some damn good IPA's out there

**MMP** · 10-30-2014, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by Doremite

Firestone more miss than hit for me as well some barrel aged stuff aside. In do like Wookey Jack if we are allowed to talk about black IPAs..Do like the trend of brewers more commonly calling them black ales.

Now drinking a Tree House Julius. Incredibly hoppy and quaffable. Small distribution but Tree House does great things with hops. Can't wait until they expand and hopefully come to Boston.

Julius is fantastic. Maybe I'll ride out there tomorrow. Looks like they have Haze and Julius.

**buttahflake** · 10-30-2014, 06:25 PM

are they Phish Heads?
Julius?, and Haze as in, NICU, 'life as a haze'?

**MMP** · 10-30-2014, 06:27 PM

Must be right?

**Doremite** · 10-30-2014, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by HD333

Jack's Abbey Kiwi Rising. Technically a Larger as these guys do all largers. Basically their version of a DIPA. Real good. If you are in MA, CT, NY keep an eye out for it, just released today.

Fresh Kiwi is badass. Drinking a Vanilla Framinghammer now. Def not an IPA =) ... But dig the barrel aged boozy vanilla greatness.

**bgrayvy** · 10-30-2014, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by bourbonisgood

It seems most breweries in the PNW now call this style a CDA (cascadian dark ale)

I think the Grey Sky from Two Beers here in Seattle falls into that category. Good stuff. I like most everything from those guys.

**abraham** · 10-31-2014, 12:04 AM

Not sure it's counted as an ipa, is it? Maybe a dark pale or some such bullshit, But yeah it is surprisingly good.

I've not been too impressed with their beers, some were good buy they seemed to have significant quality issues in the past. I wonder if there were some production changes along with the rebranding? Certainly seems that if they want to compete in cans around here they have to bring some quality and consistent beers to the table. Did you try the triple ipa? I thought it was a bit too boozy tasting.

**strawjack** · 10-31-2014, 07:34 AM

Stoneface is releasing this today in bottles only to start. I had a sample last night and it was interesting. I had their IPA and the Double side by side. Interesting that the IPA had more of a bite and was darker in color. The dbl was super smooth. Looking forward to a full beer sample.

**thewon** · 10-31-2014, 07:46 AM

Thanx for turning me on to the stoneface. Gotta go refill that growler soon. Interesting how the single is darker.

**~mikey b** · 10-31-2014, 09:03 AM

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11.1%

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13.1%

Look out below cuz here we go!

**SchralphMacchio** · 10-31-2014, 09:37 AM

Oooh, haven't had that Hop De-ranged yet!

**~mikey b** · 10-31-2014, 09:56 AM

Me neither. Tonight.

**strawjack** · 10-31-2014, 12:45 PM

The opened at 1pm and I got over there at 1:30ish and the line was out the door. Crazy for essentially a new brewery and this beer is not cheap. I only grabbed 6, but everyone in line was walking out with 12pk case. Their IPA is super popular and there is obviously big expectations for the the dbl.
500ml bottles

**~mikey b** · 10-31-2014, 01:08 PM

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New to me. I'm not a huge fan of Lagunitas, but it's worth a try.

Says "BORNED ON 10/27/14"

**glademaster** · 10-31-2014, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio

Easy Jack? Damn, how quickly the Session IPA bandwagon exploded.

2 years ago it was like 3 California breweries doing it ... now it's EVERYONE!

I drank my first session IPA about 4-5 years ago, and it sure as shit wasn't from a brewery in Cuntifornia. Founders All Day IPA, say what you will about the whole genre, but it absolutely was among the first.

**glademaster** · 10-31-2014, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio

Easy Jack? Damn, how quickly the Session IPA bandwagon exploded.

2 years ago it was like 3 California breweries doing it ... now it's EVERYONE!

I drank my first session IPA about 4-5 years ago, and it sure as shit wasn't from a brewery in Cuntifornia. Founders All Day IPA, say what you will about the whole genre, but it absolutely was among the first. That shit came out before Founders was distributing outside the Great Lakes region.

Personally, I love IPA's, but if I want to drink a sub 6% abv beer, it's going to a pilsner, marzen, helles, or perhaps some sort of funky farmhouse brew. I also only enjoy double IPA's that use an adjunct to boost the alcohol content (honey, sugar, whatever). If I want a beer with a huge hop profile and a thick, malt-heavy mouthfeel and finish, I'll go for an American style barleywine. Bell's Hopslam rules the DIPA segment for me, although it's been years since I've had one.

**thewon** · 10-31-2014, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by telemike

11.1%

13.1%

Look out below cuz here we go!

**bodywhomper** · 10-31-2014, 04:31 PM

IMO the "session" IPA is a very old british style, best on cask w/o the plastic attachment thing. I have had some wonderfully flavorful fresh low abv IPAs in great britian. when i was there, the best were in scotland at the time because of the recent scottish ipa festival that had just occurred. The current american style is pretty interesting. My first encounter was from Linden St in Oakland in 2008, enjoyed on tap at beer revolution (RIP Fraggel). it was all hops, not very full flavored and 3.2 abv. Stone's version is my current favorite that i can find in CA.

pertaining to barleywines, the first barleywines that i had in the mid-90's, all from OR or CA (e.g. rogue, sierra nevada, mad river(?), anchor) had very little hop character. my observation is that the high hop character in barleywines in the US has evolved over the past 20 years, but maybe that's a west coast thing... or i'm full of shit.

**thewon** · 10-31-2014, 06:58 PM

the "stone" is goin down wicked smooth right now. woot!

**Doremite** · 10-31-2014, 08:07 PM

Not an IPA per se but hoppy nonetheless... just threw a fresh Maine Beer Co MO in the kegerator. Hard to stop drinking it.

**SchralphMacchio** · 11-01-2014, 09:42 AM

Mike. Seeking a beer report on that Deranged beer!!!

**~mikey b** · 11-01-2014, 09:44 AM

Very good. I'd call it a Hoppywine...

**The AD** · 11-01-2014, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by bodywhomper

pertaining to barleywines, the first barleywines that i had in the mid-90's, all from OR or CA (e.g. rogue, sierra nevada, mad river(?), anchor) had very little hop character. my observation is that the high hop character in barleywines in the US has evolved over the past 20 years, but maybe that's a west coast thing... or i'm full of shit.

I'd be willing to bet SN's Bigfoot started the trend.

**Name Redacted** · 11-01-2014, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by The AD

I'd be willing to bet SN's Bigfoot started the trend.

Got some aging right now.

And Avery's Hog Heaven might have helped the trend along a bit.

Deschutes Fresh squeezed tonight. Damn this shit is smooth! Been a while. Chick at the packy was handing out samples of the SN Celebration. It was nice, but I was on a mission for something Also have some Renegade RyePA's that I'll mix with the Bulleit Rye in the cabinet.