I have reviewed a few beers from Firestone Walker before: Union Jack IPA, Easy Jack IPA, 805, and Mind Haze IPA. They may proudly proclaim themselves "A California Beer Company" on their cans, but I try not to hold that against them.
This Mind Haze Double IPA is a strong 8.3% ABV, a surprisingly mild 35 IBU, and absolutely packed with herbal and fruit flavors. I cannot recommend this highly enough. If the Dogfish Head brew I recommended several weeks ago was too much hop punch, this swaps out some fruit punch instead. It doesn't taste artificial, watery, or otherwise unpleasant at all.
I brought this beverage when I again visited the same friends with whom I previously shared shishkebabs and was treated to a dinner of okra, rice, and chicken. This was the first time I have had okra, and it's weird. I don't hate it, though.
I tried to take one of those trendy foodie shots, but my glamorous filter game is not on point.
There was also an uninvited guest while we were eating and watching Doctor Strange. I noticed this spider skittering across the floor and managed to take a candid portrait. It has massive pedipalps, and I think it's a variety of giant house spider. They aren't native to the Pacific Northwest, but were apparently introduced by accident over a century ago, and made themselves at home. I don't think it is the related hobo spider, but I'm no expert.
