some damn good IPA's out there

[ColMan]

Looking forward to a Cannonball Creek/ Comrade collaboration. Among many others at tomorrow's Collaboration fest at Mile Hi.

http://www.collaborationfest.com/

I wasn't impressed by the CC/Comrade/Station26 IIPA. There was a hop flavor there that didn't come together right. I also had the CC/Pizza Port IPA - solid. The CC Trump Hands IPA (session) is pretty impressive for 4.6%.

[Name Redacted]

I wasn't impressed by the CC/Comrade/Station26 IIPA. There was a hop flavor there that didn't come together right. I also had the CC/Pizza Port IPA - solid. The CC Trump Hands IPA (session) is pretty impressive for 4.6%.

Totally agree, had the exact same impression, I think that it was whatever hop it was they used, I forget.
The CC/Pizza Port was awesome. At the end of the fest I just kept going back to that, luckily our booth was right next door. It was Jarrylo/Azzaca/Idaho 7 hops which definitely add a little fruit sweetness. Really digging those hops these days.

I had a lot of Weird/not in a good way beers. Colabs are kinda like that. Everyone wants to throw in a bunch of ingredients and have their touch on it, but it ends up being too much. Are we making soup or are we making beer here folks?

[ColMan]

I couldn't make it to the collabfest. Would have dropped by your booth otherwise. What were you pouring? I had to get what I could at the local breweries who had it on tap this weekend. Also like the Comrade/Fat Head IPA.

[Fritz]

Melvin Melvin Melvin Melvin

My apologies, this is a bit off topic for this thread, but does anybody here know what a 1/6 keg of Melvin Jungle Juice wholesales for (or retail for that matter)? Going down to the Crooked Stave Distribution Center Monday morning to get one.

[Peruvian]

Homebrew IPA with Azacca hops.

[Fritz]

Sure looks purdy

[wasatchback]

Stoked to finally try Pipeworks. Damn good pale ale right here.

[abraham]

Knee deep is in WA! At least temporarily, but still good to see their beers up here. Tonight's was two months old and better when fresh. But still good. And I enjoyed the gigantic, my record with them is ~50/50

[ColMan]

Got to try the two National IPA Challenge finalists side-by-side last week - Comrade Superpower (draft) vs Bosque Scale Tipper (bomber). Both are incredible and it's a tough call to say which is the better beer. I was leaning towards the Comrade. The judges preferred the Scale Tipper. Also threw Elevated, Project Dank and Todd the Axeman into the mix. Bosque and Comrade still came out on top.

CO Mags - Melvin (IPA, IIPA, pale) hit the shelves yesterday. Stoked they are now canning their beer. Will be in the cooler during float trips this summer.

[east or bust]

finally got to try this, it's gud.

[uglymoney]

Speaking of...I had a Todd the Axeman from a fresh keg last night when I told the waitress to surprise me. That is that a damned fine IPA for sure.

[~mikey b]

FKNA!

[glademaster]

Stone Brewing says, "Happy Birthday, Hitler, have an IPA on us!"

[~mikey b]

Right...

Go fuck your self.

[Name Redacted]

Any opinions on cloudy IPAs vs clear IPAs? There's been a battle brewing in the industry between brewers who think it is sacrilege to serve a cloudy IPA, and others who are intentionally serving yeasty, cloudy, IPAs.

We're not just talking chill haze, we are talking full on yeast clumps at the bottom of your glass and thick, murky, translucent orange beer, which happens to be primarily from the NE. These guys are using a proprietary english yeast strain that doesn't really floc out and remains in suspension much longer. Other breweries and labs are even taking the yeast from Heady, propping it up, and using it themselves to get the same characteristics. Some even use wheat or oats to help the yeast remain in suspension or give the beer that signature cloudy look.

MMP gave me some Treehouse beers like Julius, and I've had a ton of Heady Toppers, both which were really good of course. But I've also tried a few that were just bad. Perhaps not fresh enough, maybe hops were a little muddled from mixing with yeast, or just not a good malt bill. But overall, I see it as another sub-category of beer that can be good or bad and has gained regional popularity especially in the NE and a little in the PNW.

So what does the general beer drinking consumer think of this emerging trend in IPAs?

[Todd Zander]

FKNA!

Yup, cleared out a store in RI last weekend.

[Doremite]

So what does the general beer drinking consumer think of this emerging trend in IPAs?

Color me cloudy. Drinking a Hill Farmstead Susan right now and no complaints. I can't recall the last time I had a clear IPA I truly enjoyed. Not saying they don't exist.

[Peruvian]

Doremite was kind enough to share some HF with me last week and I've been brewing IPAs with wheat and oats lately. That being said I enjoyed a Stone Enjoy By last night and enjoyed it a lot.

I lean cloudy but can enjoy a clear IPA every now and again.

[Doremite]

Maybe I just haven't had a clear one I enjoyed in awhile because, well, I haven't had one. I need to branch out perhaps.

[t-the-east]

[wasatchback]

I think the extreme cloudiness is a little overdone sometimes. I don't think you need the crazy cloudiness to get the smooth mouthfeel, body, and juiciness. I haven't had a super cloudy NE IPA in a while, although I supposedly have a 4-pack of Focal Banger on the way, but I got a bunch of Toppling Goliath from the brewery around Christmas and it was equally as smooth and juicy and not nearly as hazy as all the milkshake NE IPAs I'm seeing lately. I would put their hoppy beers up with anything I've tried from Trillium, HF, alchemist, Foley, SOS, Bissell... Still haven't had Treehouse.

That being said I firmly believe Melvin is making the closest thing to what is coming out of the Midwest and New England when it comes to IPAs. Tons of Hop flavor and aroma but very soft and creamy feel. Haven't had anything west of MN that accomplishes this. Comrade, La Cumbre, Alpine, Boneyard, Barley Browns, RR, etc (haven't had Cellermaker, or Great Notion) can't compete.

Latest Enjoy By is better than it has been but still doesn't stand out like it used to. Had just about everything from Knee Deep lately and can't stand any of it. Poured the last Breaking Bud out after two sips. Watery, astringent, and bitter as fuck.

[wasatchback]

And I wonder how much the just the "New England" yeast comes into play when it comes to taste and feel. Trillium says they don't use Conan or anything special when it comes to yeast just your typical English ale yeast (I could be wrong but I swear I read that). And they produce some of the cloudiest beers out. Interested to hear what Hoof Hearted uses.... Personally I think messing with the water has more to do with the taste and mouthfeel that the heavy hitters in New England are producing than the yeast. Or maybe it's a combo, I don't know. Love to hear what more experience Brewers here think

[Fritz]

I personally don't give a fuck about the look of a beer. If has good aroma, flavor and feel that's when I stop analyzing and just enjoy.

[The AD]

Probably going to be difficult to find for anyone outside BC, but I had a bottle of Howe Sound's Log Driver Juniper Rye IPA and it was quite tasty. Can't say either the juniper or rye make a strong statement, but it comes across as a citrus fruity IPA with decent, but not overwhelming bitterness.

[PlayItLeo]

Nebco double fuzzy baby ducks. Fkna!