I’m Glad Its Terminal!

There are just some words in the English language that evoke a negative feeling.  For example the word “terminal”.  If you are in a doctor’s office that is not the word you want to hear.  It is typically used there to mean the end of life, and lets face it, when it comes right down to it that is all we’ve got.  So I like when I find new meanings or expressions of words that I can take a negative connotation and change it around to something positive.  So how about the word terminal?  How do we make that positive? Well a train station is often called a terminal, I suppose if you like trains and travel that could be a positive thing.  Ports also have terminals where ships dock.  Again that might a better use of the word.  I found a use of this word that actually brings a smile to my face, and I bet you can guess what that is…

Of course you brewers know I am speaking about Terminal Gravity!  I know every beer has a terminal gravity, but I’m not really sure what that means for flavor and overall deliciousness, but I do know that Terminal Gravity Brewing out of Enterprise, Oregon has a great IPA that I had on my recent trip to Portland.

Terminal Gravity IPA is a 6.9% ABV brew that has a rather typical IPA nose with heavy citrus and grapefruit with a touch of malty complexity.  It poured a slightly cloudy organgy, golden color with a thin head.  When I took the first sip, I remembered that I had had this beer before.  My boss at work used to be a co-owner of this brewery and I remember he brought in a few growlers one Friday for us to sample.  It was a great IPA with all the citrus and grapefruit notes you would expect from the hops, slightly bitter and a finish that lingered on the palate for a long time.  Actually I had this with a great Wagyu Beef steak and brussel sprouts, and all those flavors mixed together in a symphony of taste I will not soon forget.

So when you hear the word “terminal” in the future think beer, and be happy and/or hoppy as the case may be.

-Don