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Going back in time to the 90s in Mount Joy: The Fresh Brews of Mount Joy Brewfest

AmyMWolfe — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 20:32:39 +0000

Going back in time to the 90s in Mount Joy: The Fresh Brews of Mount Joy Brewfest

or – we took a trip to a brewfest and had a ‘kickin’ good time, one that was rad to the max!

Tasting cups from The Fresh Brews of Mount Joy brewfest

VIP Beerfest tickets –Check

Babysitter secured –Check

Uber ordered –Let’s Go!

We are ready to have a good time. We made our way to the Fresh Brews of Mount Joy hosted by Yah Brew Hershey, Yah Brew Mount Joy and Voyage Mount Joy. This was also part of a fundraiser with part of the proceeds benefiting “Donegal Athletic Club” which helps support the needs of our local athletes.

Like all things YAH Brew style, it hit heavy on the 90s nostalgia. Even each brewery announcement on social media was doing a nostalgic reference to the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” throwback. And yes, I have had that song in my head while writing this entire article!

It was only the day of the event I took notice to the wear your best 90s themed attire. I couldn’t think of anything that fit this goal so I went with my fav beer shirt. My baby daddy luckily received a Homer Simpson T shirt for Christmas from a wonderful woman, so he wore that.

(See our article: The Fresh Brews of Mount Joy – Upcoming Brewfest on April 26th, 2025)

Even one of the gals pouring beer quizzed us. “ I came to drop bombs. I got more rhymes than the bible’s got psalms” Who is the artist? I can immediately guessed “biggie”. I heard it in his voice when I repeated it in my head. But I was very wrong…”House of Pain, Jump Around.” So now that song is in your head, eh?

What got our attention to attend this event despite all the other events was the stellar lineup.

The brewery lineup for the Fresh Brews brewfest

After walking up and down the blocked off street the Beerfest looked like everyone was in a hustle to get stuff setup but folks still taking time to chat and catch up. I didn’t get the impression that everyone knew each other, although we ran into a lot of familiar faces, but everyone there was genuinely into the beer they were drinking. A large number of the breweries attending have done collab brews together. It was like hanging out with all your beer friends while pretending the 90s weren’t more than 25 years together!

We had VIP tickets so that meant that VIP time was during the downpour. I almost felt like I was playing frogger; jumping from tent to tent to get more beer pours at my quickest pace to avoid getting drenched. But, let’s be honest, if you are giving me beer the rain doesn’t matter that much.

After the Facebook post and a friendly Beerfest goer we decided the bourbon barrel aged stout from Voodoo Brewing company was going to be our first taste of The Fresh Brews of Mount Joy. Black Magick indeed lived up to hype.

If you have been reading The Beer Thrillers for any amount of time, I think you know by now we know how to get a Beerfest started. This one comes in at a %13 ABV. It gives that slight boozy flavor but then finishes off smoothly. There is some definite magick going on with this beer!

It wasn’t long until I needed some food to soak up the beer and our first Stop was Halo’s Eatery. We split the Halo Bowl. It was delicious and paired nicely with several of the beers we enjoyed.

It wasn’t long after I couldn’t stop drooling over the bacon on a stick I saw my other Beerfest goers enjoying. We could hardly wait to chow down on the bacon and it was still very hot. Again, many beers were enjoyed while enjoying Bacon on a stick.

The kicker to the whole event was the 90s cover band. Every other person there would catch a few tunes and immediately start belting our lyrics that we could remember.

Before catching our Uber home we grabbed some Hoagies to go at Hulk Hoagies (the YAH Brewing attached hoagie shop that they run in Mount Joy), then went home to enjoy them on the coach. We ordered Sweet Chin Music (spicy) and the Rock Bottom.

Photo Dump

Here’s a big ol’ photo dump from the brewfest. Courtesy of Amy’s excellent photography skills!

I still have that song in my head!

Drink More Beer!
- Amy

Fresh Brews Brewfest

Ben jumping in here. Just want to give a big shout out to Justin and everyone from YAH Brew for all the hard work they did. The brewfest was absolutely fantastic. Rain or no rain, it was a blast, and we got to hang out with lots of great people over the course of the day, and had some “da bomb” beers. Kudos to all involved for such a job well done!

Amy’s Column Series

Brewery News

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MAPS OF BREWERIES

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The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of April 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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Some Beers to Enjoy After Voting

B. Kline — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 15:52:51 +0000

I Voted

Some Beers to Enjoy on Election Day

So you just got done voting, and what do you do now – especially if you are given the day off by work? Well drink of course! So lets take a look back at three “voting” themed beers we’ve reviewed.

I Voted for Kodos by Second Sin Brewing

I Voted for Kodos by Second Sin Brewing Company

Beer: I Voted for Kodos
Brewery: Second Sin Brewing Company
Style: IPA – New England
ABV: 6.7%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: I Voted For Kang and I Voted For Kodos, conceptually, are like two peas in a pod. They both started with the same base of 2 row malt, Malted Oats, and light Crystal. Both are supported with Galaxy and Idaho 7 hops to round out their flavor profiles.

See our beer review here: I Voted for Kodos (Second Sin Brewing Company).

I Voted for Kang (Second Sin Brewing Company)

I Voted for Kang by Second Sin Brewing Company

Beer: I Voted for Kang
Brewery: Second Sin Brewing Company
Style: IPA – New England
ABV: 6.7%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: I Voted For Kang and I Voted For Kodos, conceptually, are like two peas in a pod. They both started with the same base of 2 row malt, Malted Oats, and light Crystal. Both are supported with Galaxy and Idaho 7 hops to round out their flavor profiles.

See our beer review here: I Voted for Kang (Second Sin Brewing Company).

I Voted Today (Tired Hands Brewing)

I Voted Today by Tired Hands Brewing

Beer: I Voted Today (Simcoe and Chinook)
Brewery: Tired Hands Brewing Company
Style: Pale Ale – American
ABV: 5.6%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: Brewed with American two row barley and malted wheat, hopped with an enthusiastic dose of our very favorite American hop, Simcoe, and fermented with our house ale yeast. This batch was double dry hopped first with more of our beloved Simcoe, then again with ultra classic and punchy Chinook. 5.6% abv. Notes of sparkling orange drink, Meyer lemon, fresh cut grass, dank green stuff, and a beautiful piney bitterness to finish it of.

See our beer review: I Voted Today (Simcoe and Chinook) (Tired Hands Brewing).

Get Out and Vote

Make sure you get out to vote today! In most places the polls end at 8 PM, so you have plenty of time yet to get out there and vote. Its your Civic Duty afterall!

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

Good News Everyone, Futurama is Back: Exploring Futurama – Inspired Craft Beers

B. Kline — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 15:55:17 +0000

Futurama is Back today on HULU. Its gonna be fun on the bun, lets celebrate with some beer, and blackjack, and hookers….

We’re Back Baby

Good News Everyone! Futurama is back baby! And its going to be fun on the bun! Starting today, July 24th 2023, Futurama is back on Hulu!

Slated for two seasons of 10 episodes each and airing weekly (rather than a full season drop), Futurama has returned for the fourth time. This time coming to the streaming service of Hulu. They are going to be aired in two seasons of 10 episodes each.

Futurama is back baby, on Hulu

A list of the episode titles and the 11th season’s scheduling can be found here: Futurama – Wikipedia. The much celebrated show makes its return after ending in 2013 (the final episode “Meanwhile” aired on September 4th, 2013).

The first season on Hulu (season 11 overall) will begin airing July 24th, 2023 and end on September 25th, 2023.

Futurama: A Sci-Fi Comedy Classic

Futurama banner logo on Hulu’s streaming app

Futurama, created by Matt Groening, the mastermind behind The Simpsons, is a science fiction animated sitcom that captured the hearts of fans with its clever writing, memorable characters, and a unique blend of humor and sci-fi elements. Set in the 31st century, the show follows the adventures of Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy who finds himself accidentally cryogenically frozen and wakes up 1,000 years later.

One of the defining aspects of Futurama is its exceptional writing, which skillfully combines sharp wit, cultural references, and intelligent humor. The show has a knack for tackling complex scientific concepts and social commentary while maintaining its light-hearted and entertaining nature. Each episode is filled with clever wordplay, puns, and rapid-fire jokes that keep audiences engaged and laughing.

At the heart of Futurama are its vibrant and lovable characters. From Fry, the bumbling yet endearing protagonist, to the no-nonsense and competent cyclops Leela, and the perpetually intoxicated robot Bender, the show boasts a diverse and colorful cast. Secondary characters like the mad scientist Professor Farnsworth, the lobster-like alien Dr. Zoidberg, and the bureaucrat Hermes Conrad add depth and comedic charm to the ensemble.

Beyond its comedic brilliance, Futurama also excels in creating a rich and detailed futuristic world. From the bustling cityscape of New New York to the eccentric inhabitants of other planets, the show presents a visually captivating and imaginative universe. It seamlessly blends futuristic technology, intergalactic travel, and clever social commentary to create a satirical yet oddly relatable portrayal of the future.

Futurama’s storytelling prowess is further enhanced by its ability to balance episodic adventures with overarching narratives. It seamlessly weaves together comedy, science fiction, romance, and even moments of genuine emotion. The show tackles themes of love, friendship, existentialism, and the human condition, all while keeping audiences entertained with its trademark humor.

With its sharp writing, memorable characters, and thought-provoking narratives, Futurama has garnered a dedicated fan base that continues to grow even after the show’s original run. Its cult status and enduring popularity have led to numerous references and homages in various forms of media, including the world of craft beer.

Futurama’s unique blend of science fiction, comedy, and heartfelt storytelling has left an indelible mark on pop culture. It has become a beloved classic, celebrated for its creativity, humor, and ability to entertain audiences of all ages. As craft breweries embrace the imaginative world of Futurama, they pay homage to the show’s legacy by creating beers that capture its essence, making it a delightful experience for fans and beer enthusiasts alike. So, raise a glass to the timeless brilliance of Futurama and prepare to embark on a beer-drinking adventure that transcends time and space!

Brews of the Future: Beers Showcased in Futurama

Various beers shown on Futurama (my favorite might be Klein’s Beer)

Futurama, with its attention to detail and love for all things futuristic, often featured various alcoholic beverages throughout the show. These fictional libations gave viewers a glimpse into the creative minds of the show’s writers and provided a humorous backdrop for the characters’ escapades. Let’s take a look at some notable beers showcased in Futurama:

Olde Fortran

Olde Fortran, a beloved recurring beer on the show, is a classic example of the show’s humorous take on everyday life in the future. As a play on the outdated programming language “Fortran,” this beer serves as a nod to the past while existing in the future. It’s often depicted as a cheap and low-quality beverage, with characters indulging in it during moments of relaxation or celebration.

Fudd Lite

Fudd Lite, another fictional beer seen in Futurama, is a satirical reference to popular light beers of the present day. Known for its catchy jingle “Fudd Lite, the beer that made me the man I am today,” this light beer is a parody of the marketing strategies used by real-world breweries. It showcases the show’s ability to poke fun at contemporary consumer culture while creating a distinctive brand within its own universe.

Benderbräu

Bender Brau

In the episode “The Route of All Evil,” Bender, the lovable bending unit, decides to start his own brewery and creates his signature beer called Benderbräu. Although the recipe and brewing process are not explicitly revealed, Benderbräu is known for its distinct flavor and high alcohol content. This fictional beer captures the rebellious and mischievous spirit of its namesake character.

Klein’s Beer

The bottle is called a Kleins Bottle. A Klein-bottle is is based on Möbius loops (one-dimensional surfaces), and is a two-dimensional manifold. It’s a bit difficult to describe in lay man’s terms, but this site has excellent information about Klein bottles.

The joke is that Klein bottles can’t exist in our 3-dimensionel universe (they need four dimensions), but in the future they apparently found a way to produce them.

LoBrau

LoBrau Beer

A brand of beer that was sold in both the 20th and 31st centuries, possibly all throughout the millennium. Its name parodies Löwenbräu beer which is very popular in the United States; it is also a play on words of the phrase “low brow”, which describes a person who has uncultivated or nonintellectual tastes.

Pabst Blue Robot

A 3,000 variant of Pabst Blue Ribbon perhaps? Or a whole new brand? A brand of beer, presumably specifically designed for robots. Consumption by humans is inadvisable due to the presence of throat-bloodying metal shavings. It is a play on “Pabst Blue Ribbon,” a popular beer.

Sam Adams’ Head Boston Lager

Sam Adams Head Boston Lager

Another modern day beer nod, this time to Sam Adams Boston Lager. Incorporating the head museum and the idea of Sam Adam’s Head brewing the beer.

St. Pauli Exclusion Principle Girl

A brand of beer. A dual reference to a quantum mechanics principle (Pauli Exclusion Principle) and real beer brand St. Pauli Girl.

Maltese Liquor

Maltese Liquor is the strongest and most valuable malt liquor ever brewed. It is so strong, that consuming it is fatal to anyone but Robots and Billy Dee Williams, as it causes death of the brain cells. It was also stated to be 210 proof, an impossibly high alcohol content (this would be 105% alcohol by volume).

A bottle of the liquor was kept in Hedonismbot‘s mansion. Bender attempted to steal this bottle, but his plan was foiled by Pickles, who drank its contents.

(For more Futurama Alcoholic Beverages check out this link: List of Futurama Alcoholic Beverages)

Slurm

While not an alcoholic drink, the most notable and known drink from the Futurama universe is Slurm. (An equivalent in modern times would be Mountain Dew or possibly the new energy drinks.)

Slurm, the number-one soft drink of the future, is refreshingly addictive. It is produced in a factory on the planet Wormulon by a race known only as the Slurm Worms. Their corporate mascot is Slurms MacKenzie, “The Original Party Worm”. However, the Planet Express crew discovered it actually comes from a giant worm‘s behind.

Fry is a huge Slurm fan, and rarely goes more than 12 minutes without one.

Slurm, the quintessential fictional beverage of the Futurama universe, is a carbonated soft drink that has become an icon of the show. While not technically a beer, Slurm is often associated with partying and excessive indulgence. It is marketed as a highly addictive and sought-after beverage, with its neon green color and unique taste captivating the characters and viewers alike. Although it’s not a beer, it has undoubtedly left a lasting impression on the show’s fans.

Futurama Alcoholic Drinks

These fictional beers and beverages are just a taste of the creative and humorous world-building found in Futurama. They showcase the show’s ability to infuse everyday elements with a futuristic twist, adding to the overall charm and whimsy of the series. While these beverages may exist only in the animated realm, they have become iconic symbols of the show’s ability to blend comedy, satire, and imaginative storytelling.

As we explore the world of Futurama-inspired craft beers, it’s exciting to see how breweries draw inspiration from these fictional libations, paying homage to the show’s legacy while bringing their own creative spin to the brews. So, raise a glass to the imaginative concoctions of Futurama and get ready to savor the flavors of the future, even if they’re just in the realm of your favorite animated series.

The Route of All Beer: Bender Brau in Futurama

Fry, Bender, and Leela from The Route of All Evil

In the Futurama episode aptly titled “The Route of All Evil,” Bender, the lovable bending unit with a penchant for mischief, embarks on an entrepreneurial adventure in the brewing industry. In this episode, Bender and his best friend Fry decide to start their own brewery and create a beer that bears the name “Benderbräu.”

The Birth of Benderbräu

As Bender and Fry dive headfirst into the brewing process, chaos naturally ensues. Mixing questionable ingredients, including hazardous materials like plutonium and a random turtle, their brewing methods are far from conventional. Despite their lack of expertise, they manage to produce a batch of Benderbräu, a beer that captures the essence of Bender himself – rebellious, bold, and full of character.

The Rise and Fall of Benderbräu

With Bender’s charismatic personality and Fry’s marketing skills, they quickly find success as Benderbräu gains popularity in the market. However, their path to riches takes a tumultuous turn when they discover the consequences of their beer’s secret ingredient – a dangerous and addictive substance known as “Mom’s Old-Fashioned Robot Oil.” As their customers become addicted, chaos ensues, and Bender and Fry must confront the consequences of their actions.

Lessons Learned and Unforgettable Memories

While their brewing endeavor ends in disaster, the episode highlights the enduring friendship between Bender and Fry. As they navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship, they learn valuable lessons about the importance of responsibility, integrity, and the dangers of cutting corners for personal gain.

“The Route of All Evil” serves as a humorous commentary on the perils of unchecked capitalism, addiction, and the pursuit of wealth at any cost. It also showcases the show’s ability to infuse social commentary into its comedic storytelling, using the brewing industry as a backdrop for satirical exploration.

This memorable episode not only provides laughs but also offers a glimpse into the imaginative world of Futurama. It showcases the show’s ability to take everyday concepts, like beer production, and give them a futuristic twist filled with wit, charm, and unexpected turns.

As we raise our glasses to Benderbräu and the adventures of Bender and Fry, let’s remember the enduring legacy of this Futurama episode – a reminder that dreams, even when fueled by questionable ingredients, can lead to unforgettable journeys and valuable life lessons.

(Note, some of this episode recap uses comics and other tertiary information on the Futurama universe including writer interviews, as well as also some indulgent fan theories and extrapolation of the episode. Its also not discussing the main plot of Qubert, and his attempts at starting his own paper route with Dwight.)

Cheers to the Future: Exploring Futurama-Inspired Craft Beers

Welcome to the future of craft beer! Today, we’re diving into the exciting world where Futurama, the beloved animated series, meets the creativity of craft breweries. Get ready for a whimsical journey as we explore a selection of Futurama – themed craft beers that pay homage to our favorite characters and moments from the show. From Slurm to Bender’s Brew, grab your favorite pint glass and join us on this intergalactic beer adventure!

This section of the article we are going to look at some ways that craft breweries have explored the themes of Futurama. From pop up Robot Hells that some breweries have (re)created and more to Futurama themed ingredients, named beers, etc.

Slurm Sippers and the Quest for the Ultimate Buzz

Slurm – the iconic fictional soda from Futurama – has inspired craft breweries to recreate its magic in the form of a tantalizing beer. With its neon green hues and a flavor that’s both sweet and tangy, Slurm-themed craft beers are a hit among fans. Breweries have experimented with sour ales, fruit-infused IPAs, and even Gose styles to capture the essence of this fictional beverage. Prepare to embark on a journey through the deliciously bizarre world of Slurm-infused beers!

Robot Hell’s Ales: Sinfully Good Brews

Enter the fiery depths of Robot Hell, where breweries pay tribute to one of the most memorable Futurama episodes. These devilishly delicious craft beers often feature bold flavors, rich malt profiles, and sometimes a hint of smokiness. From imperial stouts that evoke the darkness of Robot Hell to spicy chili-infused brews that mimic the heat of the fiery underworld, these beers are not for the faint of heart. Indulge your taste buds and unleash your inner Bender with these sinful ales!

“Bender’s Brau” – Embrace Your Inner Robot

When it comes to Futurama, no character is as memorable as the witty and mischievous Bender. Breweries have embraced his larger-than-life personality by creating beers that bear his name. “Bender’ Brau” captures the spirit of the robot with its bold and brash flavors. Expect hop-forward IPAs, robust porters, or even a smooth and smoky rauchbier that pays homage to Bender’s love for cigars and mischief. Take a sip, and you might just find yourself uttering “Bite my shiny metal ass!”

“Planet Express” – Beers That Deliver Out-of-This-World Taste

Just like the trusty delivery crew of Planet Express, these craft beers promise an unforgettable journey. Inspired by the futuristic company, “Planet Express” beers are often adventurous and diverse. From Belgian-style tripels that transport you to far-off galaxies to experimental ales with unconventional ingredients, these brews embody the spirit of exploration and discovery. Raise a glass to the interstellar adventures of Fry, Leela, and the gang with these out-of-this-world libations!

And So Much More….

As craft beer enthusiasts and Futurama fans, we’re fortunate to witness the fusion of these two incredible worlds. Breweries across the galaxy are tapping into the creativity and quirkiness of the show to bring us a range of Futurama-inspired craft beers. From the neon green allure of Slurm to the devilishly delightful Robot Hell’s Ales, and the adventurous delights of “Bender’s Brau” and “Planet Express,” these beers add a touch of intergalactic excitement to our beer-drinking experiences. So, whether you’re a die-hard Futurama fan or simply looking to explore unique and imaginative brews, grab a six-pack of these Futurama-themed craft beers and raise a glass to the future!

Remember, always drink responsibly, and may your love for craft beer and Futurama continue to collide in the most delightful ways. Cheers to the future, my friends!

Futurama and Craft Beer

Lets get right down to it and find some craft beers with Futurama themed names!

In the upcoming weeks I am going to be reviewing some for the blog (one each week on Mondays to tie in with the Futurama releases). So I will be keeping those specific beers off this list so as to keep them as a surprise.

But here is some others that I won’t be reviewing, so you can see them now:

Zappa Brannigan by The Rambling Root

This is an American Pale Ale clocking in at 7% and has no IBU listed. The Untappd description reads: “This beer is built like a steakehouse, but handles like a bistro. It’s got note of Cham-paggin. It is DOOP.”

Planet Expresso by Burnt Hickory Brewery

This is a Stout – Coffee, at 9% and 10 IBU, its certainly going to give you a kick into space. The Untappd description reads: “An Italian Espresso Coffee Stout.”

Planet Express by Bent Stick Brewing

Listed as a Pilsner – Other, its a 4.5% ABV and no IBU listed hoppy pilsner. The Untappd description reads: “Galaxy Hopped Pilsner”

Good News Everyone by Mars Brewing Company

A 5% ABV, 25 IBU, Farmhouse Ale – Saison by Mars Brewing Company will surely bring the good news from the Professor to you. The Untappd description reads: “Good news everyone! Straight from our shiny metal fermentor machine, not to be confused with a robot named Bender, comes Mars Brewing’s Saison. Rustic, bright, clean, with a balanced nose of clove and fruitiness, this Saison will not disappoint.”

Why Not Zoidberg? by Niantic Public House And Brewery

After all – why not Zoidberg? This is an American IPA, with no IBU listed, and a 6.8% ABV, it’ll have you asking why not Zoidberg … and maybe Where is Zoidberg as well? The Untappd description reads: “IPA showcasing Mandarina Bavaria hops.”

Zoidberg Noise by Phantom Carriage Brewery

This is a bit more of an interesting one – an orange brut IPA. I’m always half on the fence with Brut IPAs to begin with, but the appeal of orange is there. This is a 7.5% ABV Brut IPA.

Robot House Party by Campus Brewing

Robot House!!!!!!!! (I’m sure you heard that in the Dean of Mars University’s voice, I know I did.) This is a New England / Hazy IPA, clocking in at a low 5.8% ABV and 10 IBU. The Untappd description reads: “

Our house Hazy IPA is cleaner, hoppier and more drinkable than ever.

Campus’s Creative Creatures have rebuilt the bot for optimised drinkability.

A simplified, muted malt bill gets out of the way for a boosted hop schedule featuring Simcoe, Mosaic, bio-transformed Sabro and Citra Lupomax.

Minimised bitterness and 5.8% abv bring the party whilst maintaining that classic chalky, moreish water profile that seemingly dries off the palate.”

Bender’s Brau by Turkey Forrest Brewing

Oooh a big boy for Bender! A 9.1% ABV, 37 IBU Belgian Trippel. The Untappd description says: “A complex, spicy and fruity flavor profile, which features notes of clove and banana. The addition of piloncillo adds a touch of caramel-like flavor.”

Benderbrau by Seabright Social

Here’s a different style for the list – an Altbier. Clocking in at 5.3% ABV and no IBU and no Untappd description.

Futurama by Social Kitchen and Brewery

A New England / Hazy IPA by Social Kitchen and Brewery, this is 6.7% ABV, and the description reads: “Light in color but big in flavor. We’re living in the future where soft, creamy IPAs run the world. Tons of citra and meridian hops for aromas of orange julius, melonb& bubble gum.”

Slurm by Burning Brewery

This one is coming all the way from St. Petersburg, Russia. A Fruited Sour, packing 5.5% ABV and 11 IBU. The Untappd description reads: “саур с приятной кислинкой киви и насыщенным яблоком”

Good News Everyone Its My First IPA by Bender Braus Brewing

Good News Everyone – Its My First IPA!

Nearly exactly six years ago I brewed this one my self when home brewing. (Who knows, might even have a bottle forgotten / hidden in the basement still.) I brewed a five gallon batch of this as my first IPA. I named my little home brewery “Bender Braus Brewing”, and with this being my first IPA I gave it the name of “Good News Everyone! It’s My First IPA!”.

I thought it tasted pretty well, was a bit watery, and a bit light on the mouth feel. Alex, Carson, and Alan from Boneshire Brew Works said it was ‘passable’ and a few other home brew buddies said it was a good first try / attempt at an IPA. Some of my family members enjoyed it, but who can really take them for their word right?

It ended up being a 7.09% ABV and 44 IBU IPA American. My Untappd description for it reads: “

Bender Braus Brewing’s first beer (and therefore first IPA). An American West Coast style IPA.

The grain bill consists of Pale Malt (11 lbs 8 oz), 1 lb of Caramel Malts, and 12 oz of Munich Malt Light.

The hops consists of 1 oz Chinook, 3 oz Cascade, 3 oz of Nugget (totals).

Yeast strain is WLP001 (White Labs), California Ale.

Original gravity is 1.069, and it’s a 5 gallon batch.”

More Futurama Beers To Come

Stay tuned for each week – every Monday – of the show’s run (starting next week – July 24th) for a beer (or book) review, all Futurama themed. For the first week, it will be a book review of Futurama and Philosophy, followed by a mead review from Space Time Meadery and then we’ll get into the beer reviews proper (don’t worry, I have enough for both Hulu seasons).

Futurama and Craft Beer Wrap Up

In conclusion, the marriage of craft beer and the iconic show Futurama creates a delightful fusion of creativity, humor, and imagination. The world of craft beer enthusiasts and Futurama fans alike can rejoice as breweries pay tribute to the show through unique and inventive brews. From Slurm-inspired flavors to beers named after beloved characters like Bender and the Planet Express crew, the intersection of these two realms offers an exciting and flavorful experience.

Craft breweries have embraced the opportunity to tap into the rich lore and whimsical nature of Futurama, crafting beers that capture the essence of the show. Through playful names, vibrant can art, and carefully selected ingredients, these breweries transport us to the futuristic world of New New York, where comedy and adventure await at every turn.

Beyond the novelty of Futurama-themed beers, these creations demonstrate the immense creativity and innovation within the craft beer industry. Brewers continue to push the boundaries, experiment with unique flavors, and use pop culture references to connect with consumers in new and exciting ways. Futurama serves as a source of inspiration, giving rise to beers that embody the show’s spirit and spark conversations among fans and beer enthusiasts.

Craft beer and Futurama share a common thread of community and camaraderie. Just as Futurama brought people together through its humor and relatable characters, craft beer fosters a sense of togetherness among beer lovers. From sharing a pint at a local brewery to engaging in lively discussions about the show and the beers it inspired, these experiences create lasting memories and connections.

As we raise our glasses to the future, let’s appreciate the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion behind both craft beer and Futurama. The convergence of these two worlds invites us to embark on a journey that transcends time and space, where flavors ignite our taste buds and laughter fills the air.

So, whether you’re a devoted fan of Futurama or a craft beer aficionado seeking new and exciting brews, explore the realm where these two passions collide. Celebrate the ingenuity of brewers, the brilliance of the show’s creators, and the joy that comes from sipping a Futurama-inspired craft beer. May your adventures in beer and beyond be filled with laughter, good company, and the endless possibilities that the future holds. Cheers to the delightful fusion of craft beer and Futurama!

Futurama Returns

Final reminder – Futurama returns next Monday – July 24th, 2023 – on Hulu. We will be doing weekly articles to go along with each new episode. Also look out for us doing some beer and episode reviews as well.

All of Our Nerd Content

Here’s all of our nerd content, served up best in one single place. Enjoy!

I know ya’ll here for the nerd reviews. So check out our other nerd reviews below:

Star Wars:

Futurama

Good News Everyone, Futurama is Back: Exploring Futurama – Inspired Craft Beers
Futurama – 1

Lord of the Rings:

Magic the Gathering:

New Belgium Teams Up with Magic the Gathering for Vastwood Seer IPA

Zelda:

Rick and Morty:

Beer Review: Peace Among Worlds (Cushwa Brewing Company)

Space Balls:

Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewery)

Game of Thrones:

The Simpsons:

Back to the Future:

Beer Review: Back to Reality (Three 3s Brewing Co)

Scrooged:

Beer Review: Scrooge IPA (Iron Hill Brewing)

Groundhog Day:

A Christmas Story:

The Peanuts:

Pro Wrestling:

Soccer:

World Cup:

Phillies:

Drunk Phils Fans and Rotunda Brewing Company Collaborate Together on Jam the Batter sWheat Tart

Matrix:

Matrix Monday

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

Beer Review: Terpenes in Time (BAREBottle Brewing Co)

HP Lovecraft / Cthulhu:

Beer Review: Azathoth (Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company)

Seinfeld:

Other:

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

-B. Kline

MAPS OF BREWERIES

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

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The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

Beer Review: The Soft Glow of Electric Sex (RAR Brewing)

BKline — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 23:17:41 +0000

It is Christmas Eve and there is no greater tradition on Christmas Eve than TBS airing A Christmas Story nonstop for the next 24 hours straight. TBS started this back in the fertile Nile Delta River Valley around 3996 B.C. and they have continued it every year since, all the way up to – and including – 2020. Not even a global pandemic could stop them from airing it for a continuous 6016 years. Thank God!

This one comes flying in right into the “IP” (Intellectual Property) theft debates I’ve been having with a lot of friends, from both in and out of the industry, on my personal Facebook page. Hershey’s recently sued a brewery over their marketing of Jolly Ranchers used in a beer they made. Their lawsuit was for 8,500$, which was the amount the brewery made on the beer made and sold. IP Theft has been a big issue I’ve been thinking about a lot lately with the craft beer industry, and is something I’d like to do an article on, and the Hershey’s lawsuit has given a lot of ammunition to the idea of the article (perfect timing in a way…. well… not perfect if you are the brewery in question I suppose). This is an interesting topic, and I think there’s a lot of merit to both sides. Look at this beer in question – the quote is a direct quote from the movie, and the can / bottle logo for the beer and packaging for it is spot on too, so do you consider that IP Theft? RAR Brewing is no stranger to using pop culture, nerd culture, mainstream, etc, for their beers. Look at their lineups of the “Out of Order” series. One of which I reviewed – Beer Review: Out of Order: Blue Milk (RAR Brewing). Or take a look at another one I reviewed from RAR Brewing, Jon Voight’s Car. This one has an exact replica of George Castanza on the can label, as well as having the car in question in the background. You can see that review here – Beer Review: Jon Voight’s Car (RAR Brewing).

Here is the can and bottle label for “The Soft Glow of Electric Sex”:

The Soft Glow of Electric Sex

It has the “fragile” box in the background, the lamp itself, and of course the iconic quote from the movie (which is the beer title). Where do you all stand on this – does this look like IP Theft to you? Is this fair ground? Is it just a cool and fun little cultural nod? A way to sell beers? I’d love to hear from all of you and your thoughts on this.

Like I said, I love diving into pop culture named and themed beers here for the blog. I have done – a TON – of them. (As with most of the pop culture beer reviews, I’ve included a section at the end of the review listing all of the other ones for you to easily find them, as well as tagged it so you can search through the blog itself easier for them). I’ve done beers from The Simpsons, Seinfeld, Star Wars, Back to the Future, Space Balls, etc. Josh has also done a few, with one recently being a play on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Beer Review: Terpenes in Time (BAREBottle Brewing Co), and there is no shortage of beers out there to review. My most recent beer review (before this beer of course) was “This is the Whey” by Bolero Snort, a play on “This is the Way” which is a catchphrase from The Mandalorian. (Which, I also did a This is the Way beer review, by Broken Goblet). You can see those here: “Beer Review: This is the Whey (Bolero Snort)” and “Beer Review: This is the Way (Broken Goblet)“.

I have been wanting to get out a lot more articles than I have recently, and I apologize for that, life has taken a bit of a crazy turn in recent days. I figured with the local (Pennsylvania Mandates and Shutdown) that we had starting on December 12th and lasting until January 4th, I would be able to get out a lot of beer reviews, and other articles, and I wanted to do a lot of local ones. But sadly, my life has gone ‘full crazy’ right before the Christmas season. So I sadly haven’t gotten as much written as I have had wanted to do. I have gone through a bout of several health related things, some familial things, dealing with my own second unemployment of the year, and fighting with unemployment itself, as well as a host of other things. (Firstly, let me just say, I would never wish insomnia on the worst of my enemies, that is honestly one of the worst things in the world, and its not nearly as “productive” as you might think, writing with insomnia is no where near as easy as you would imagine.) I haven’t even gotten much reading done, something I figured with a snowstorm, snowy and cold weather, as well as lockdown, that I would, but sadly, I haven’t. I’ve found my hours becoming less and less productive and more and more just me staring at walls, more and more of me just trying to figure out whats going on, and working to get past a lot of blocks in the road. Hopefully this writing and getting this beer review out will help with that. Fingers crossed anyway. Tomorrow is Christmas afterall, and we all need to be in the festive spirit, even if I am quarantining and unable to see my family and being all alone for Christmas, I am keeping my head up high, and will be wishing all of you out there a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays.

Ok, so lets move on. Lets get past that crap, and get to why we’re here. A beer review about a beer named after a holiday staple and a holiday tradition. My daughters have grown up with A Christmas Story playing on loop in the background of our Christmas’s in the house starting on Christmas Eve when it first airs. Its how I’ve fallen asleep every Christmas since I was probably 16 or 18, whenever TBS first (legitimately) did start airing it.

There is so many classic scenes, many of which remind me of my own childhood. I think I learned most of the words I now use as an adult from listening to my dad assemble various Christmas gifts (one of which was a basketball hoop we got for Christmas one year, that the instructions said could be done with the simple tools around the house; apparently my dad didn’t have a dowel rod, and he made sure to write to Huffy and explain to them in three page – five hundred or so word essay – how a dowel rod was not a common thing around the household; …they promptly shipped him a dowel rod and a 5$ coupon). I think this is why A Christmas Story stands the test of time for so many people. Its an agglomeration of stories, of all the ways Christmas can get screwed up, that it fills us with our own memories, like nostalgia. We remember the Christmas’s where things went helter skelter. I recall the time my Grandparents had a Christmas tree with worms and we could hear them eating the tree. Or my parents “Christmas Bush”. Its much like Christmas Vacation and Home Alone. The mistakes, the missteps, the crazy, is why we love it; because it reminds us of the various Christmas’s where things went off the rails in our own lives. I have often thought about this with my own daughters. The trips we have taken where things didn’t go as planned, have become more memorable than the ones where they went perfectly planned. Like our trip this year to Monocacy where I got sick and we ended up making it a two day trip, rather than a four hour trip.

But lets move on, and get to the beer review shall we? Enough about A Christmas Story, and enough about my own crazy Christmas’s in my past. Lets review some beer!

HO HO HO

The Soft Glow of Electric Sex by RAR Brewing

Beer: The Soft Glow of Electric Sex
Brewery: RAR Brewing
Style: IPA – American
ABV: 7.6%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: Brewed with Mangos, Lactose, Citra, Amarillo, Ella, and Columbus. Tons of citrus and ripe mango juice flavors.

HO HO HO

Appearance is a bright glowing orange. This is probably much closer to a New England IPA, but when first created for Untappd they didn’t really have the New England designation for their IPAs on there, otherwise I’d imagine this would fit it. This is hazy, its orange juice in appearance, has a nice foam head, and well carbonated with nice lacing on the glass as well.

HO…. HO…. HO…..

Aroma is very heavy … very… very heavy mango. I love it. One of the few fruit flavors I really love, and its mango, and it works so well in IPAs (especially New England IPAs), that this is just wonderful. Theres a hint of peach to round it out, but its so much mango and so much upfront it just smells amazing.

Schwartz: Hey, smart ass. I asked my old man about sticking your tongue to a flagpole in the winter, and he says that it’ll freeze right to the pole, just like I told ya.

This is delicious. Maybe for some it might be too much mango, I don’t know, but I love it. Its so heavy mango flavored, but that fits most New England IPAs, and I love it. Very heavy citrus, some lactose, some creamy smoothness to it, a nice slick mouthfeel, but the hops shine through wonderfully here. Citra, Amarillo, Columbus, and Ella hops are used, and they are all lead towards that juicy mango flavor, with some peach, some stone fruit, some zest and citrus, but at the end of the day its all mango flavor all the time. I think the peach rounds it out a fair bit, but overall its very subtle, like a hidden note you can only find after unlocking all the mango flavor. Its a well rounded New England IPA too, it has a little hop bite to it, but nothing substantial, nothing too acidic, nothing cloying, nothing poor or off putting with this. No off flavors. No bad aftertaste, etc. This was the very first RAR Brewing beer I had, and I traded for it back in January 2018. When I first started to get into doing some trading for beers or buying and having people mule beers. I had gotten this and I had gotten the Jon Voight’s Car beer. Fell in love with both, and I’ve enjoyed RAR Brewing ever since pretty much, though I think their Out of Order series has been taken over and changed a bit too much over recent years, and I think they lean a bit too much on the gimmicks for that series (they just released a whole slew of Home Alone themed Out of Order beers, with the can art and the beers being slightly different in each, some representing Kevin, Marv, The Wet Bandits, Pesci, and the Shovel Slayer), but ultimately I think RAR Brewing still makes some fine good beers and they aren’t lacking in quality. The internet can be a bit harsher on them with respects to their Out of Order series, but thats also the internet for you, and who reads the internet anyway…….. (…oh….). But anyway, back to this beer, it is a bold, bright, beautiful, tasty Mango flavor bomb, and a wonderful New England IPA. Its juicy, its tasty, slight hop bitterness, but full on hop flavor, no off flavors, nothing cloying, nice mouth feel, no aftertaste, this is just a fine well made beer, with a cool logo and name, and definitely an eye catcher. And perfect for Christmas Eve and watching A Christmas Story on loop for 24 hours!

My Untappd Rating: ****.25
Global Untappd Rating: 4.01 (as of 12.24.20)

Thinking about how this was one of the first beers I traded for, makes me think back to the early days of trading for me, when I first started getting into that. When I was at Breski’s Beverages just last week preparing for the big snow blizzard we got, I saw Zombie Dust and Alpha Space Station from 3 Floyd’s on the shelf for 3.50$ each, and I remember trading and buying that from people in a Facebook beer group who muled it back. Crazy to seeing it being a “shelfie” now. Just like seeing JREAMS making it up into the Central PA midstate area and in places like The Fridge, Breski’s, etc for their crowler machines. Definitely not complaining about that! That’s for sure!

Well thank you all for reading this, and thanks for checking out another Pop Culture beer and “IP Theft” potential beer. I could almost make that its own category now on the blog. Like I said at the top, would love to hear everyone’s thoughts and opinions on that, and what they think is acceptable or not. Just in general, I always love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave comments, questions, etc, either here on the blog, or on our social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter. We recently hit 1K followers and likes on Facebook which is a pretty big deal and I love how its bringing all kinds of people together.

Also, AJ Brechbiel is likely to be writing some new posts for the blog again, so be sure to check out his stuff when he releases it. I’m eagerly looking forward to that.

Another note I wanna make, there is another beer that was released with the same title as this. “The Soft Electric Glow of Sex” by Turning Point Beer, which is a brewery from Texas, and I have done a beer review from them before (from a beer trade); that beer was: Beer Review: $#!+ Ton (Turning Point Beer) as well as a beer review of one they were collaborated with – Beer Review: Virtually Inseparable (Celestial Beerworks and Turning Point Beer). But anyway, they did the exact same name as this beer, but made it a stout, and with a very similar logo too:

Turning Point Beer – The Electric Glow of Sex (photo courtesy of Untappd)

Their beer is a 15.6% Stout. I would love to get my hands on it and try it out for a future beer review as well (…well… and just because I like to drink stouts, and because the beer sounds good).

If I wanted to be really proper with this beer, I should have went out and gotten the “leg lamp” beer glass to drink it in:

The Leg Lamp Beer Glass

Maybe if I get that stout, I’ll make myself buy this glass to review it in. Who knows. I wanted to get a Festivus beer for yesterday (Dec. 23rd, 2020; Festivus), but sadly, wasn’t able to get one in time to do a review here on the blog for it. Next year!

That Star is Crooked….

Thank you everyone for reading. And I am hoping to get a lot more reviews and articles out from here to the end of the year. I feel like I have about a thousand beer reviews to do, and no time to do them, despite being stuck at home on quarantine. I have so many things I need to do from now until December 31st, 11:59:59, and not sure if I’ll get it all done. The pressure and the anxiety is mounting up, but the stuff’s not getting done. Fingers crossed it will. Thank you all for putting up with it, and for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the beer review! Cheers! As someone who just took a COVID test today, please stay safe out there, mask up, wash your hands, and take care of each other and your local breweries, they need it! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Everyone! Happy Festivus!

-B. Kline

FRA-GEE-LAY

It’s a Major Award!

The Soft Glow of Electric Sex

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

The various pop culture / nerd culture beer reviews we’ve done here on The Beer Thrillers:

Star Wars:

Space Balls:

Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewery)

Game of Thrones:

Beer Review: Game of Thrones: My Watch Has Ended (Omnegang Brewery)

The Simpsons:

Back to the Future:

Beer Review: Back to Reality (Three 3s Brewing Co)

Scrooged:

Beer Review: Scrooge IPA (Iron Hill Brewing)

A Christmas Story:

Beer Review: The Soft Electric Glow of Sex (RAR Brewing)

Pro Wrestling:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

Beer Review: Terpenes in Time (BAREBottle Brewing Co)

Other:

Beer Review: I Voted for Kang (Second Sin Brewing Company)

BKline — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 03:10:00 +0000

I Voted for Kang by Second Sin Brewing Company

There is nothing better than coming home from a seven day road trip to finding a beer mail package on your front step. I want to give a big shout out to Steve Orbanek for the beer mail! Very very very very very grateful and thankful for this.

Being a typical kid of the 80s and 90s I grew up on The Simpsons. Simpsons, Seinfeld, Conan O’Brien, The Angry Beavers, Ren and Stimpy, Rocko’s Modern Life, Animaniacs, were the primary sources of my comedy as a young boy growing up. This has evolved and grown into many more options – from comics like Peanuts, B.C., Fox Trot, to late night talkshow hosts – Conan O’Brien, David Letterman, Johnny Carson, to more shows like Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, BoJack Horseman, Futurama, South Park, Rick and Morty, to stand up comedians like George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, to dark humor writers like Kurt Vonnegut; I could spend all day prattling on with a list of my comedic ancestors and inspirations and roots, but there is probably no bigger defining factor to my humor than The Simpsons. Early season Simpsons. Seasons 1-9 Simpsons. The Conan O’Brien episodes, the Treehouse of Horror episodes, the absurdism, the Sideshow Bob episodes, etc.

When quoting things it will come from one of three sources: 1) Simpsons / Futurama, 2) Seinfeld / Curb Your Enthusiasm, 3) Literature. And in that order. And I know which will be recognized…. and its not when I quote from group three.

Hanging out with friends, drinking at the bars, breweries, or home (especially now – at home) with buddies, the endless quoting of early Simpsons, the “that reminds me of X episode” comparisons, etc. “Remember that time X” or “this could have been something The Simpsons did” or when watching a show or movie “they are clearly ripping that from The Simpsons”, etc.

The Simpsons are a form of cultural identity, especially for people of my age. The mid-late 30s to early 40s. We grew up on a steady diet of Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy, Futurama, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, Captain Planet, Rocko’s Modern Life, Ren and Stimpy, Doug, The Angry Beavers, Beavis and Butthead, King of the Hill, etc. Our lives were viewed through the prisms of animated comedy and action. Our adolescence we spent learning why yellowed people with spiky hair and only four fingers on each hand were so much funnier than the people around us, their lives wackier, their antics ratcheted up a notch above the normalcy of our boring mundane lives.

As is a common theme on the blog here, if I have access to a pop culture beer to review – you best bet I’ll be reviewing it on here. There’s a long list of them (and I’ll put it at the end), from Star Wars, to Simpsons, to Seinfeld, to Turtles, to even a beer from Space Balls. If I have a chance to drink it, I’ll review it.

Previously I did – I Voted for Kodos, and this is the companion beer to that. I highly recommend giving that a read when you are done here as the two beers are companion beers and are meant to go together.

So, lets discuss KANG. As per the Simpsons Wikia:

“Kang Johnson is one of the two secondary antagonists (alongside Kodos) of the series. He is a Rigellian from Rigel 7. He and his sister Kodos are continuously try to take over Earth and are usually seen attacking Springfield. He usually appears in Treehouse of Horrors but either him or Kodos have been seen in other episodes such as “The Springfield Files” and “Gump Roast” Kang and Kodos have a lot of space weaponry at hand and have their own spaceship. They speak the Rigellian language, which, by coincidence, is identical to English. Although they look identical, Kang has a deeper voice than Kodos. He is the featured character on the on the Season 14 DVD/Blu-ray box set as well as the iTunes cover.”

Kang and Kodos from CITIZEN KANG

The Citizen Kang segment from Treehouse of Horror VII is one of the best segments from Simpsons / Treehouse of Horror altogether. Lots of great quotes, lines, gags, and an outright funny segment. And despite being about Bill Clinton and Bob Dole, it still holds up well, especially the jokes about third parties and Ross Perot and people not wanting to vote third party.

Homer revealing Kang and Kodos

It all seems almost prescient of our last two elections, alien vs. alien and still nobody voted third party. Sorry Gary Johnson (2016) and sorry Jo Jorgenson (2020). …or Kanye West (2020)…. seems people rather vote for aliens.

Homer Revealing Bill Clinton and Bob Dole to be Kang and Kodos

There is one thing though, that I am looking for in a President, and that is his stance on twirling….

Twirling Towards Freedom

Regardless of your political stance, there is one thing we can get together on and agree on – and thats that these beers from Second Sin Brewing Company have been top notch. (Unfortunately) I never had anything from Second Sin Brewing Company before the two beers – I Voted for Kodos and I Voted for Kang. They both absolutely blew me out of the water, and I can see why they are a Top 10 PA Brewery for 2020 according to Untappd. I have quickly added their brewery as a ‘must visit’ on my list of breweries to check out for 2021.

Second Sin Brewing Company is a micro brewery from Bristol Pennsylvania, located at 1500 Grundy Lane, the former site of Broken Goblet Brewing. (Broken Goblet has since moved on to a new location – they are also a very heavy pop culture referencing brewery, with a Gritty beer, several beers about the Eagles, and of course the popular This is the Way – Mandalorian beer). According to Untappd, Second Sin Brewing Company has 138 unique beers, and over 7.5K ratings with a global average rating of 4.07 (as of 12.5.20). (There is no description on their Untappd page.)

I Voted for Kang

However, don’t let anyone tell you that these candidates are the same…oh, no. Kang is primarily hopped with the tropical and fruity Citra, while Kodos is loaded with dank and melony Mosaic.

Appearance looks very similar to that of I Voted for Kodos – a bright orange, hazy, dank, cloudy, opaque New England IPA. Like darker orange juice. This is a beautiful looking beer. Rich foamy head and left lovely lacing on the glass. Great carbonation from the can.

Aroma is a tropical hop blast. Large notes of tropical hop nose on this that you can smell as soon as you crack open the can and start to pour. This has the staple New England IPA hop combo of Mosaic and Citra to give it that punch of tropical, melon, juicy / dank hop aroma. The Galaxy and Idaho 7 hops accentuate this nicely and provides a very hop forward nose.

Taste is where there’s the bigger difference in comparison to I Voted for Kodos. While its similar in taste, there’s a notable difference (for me) – there’s no ‘kick’. I found there was a bit of a kick to the Kodos beer. Almost like a spice kick, but with a hop twist. This is much more smooth, much more juicer, much more dank, and easier drinking, and downright crushable. This is nothing to say against the I Voted for Kodos. That was a terrific beer and I loved it and drank it down just as easily, but I feel that I Voted for Kang is probably smoother, juicier, and therefore more crushable. The mouth feel on this is wonderful too, its heavy but not cloying, its not too heavy, but just right, the silky smoothness of it works well too and makes it an enjoyable drink. There is no hop bite or hop bitterness, and its a typical and well crafted New England IPA in that aspect that its pure flavor and taste. The combo of Mosaic and Citra (see insert of Hallmark meme that has been going around and around and around on beer groups on Facebook lately) works well here. Sometimes you just can’t beat a trusted and well done hop combo, and this proves it. This is tropical, with a bit of zest, some melon, a bit of peach, a good dose of mango, and the wee faintest hint of melon rind, pine, and passionfruit. There is no off flavors, nothing acidic, nothing cloying, no bad or awkward aftertaste, nothing lingering or off putting – this is just a very well crafted, well made New England IPA that goes down easy and smooth and is extremely tasty and drinkable. Both of these beers (I Voted for Kang and I Voted for Kodos) has sold me on Second Sin Brewing Company, and hopefully anyone else who has tried these it has sold them on the brewery as well, because these were phenomenal beers and they certainly deserve the praise they’ve been getting.

My Untappd Rating: ****.25
Global Untappd Rating: 4.22 (as of 12.5.20)

Out of the two, if hard pressed – I would pick I Voted for Kang over I Voted for Kodos. But thats an extremely close call, and both are extremely delicious beers.

Happy Repeal Day everyone. Make sure you go out and support a local craft brewery and drink some beer!

Cheers!

-B. Kline

Ok, lets break down some of the nerdy pop culture beers I’ve reviewed:

Star Wars:

Space Balls:

Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewery)

Game of Thrones:

Beer Review: Game of Thrones: My Watch Has Ended (Omnegang Brewery)

The Simpsons:

Beer Review: I Voted for Kodos (Second Sin Brewing Company)
Beer Review: I Voted for Kang (Second Sin Brewing Company)

Back to the Future:

Beer Review: Back to Reality (Three 3s Brewing Co)

Scrooged:

Beer Review: Scrooge IPA (Iron Hill Brewing)

Pro Wrestling:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

Beer Review: Terpenes in Time (BAREBottle Brewing Co)

Other:

Seinfeld:

Beer Review: Jon Voight’s Car (RAR Brewing)

The Trip to Indy – Day 7 Recap: There and Back Again – A Drunk Hobbit’s Tale (WhiteHorse Brewing LLC, Gearhouse Brewing Company, Rubber Soul Brewing)

BKline — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 04:30:00 +0000

Cucumber Falls at Ohiopyl State Park

Started the day waking up in Morgantown West Virginia to the full cacophony of noises one can only hear at an Econo Lodge at 5AM. After getting situated, getting gas, mountain dew for the drive, basic necessities, I made the hour and a half trek to Ohiopyl Pennsylvania. There I made landfall in the state park at 10:30AM.

I started at the parking lot by the Cucumber Falls (pictured above) and took the long yellow trail. It was about 6 miles out and back to get to Flatrock and then Cascade Falls. (I’ll post pictures of them in the full recap.) This was a more difficult hiking trail than some I’ve done on the trip. The Meadow Run rapids and the Cascade Falls were equally beautiful.

There was a few other things to do in Ohiopyl, but since this was my last day, and by 3PM (the time I finished the hike), I figured it would be best to head home. It was roughly a 2.5-3 hour drive home, so I wanted to get moving. If I took the turnpike (and selected tolls) on my Google phone GPS maps whatever, it was going to be 2 hours and 15 some minutes (plus stops). If I did no tolls, it had me drop into Maryland just below the Mason-Dixon line and then come back up and be 3 hours and 34 minutes. Or something like that (don’t quote me on it exactly, I didn’t write it down).

But, I didn’t take either of these routes. I wanted to at least try a brewery in the area, since I most likely won’t be in this area again. So the closest, most local brewery, was Whitehorse Brewing LLC in Berlin. So off I went. Forty minute or so drive there.

Whitehorse Brewing LLC

I was a bit surprised by this place, because it looked like a typical development / suburban house and garage. (And I’m pretty sure it was, just converted into a brewery.) Inside was the brewer and a bartender and they were extremely nice, generous, and talkative about the area. I got an Apple Butter Cream Ale and enjoyed it outside by the fire before moving on.

Instead of driving for 2-2.5 hours straight home, I decided to break it up and hit another Pennsylvania brewery I hadn’t been to yet….

Gearhouse Brewing

Gearhouse Brewing in Chambersburg. I’ve heard nothing but good things, and know the brewers and many people who frequent it, unfortunately, getting down to Chambersburg hasn’t been in the cards until now. So I stopped there, had a flight, a delicious hamburger, and then it was ontowards home.

Sort of.

Earlier in the day my friend Drew texted me saying if I was home by 5 he’d be at Rubber Soul; well that didn’t work out, but my mom had wanted to go to Rubber Soul to try their Italian Wedding Soup (as did I; being a huge huge huge fan of Italian Wedding Soups), so I drove to my parents place, and we walked over to Rubber Soul for dinner.

Rubber Soul flight

And while I was gone, they had released four new beers I hadn’t had yet, so I got a flight of the beers I’ve missed (enjoyed all of them by the way, especially the blueberry pomegranate IPA and the sticky stout). Showed mom the pictures of my trip, the museums, the waterfalls, etc. Discussed how her grandmum (pure 100% Italian) made wedding soup, and my mom even went so far as to say this was her favorite Italian Wedding Soup she’s had not made by her family. Which for her would be extremely high praise.

Finally got home, and got to be reunited with my dog who I hadn’t seen since Sunday morning when I left. My ex-wife took good care of her, but she was still so super eager to greet me and take another walk that she basically pulled me the entire way.

Leela at home

The above picture doesn’t do justice to how excited she was to see me, and I have to say the feeling was very mutual. I sure missed my pup.

After taking her for a long walk, came home to see that I had a beer mail package from a buddy out in Bristol PA.

Beer Mail

We did a trade 2 cans for 2, and he threw in the extra – 12 oz can of Dulachan by Lavery – for me to review for the blog, free of charge. Thanks Steve! So be on the lookout for all three of these being reviewed soon.

Well, it is 11:30, and I am exhausted and its been a long seven day trip and I can finally rest and sleep in my own bed, so that is exactly what I am going to do.

Goodnight everyone and cheers, and thanks for following along on the trip!

-B. Kline

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The Trip to Indianapolis: