Two beer posts in a week! Maybe I can get some steam going with this thing. Only 140 more to try, so I need some suggestions. I feel like the last third of this challenge might be the toughest. There’s a Firkin Fest coming up at Flix on Feb. 4, but I’ll have to work.

Let’s get to the beer.

Beer 216: Chateau Fourth Street Holiday Ale

ABV: ?

Notes: This is one of the beers I look forward to most every year. My father-in-law always taps this around Thanksgiving, and it’s a wonderful mix of spices. I’ve helped brew this once or twice. Great again, as always.

Beer 217: 7 Day Pale Ale

ABV: ?

Notes: I went down to a Jimmy Carter Happy Hour at El Bait Shop to try a few brews. I wrote “Hoppy” on this one. Excellent note-taking, December Joe.

Beer 218: Golden Goose Berry

ABV: ?

Notes: If I’m remembering right, this had a sweet flavor to it that surprised me. I would have enjoyed trying a full glass.

Beer 219: Jefferson County Ciderworks Lemon Lavender Cider

ABV: 5%

Notes: This was not what I was expecting, it drank more like a lager than a cider. It was kind of perfumy, thanks to the lavender, but it wasn’t off-putting.

Beer 220: Stout

ABV: ?

Notes: One last homebrew from the Jimmy Carter Happy Hour. It had a strong coffee flavor. A good beer to end the night on.

Beer 221: Pulpit Rock Raisin & Resin

ABV: 7%

Notes: I was hesitant to order this, since raisins are one of my mortal enemies, but I’ve committed to trying a lot of different beers. It didn’t have the raisiny taste I was fearing, it drank very clean, without much bitterness. If I didn’t know raisins were involved, I probably would have been really thrilled by this beer. But raisins, ugh.

Beer 222: Toppling Goliath Biter

ABV: 8%

Notes: There had just been a TG tap takeover at the Iowa Tap Room, so I figured I would add a few more of their beers to my list. This one had a nice little kick at the end. It’s made with six kinds of hops, which might explain the bite.

Beer 223: Firetrucker Paradox 40

ABV: 8.1%

Notes: My handwriting made me think this was called “Parade of 40” for a bit, until I could jog my memory. “Parade of 40s” could be a good name for a malt liquor-themed bar crawl. As for this, it had a nice mellow coffee flavor, with a little sweet chocolate taste.

Beer 224: Big Rack 12 Point Porter

ABV: 6%

Notes: This was very robust and smokey. Perfect for drinking in cold weather.

Beer 225: Fork & Spoon Bridge Over Rhubarb Rye

ABV: ?

Notes: Another beer by my brother and sister-in-law. This has been a pretty homebrew-heavy entry. This was a very clean beer, a little sweet. I’m hoping there are still a few bottles at my parents’ house, because I’d like to revisit this.