some damn good IPA's out there

[abraham]

Not to derail the cuntery, but the nighttime from Lagunitas isn't that good, Fremont's the brother is good and fresh I guess since it was selling out quickly. and elysian's new manic series with the laser tiger is a solid meh, I wish they kept space dust.

[~mikey b]

[~mikey b]

I didn't like this one. Just seemed like a muddy mish-mash of hops. Nothing really stood out.




Harvest Fresh Hop IPA - Southern Hemisphere Harvest®
Fresh hops straight from the New Zealand fields.

Available May 2014.
The harvest season for hops is a painfully short window—that precious time when the hops are bursting with intense aromatics. Luckily for us, harvest comes twice a year: once in each hemisphere. Southern Hemisphere features fresh New Zealand hops that are picked, dried, and shipped to our brewery within seven days. The result is a complex beer that showcases the floral and herbal flavors and aromas of Southern Cross, Pacifica, and Motueka hops. Southern Hemisphere is part of our five-bottle Harvest series which features single hop, fresh hop, wet hop, and wild hop beers.

[The AD]

I didn't like this one. Just seemed like a muddy mish-mash of hops. Nothing really stood out.

Got a bottle at Costco a couple weeks ago and I agree. Not bad, just not great. I did have a really good IPA while I was in Canada over the weekend: Fat Tug from Driftwood in Victoria, BC.

[~mikey b]

got a 1/2 barrel of Drake's IPA coming for the Summer Solstice party next week - you're invited
Aroma Coma soon...

I hear that Bear Republic is going to be limiting production due to water use restrictions. Won't be able to get kegs for a while , just bottled products.

[abraham]

For you bay area people, any recommendations for bars/bottles to try? I'm going to be around Palo alto & San Francisco this weekend and again in a week for the first time since I can drink. I'm not looking for anything ridiculous or special really, just recommendations for beers I can't get in the Seattle area.

[SchralphMacchio]

Well, Toronado pub in SF should be on every beer-drinking-tourist's ticklist.

Other notables in San Francisco:
-Magnolia Brew/Gastropub
-La Trappe Cafe
-Amsterdam Cafe
-Monk's Kettle
-City Beer Store
-Zeitgeist
-Cervezeria Mateveza

Also in Oakland/Alameda:
-Beer Revolution
-The Trappist
-Faction

Local hard-to-find-elsewhere bottles/labels to try:
-Faction
-Almanac
-Knee Deep
-Drakes
-Russian River
-Devil's Canyon

EDIT - also Calicraft, as I doubt you can get that outside of NorCal

[SchralphMacchio]

Picked up some Squatters IPA and have been digging that. We don't do the "soft mouthfeel" IPAs out here in NorCal.

I also picked up a Hebrew Rye on Rye - Rye double-IPA conditioned in Rye Whiskey barrels. LOVE IT.

Aaand, in the world of session IPAs ... Stone Go-To IPA is the new winner. I'll take that over Drake's Alpha Session and Lagunitas Daytime.

[Hugh Conway]

For you bay area people, any recommendations for bars/bottles to try? I'm going to be around Palo alto & San Francisco this weekend and again in a week for the first time since I can drink. I'm not looking for anything ridiculous or special really, just recommendations for beers I can't get in the Seattle area.

closer to palo alto http://www.gourmethausstaudt.com/ has some decent rotating taps and alright german food
http://www.alearsenal.com/ has more beer, less german. K&L wines usually has some interesting beers but mostly expensive stuff (they have some decent deals on odd hard liquors though). whole foods isn't bad either.

[abraham]

Thanks, that looks like a good list of options between the two of you, I'd offer to buy some beers but I'm not sure what times I'm going to be free.
I was told today that toronado is opening up in Seattle somewhere.

[schuss]

Thanks, that looks like a good list of options between the two of you, I'd offer to buy some beers but I'm not sure what times I'm going to be free.
I was told today that toronado is opening up in Seattle somewhere.

It's not IPA's, but the biergarten in Hayes Valley is pretty sweet too.

[Game Over]

I was told today that toronado is opening up in Seattle somewhere.

There is also a Toronado in San Diego

[Gcooker]

Got a bottle at Costco a couple weeks ago and I agree. Not bad, just not great. I did have a really good IPA while I was in Canada over the weekend: Fat Tug from Driftwood in Victoria, BC.

For those visiting western Canada... Fat Tug won IPA of the year out here and is a very very good beer. While here though, grab a bottle of Central City's Red Racer Imperial IPA, mind blowing (and 9%). I believe you can buy regular old Red Racer IPA in Blaine at Cost Cutter, haven't seen it anywhere else in WA but it is also excellent.

[Ted Striker]

I wish they kept space dust.

agreed.

For those visiting western Canada... Fat Tug won IPA of the year out here and is a very very good beer. While here though, grab a bottle of Central City's Red Racer Imperial IPA, mind blowing (and 9%). I believe you can buy regular old Red Racer IPA in Blaine at Cost Cutter, haven't seen it anywhere else in WA but it is also excellent.

You can buy fat tug here in bellingham, and red racer is sold as red betty in the states.

[406]

I think I have a new favorite double IPA:


Yes, I have no counter tops...goodbye 6x6 tile!

[east or bust]

Had a Smutty Finestkind tonight, it was good. Will have again.

[~mikey b]

My fkn CO2 system is whack. Using it for a keg of Drake's this weekend seems like it always run hot. Foamy as fuck. Recommended PSI?

[Tippster]

My fkn CO2 system is whack. Using it for a keg of Drake's this weekend seems like it always run hot. Foamy as fuck. Recommended PSI?

http://www.kegerators.com/articles/f...-kegerator.php

[schuss]

My fkn CO2 system is whack. Using it for a keg of Drake's this weekend seems like it always run hot. Foamy as fuck. Recommended PSI?

Well, first pitcher or two will always pour hot. Beyond that - how recently have you cleaned the system?

[strawjack]

The FDA...for the love of BEER, just move along.

http://www.modernfarmer.com/2014/07/...-grain-debacle

[snapt]

Which mag is making a fortune on ebay?

[PlayItLeo]

Passed over my go to torpedo IPA and instead had a Red Betty/Red Racer IPA today at lunch based on the rec above - fkna delicious.
Currently drinking a Victory Hop Devil - also quite delicious, but not as good as the red Betty.

[~mikey b]

Gots me some of that there Pliney!

[Name Redacted]

Gots me some of that there Pliney!

I gots some to, just today, outta the blue, someone dropped it off for me! Cheers

[~mikey b]

I gots some to, just today, outta the blue, someone dropped it off for me! Cheers

Me too. A gift for the loan of some climbing shoes. Working the bar tonight.