Sun King Brewing is an independently owned brewery and distillery with operations in Indiana and Florida. Conceived by two professional brewers, Dave Colt and Clay Robinson, and started with the help of family and friends.
Sun King
Sun King rolled out their first keg of beer in July of 2009. Over the years, Sun King has grown to become one of Indiana’s best-selling and most award-winning breweries. Sun King recently expanded into Florida with the opening of a new brewery and tap room in Sarasota, FL.
Available on tap and in cans throughout Indiana, Illinois and Florida, Sun King is a leader in the independent craft beer movement. Sun King’s brewers’ handcraft year-round, seasonal and specialty beers that have been awarded more than FIFTY medals at the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, U.S. Open Beer Championship and the festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers.
Community and Spirits
Committed to uncompromising integrity, fanatical collaboration and a passion for creating high-quality, consistent products, Sun King introduced Sun King spirits in 2018 and began to distill and bottle local spirits. These products are available at their Indiana tap rooms, with Vodka and Gin working their way into the Indiana market.
“Sun King takes great pride in partnering with hundreds of community organizations throughout places where its beverages are sold,” said Elizabeth Belange-Hood, Sun King Promotions Director. This helps them raise awareness and funds for great causes. “Each year Sun King helps these organizations raise more than a million dollars through community give backs, gift baskets and in-kind beer donations,” noted Elizabeth.
RHINOMITE
Rhinomite is a potent Double IPA brewed with Citra and Sultana hops with added Pineapple Kush Terpene for boosted tropical fruit character. This beer just hits different!
The specific terpene used is Pineapple Express from Abstrax Technologies. “This is a flavor compound isolated from cannabis plants that produces a strong aroma of pineapple and tropical fruit,” said Elizabeth. The terpene was added to the whirlpool along with the Citra and Sultana hops. This helps to elevate the natural pineapple flavors already found in those two hop varieties.
Talking Terpene
Rhinomite would be an excellent beer even without the addition of the Pineapple Kush Terpene. Fortunately for us though, Sun King added the terpene and created an extraordinary Double IPA.
The aroma aspect is where you first experience Pineapple Kush. Upon cracking open the can, the intense aroma of tropical fruit rises to your nose and it’s pure joy! Sun King could make a candle out of this aroma and would do just fine.
Luckily, it’s a beer and we can drink and enjoy it, and we did just that! The elevated tropical flavor from Rhinomite will stick with you for a while and have you wanting even more. Be careful though, weighing in at 8.5% ABV, this packs more than just a flavor punch. Rhinomite is one of the most potent Double IPAs we’ve had in quite some time.
On the palate, the flavors imparted from Rhinomite are even better than the aroma. The aroma lets you know what you are about to partake in, but the flavor shows you just how good it’s going to be. Pungent notes of citrus and vivid tropical fruit blanket your palate upon first sip. The citrus comes on strong first but then slowly gives way to the palate-pleasing cornucopia of tropical fruits. Pineapple is obviously the main tropical character, but you get a taste of melon and perhaps a hint of grapefruit. Rhinomite finishes with a bit of hop bitterness to balance out the sweet flavors.
We will say that Rhinomite is one of the best Double IPAs we’ve had the pleasure of trying this year. It will be around on draft and in cans through the spring or end of April. If this is the type of beer you enjoy, put it on your to try list and seek it out!