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#1. Dillston by Boneshire Brew Works

#2. Harrishire by Boneshire BrewWorks

#3. Mango Guyabano sWheat Tart by Rotunda Brewing Company

#4. Guava Lemonade Kettle Sour by Newfangled Brew Works

#5. Caucus Race 6.0 (Zappa Hops) by Boneshire Brew Works

#6. Juicy Fruit sWheat Tart by Rotunda Brewing Company

#7. Good Walk Spoiled by Boneshire Brew Works

#8. Reve Coffee Stout by Parish Brewing Company

#9. The Road Less Traveled by Boneshire Brew Works

#10. Ghost in the Machine by Parish Brewing Company (J. Doncevic’s Review)

Thank you for taking a look back over this second listicle. These are fun to create and hopefully give new viewers and readers a chance to look back on some of our older posts. Like I always say, we always enjoy hearing from you guys, any comments, questions, or suggestions are more than welcome. You can reply in the individual blog posts, or you can use the contact form and message us directly. Use the like the button to let us know what blog posts are your favorite, and share on social media to let others know about certain beers. We appreciate it all. We are here for you – the readers – guys, thanks so much!

-The Beer Thrillers Staff

Finally, my turn to get to review this wonderful gem of a beer. J. Doncevic got to review it first, and his review can be found here: J. Doncevic’s Ghost in the Machine Beer Review. It is an excellent read and if you are reading this I highly recommend taking the minute or two to jump over and read his perspective on the beer as well.

Whereas Josh got his Ghost in the Machine from Tavour, I was lucky and got mine in a beer trade (having traded some Boneshire Brew Works, Tattered Flag, Troegs, and Pizza Boy) to get locals from a wonderful lady in Mississippi (thanks Brooke!).

I’ve been dying to try this as its been a highly regarded beer by many people I know, in the industry, in trade and beer groups (like Central PA Whalers), even some of my co-workers who use Tavour and stuff have been gushing about it. It is just one of those “must try” sough after beers, and I am glad to have finally gotten to check it off my beer wish (bucket) list.

And thankfully, compared to some of my bucket list beers, this didn’t disappoint at all!

Beer: Ghost in the Machine
Brewery: Parish Brewing Co.
Style: IPA – Imperial / Double
ABV: 8.5%
IBU: 100
Untappd Write-Up: Welcome to the future. Our collective human consciousness, or Ghost in the Machine, has gained a tolerance for hops beyond what mankind has ever known before. This Double India Pale Ale is the necessary outcome.
Year: 2019

Firstly, this was way too easy of a drink on a super hot 95 degree mid-day when I’m supposed to be mowing. I drank it waaaaaaaaaaay too fast, it was completely crushable and I probably drank it in about 10 minutes while reading. Way too fast, and definitely makes me wish I had a whole six pack to fully enjoy just how good it is, because it is just that, way too good!

It poured wonderfully from the bottle, leaving a beautiful fluffy head with great retention. The look is just beautiful, straw color, golden hue, and just a gorgeous looking beer. The carbonation is perfect and the head is great with good bubbles.

Aroma is spot on Double IPA. Hoppy, very hoppy, just nothing but hops. And this is the non-DDH version. I can only imagine the hop aroma from the DDH version. (After drinking this, I instantly added the DDH version to my wish list / bucket list. Wink wink if anyone …you know…. wink wink….).

But taste is where this baby really shines. Its wonderful, so smooth, so fresh, so refreshing, so wonderfully delicious that I had this glass drained in ~10 minutes. Perfect on a hot day. Didn’t even feel the 8.5%…. for …. about fifteen minutes later, until the heat and booze kicked in and I just sat there reading thinking… do I really want to mow? (Sadly, the answer is, not “yes” but “need to”, and so I am, while writing this blog, interleaving the two to give my body and fingers a rest alternately.)

It has a fantastic hop profile that has no bitterness and just a wonderful pine and citrus at the same time that comingles and works perfectly and tastes absolutely delicious. Just a joyful drink that will make you wanting to go back for more and more!

My Untappd Rating: ****.5
Global Untappd Rating: 4.28 (as of 8.22.19)
2019 Variant Rating: 4.41 (as of 8.22.19)
And for comparison’s sake, J. Doncevic’s rating: ****.5

Definitely go and check out his review here: https://thebeerthrillers.home.blog/2019/08/04/beer-review-ghost-in-the-machine-parish-brewing-co/ to compare our two thoughts and reviews on the beer.

Amazingly, without even checking his beer review out (since the first time I read it when he published it) I ended up scoring this the same as he did, exact same rating. Do we have identical tastes and thoughts? Who knows, we’ll have to try and co-review some more beers in the future and see!

(And once again, for those curious, the books featured behind the beer this time are:
* Foxtrot : The Best of Foxtrot Vol. 1
* Master & Apprentice [still!]
* Brief Answers to the Big Questions
All from the Hershey Public Library.)

Keep on sippin on folks!

-B. Kline

The Brew

Beer: Ghost In The Machine
Brewery: Parish Brewing Company
Style: IPA – Imperial/Double
ABV: 8.5%
IBU: 100
Untappd Description: “Welcome to the future. Our collective human consciousness, or Ghost in the Machine, has gained a tolerance for hops beyond what mankind has ever known before. This Double India Pale Ale is the necessary outcome.”
Enjoy In: Teku or Harmony Tumbler
Enjoy At: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit

The Review

Ghost In The Machine is one beer that I have been wanting and waiting to get my hands on since I found out about it. Hang around any beer circle long enough and eventually Parish of Ghost will pop up in conversation. Fortunately for me, Tavour was that beer nerd, and a notification showed up on my phone that bottles were available for purchase. Hot dang! Another Untappd wish list item can be crossed off.

Let’s start with the color, which for something that was bottled on 6/24/19 is actually quite amazing. Ghost In The Machine is classified as an Imperial/Double IPA, but is it really? According to Parish, GITM is a Double New England IPA (Double Hazy IPA for the West Coast), but that classification isn’t official…yet. Considering all of this, the pastel orange liquid cannot be seen through.

In terms of mouthfeel and taste, Ghost exhibits a soft, grapefruit forward bite that evolves into a dry, bitter finish. The bitterness is not excessive and compliments the fruit notes which are just prominent enough to make a second sip all but required. Per style, the tasting notes land it squarely in the Double IPA range, making this a good example.

I would like to point out that Ghost In The Machine is often compared to two other very heavy hitters: 3 Floyd’s “Zombie Dust”, and Toppling Goliath’s Pseudo Sue. In truth this is not a fair comparison and it has nothing to do with bias or the breweries. What it actually comes down to is style. Zombie Dust and Pseudo Sue are both Pale Ales, while Ghost is an Imperial/Double IPA.

Did I like Ghost In The Machine? Yes. GITM is a very solid beer and punches well within the Double IPA group. Would I recommend this beer? Yes, but not to everyone. This will satisfy the beer drinker looking for an IPA that offers more citrus up front, a little sweetness and has a bit more weight to its body.

My Untappd Score: ****-1/2
Global Rating: 4.29 (as of 8/4/19)

PROST!

J.Doncevic

(Post script: Fellow writer B.Kline on The Beer Thrillers also just reviewed [on 8.22.19] Ghost in the Machine by Parish Brewing Co., the review by B.Kline can be found here: B. Kline’s Ghost in the Machine Review.)