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(Courtesy Blue Point Brewing)
Hey, no one’s perfect…as we at American Craft Beer understand better than most. That said, there are some brewing ideas out there that are insanely misguided. So welcome to another BAD IDEAS IN BREWING…and we’re blaming Blue Point Brewing for this one.
We’ve never been big fans of Corn Dog and Funnel Cake Beer. Or of concepts like Beer Tea. We’re part of the ‘resistance’ when it comes to trends like Hatchet Hurling Bars. And we’d drink a growler of Kool-Aid before we’d ever submit our livers to atrocities like Deer Antler Beer.
But in the world of bad brewing concepts, that nobody was asking for and nobody needs, bubble gum beer is right up there.
Here’s The Deal
Patchogue, New York-based Blue Point Brewing isn’t a brewery that one tends to associate with gimmick beers.
Founded by homebrewers by Mark Burford and Pete Cotter in 1996 and acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev for nearly $24 million in 2014, the Long Island brewery is more widely known for its award-winning Toasted Lager than anything “questionable” until now.
Enter Blue Pint Bubble Brain, an 80’s nostalgia beer which Blue Point disturbingly describes as a “bubble gum-flavored IPA” that actually smells like a freshly chewed Bazooka Joe wad.
“It’s a small batch, bubble gum beer, driven by fruit, spices, and yeast,” Barry McLaughlin, Blue Point Brewing’s marketing director, told Forbes. “It’s all inspired by a visit to a dusty novelty store on the west side of town and finding a bit of lost nostalgia of our ‘80s youth.”
And to keep things retro and concerningly child-friendly Mental Floss is reporting that Blue Point tapped Garbage Pail Kids illustrator Brent Engstrom to design Bubble Brain’s label, which comes in four different candy-colored cans.
Bottom Line
In the world of beer and food pairings beer and bubble gum are not even polar opposites. They’re conceptually on entirely different planes that should never be allowed to cross-pollinate.
Gum is something you take out of your mouth before you drink a beer…
And Untapped endorsements ranging from “Nailed it with the bubblegum. Like a strawberry banana soda” to “very medicine tasting” or just plain “weird” only serve to reinforce what a truly BAD IDEA IN BREWING Bubble Brain beer was to begin with.
We suspect that even though Blue Point is now owned by Anheuser-Busch they still have their pride.
And we can only hope that this heritage brewery comes to its senses and returns to more understandable brewing directions like maybe an Amber Ale.
That idea not a bad enough for you? Check out:
BAD IDEAS IN BREWING – BEER MILKSHAKES
