Everett brewer mixes sugary Trix cereal into IPA

Absofruitelicious

Middleton Brewing, Everett

Style: New England-style IPA

Stats: 5.2 percent ABV, 99 IBU

Available: On tap at the brewery

My thoughts: First Cookie Crisp, now Trix. Tomorrow will it be French Toast Crunch?

Based on the success of his Breakfast First, a stout made with Cookie Crisp cereal, Middleton Brewing’s Geoff Middleton has brewed this New England-style IPA with Trix cereal as part of his Cereal Killer Series, an inspired idea to brew one beer a month using a different cereal in the brewing process.

Middleton brewed Breakfast First for Strange Brewfest last year, but it took off and became a fan favorite. So much, Middleton turned the beer into the brewery’s flagship stout that is on tap at all times.

So with that success, Middleton decided to make a fruity IPA with Trix cereal, a fruit-flavored corn kids’ cereal, for this year’s Strange Brewfest later this month. Middleton added 5 pounds per barrel of the cereal to the fermenter during the “cold crash” process, a rapid drop in temperature during post-fermentation.

Middleton said he used non-flaked crushed oats in the beer, the first time he’s used them, giving the beer a good head retention and mouthfeel. It also has great haze like a good New England-style IPA should have. Middleton used Cascade hops in the mash, another new technique, before dry-hopping it with 3 pounds of Citra hops.

The result is a beer with a nice bold, fruity flavor and solid bitterness.

Middleton will release each of the Cereal Killer Series beers on a Friday, while also giving a keg to Everett’s Toggle’s Bottleshop to be released the day before. He said the next in the series will be an imperial porter made with Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs.

Middleton had an eventful 2017. The brewery expanded its Everett Mall Way taproom by 900 square feet and also added equipment increasing its capacity to 3 barrels. He also added a canning machine so that the brewery can sell four packs of 16-ounce cans. Four cans are $16.

From the brewery: January edition of our “Cereal Killer Series.” Hoppy, cloudy and fruity New England style IPA, brewed with Trix cereal.

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