Tripping Animals Chigüire’s Swamp

Tripping Animals Brewing Co. is one of those brewing companies that we had seen quite a few people clamoring about on the internet. Unfortunately, they’re located in Florida so we didn’t figure we’d be able to get ahold of their beer that easily. Lo and behold, a liquor store about 20 minutes from our house posted that they’d have a limited amount of them recently so I decided I had to try it. Normally, I like to focus this blog on beers that are easily found but I’m like anyone else in that occasionally there are special releases or harder to get beers that I just have to try and I’ll never keep a review from my readers. I woke up extra early on a Saturday morning and drove over to the store and grabbed cans of each of the Tripping Animals offerings they had.

Chigüire’s Swamp, a hazy DIPA was the first one I tried. Many of you know that wombats are my absolute favorite animal. It might be of little surprise then that I also love capybaras – and, in fact, capybaras were actually my favorite animal as a kid until about when I was in high school. Chiguire is the common name for capybara in Colombia and Venezuela. Anyway, of course I had to try this one first with a tripped out capybara on the can.

Brewery: Tripping Animals Brewing Co. (Doral, FL)

Rating: 85/100

Comments: Chigüire’s Swamp is an Imperial IPA that pours a hazy golden color with bright white head that receded quickly to a thin layer on top of the beer. The aroma has some melon, stone fruit, and tropical notes, with hints of lemon and lime in the background. The taste starts with tropical fruits before delivering a chili spice kick. The aftertaste is reminiscent of the lime salt flavor sometimes found on tortilla chips. It’s juicy and smooth and while the lime and spice balance the beer, they’re probably just slightly too strong. This is my first time trying Tripping Animals and this interesting brew made for a solid Friday night beer.