What’s up with all the hipster bashing? Mostly I see it from members of my generation, perhaps in reaction to a culture that is partly a reaction to ours. I know I’ve seen more than a few hipsters in my time (there were a pair sticking their noses in their beers at Taco Mac the other night), recognizable by their prodigious facial hair. I can’t really say there’s anything wrong with sticking your nose in your pint, though. I do it all the time.

Anyway, what defines a hipster? I quoted Wikipedia in my review of Evil Twin Hipster Ale and I’ll do it again:

The hipster subculture is one of affluent or middle class young Bohemians who reside in gentrifying neighborhoods, broadly associated with indie and alternative music, a varied non-mainstream fashion sensibility (including vintage and thrift store-bought clothes), generally progressive political views, organic and artisanal foods, and alternative lifestyles.

It’s the organic and artisanal foods business that ties them into beer. They seem to like it, and where they instill a backlash is the types of beer they go for. They seem to glom onto only the highest strength beers that smack you over the head with malt and hops, and they have to drink their IPAs of 10% strength and 100 IBUs 5 minutes before they’re bottled.

Hipsters don’t bother me; I tend not to generalize people at all. But if they do bother you, perhaps you should keep a bottle of Falls City Hipster Repellant IPA on you at all times.

From the label:

A piney and citrusy hop character is balanced nicely by a caramel and toffee malt base. An extra dose of Citra hops was added for dry hopping to give this beer a character that will outlast any trend.

That label also tells me this:

Falls City Brewing Company, Louisville, KY and under contract Nashville, TN

This explains why I found the beer in Nashville. Falls City is a revival brewery of Louisville’s classic beer. Falls City operated there from 1905 to 1978 when it went under as many breweries did before the onslaught of the national megabrewers. Falls City became a brand in name only but was revived locally in 2010. I have a thing for revival breweries, so brownie points for that.

Falls City Hipster Repellant has an alcohol content of 6.3% by volume with 65 IBUs. It was running $9.99 a six-pack in Nashville when I bought mine.

Falls City Hipster Repellant IPA pours to a bright amber orange color with a light creamy head and a bitter citrus nose. Taking a sip, the beer has some solid caramel malt up front followed by a hint of pine and more grapefruit rind. Hipster Repellant finishes with an herbal grassy and long dry hop bitterness.

All in all, a solid 4 star IPA for me just the way I like them, with a solid malt backbone and plenty of resinous, citrusy hops. Now c’mon all you hipsters out there. You know you want to try it…..

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