OK, folks, I think I’m going to tread a little carefully writing this review of Switchblade IPA from the Four Sting Brewing Company of Columbus, Ohio. My fear here is that of the company doesn’t like my review, who knows what they might do to me? With beers named for switchblades and brass knuckles, payback and skeletons, these guys aren’t fooling around. The words “killer beer” stamped on the bottom of my can deliver the same message: you’re going to like our beer. Or else.

Four String is a musical term, of course, and the brewery was founded by a guitarist. No threats implied there, though I’m surprised they didn’t go with Piano Wire. All kidding aside, Switchblade IPA is my first beer from this brewery, which does not distribute to Georgia. You guessed it though, the ever-generous Beer Professor himself, Dave Coulter, supplied me with a can.

From the website:

Explosive notes of ripe tropical fruit and citrus dominate the aroma, with savage amounts of hops used in both early and late additions. This dry-hopped American IPA will close out every show the way rock intended…guitar smashing and hoping for an encore.

Four String Switchblade IPA has an alcohol content of 6.5% by volume with 65 IBUs. My can was packaged on July 4th of 2016; I drank it on September 15th.

Four Strings Switchblade IPA pours to a murky orange color with a medium sized head of creamy foam and a very herbal, grassy oregano hop nose. Taking a sip, I get some nice chewy caramel malt up front followed by bold grapefruit citrus and bitter peel, earthier spicy oregano notes and a dry lingering herbal grassy finish. I really love the herbal aromas here, and the earthy hop character.

See that? I didn’t have to worry about switch blades and brass knuckles after all. This is one tasty beer, no question about that.

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