Friday Brew Review – Bengali Tiger
Monsters are awesome.
Tigers are nature’s monsters.
Tigers are awesome.
It’s a syllogism celebrated by some of Planet Earth’s most respected intellectuals, from poet Edward Blake to renaissance man Charlie Sheen. There is both an inherent beauty and ruthlessness of the tiger which makes people like it. After all, tigers are powerhouses of muscle and controlled violence, demanding respect and rewarding only those most worthy.
So when I sauntered into the package store and saw a four-pack of Bengali Tiger, there was only one option: buy that muthafuggah and drink `em until everything’s funny. Even Gallagher.
Maybe it’s not cool to admit, but I was actually won over by the packaging of Bengali Tiger. Hell, if it were really true that we shouldn’t judge books by their covers then graphic design wouldn’t be the huge industry it is. Nevertheless, I picked up the four-seater and was wowed over. The folks at Sixpoint Craft Ales knew just what to say to win the heart of a self-proclaimed beer snob.
See for yourself:
Oh shit! Comparing the taste to a tiger’s death-paw? Quoting The Tyger (which of course makes me think of Fearful Symmetry)? Goddamn, how could I not go for this brew?
I cracked open a can and poured it into a glass. I took note of the rich orange color and enjoyed the slightly citric odor. It seemed as though all systems were a-go. So, excited for my weekly beer-session, I took a big `ole sip…
And it was at this moment that I realized Bengali Tiger is an IPA.
GODS FRAKKIN’ DAMN IT!
How could I have overlooked the package descriptions inclusion of pine, and resin? Am I getting soft in my old age? Yes, most certainly. But I can’t help but be disappointed that what seemed to be a promising big-boy soda turned out to be an IPA, my personal beer-Kryptonite.
In the brewery’s defense, the description of Bengali Tiger on their website begins with the following,
The resurgence of the India Pale Ale as a popular style has only accelerated in recent years…
My goof.
So where does this leave me? Well, nine bucks closer to bankruptcy and far too sober. But I have some buds who love IPAs and I’ll be sure to toss these brews their way. After all, no beer should ever go undranked.
Bengali Tiger
For me: C+
For IPA Lovers: A-/B+
