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By Adam T. Schick for Indiana On Tap

I walked to the fitness center at my apartment complex today. It was a mistake.

It’s a short walk, three minutes tops, and when I saw the high was 28 I decided to just zip up the hoodie and brave the cold. What a dumbass I am, huh? Cold, biting wind whipped around my legs, hands, and face as light flecks of snow flicked against my cheeks. By the time I was halfway there, I was shivering like a Brazilian on an Alaskan cruise.

Winter is brutal. I don’t really mind the snow, or the cold temps, but when that wind gets going, I definitely understand the folks who ditch their Midwest roots for warmer homes. Those of us that stick around though need an escape. It’s why I wear Hawaiian shirts in January, or why dads grill steaks while standing in a foot of snow. We’re Midwesterners; we make do.

Beer can be a great escape from the cold, whether you like big barrel-aged stouts, or juicy IPAs. Four Fathers Brewing’s The Gadget IPA fits the latter. A 6.7% IPA with Warrior, Zythos and Citra hops and infused with a mess of mango, The Gadget is a refreshing break from outside as type this watching snow fall outside my apartment.


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The mango in this beer rests largely on the nose, but it starts to become a little more pronounced as the beer warms up. At 90 IBUs The Gadget is on the hoppier side of life (a place I generally choose to reside), and it pairs perfectly with spicy foods, like this New Orleans BBQ shrimp po’ boy I just devoured. 

The Gadget is a nice, juicy IPA and while it doesn’t break down any barriers in the style, it certainly breaks up the dreariness of an Indiana February.



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