“Part of the reason our brewery name includes the word ‘project’ is that we view it as a never-ending pursuit. What we were doing five years ago, six months ago, or even two days ago may no longer serve us, so we make it a priority to constantly reevaluate our decisions and processes,” says Julie Tridente, Director of Brewing Operations at Williamsburg, Virginia’s Precarious Beer Project. Despite the ephemeral nature of some beers, Kung Fu Kittens has stuck around. “About two years ago, we really started leaning into Kung Fu Kittens as a consistent offering, and it’s been a great decision,” Tridente notes, pointing to constant demand for the beer both at the brewery and via its distribution partners.
This 6.6% alcohol by volume hazy IPA is DC Beer’s Beer of the Month at The Brew Shop in Arlington. Thanks to a mid-February re-up, the beer is once again available there, with a 10% discount for DC Beer’s Patreon supporters. Our resident hazemeister Jordan notes the beer is “heavily hopped with El Dorado and Citra hops which provide a subtle citrus and orange peel aroma. Hazy, golden in color, this medium-heavy bodied brew comes in at 6.6% which I’ve found a sweet spot for juicy, crushable IPAs. This juicy delight is complemented by some slight resin and dry bitterness on the finish. This bad boy is nice, complex, fluffy, and an enjoyable brew.”
If you haven’t had the beer in a while, you may notice a few subtle changes, befitting a beer project that is named Precarious. Though the hops have not changed, “we’ve experimented with hop products beyond T90 pellets,” says Tridente. Briefly, T90 hop pellets contain 90% plant matter, and that material absorbs some of the beer. Using T45 pellets means more beer, and other hop products like Cryo or Incognito waste even less of the beer while providing flavor and aroma stability. If you’d like to nerd out about this, we’ve got an article for you! The brewery has also altered the grain bill, now “lighter in color and less orange than its original conception,” she adds. Not into haze? That’s fine! In January we highlighted Sojourn Fermentory’s Midnight Dark Lager, and who knows what March will bring. Stay tuned and thanks for your support!
