(C) 2017 popsonhops

Tasting: May 24, 2017
Style: IPA
Beer #:1,061
ABV: 6.4%

Grimm Magnetic Tape

As a child, I couldn’t fathom growing up in my parent’s generation. Life with no television? My kids probably think the same way. Life with no iPads? They’ll wonder how we survived without having instant gratification at our fingertips. Carrying the generational divide progression one step further, I think my grandchildren might someday wonder why we had to physically drive cars?

This progression doesn’t stop us from being nostalgic for what seems like simpler times. My parents longingly reminisced about their families gathered around the radio. In the same way, there are certain iconic things that serve as reminders of my own generational divide. Things that come to the top of my mind are spindle adapters. You know, those things you put in the holes of your 45 rpm records? This label makes me reminisce about music and the days when you could own your music in an individual physical form like a cassette tape. As a precursor to playlists, cassettes could be recorded and played in the car (wow, that was mind blowing 70’s moment).

A serendipitous beer blog moment, magnetic tape or the recordable medium in cassettes was invented in 1928 by German, Fritz Pfleumer.

Grimm Magnetic Tape details from the brewers:

Magnetic Tape is the cousin of the beloved Magnetic Compass. Both are oat single IPA’s pairing Mosaic with an interesting hop from New Zealand. Where Compass uses Rakau hops, Tape uses Motueka. This beer is all about big, fresh, radiant tropical fruit character from these two matchless hop varietals. There are no rough edges, just full and round aromas of melon, mango, and citrus. High drinkability quotient.

My thoughts

Grimm Magnetic tape is full and round. Remind a lot of that syrupy mouthfeel from fellow New York brewer, Other Half. I get massive orange zest bitterness at first but once my taste buds become accustomed, I pick up that melon sweetness. Really enjoyable, 93 points.

The Grimm details of Grimm Magnetic Tape

Grimm Artisanal Ales was founded in Brooklyn in 2013 by Joe and Lauren Grimm. The Grimm’s story mimics many others that have turned their passion for home brewing into the reality of commercially making beer for the masses (at least the nearby masses). Their story has a bit of a wrinkle in that they are nomadic brewers. Like notable nomadic brewer’s Evil Twin and Mikkeller, Grimm produces their beer by contracting with established facilities to bring their recipes to fruition. It’s an interesting model in that they certainly avoided the massive start-up costs and they don’t have to deal with rents, labor, and equipment. This particular beer was brewed at Beltway Brewing, Sterling Virginia

Visit Grimm Artisanal Ales website