Yellow Belly (Omnipollo Collaboration)

I am at the point in my relationship with craft beer, that I don't loose my mind over whales anymore. Yellow Belly maybe the last notch on my bed post, the final conquest. We have reached mass saturation in this town. You can skip the new hot double IPA, NEIPA, fruited sour or adjunct stout with out fear of there being nothing interesting next week. I've chased Yellow Belly for the past few years and I missed the few cases that came to market last year. This year I had to tell customers it was coming, how expensive it is and not to refuse it.



Yellow Belly is an FU to racism and ignorance. The outside label is a symbolic representation of the cowards, the inside label a definition and statement of intolerance. The beer is sweet and chewy. It reminds me a little of CBS with a slight syrup flavor that hangs on the lips. The ABV is completely masked with sweetness. I actually only bought two for myself and left another for a co worker. 

If you aren't familiar with Omnipollo, they are a brewery in the 12% distributing family that have some of the most dynamic beers and labels. This beer is a collaboration with Buxton Brewing from the UK. Omnipollo is a gypsy brewer that brews several beers with Buxton and even does a Yellow Belly Sundae . . . Ok, Maybe one more whale.

Founders 20th Anniversary

Long story, but Founders Brewing is now one of my favorite breweries at my disposal right now. They had us up to the brewery in 2017 for their anniversary trip and despite the rain and cold it was a great time. I hate being so removed from this trip as I type this, but I am headed to Sweetwater this weekend and don't want two back logged work trip entries.

Some people hate cover bands and even more people have grown to hate Guns N Roses, but not me. I love GNR and my friends usually choose to karaoke this band at every opportunity. It turns out that a bunch of brewery employees are in bands but came together one night to do GNR at the owner loved it so much they were asked to be the opening performer for the anniversary party. So . . . . Tom Brooks and I stood in the rain and rocked our faces off. 

It was right before the return of CBS which I was bummed they didn't have the anniversary, but I did get a sneak peak and taste of this years brewery focus, Solid Gold. WE got drenched in rain and spent nearly the entire day at the brewery drinking pretty high gravity beers, I had to tap out, not drunk just full. I did get a chance to meet California Founders Rep Stuart Sloan and his father Richard at the party which was cool. Such an odd thing meeting people you know through Facebook, Instagram and podcasts. 

We did spend Saturday brunch at Grand Rapids Brewing Company. This is apparently where all of the Founders reps go to recover when they come back to the mothership for events and meetings. I mean . . . . look at that Bloody Mary bar! They also make their own infused vodka. 

All and all it was a fantastic trip. Founders really knows how to host a guy and will get you drunk. The Tank Bender anniversary ale was like a sipping whiskey. I wish we had better weather, I would have loved to soak up more of the local flavor, maybe next time.