I’ve consumed my 200th beer for this challenge, and I’m anxious to write about it, but I’ve fallen a bit behind in that department. I expect my next post will cover that, so I guess this one is like one of those filler episodes of “The Walking Dead.” Something big happened in the last post (halfway done!) and you know something big is coming next time (200!), so this post is like one where Carl eats a big can of pudding or Rick is learning to farm or something.

My point: Big, head-bashing beer writing will be in the next post.

Not that this one doesn’t have some cool stuff. I got to try a FliteBrite paddle in the field. I wrote about FliteBrite about a month ago for Silicon Prairie, and got a chance to try one out with a flight of beers at Exile. The results were mixed. It’s a great idea, but my paddle rebooted mid-flight, and when it came back the beers I had selected were no longer listed. Still, it was in a trial run at the time, so I’m sure kinks were still being worked out.

Beer 184: Exile Smoked Porter

ABV: 6%

Notes: A few years later I had a great smoked beer at Exile. I’m forgetting what it was (not this one), other than it was good. The Smoked Porter makes great use of the smokey flavor balanced against the richness of the porter. I seemed to have picked a flight that was good for sipping.

Beer 185: Exile Giving Tree IPA

ABV: 6.9%

Notes: I was a little surprised this wasn’t on my list yet. Unfiltered, fruity and hoppy, without being overpowering. Just a smooth drinking experience overall.

Beer 186: Fox Cluster Fuch

ABV: 5.4%

Notes: I went to a Halloween party and my cousin-in-law had a lot of Fox growlers on-hand. Awesome. I really enjoy that Fox puts its focus on non-IPAs. This one is a Hefeweizen, robust and filling if you’re drinking it in larger quantities than I was. A winner.

Beer 187: Fox Yoga Pants

ABV: 5.3%

Notes: A pumpkin beer, but I’ll avoid any “basic” jokes. The pumpkin flavor didn’t overpower things. I’m not anti-pumpkin, but I’d say I’m pumpkined out over the last few years. Despite that, I’m not turning my nose up at this beer.

Beer 188: Fox Czar bЯuski

ABV: 9.4%

Notes: This Russian imperial stout is strong as hell. I’m glad I wasn’t drinking full glasses. I do want to spend a little more time with this beer. I think we would get along well.

Beer 189: Fox Melee IPA

ABV: 7%

Notes: I just said that Fox’s focus is on non-IPAs, but when they do one, they do it right.

Beer 190: No Coast Making Waves

ABV: 5%

Notes: No Coast made some waves earlier this year when they named themselves after one of Peace Tree’s beers. That still troubles me a bit, but the first of their beers I’ve tried is great. It’s got an almost ESB-like flavor. Also, their designs are quite impressive. If nothing else, they’ll stand out in the beer cooler.

191: Olde Main Off Kilter Scottish Ale

ABV: 5.5%

Notes: Olde Main gets some backlash for their beers that I’ve never quite understood. They were the first central Iowa brewery that I can think of that was bottling beer for distribution in stores, so if nothing else they deserve a lot of credit for being ahead of the curve. I’d say Off Kilter is very drinkable. Is it amazing? No, but it’s not off-putting or worthy of scorn.