Absofruitelicious
Middleton Brewing, Everett
Style: New England-style IPA
Stats: 5.2 percent ABV, 99 IBU
Available: On tap at the brewery
My thoughts: First Cookie Crisp, now Trix. Tomorrow will it be French Toast Crunch?
Based on the success of his Breakfast First, a stout made with Cookie Crisp cereal, Middleton Brewing’s Geoff Middleton has brewed this New England-style IPA with Trix cereal as part of his Cereal Killer Series, an inspired idea to brew one beer a month using a different cereal in the brewing process.
Middleton brewed Breakfast First for Strange Brewfest last year, but it took off and became a fan favorite. So much, Middleton turned the beer into the brewery’s flagship stout that is on tap at all times.
So with that success, Middleton decided to make a fruity IPA with Trix cereal, a fruit-flavored corn kids’ cereal, for this year’s Strange Brewfest later this month. Middleton added 5 pounds per barrel of the cereal to the fermenter during the “cold crash” process, a rapid drop in temperature during post-fermentation.
Middleton said he used non-flaked crushed oats in the beer, the first time he’s used them, giving the beer a good head retention and mouthfeel. It also has great haze like a good New England-style IPA should have. Middleton used Cascade hops in the mash, another new technique, before dry-hopping it with 3 pounds of Citra hops.
The result is a beer with a nice bold, fruity flavor and solid bitterness.
Middleton will release each of the Cereal Killer Series beers on a Friday, while also giving a keg to Everett’s Toggle’s Bottleshop to be released the day before. He said the next in the series will be an imperial porter made with Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs.
Middleton had an eventful 2017. The brewery expanded its Everett Mall Way taproom by 900 square feet and also added equipment increasing its capacity to 3 barrels. He also added a canning machine so that the brewery can sell four packs of 16-ounce cans. Four cans are $16.
From the brewery: January edition of our “Cereal Killer Series.” Hoppy, cloudy and fruity New England style IPA, brewed with Trix cereal.
More new releases
Bastón, Foggy Noggin Brewing and Varietal Beer Co.: Bothell’s Foggy Noggin Brewing collaborated with Yakima’s Varietal Beer Co. to make this England-meets-Mexico Old Ale. Brewed with English malts, a molasses-like substance called British treacle and Mexican piloncillo cane sugar, the beer is a black ale with a dark roast flavor. Available Jan. 13 on tap at the brewery.
Fishing with Dynamite, Whitewall Brewing: Hopped with Azacca, El Dorado and Huell Melon hops, this IPA is the newest in this Marysville brewery’s rotating IPA series. Available on tap at the brewery and select bottleshops and taprooms.
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