I'm not a huge beer drinker.

But I do live in Portland. So I do drink beer, and I do try lots of different kinds. Lots of different kinds. (It's kind of a thing out here.)

And my, oh my, am I left flabbergasted, dumbfounded, stupefied by the greatness of Great Notion.

How does their Blueberry Muffin taste so much like a blueberry muffin? It doesn't taste like blueberry. It tastes like a blueberry muffin. It's downright ethereal.

How does their Pandan IPA combine so many flavors - sweet, zesty, citrusy, creamy (...creamy? Yes. Creamy. In a beer. Yes, it is stupidly delicious. And no, "creamy" is not a flavor.), in such an absurdly delectable package?

How does their Carnival Imperial Double Stout appear so thick, rich, and dark - yet go down so smoothly, so lightly, so sweetly and refreshingly?

They defy what I thought were fundamental laws about beer.

For that, I raise my glass to Great Notion Brewing. May you continue to brew stupidly delicious beverages for charmed diners in the Portland Metro area for ages to come.