We’re on Day 4 of the Clown Shoes 12 Beers of Christmas, and we’re having so much fun! Today’s selection is Space Cake Double IPA, a beer that is not exclusive to the sampler. That’s a good thing, because I really enjoyed it and would love to have it again (you know that I will). As to the sampler itself, this one is a little bit of a contrast to the German Beer Advent calendars I have picked up each year for the past 6 years. With those, you open a door a day for 24 days beginning December 1^st, right up to Christmas Eve. The Clown Shoes 12-pack is a little less regimented; you can pull out a beer as you choose. This is what I did, though I am drinking them in order.

Clown Shoes says the following about Space Cake on the 12 Beers website:

Being pursued by a giant assortment of laser-equipped cupcake-spaceships is many things, but it is certainly no time to panic.  Miracle Mike and his galactic canine Bionic have been through far worse, and they always seem to find a way past the relentless pursuit of the Space Cake fleet. This Double IPA features robust hop aromas that carry through to the strong juicy flavors of tropical citrus. A sweet and strong malt backbone pairs with a subtle booziness to make Space Cake an approachable DIPA fit for an extraterrestrial odyssey.

Clown Shoes Space Cake Double IPA has an alcohol content of 9% by volume. I paid $30.99 for my sampler, and was distressed when, that same morning, I saw it for $24.99 at Sherlock’s. We live and learn. Clown Shoes lists Mosaic and Citra hops used to brew this beer. My can is stamped Best By 01/31/21.

Clown Shoes Space Cake Double IPA pours to a bright orange color and thick fluffy head with a strong note of citrus grapefruit that wafted to my nose from a distance as I poured. Taking a sip, the beer has a medium to slightly more than medium caramel maltiness with tropical pineapple and citrus grapefruit flesh and rind. Finishes with a respectable bitterness and gentle alcohol warmth but does not seem as strong as its 9% ABV.

Clown Shoes Space Cake Double IPA is infused with hop character and aroma throughout the drink. I very much enjoyed this beer, but for the sake of racking and stacking the beers in this 12-pack, I will put it at 2^nd place, just a tad behind the Pecan Pie Porter, the reigning champion.

Clown Shoes Pecan Pie Porter

Space Cake Double IPA

Double Dry Hopped YeeeHaaw New England Style IPA

Reindeer Games Bavarian Style India Pale Ale

Update 1/7/2022: Clown Shoes Space Cake DIPA is back in the 2021 12 Beers of Christmas sampler, once again as the Day 4 beer. It is infused with resiny pine I didn’t get last year and citrusy grapefruit. The pine

is apparent in the nose and in the palate. It’s really wonderful stuff and finishes with a flourish of pine tree first and then alcohol warmth, which was also less evident last year. A tautology of pine in this year's version.