Carson's Brewery - Demonik

Carson's Demonik Double IPA presents a bright copper color in the glass, capped by a moderate head of beige foam. On the nose, look for a complex tapestry of sliced oranges & mandarins, floral & tropical fruit notes, some pine character, hints of apple and pear, and an undercurrent of mild caramel. In the flavor department, this brew certainly announces itself as a double IPA right off the bat. We got big, zesty grapefruit notes with juicy oranges, lots of pine and resinous herbal character, and various touches of flora and tropical fruit. As your palate adapts to this big brew, and as it warms in your glass, don't be surprised to find the balance of flavors changing a bit. The malt backbone here is sturdy, as it needs to be for such a big ass beer, offering supporting notes of light caramel & toast, and plenty of pale malts. Any residual sweetness that might be present is pummeled into dryness by the aggressive 100 IBUs and a hint of spicy alcohol, which intensified a bit with warmth. Food pairings for beers like this can be tough, but they are possible. We'd steer toward foods with plenty of fat, which the bitter hop acidity can cut through like wine, and fried foods with a good dash of salt. But honestly, with beers like this, our favorite accompaniments are simply a clean tulip glass, good friends, and nowhere to go. Cheers!

Jason Carson's family worked in the industrial chemical business, providing him a background in science and industry. But, after tiring of selling heat transfer fluid, he needed a change of career, and brewing "seemed like a logical move!" Indeed, we agree – the world can never have enough craft beer! After bringing together a group of experienced brewing industry partners, Jason founded his brewing company in Evansville, IN in 2013. They obtained their brewing license in March of that year and began producing, but on a very small scale. With just a tiny half-barrel system to start with, they maxed out production with just ten local retail establishments selling their beer.

Things would change in September 2013 when their new brewhouse was finished. Boasting a 20-barrel system, the brewhouse had enough capacity for them to begin growing throughout several neighboring counties, and ultimately several Midwest states. Today, Carson's produces about a half-dozen "core" beers, including Git-R-Done, a cream ale released in spring 2017 which was brewed in partnership with Larry the Cable Guy, who had reached out to Carson's about helping him develop an official beer. In addition to their core beers, the brewery brews a multitude of others including various barrel-aged brews. Additionally, in late 2017, Carson's partnered with It Takes a Village Canine Rescue, a local no-kill shelter in Evansville, to produce Fur-ever Home, a light, tropical fruit ale – profits from which go to support the shelter (itvrescue.org).

For more info about the brewery and their Tap Room, call 'em up at 812-759-8229 or visit www.carsonsbrewery.com.