now flirts with themes of addiction and social alienation, it doesn’t explore them in any meaningful way. The brothers engage in disturbing acts, but these actions don’t lead anywhere. There’s no real conflict, no resolution—just a sequence of sordid scenes that feels less like a story and more like a loosely strung-together collection of vignettes.

The absence of a structured narrative is compounded by abrupt time shifts between past and present, which often make the plot hard to follow. Readers are thrown into seemingly random moments without much explanation, resulting in confusion rather than intrigue. Palahniuk’s choice to emphasize style over substance here does a disservice to his story, making the reading experience feel choppy and disjointed.

Failed Social Commentary

Palahniuk is known for his dark humor and his often scathing critique of society. However, in Not Forever, But For Now, the social commentary feels forced and hollow. The book attempts to satirize toxic masculinity and societal taboos, but the execution is lacking. Instead of examining or challenging these themes, the novel simply throws them at the reader without providing any real insight. The gratuitous violence and sexual references come across more as shock-jock material than as an effort to convey anything substantive.

There’s a moment near the end where Palahniuk hints that the book is really about addiction—a last-minute attempt to inject meaning. This revelation feels like an afterthought rather than an organic part of the story, and it does little to redeem the narrative. In his early works, Palahniuk was able to blend shocking content with insightful commentary on the darker sides of human nature. Here, though, he falls short, relying too heavily on lurid details without the layered critique that once made his work compelling.

A Disappointing Shift in Tone and Quality

As a longtime fan of Palahniuk’s work, I found this novel to be especially disappointing. At one time, he was so influential to me that I jokingly referred to him as “Uncle Chuck.” I’ve reread Invisible Monsters numerous times, finding new layers and nuances with each read. But Not Forever, But For Now lacks the charm and depth that made those earlier works so memorable.

Palahniuk’s writing here feels stale and formulaic, as if he’s struggling to find new ways to provoke. Rather than shocking readers with innovative ideas or unique perspectives, he’s resorting to a checklist of obscene acts, none of which carry much emotional or intellectual weight. The book’s tone is weary, almost desperate—like Palahniuk is trying to prove he can still be edgy, but without any of the conviction or purpose that marked his earlier work.

Final Thoughts

Not Forever, But For Now is, ultimately, a disappointing entry in Palahniuk’s bibliography. While it contains some of the hallmarks of his style—dark humor, transgressive themes, and a bleak worldview—it fails to bring these elements together in a satisfying way. The characters are unlikable and one-dimensional, the plot is fragmented, and the social commentary feels shallow.

For those who are new to Palahniuk’s work, I wouldn’t recommend starting here. His earlier books, like Fight Club or Invisible Monsters, showcase his ability to blend shock value with genuine insight into the human condition. Longtime fans might still be curious, but they should approach this one with tempered expectations. Not Forever, But For Now is, unfortunately, a reminder that even the most daring authors can fall into the trap of trying too hard to be provocative, ultimately sacrificing substance for style.

This one-star experience feels like a requiem for what Palahniuk’s writing once was—a visceral, uncompromising voice that’s since devolved into empty, tiresome provocation. For now, I’ll stick to revisiting his older work, holding on to the memory of the author he used to be.

My ratings:
GoodReads Rating: * out of *****
Global Average Rating: 3.10 (as of 11.8.24)
LibraryThing Rating: 1.5 out of 5

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Ok…. first off…. let me begin by getting something off my chest: in no uncertain terms F^#& Lanternflies! Straight up. From whatever demonic level of Dante’s hell they came from, they can head right back there. F&*!& them. Hard.

Deep breath.

Sigh.

Deep breath.

Sigh.

1…. 2….. 3….. 4….. Serenity Now.

Ok. Better, lets move on!

This review is one of irony / juxtaposition / bad coincidence / happenstance / or some other kind of term that I’m lacking the knowledge of or remembering that could aptly fit. Not really in a pleasant or good way either unfortunately. This is part of the ‘recognization’ issue of psychology (to some degree). Where, once you buy a Yellow Truck (lets say)… you suddenly start to notice every other Yellow Truck on the road, where before you never noticed them, and you now start to think they are everywhere.

But, given that these little buggers are an infestation, it goes a bit above that. Or a bit beyond that. They are definitely now everywhere in the area. Unfortunately. And detrimentally so too. So its no surprise that I’ve now begun to “see them all over the place”, sadly. I will be doing an article soon on spotted lanternflies, and ways to spot them, get rid of them, kill them, and report them. So be sure to look out for that soon.

Wednesday I had gotten the EO (early out) from work, stopped at the Hershey Public Library to pick up some books (said books in picture above) and around 2:30 sat down to enjoy a nice cold adult beverage while reading. Deciding to crack my last remaining ‘Unicorns Stomping Lanternflies’ that I had picked up from our Reading Trip back on my birthday.

Used my new Brew Barons glass I had gotten from the Brew Barons app (review forthcoming), and sat and read Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “Between The World and Me” and Fight Club 3 by Chuck Palahniuk.

Here, I will do the review, after the beer review, stay tuned for why I say its (sadly) ironic / coincidental / unfortunate juxtaposition / or some other term that is currently alluding me but is on the tip of my tongue (I believe its a French term similar to deja vu). (I think you probably have an idea of what I’m getting at though).

Beer: Unicorns Stomping Lanternflies
Brewery: Saucony Creek Brewing Company
Style: IPA – New England
ABV: 7.5%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: The return of Unicorns Stomping Lanterflies – crushable NEIPA with a blend of hops giving a sunny citrus shine and subtle soft sweetness brings a perfect pint of bug slaying delight.

Color is a nice yellow to golden hazy hue. It has everything that looks just like an IPA (New England variant) should have. Beautiful golden, hazy look it; a nice foamy rich creamy white head to it; dispersed bubbles, varying sizes, everything a well crafted beer should have. It looks like a beer you want to drink…. so why… not … drink it?

Lets get to the aroma before we dive in… act like we’re actually beer connoisseurs and not just drunkards or something. This smells juicy, it smells citrusy, smells slightly mango, but lots of juicy citrus hop notes. This smells like a beer you want to drink… so… why not…. drink it?

Ok… lets drink it. DAMN. This is crushable. This is juice and delicious and easy to quench a thirst. A four pack of this goes down super quick (I can give testament to that). Its perfect sipping, or quick drinking, or just a fun beer to enjoy. Great sitting out, reading and enjoying a beautiful day, or… for slaying stupid dumb lanternflies. It is a juicy New England IPA, through and through, very heavy citrus notes, heavy mango notes, heavy hop juice, but no hop bite (typical for a New England IPA). Some notes of pine, but very mellow, a little bit of grassyness (or should I just say grass? or does that make people think of weed?), some Earthy tones, and notes, but mostly, this is just a well rounded hoppy juicy drinkable / crushable brew. Its a 7.5%, which isn’t extreme, but higher than some IPAs people might be used to, though in the Harrisburg – Hershey Central PA area, it’s the same as Perpetual IPA (though with Perpetual IPA’s hop bite, I think its easier to take notice of the ABV than in a juicy New England IPA like this). They didn’t have this on tap when we were there at the Franklin Station brewery, but we did pick these up in cans, and out of can its wonderful. I imagine its just as delicious on tap.

My Untappd Rating: ****
Global Untappd Rating: 3.95 (as of 10.2.20)

Ok… now… moving past the review, to why I was saying its coincidental (in a bad way), the very next day, Thursday morning, 10.1.20 I came outside, and saw a dead lanternfly in a my rain barrel’s top (it has a closed container and then a top to collect some water in a puddle type thing for if you wish to keep a plant there), my rain barrel is right next to my grape vines, and when I looked at them… they were crawling with the little buggers everywhere. I leapt into action! I took pictures, I charted them and reported them to the Department of Agriculture, and I killed all of them that I saw. Shoes, lighters, everything. Burned them, swatted them, smashed them, stamped them. I was the Unicorn of Death reigning hellfire and brimstone upon these evil buggers.

I ended up cutting my grape vine back (something you should do every year, but this year I did it a bit more severely than I normally do), due to them. Luckily, in my front yard, where I keep my two hop arbors, I saw no lanternflies on my hops or the arbors, or just in the yard area. This is only about 20-30 feet from the grape vine where I found the lanternflies.

Here’s some pictures of my grape vine, and my smashing of said lanternflies:

For lunch before hiking I stopped at Troegs Craft Brewery in Hershey. While there enjoying a flight (Impending Descent, Master of Pumpkins, Hop Harvest, and Hop Cyclone), myself and the one server / waiter killed about four or five of them. Shawn Funk, a member of the Central PA Whalerz who works for Troegs said that the construction by the train tracks (located behind the brewery) has roused them up and brought them towards the brewery.

I spent Thursday hiking Swatara State Park, heading to Bordner’s Cabin on Bear Hole Trail, and seeing the trickling waterfall. While there, they had paperwork in quite a few places about lanternflies. On the trail, I only found two of them at one spot, and promptly stepped on both (they also were both dead already it appears). A few days before this, at the Casino in Grantville I saw a few in the parking lot as well. So they are definitely in the Dauphin County area. I have heard lots of reports that Lebanon County is completely swarmed with them. So be on the lookout!

Report any find you find (dead or alive) to the Department of Agriculture. Kill and smash and kill and smash all you see…. oh, and did I say, kill and smash? Do it. Kill. And. Smash. All. All. ALL. Of. Them.

I will most likely be putting up an article about Spotted Lanternflies in the near future, so be on the lookout for that, and certainly be on the lookout for them! Evil, destructive buggers!

In the meantime, go have a cold delicious beer, and cheers!

-B. Kline

It’s not every day I get to review beers that aren’t even released yet, so this is a fun change of pace. Yesterday (Wednesday, 7.8.20) was my first day off work since starting back up, and my plan was to stop at Boneshire Brew Works for a beer or two (they had Rotunda’s Wootenberries sWheat Tart – which was actually the plan for today’s beer review) and then run my errands. I had the Rotunda sWheat Tart, then the Sly Fox and Stoudt’s Black Lager collaboration, and then Justin – the head brewer at Tattered Flag stopped out to join me at Boneshire Brew Works after he got done at work.

Needless to say, I never ran my errands.

Justin left around 8:45ish or so, and I ended up leaving a bit after around 9-930ish. After that, I went do D. Scott’s place to drink some of the new beers and hang out, we enjoyed the Going Rogue sour and the Flavor Guided Juice Missile (regular version). We watched the latest Halloween (from a few years back) and Friday the 13th, Part V.

Justin was telling me it was a long day of canning at Tattered Flag and doing the behind the scenes stuff for Bart’s Hop Hedz Gear promotion with the beers. Speaking of that promotion, you can watch their video here:

Bart does a great job of being entertaining and funny with his promotions, in-person and online. So always be sure to check him out and check out his store – Hop Hedz Gear.

So, this friday (tomorrow – 7.10.20) Tattered Flag is releasing three of those pictured; the ones done in promotion with Hop Hedz Gear. They are: Going Rogue (Sour Fruited), Flavor Guided Juice Missile (IPA) and Flavor Guided Juice Missile DDH w/Guava (Double Dry Hopped IPA). Mercenaries of Juice will get released the following friday (7.17.20).

Beer: Going Rogue
Brewery: Tattered Flag
Style: Sour – Fruited
ABV: 6%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: Sour ale conditioned on raspberry puree, cinnamon, vanilla, and lactose.

Apologies for the bad picture above, but it was a long night and D. Scott’s basement (where his studio is set up and the TVs are) has some poor lighting when we’re not doing the streaming or podcasts or YouTube videos. But, anyway, this is a pretty reddish / pinkish to purplish sour. Big foamy head to it, lot of carbonation, with a nice dark sour look to it. Creamy appearance. Nice carbonation. Nice interspersed bubbles.

The nose for this is very heavy raspberry. With hints of the cinnamon sticking out as you take your first whiffs before sipping. You get a sense of the lactose, but nothing definable as far as that goes. The majority of the aroma on this bad boy is the raspberry, and its very powerful and upfront, like a good sour should be.

This is a delicious sour. Its tart, not extremely sour, but just downright tasty. The cinnamon hits a bit hard, so if you’re not into that ‘bite’ this might be off-putting, but its not major detraction or problem even for non-cinnamon fans I would think. The raspberry is incredibly tasty and the most potent part of this beer. This tastes and feels like a big strong beer, but its only 6% so it’s actually quite a bit lighter than you would think. The vanilla and lactose rounds it out nicely, smoothing the cinnamon edges, and making it a smoother and slicker beer. This will make for a wonderful four pack of sippers on the porch in this hot weather. You and a buddy could each crack two of these and enjoy a nice hour or so of socially distanced time together on the porch in the hot sun discussing if there will be a baseball season this year or not (and discuss how bad the Phils will do, at least we know they can’t lose more than sixty games this year). From appearance, to nose, to taste, this is a great beer.

My Untappd Rating: ****
Global: I was the first to check it in, so there’s no other ratings yet.

Be sure to be on the lookout for this tomorrow at Tattered Flag. Released with the two Flavor Guided Juice Missiles as well. This will be a great release, and make sure to check out the video Bart produced for Hop Hedz Gear. This will definitely not be a release you will want to miss out on.

I want to thank Justin for the beers, was a nice surprise and drop, and was great hanging out with you at Boneshire. Always great to get beers fresh off the canning line. I will likely have the review of the Flavor Guided Juice Missile tomorrow to accompany this review. I was thinking of doing this as a multi-beer review, but I figured I’d split it up into a few beer reviews due to their release and all. So be on the lookout tomorrow for the Flavor Guided Missile review. Also, since I switched it up, be on the lookout in the near future for the Rotunda Wootenberries sWheat Tart review as well.

I do also want to point out that I edited the home page and start of the blog. So please be sure to check that out at HOME PAGE and let us know what you think of the changes. The top is now more navigable and there’s more easily accessible links, as well as links right to our social media accounts. Also, the font has been changed, and I hope its more readable and flowing. Not that there was anything wrong with our old font or that it was unreadable, but I just like this new font a bit more. But all the same, let us know what you think of the changes. Good or bad. Love to hear from you guys. Thanks!

Cheers all!

-B. Kline

This is Karl Larson’s first beer (or art, or contribution, or… insert your word of choice here) that I’m getting to review or write about for the blog. Its a long time in coming, and if you know Karl, you know his amazing ability at brewing, his love of home brewing, and teaching about beer and brewing, and his open heart and willingness to share and give. Back at the Ffej of July ’19 we had discussed about me reviewing his award winning homebrew but sadly things didn’t work out that I got a chance to try it and review it.

I’ve known Karl now for quite a while, probably roughly five years or so, dating back to a homebrew competition or event or some such thing where I got to meet him and hang out and chat with him. Its been great seeing him every time and getting to sample his various homebrews. And then him doing small batches for Boneshire Brew Works (the old Piglet series) were all fantastic. So its great to get to see him brewing on the small batch system at Newfangled Brew Works. So on release day of his first beer for them, I had to stop out and try it (after all it is sorta.. kinda… not really… on my way home from work).

He also just released another beer with Newfangled (the plan I believe is a new one each week). I sadly have yet to try the new one, and I imagine its gone by now. I know the Loki didn’t last long (I think it might have lasted into Wednesday, but thats it). So be on the lookout for small batch releases from Karl every Tuesday at Newfangled Brew Works. I don’t believe they even update their Untappd list to include it (I know the Loki wasn’t listed, I had to search for it). You won’t be disappointed!

Beer: Loki – Wild IPA
Brewery: Newfangled Brew Works
Brewer: Karl Larson
Style: IPA – Farmhouse
ABV: 6%
IBU: 30
Untappd Write-Up: IPA with Voss Kveik and Brett yeast blend. Dry hopped with Citra, Callista and Ariana hop blend.

This isn’t a sour IPA, but its getting towards that range. Its a tart Saison esque IPA.

Appearance is light hue, golden, lighter than a typical West Coast IPA, more in the appearance of Saisons and Farmhouse Ales. Nice carbonation with a good bit of foamy head that retains a fair amount of time. And as per typical with a well crafted beer, good interspersed bubbles of varying sizes. Lacing on the glass.

Aroma is interesting, its got the hoppy smell of an IPA, but that unique spice of a Saison / Farmhouse. You definitely pick up the wheat notes and the Kveik and Brett yeast plays into this too. You get a bit of coriander / orange peel like smell that rounds out the hoppy aromatics.

This is a delicious beer. This has the tartness of a Saison but the hoppyness of an IPA. You get a delicious blend from the hops too, both aromatically and tastefully on your tongue. Get notes of coriander, dry stone fruit, little bit of earthyness to it all. A slight musky earthy undertone. The body is deep and complex and full, not watery or thin, and lays great on your tongue and mouth as you drink. Even with the tart and hop it all combines nicely and at only 6% its easily crushable. Would be a fantastic six-pack beer. The Kveik and Brett yeasts add a very complex and complicated system for the beer that really entices you to drink more. Very very tasty, shame its gone so quick.

My Untappd Rating: ****.25
Global Untappd Rating: 3.97 (as of 2.15.20)

As always, I cannot recommend Karl Larson’s stuff enough. Fantastic brewer and even more fantastic guy. If you see him (and he is completely hard to miss at 6′ 20 inches) make sure you let him know just how good his stuff is. He’ll thank you and probably try and get you to adopt a pit bull. (I recommend doing that as well.)

As always everyone, keep on drinking and reading, enjoy and cheers!

-B. Kline