Really Hoppy Beers and Those who LIKE them...

**tigerstripe40** · 01-21-2009, 05:18 PM

I like hoppy beers.
Not a big fan of IPA, but a good IPA is VERY good.

I am also a home brewer and I have had a few batches of not-so-good beer that I wish I could have covered up some how.

For starters, I was at the Bayou and one of the barmaids offered me a beer called Firestone Walker California Pale Ale... While not traditionally an IPA, it was still nice and hoppy and had a nice numbing effect on my tongue.

The second to last Pale Ale I made I decided to dry hop with an ounce of Cascade hops and that beer turned out spectacularly... I tried it again with some New Zealand whole leaf cascade hops and while it was good, I don't think I treated my water properly..

Now I am also trying to find a good Imperial Stout, which is a stout that was brewed for the imperial court of russia, and was highly hopped so it would survive shipping from england. But I haven't been able to find one locally.

OK.. So I am a beer nerd... :P

**Sirshredalot** · 01-21-2009, 05:21 PM

I have had good imperial stout. I believe one was from a CA brewery and the other one was from the Bozone.

I also homebrew and am about to rack my first barley wine off to a secondary and dry hop it. This thing is gonna be a monster when it's done.

**joetron** · 01-21-2009, 07:08 PM

I am a hop head. I get giddy when I find new pale ales and IPAs.
I think the best beer I ever drank was O'Dell's IPA on nitro at their tasting room. It was like getting grapefruit and hops smashed into your face but real nice and smooth like.
Big fan of Dale's. I wish they would sell it in King Cans for like $3 or $4.

I'm planning on growing hops in my yard next year and seeing if I can brew a batch with em.

**NorthernSpotted...** · 01-21-2009, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by tigerstripe40

Now I am also trying to find a good Imperial Stout...

Most imperial stouts are >8% alcohol. Is that even legal in Utah? Serious question...

**tigerstripe40** · 01-21-2009, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by Herr Doktor

Most imperial stouts are >8% alcohol. Is that even legal in Utah? Serious question...

Sure. You just have to buy it at the liquor store like any other beer thats over 3.2%

**criscam** · 01-21-2009, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by tigerstripe40

I tried it again with some New Zealand whole leaf cascade hops

whaaaaa?
where'd you get those?

**Jax** · 01-22-2009, 12:25 AM

I *love* hoppy beers because my husband won't drink them. heh.

**guest** · 01-22-2009, 12:36 AM

Originally Posted by Jax

I *love* hoppy beers because my husband won't drink them. heh.

And you still married him?

**hialtitude** · 01-22-2009, 12:47 AM

I enjoy hoppy beers but there has to be some balance. There had better be a nice malt backbone to balance out any beer over 30 IBU's in my opinion.

**Jax** · 01-22-2009, 01:18 AM

Originally Posted by guest

And you still married him?

More like I can rest assurred they will still be in the fridge when I get home. Any other type of brew I have to fight for my fair share...hiding them no longer works so I just buy the hoppiest beers I can find. Works like a charm.

**highangle** · 01-22-2009, 01:31 AM

Hoppy beers are the schznit!!

Hops are the closest relatives to cannabis.

Nuff sed. Safety up.

**Cruiser** · 01-22-2009, 07:22 AM

That Moylands Hopsickle is one bitter fucker. Same thing with the Green Flash Imperial IPA. Not my speed, but I can see why folks get off on it. IIRC most people's taste threshold is around 80 IBUs, so beers like the those two at 100 IBUs or more seem like a bit of overkill to me.

**RootSkier** · 01-22-2009, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by hialtitude

I enjoy hoppy beers but there has to be some balance.

Less balance, more hops in Big Sky IPA, please.

/double haul slut

**Yeti** · 01-22-2009, 08:53 AM

Agreed. For most beers lighter in color than dark chocolate, hops >> malt = balance. Good strong stouts vs good strong ipas -- it's a toss-up to me, usually decided by the season.

**tigerstripe40** · 01-22-2009, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by criscam

whaaaaa?
where'd you get those?

The Beer Nut.

That said, I wish I could have gotten some North American Cascade whole leaf hops. The NZ Cascades are more bitter with less citrus flavor than the NA counterpart, as I wanted a nice bright hop flavor with fruit highlights.

**moose pit** · 01-22-2009, 12:53 PM

Fuck Ya!

Big hoppy beers kick ass! Especially IPA's that have a big taste, unlike

Cheers!

good

better

**criscam** · 01-22-2009, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by tigerstripe40

The Beer Nut.

That said, I wish I could have gotten some North American Cascade whole leaf hops. The NZ Cascades are more bitter with less citrus flavor than the NA counterpart, as I wanted a nice bright hop flavor with fruit highlights.

interesting. i didn't even notice there were different varieties/countries to choose from.

**fallguy** · 01-22-2009, 01:40 PM

the beer nut rocks for supplies. hooked me up for many batches when we lived in murray. rasputain is a nice imperial. i htink its from north coast brewery, ca?

**NorthernSpotted...** · 01-22-2009, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by fallguy

the beer nut rocks for supplies. hooked me up for many batches when we lived in murray. rasputain is a nice imperial. i htink its from north coast brewery, ca?

You are correct, sir. Unfortunately for tigerstripe, and everyone else in the state for that matter, North Coast doesn't distribute to Utah. I'd try looking for Samual Smith's Imperial Stout. It's very good, fairly common, and based on the info on its importer's website they distribute to Utah.

**tigerstripe40** · 01-22-2009, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by Herr Doktor

I'd try looking for Samual Smith's Imperial Stout. It's very good, fairly common, and based on the info on its importer's website they distribute to Utah.

I had one last night, actually...
Not as hoppy as the Brooklyn Chocolate Stout clone I made a few months ago (its still aging) but very nice.

**The AD** · 01-22-2009, 03:07 PM

Someone mentioned in that other thread that they don't like Bridgeport IPA. I have to say it's been my go to IPA for a few years. Usually fairly cheap and readily available. It doesn't blow you over, but to me it's pretty much the archetype of the North American style IPA. Just a good, refreshing, nicely hopped beer.

**tigerstripe40** · 01-22-2009, 03:38 PM

One that I can't get here, but probably my absolute favorite IPA is Palisades Brewery Red Truck IPA. Wish I could get it here in Utardia

**uglymoney** · 01-22-2009, 04:02 PM

**BigJay** · 01-22-2009, 04:45 PM

For me, I like hoppy beers that don't have a huge malt backbone. I'm just about to go drop a hob bag in the secondary with some cascade in my IPA I brewed up on New Years Eve. Yum!