Afterward we went to Champions Pub and I led off with a Smithwicks - another old favorite of mine. And then I realized something. I may prefer hoppy beers, but I've had enough of them that I feel like a bit of a change. Right now I'm a bit more interested in drinking malty beers.
Despite that, I really wanted to try the Lakefront Brewery Fixed Gear they had on tap. I like most Lakefront Brewery beers, but I don't recall having had Fixed Gear.
I liked it. But I think you need to like sweet beers to appreciate it because the first flavor I noticed was a citrusy sweetness. It was a finished flavor, not a syrupy sweetness and not like an incomplete ferment. The pleasant sweet-citrus was followed by a nice hoppiness - the bitter was strong, but not overpowering. The finish was smooth and full.
If you're looking for a good hoppy beer, add this to your list. If you want a nice citrus flavor without going for a shandy thenthis is a good choice too. I don't care for the shandies I've had, but I think citrus notes add something nice to many beer styles.
One of the great things about last night was the simple pleasure of going out to a pub, and having good conversation over a pint or two. I haven't done that in some time and I hadn't realized how much I missed it. One of the most important things about beer is it's social nature and the way it can bring people together.
