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Drakes Son of Headzo 24th Anniversary Imperial Small Ale - not technically an IPA, but more IPA than not. Fantastic. 9.7 abv but only 30 IBU, some really nice hopped elements but not so malty for an Imperial strength ale. Can't wait till the 25% 25th Anniversary Headzo comes out next August. John Gillooly has done great things for this label.
And Aroma Coma is still available in bottles - they must have done a ton of production this year!
Would you grab me a few Aroma Coma and hang onto them? Can't get here.
Sorry Mike, they had a bottle limit of 6 and the ones I bought are all allocated :/
I think they will be out of Aroma Coma this week. There wasn't much left in inventory.
Really loving the Son of Headzo growler I bought.
No worries lad!
Schuss needs beer. Please halp.Quote:
Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio
I'm not due in Wallingford any time soon ... I pretty much do zero work with that office now. Darnit.
Bear Republic Cafe Racer 15 double
and
Tioga Sequoia Batch 250 imperial
Alaska IPA isn't bad but nothing special. Had Gubna from tap for the first time, damn good. Also just finished a sixer of Upslope IPAs, eh.
I couldn't seem to find it after I went on a massive binge on Silverton Brewery's Ice Pick Ale (IPA) a few years back, but that shit was damn tasty.
Breakside Wanderlust IPA just came out in PDX. It's pretty damn good.
My keg of Surly Furious comes today just in time for the weekend. Stoked.
Was randomly in Yakima recently and came across Balebreaker Brewing's Top Cutter IPA...outstanding! Brewery is located next to a hop field.
BURN NIGHT!
Attachment 145076
Nothing is fucked here.
Hey I've got to go to some sorta theme party for a woman we know and I'm looking for some ideas. Each couple is supposed to bring a food item with a wine and beer pairing. I skipped out on her last party cuz it was a BBQ class and party. Fuck that I could teach that. I hate the theme crap but she's a great friend so fuck it. I'm in charge of appetizers and IPA. Easy enough for me, but I wanna know what ya got for ideas. Unfortunately somewhat limited on beer selection compared to the big city, but I'm not opposed to driving a bit to get something special. Krystal will probably want a big fat old vine zin too.
OK, so tahoe area right?
I'd say Racer 5, Knee Deep Simtra and maybe some Pliny or Denogginizer? Hit up schralp, he'll know what's in stores right now.
dogfish head ipa 90 is pretty tasty. Cousin turned me on and I'm liking it.
fresh cooked dungeness. a loaf of sourdough
Stone enjoy by/Cafe Racer X/Racer 5. pairs well with zin too.
Appetizer. Was thinking crab dip actually.
Fresh crab for supper tomorrow night! Excited.
sftc over for supper tonight - he gets cow
crab dip and IPA? This is all conjecture, but I'd look at a high acidity beer with "drier" pale barley malts and less of the heavy stuff like caramalt or rye.
Funny enough, I finally had a Sante Adarius 831 over the weekend, and it kind of matches that description well. Dry pale malts, strong bittering hops, and a bit of that "cat piss" acidity found in white wines. Well made beer, and not my style due to a crisper mouthfeel (I like a hint of resin/syrup/caramalt tied to a dank nose and citrus taste) ... but honestly it seems like it would do well with crap dip!
My thought process is that with creams and fats (as you might find in a dip) you tend to want high acidity to punch through the fat that coats your tongue (this is generally my approach to wine pairing) and then you want the finish of the beer/wine to add to, and not steer you in a different direction from, the flavor of the food. So, with something like crab dip, you are not going to have very strong savory flavors - much lighter than something like lamb - so for example you might not want a funky lavender-tasting IPA to pull you off of a food that doesn't already have a provencal tarragon kind of thing going on in the first place.
But to be really honest, with something like dungeness crab I'd sooner pair an American farmhouse-style saison that has a hint of peppercorn. Slight hint of Brett and tartness to punch through the fat, grass to complement the crab, brighter flavor profile to go along with any lemon zest qualities, and peppercorn to finish off the complement.
But, it's late, and I'm really just hungry and blowing smoke out of my ass since I've never really tried doing a beer and food pairing. Have fun!
Lot's of good IPA's making their way through Boise
Just had a 12-13-13 Stone IPA, really good if you can find it, nice mellow buzz
The Payette IPA is really good as is the other local IPA from Sockeye.
Leafer Madness from Ontario (Beer Valley) is intense but good if you can find it.
Hoppy Bitch is good, but a little over the top.
As for beer in Boise, I haven't been to TableRock for quite a while since they switched brewmasters so I'm not sure what is good there anymore. Definitely don't like The Ram's beer. I'm still not sure how they win so many awards with that swill. 10 Barrel is, well 10 Barrel. I've always liked Highlands Hollow's beer especially the FiegWild. Sockeye, well their IPA is outstanding. Crooked Fence is pretty good. There's now plenty of small start up breweries around that I haven't tried yet, but hearing good things about. If you get to try Initial Point IPA, give it a go.
not sure if Toppling Goliath from IOWA has been mentioned but they are pretty well regarded. Not my favorite but I can get growlers, Fairly highly regarded on Beer Advocate. Really seem like their IPAs get good rating just cause of rarity. They are sort of an up and coming brewery though. Psuedo Sue is a Citra hop and is pretty popular. I think it needs some background hops though.
Hmmm, last time I tried Leafer Madness I wasn't a fan, but I can't remember why.
I also recently tried Pac Labs IPA and also am not a fan.
Interesting. The most recent batch is definitely clearer, crisper and less dank than the couple prior ones. Haven't been there when it wasn't a shitshow so haven't had time to ask the why. Their Northern Beard "Farmhouse IPA" is even crisper, clearer and sour. Not what I'm looking for. Not an IPA, but the Tired Hands collaboration is solid.Quote:
Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio
Not a surprise cuz New Belgium sucks (of all the macro crafts their success baffles me the most), but their White IPA seasonal is a big meh.
DFL for New Belgium? About right. Union Jack from Firestone is overrated. Weird they picked "Le Freak" from Green Flash - the only Belgian IPA?
edit: speaking of Drake's - 2013 Jolly Roger I guess could be considered a "Black IIPA" or some such. Tasty, probably appeal to fans here.
and yeah, the Sierra Nevada entries are way overrated there.
That was a weird list once you got past the top 7. I posted a rant on facebook when my friends threw that link at me.
a) What's with the White IPAs? No Black IPAs in there, why include the Whites?
b) No fucking Drakes? Wow.
c) No Boneyard? I guess they don't can or bottle yet, but
d) Torpedo before Mikkeller?
e) Hahaha on Heady Topper being so low ... Vermonters must be revolting
f) Magnolia Proving Ground is awesome and I am glad to see it made the list
g) Torpedo and Celebration are good but overrated on that list
They're not revolting, they're just spending copious amounts of time writing on message boards about how top 10 lists are all bullshit, and how it doesn't matter because they can get Hill Farmstead regularly while the rest of us can't so we can lick their balls.....Quote:
Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio
Anyone who actually cares knows that ranking beer is pretty dumb, and taking those rankings to heart is even dumber. I can think of at least 5 ipa's within 100 miles of me in Bellingham that I enjoy more than half of the top 10 list. That still doesn't mean shit since what I like in an IPA isn't what everyone likes.
That being said, I don't disagree with Blind Pig being #1 on the list :fmicon: Also, Firestone IPA isn't overrated when you consider that you can get it anytime at any gas station or grocery store. Being able to grab a 6 pack of a delicious beer easily whenever I want is much more desirable than getting to drink 4 oz of the best IPA ever maybe once a year after substantial effort and usually next to some sweaty fat guy taking notes. Example: I can drink a can of Sculpin IPA on a chairlift or mountain biking all the time. Pliny/Heady/Alpine Exponential/etc.....? Yeah right.
In other news from Washington.... Fremont brewing is killing it lately. The brother imperial IPA is right up there with Pliny (of course imho), Cowiche Canyon fresh hop is probably the best of the style I've ever had, and their regular IPA stands up to anything available. And don't get me started on the barrel aged offerings..... http://www.fremontbrewing.com/43/the-beer.html
most any place I can grab FW, I can grab Bear Republic. Easy choice.
Dunno, based on the closeout prices on Hop Rod Rye ($4.55/4) don't think they get the love.
FW is pretty damn good though as a unifying beer - west coast fruity hops, east coast malt treatment. Not my fave, but I can see why people like it.
And White Chocolate - I find Bridgeport more than I can find Fremont (never, cause they don't distribute here nor are they an easy grab at the QFC or whatever supermarket up in Seattle). And it pisses me off because I really dislike Bridgeport but have seen you guys post about Fremont for years.
I also think Bozeman Hopzone tops a few at the bottom of that list.
When were you up here last? Fremont send to be pretty easy to find in most safeways, not always the large bottles but the cans are everywhere.Quote:
Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio
Fort George North VII is really good I thought. It claims to be a barrel aged, Belgian style ipa but avoids all the things I dislike about ipas that are done that way. Had a sort of mango or tropical flavor that I've noticed in a few other beers, I assume it comes from the hops, but I don't know what kind give that result.
Seattle folk: Rueben's imperial rye IPA is THE SHIT.
Reuben's does a nice job. I've refilled my growler there several times.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andyski
Snake River Pako's gets a mention for "enjoyable local beer." (Im in Jackson right now)
Solid hop profile, like a "drier" and slightly less dank version of Drakes.
From this part of the country, I still haven't had better than Hopzone, but I'm digging the Pako's.
It's almost too good, but don't slam six of 'em at the Ghee before a Widespread show....:nonono2:Quote:
Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio
So how are the Grand Teton brews these days? The Otto bros had some bugs to work out back in '89 when I picked up my first growler from them.
Next time I'm in cali I need to try one of those Russian brewery beers.
Heady is good...but the hype is stoopid crazy. Good for them though. Three days ago there was a parade of cars following the delivery truck. :eek:
The Uinta Dubhe Imperial Black IPA is pretty damn good. Funny that it's from Utah! 9.2 ABV is the state of 3.2
i've only had a couple of their Sweetgrass APA's lately, they were fine, nothing too special. They may have some good brews in their pouring room, but i'm usually always at Wildlife Brewing just down the street, drinking some of that 'moonshine that Ric calls beer'...:chug:Quote:
Originally Posted by strawjack
Front Range IPA fans, Odd13 in Lafayette is making some damn good beer. They have a session IPA, an IPA, and then a double IPA that I'd put up there with most anything. Also a very hopped up red. Black IPA and Oatmeal Stout if you're in the mood for something dark. The double IPA (Papa Silenus) has impressed me more than any other IPA from the newer breweries around here. City Star Dead or Alive Double (Berthoud, CO) would be second.
Just got some heady topper in the mail... Good stuff...
I like Pako's as well. Comes in an awesome can. Drank a ton of it in the winds a couple summers ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio
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I asked my wife for a Sculpin bomber for Xmas and she came through. Drank it yesterday and must say it's a hell of a beer. Surprisingly light for a beer of that strength (7%).
Just finished a Cambridge Brewing Company Red God and I'm ready for worship. Technically an IRA, but tasted a lot like a Heady Topper... damn good. Thank you Santa (wife):
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