Felisa Rogers
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Ninkasi!

3/31/2010

9 Comments

 
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This blog is supposedly about foods and beverages, but so far I have been lazy in the beverages department. Seattle has been bitterly cold and rainy of late (surprised?), so I have mostly been drinking wine and, of course, coffee. Though I love wine and drink it frequently (as previously noted), I would  embarrass myself if I tried to write about wine. Other people know way more and do it better. As for coffee, I generally drink it black, so there's not much to say, unless you want to hear one of my well-known rants about the inavailability of decent, fresh drip coffee (trust me, you don't).

However, I will take a moment to sing the praises of my new favorite beer, specifically Ninkasi's IPA and their seasonal Spring Reign. I have surprised several of my friends (and indeed myself) with my love for the IPA, as I have previously been a drinker of what less couth types (my husband) have termed swampwater (whatever, Raineer is delicious). I always sneered at drinkers of microbrews and complained that IPAs in particular were overly bitter, even going so far as to venture the theory that gravitating toward bitter beers was macho bullshit. Ninkasi IPA took me by surprise (author pauses to go crack beer in order to better describe it) with its heady mix of sweet and bitter. The bitterness is not overwhelming. It has, dare I say, complexity. Even better, the IPA brings to mind the phrase 'beer sandwich'. Not because it's overly filling, but because it allows you to actually imagine that it might contain nutrients. Which brings me to another thing I appreciate about the brewery: their copy. As a beer lover (yes, people who drink PBR can call themselves beer lovers too), a connoisseur of copy, and a history nerd, I can't help but love the following passages (found on Ninkasi bottle):
  • 'Multiple hops collide in balanced perfection, dominating the senses, achieving total satisfaction. From the Pacific Northwest, birthplace of the modern IPA, comes a beer whose name says it all'
and....
  • 'The ancient Sumerians worshiped the beer they made, and praised the Goddess Ninkasi for the miracle of fermentation. Beer is the staple of civilization. Worship the Goddess.'
As a child of hippies, the phrase 'worship the Goddess' would normally prompt me to roll my eyes, but somehow it works in this context.
9 Comments
Jimmy Hangover link
3/31/2010 06:54:34 am

If I still drank beer I think I would probably enjoy a Ninkasi IPA quite a bit.
Glad to know that you have come to appreciate good beer!

Reply
felisa link
3/31/2010 07:03:46 am

Yeah, it's about time, I guess. It's funny, since I discovered Ninkasi other 'good' beers have started tasting better to me. (And, I am horrified to note, crappy beers have started tasting worse!) A sure sign of adulthood...

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otter
3/31/2010 09:06:26 am

yeah i know.. i can hardly drink swill anymore.. except for some good Iron City!

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felisa link
3/31/2010 09:45:19 am

Don't tell me you're giving up on Old Style.

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babyface link
4/1/2010 04:22:27 am

It's always surprised me that you haven't enjoyed IPAs....because you like gin and tonics. I think it's mostly been that machismo ipa attitude you've been avoiding (and I agree, but I love the bitter, too). Glad you found one you like; this may be the start of a beautiful friendship.

Reply
felisa link
4/1/2010 04:31:33 am

Ah, yes, the gin and tonic...Speaking of beautiful friendships...Though I must say that it's really the gin I'm interested in, not the tonic.

Reply
snowball
4/2/2010 02:52:40 am

I totally know what you mean about that worship the goddess part.. how do they manage to get away with that.... something about controlling the masses... it has real msg quality about it. it sneaks up on you and you are not sure how it could possibly be soooooooo good. and then you want more....and more... and another one....
Its amazing. i love you ninkasi!

Reply
babyface link
4/2/2010 04:18:11 am

I need to find this beer, I think.

Have you tried hendrick's gin? it's like a gin and tonic, without the tonic...but somehow with? My favorite gin of the moment.

Reply
felisa link
4/2/2010 06:16:43 am

I have tried Hendrick's, and I recall it being good. But I think I need to explore the matter more deeply.

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