some damn good IPA's out there

[SchralphMacchio]

oh yeah, on the topic of [ipa]Nelson Sauvin hops[/ipa] ...

I did NOT enjoy this IPA last week:


100% nelson sauvin brew - looked interesting!

It tasted like herbal flower soap and I nearly spit it out on first try. Incredibly light foamy head, needed to get to near room temperature before it was drinkable, but then it tasted dried lavender, dried leaves and bitter tree bark and ... cat's piss.

Ugh, I need to get back to the Widmer Nelson Imperial asap just to flush my memory of associating Nelson Sauvin hops to cat's piss.

[Mustonen]

Surprised to see no mention of Kern Citra or some of the Alpine beers, Ballast Point Sculpin, Surly Abrasive, Surly Wet, Surly Furious, Alchemist Heady Topper, Three Floyds Zombie Dust or quite a few from them, etc.

Not 15 posts above yours....

Had some Surly Wet recently - oily and tasty, ran out just as I was really starting to dig it.

Had some Furious at around the same time --> didn't think it was quite as interesting as the wet, but still very good.

I forgot how much of a kick Hopslam really has... sat down with some Hopslam while finishing off my taxes last night - not the best idea ever. Finish taxes, THEN drink boozy beer has to be right up there with "post, THEN smoke crack" in the great order of operations table of the world.

[TheMessenger]

Shit beer

[Mustonen]

I've been so so on blacks, but the two this year that I really like are
Drake's Jolly RoDger - it was a damn straight winner last year, and this year's is almost as good
Alchemist/Ninkasi/Stone More Brown than Black - yes. oh yes.

I'm actually pretty impressed w/ Tommyknocker's Hop Strike. That's good beer - actually tastes like an IPA with some dark notes rather than a muddled brown.

He'brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A. can also be very, very good. Lots of rye in that one, though.

[TheMessenger]

I have a theory about IPA drinkers. They are generally not very well travelled, have never left the USA, thus have never tried beer from other places, esp. the old world. Their first experience with beer was with a beer bong in high school or college, with Bud or some other American lager, where they then got sick and threw up. Thus as a reaction, in their adult years they are attracted to the opposite type of beer, the IPA. But it is an unsophisticated taste as it is borne out of a very limited experience and an unseasoned palette. IPA's are not subtle and are basically a poseurs beer for those who want to appear to have good taste in beer, without actually having good taste in beer. IPA is the pinnacle of the American crap beer pyramid.

The IPA connoisseur is analogous to a connoisseur of chilli. Sure there are many different styles and flavors of chili, but the food in itself is not very good.

[Benny Profane]

Do you have any friends?

[guroo270]

Does anyone know who got a keg of Pliny the younger near vail? I really don't want to miss it again this year.

To add- uintas brewery's dubhe imperial black ipa is a winner. Other faves of mine are green flash west coast ipa, Breckinridges 471 ipa, and pliny.

[SchralphMacchio]

it is an unsophisticated taste as it is borne out of a very limited experience and an unseasoned palette.

Probably so.

None of us in this thread have ever been on the Belgian abbey trails, or tasted banner Bordeaux and Rhone wines, Napa wines by Phelps, Martini, Caymus, Duckhorn, or tiny bouquet wineries from marquee years, 23 year old bourbons, 25 year old armagnacs and cognacs, single and double malted scotches. None of us even know what the fuck a "Calvados" is, and especially not those from the 1960's, not even the ones that some of us have in our cellars. We just like drinking water with our high fructose corn syrup and eating processed meat with our soy fat. Seriously.

So please leave us alone because we are a bunch of uncouth heathens.

[The AD]

But it is an unsophisticated taste as it is borne out of a very limited experience and an unseasoned palette. IPA's are not subtle and are basically a poseurs beer for those who want to appear to have good taste in beer, without actually having good taste in beer.

Sorry, I drink beers I like. I'm not concerned that those beers may be "unsophisticated" or "not subtle." And I kind of doubt anyone posting in this thread only drinks IPAs.

[Name Redacted]

People always feel the need to criticize what is popular. Ipa are not the only beer, but I usually choose them over others because I am interested in trying the different hop profiles and balances. Arguing aboutthe some thing as subjective as taste is a waste of time.

[Hugh Conway]

So what's the big deal over Pliny the Younger?

[SchralphMacchio]

So what's the big deal over Pliny the Younger?

The big deal? Is that it's a bunch of people circle jerking in Star Wars costumes.

I mean, I love the beer. It's one of the best I've ever had - pretty mindblowing. But seriously ... here is the blog update from the RR website today:

The first 4 days of the annual return of Pliny the Younger has been outstanding! Though the lines have been quite long (up to a 5 hour wait over the weekend), the weather has held up for us... until this morning. But I did see a few hearty souls in their camping chairs and rain gear huddled up next to the building waiting to be the first inside to drink Younger from the source! Kudos to you die-hard beer fans!

[Hugh Conway]

I mean, I love the beer. It's one of the best I've ever had - pretty mindblowing. But seriously ... here is the blog update from the RR website today:

wait was ~20 minutes today in the afternoon (mostly because of the hangerson who showed up with groups and ... didn't order beer? WTF?) and it was good, but I think Elder is a better beer.

[SchralphMacchio]

^ did you let it warm up a bit to let the malts run a little more? Of course it varies from year to year / batch to batch. I had a disappointing bottle of Drakes the other day, when on some days I can be blown away.

WRT to the Younger, I didn't think the 2011 was as good as the 2010. 2010 had a very very long finish, maybe 15+ seconds. I'm all about seeing how a beer changes as it breathes and also warms up. Most fine beers are served too cold IMO.

[Mustonen]

Most fine beers are served too cold IMO.

I like most beers served ice cold, so I can get a feel for the entire profile as it warms up. It's a journey... If it isn't served ice cold I feel like I missed the first half.

[MarsB]

As mentioned, SN Ruthless Rye and Widmer Rotator are quite tasty and have been heavy in my "easy to find in my local grocery store" beer rotation.

[schuss]

Strong beer month at 21st Amendment/Magnolia. Magnolia is 2 blocks away.

Ouch.

[Ted Striker]

I have a theory about IPA drinkers. They are generally not very well travelled, have never left the USA, thus have never tried beer from other places, esp. the old world. Their first experience with beer was with a beer bong in high school or college, with Bud or some other American lager, where they then got sick and threw up. Thus as a reaction, in their adult years they are attracted to the opposite type of beer, the IPA. But it is an unsophisticated taste as it is borne out of a very limited experience and an unseasoned palette. IPA's are not subtle and are basically a poseurs beer for those who want to appear to have good taste in beer, without actually having good taste in beer. IPA is the pinnacle of the American crap beer pyramid.

The IPA connoisseur is analogous to a connoisseur of chilli. Sure there are many different styles and flavors of chili, but the food in itself is not very good.

You could be right, but here's a story for you. A friend was born and raised in England. When he moved here, he was walking down the street one day and smelled this foul odor emanating from a local restaurant. He thought 'what is that horrible stench?' When he found the source, it turned out to be Kentucky Fried Chicken. He made a mental note to never eat there. But every day he had to walk by KFC on his way to work, and every day the smell became a little less offensive, until one day it seemed to actually smell good. So he went inside and tried some. He wasn't particularly impressed, but just like the smell, the taste grew on him until he was addicted to the stuff. He'd go there all the time. He actually had to quit KFC like you'd quit smoking or drinking.

I'm kinda that way with the over-the-top PNW/American style of IPA. I'm originally from the midwest, and very well travelled compared to 90% of Americans - including actually living in other countries. At first I thought PNW (and NorCal) IPA was a particularly unbalanced interpretation of the genre, but over time I became a major hop-head. Now, to me, beer=IPA. It's not because I don't know any better. It's because I like it.

[bushman]

Rush River Double Bubble Imperial IPA, Yummy.

[SchralphMacchio]

Holy shit, too many good beers at DIPA festival today.

Some highlights:
Half Moon Bay Double Overhead
Knee Deep Hoptologist
Lagunitas SF Fusion
Maui Brewing Double Overhead
Port Mongo
Triple Rock Rodgers Last Stand and IIMAXX
Russian River Pliny the Younger
Bear Republic Cafe Racer 15 and Racer X
Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental
Boneyard Hop Venom, Cascadian Dark Ale, and Notorious
Flying Dog Imperial Centenial



and guess what - Pliny was not the best beer in that list. Triple Rock Rodgers Last Stand for the win (they took silver today in the IIIPA contest, Drakes won gold with Hopocalypse Black Label, but it ran dry within 1 hour of opening so I missed out)

yes, oh yesssssss (from the Drake's Facebook page)

[Hugh Conway]

YFC. 12.5% ABV? When's it hit stores...

Knee Deep Hoptologist? I've been unimpressed by the bottles, but that could be handling.

[flyman683]

As mentioned, SN Ruthless Rye and Widmer Rotator are quite tasty and have been heavy in my "easy to find in my local grocery store" beer rotation.

I'm happy the rye thing is cool again - probably those mad Men retards but if it means more rye IPA and people who know what an old fashioned is I'm for it. The ruthless rye just made it to AK and now I'll look for the widmer.

[Hugh Conway]

now I'll look for the widmer.

any of the rotators so far have been good. He'brew Lenny's RIPA is worth a rye as well

[SchralphMacchio]

Knee Deep Hoptologist? I've been unimpressed by the bottles, but that could be handling.

I think it's possibly a bottling issue. I had 1 bottle of Knee Deep in Powder about 3 weeks ago and it was awful, nothing like the Simtra triple IPA or Hoptologist double that I had yesterday.

I talked to the head brewer Jeremy Warren about it after Hoptologist won gold (really cool dude by the way - he has been hanging out at Drakes with his Dad since they opened). They're only 1+ year into their operation and not everything is totally dialed yet. We talked about different sources of contamination & taints and he ruled out a few possibilities but expressed real concern about potential hop taints and bottle contamination. I don't know anything about brewery operations and QC, but he invited me to come check out the operation and have a few beers on him as well for giving him honest feedback and being a passionate beer and snow lover (he is also a snowboarder).

So anyways, I kind of got the young independent ski/board manufacturer vibe from him, like Kieth from Praxis and Ben Harmon from Sentury, so I hope he's able to dial in his operation and be successful, because the two Knee Deeps I tried yesterday were fantastic.

[The AD]

You could be right, but here's a story for you. A friend was born and raised in England. When he moved here, he was walking down the street one day and smelled this foul odor emanating from a local restaurant. He thought 'what is that horrible stench?' When he found the source, it turned out to be Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Dude must be old. The first KFC opened in England in 1964.