Beer of the Weekend #482: Ethos IPA

Today when I went to John’s I asked Joe Hotek, “What do you recommend?” In less than a heartbeat he pointed to Ethos IPA, brewed by the Tallgrass Brewing Company of Manhattan, Kansas.


Nonic time! (“Nonic” is apparently the correct usage, but I would rather use “nonick” since it is a compound derived from “no nick.”)

Serving type: 16-ounce can. The “DRINK BY” date printed on the bottom of the can is “10/29/13.”

Appearance: Poured into a nonic pint glass. The color is golden, pale amber. Two fingers of dense, off-white foam settled very slowly and unevenly, leaving lacing along the side of the glass.

Smell: Though not overpowering, it offers all the usual suspects. A cattiness dominates at first and underneath it are light scents of grapefruit, orange, lemon, tangerine, and lemon. There is even a little caramel hanging out, too. As it warms, the cattiness dissipates and the citrus comes to prominence. A little pineapple and mango are introduced as well.

Taste: Very tropical with a lot of mango, pineapple, and tangerine. Grapefruit and orange are also very prominent, and a hint of zest gives it a nice kick. It also has a solid malt foundation; caramel and lightly toasted malts counter the bitterness to keep it from being a hop bomb. And though the bitterness is turned up a notch as the beer warms, it remains very smooth and palatable for 110 IBU.

Drinkability: Tasty and very drinkable. This is a very respectable beer.

Fun facts about Ethos IPA:

-Style: IPA.

-Price: $8.99/four-pack at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Alcohol content: 6.8 percent ABV.

-IBU: 110.

-A cool description from the beer’s webpage:

The beer foretold in legend. Six types of hops are gathered from the corners of the world to make this legendary brew. This is no earthly IPA. They will write ballads, build monuments, paint caves, and sacrifice goats to this beer. They will drink Ethos and dance to shake the heavens. The aroma is the harbinger of the tastes to come. Big, bright, and beautiful, this beer exceeds all expectations and grants wishes. Twice dry-hopped and brewed with the aid of a dark alliance from another realm, this beer bestows upon you all the complexity of the hops' flavors without overwhelming your senses. Ethos IPA is a gift to you, beer mortals. Drink it and fulfill your destiny.

-Much like other Tallgrass beers, Ethos IPA has its own, and every well-produced, video. The Flint Hills, by the way, are in Kansas. I drove through them when I moved back to Iowa.

-Notice that I did not list the serving temperature? Much as I already do with food pairings, I have decided to only list the serving temperature when it is given by the brewery. It feels a little weird leaving it out, but, frankly and shamefully, I never use it.


The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.

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