any IPA fans?
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any IPA fans?
As in India Pale Ale? Discovered this heavenly ale at a local brew pub a few years back, and now, when I'm in the grocery store, I find myself seeking out new craft libations to try out. We have local favorites Long Trail, Magic Hat, Harpoon and Smuttynose, all pretty decent refreshments. What, if any, are your favorite IPA's from your neck of the woods?
James Nicks
James, I'm a "hophead," and have met few IPAs I didn't like, to the detriment of my liver.
My favorites are Bridgeport for its balance and English-style approach; Harpoon for its English hopping and soft floral notes; Stone Ruination for its hammer of piney hop-candy pucker; and Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, a rye-driven IPAish red ale with a racy, spicy finish. This last beer is my favorite American ale, hands-down, and I could drink it at every meal, every day, forever.
Regards,
My favorites are Bridgeport for its balance and English-style approach; Harpoon for its English hopping and soft floral notes; Stone Ruination for its hammer of piney hop-candy pucker; and Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, a rye-driven IPAish red ale with a racy, spicy finish. This last beer is my favorite American ale, hands-down, and I could drink it at every meal, every day, forever.
Regards,
Regards,
Tim
Why should we not meet, not always as dyspeptics, to tell our bad dreams, but sometimes as eupeptics, to congratulate each other on the ever-glorious morning? - Henry David Thoreau
Tim
Why should we not meet, not always as dyspeptics, to tell our bad dreams, but sometimes as eupeptics, to congratulate each other on the ever-glorious morning? - Henry David Thoreau
Hop head checking in.
Avery's seasonal "The Maharaja" IPA is probably my favorite. Their regular production IPA is great, too.
Deschutes Inversion, Great Divide Titan, Elysian "The Immortal," and Firestone Union Jack are some of my other faves.
Black IPA is an interesting style too; Iron Horse (a smallish brewery in Ellensburg, WA) makes a good one.
Avery's seasonal "The Maharaja" IPA is probably my favorite. Their regular production IPA is great, too.
Deschutes Inversion, Great Divide Titan, Elysian "The Immortal," and Firestone Union Jack are some of my other faves.
Black IPA is an interesting style too; Iron Horse (a smallish brewery in Ellensburg, WA) makes a good one.
I love many beers, but very few of them are IPAs. There is a Rye IPA that comes to mind, might be from Magic Hat or New Belguim. Otherwise IPAs, IMO, sacrifice flavor and drinkability for boldness and alcohol content.
The good news is, that leaves all of the IPAs for the rest of you guys. Enjoy em.
The good news is, that leaves all of the IPAs for the rest of you guys. Enjoy em.
Nick
Give me Lavender or give me death.
Give me Lavender or give me death.
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Nick, I don't look for alcohol content in an IPA. Just flavorful hoppiness. If alcohol % were the goal, I suppose I could go for Long Trail Triple Bag, and that's not an IPA.
TR, the only "exotic" I've tried is Stone's "Ruination" IPA, which had a distinct tang to it. I'm on the lookout for other exotics, those craft IPA's produced outside New England. Wait. I've also tried one of the Dogfish brews, from Delaware? It was expensive and not as good as it should have been considering the price. No offense, Rob. YMMV is the rule.
Thanks for your input, guys. Keep it coming.
TR, the only "exotic" I've tried is Stone's "Ruination" IPA, which had a distinct tang to it. I'm on the lookout for other exotics, those craft IPA's produced outside New England. Wait. I've also tried one of the Dogfish brews, from Delaware? It was expensive and not as good as it should have been considering the price. No offense, Rob. YMMV is the rule.
Thanks for your input, guys. Keep it coming.
James Nicks
Stone and Dogfish Head are notorious for pushing the envelope when it comes to hops. Those brews are fun, but there can be too much of a good thing, too. I would choose something hoppy with a good malt profile most days over a pure hopmonster. YMMV.
More ideas? I had a pretty good IPA from New Mexico the other day - Happy Camper IPA from Santa Fe Brewing Co. Lagunitas IPA (California) is a good one as well.
More ideas? I had a pretty good IPA from New Mexico the other day - Happy Camper IPA from Santa Fe Brewing Co. Lagunitas IPA (California) is a good one as well.
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I like the Dogfish Head 60 and 90 minute IPAs, but the 120 minute lacks balance. Closer to home, the Brau Brothers put out a nice seasonal fresh hopped offering that is well worth buying (if only I could remember the name of the brew).
Wayne
Wayne
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James, it sounds like you're in upper New England. Have you tried Otter Creek beer or their other label, Wolaver's? I have picked up sampler 12-packs and enjoyed everything -- including, if memory serves, an IPA.
Their web sites seems to be torn down during a redesign, so check out this review of the Wolaver's IPA: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/119/399
- Will
Their web sites seems to be torn down during a redesign, so check out this review of the Wolaver's IPA: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/119/399
- Will
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I concur regarding Two-Hearted Ale. I am pretty catholic in my IPA tastes. I can go with a hop bomb, even though I respect restraint and balance more as a general rule.
So, yeah, Hop Stoopid is good now and then.
That said, the most recent favorite of mine, which I left out of my last post, is Wychmaker from Jester King in Austin; it's a rye IPA. Rye in a beer is spicy and adds an oily mouthfeel; this complements the resinous hop mouthfeel of an IPA and plays well with either citric or floral hops. Rye and IPA is a match made in heaven.
Regards,
So, yeah, Hop Stoopid is good now and then.
That said, the most recent favorite of mine, which I left out of my last post, is Wychmaker from Jester King in Austin; it's a rye IPA. Rye in a beer is spicy and adds an oily mouthfeel; this complements the resinous hop mouthfeel of an IPA and plays well with either citric or floral hops. Rye and IPA is a match made in heaven.
Regards,
Regards,
Tim
Why should we not meet, not always as dyspeptics, to tell our bad dreams, but sometimes as eupeptics, to congratulate each other on the ever-glorious morning? - Henry David Thoreau
Tim
Why should we not meet, not always as dyspeptics, to tell our bad dreams, but sometimes as eupeptics, to congratulate each other on the ever-glorious morning? - Henry David Thoreau
My favorite IPA also is Two Hearted Ale from Kalamazoo's Bell's Brewing Co.
http://www.bellsbeer.com/brands/#Year_Round-2
This is a very rich, drinking experience with a full body and a complex finish. The closest I've had to this brew from other breweries in Sierra Nevada's IPA, but I much prefer THA.
BTW, the name is, indeed, a reference to Hemingway's "The Big Two-Hearted River".
http://www.bellsbeer.com/brands/#Year_Round-2
This is a very rich, drinking experience with a full body and a complex finish. The closest I've had to this brew from other breweries in Sierra Nevada's IPA, but I much prefer THA.
BTW, the name is, indeed, a reference to Hemingway's "The Big Two-Hearted River".
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Another big +1 for Bells Two-Hearted. Probably one of my favorite bottled beers (would like to try it from Keg). From living in Atlanta, I also really enjoyed Sweet Water 420. Big difference there though between the taste of kegged and bottled; much prefer the kegged.
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-Moe
-Moe
Better still than kegged is cask-conditioned, but it's hard in Texas to find places that keep cask ales around. One pub here in Dallas keeps a cask of a Texas-brewed IPA - St. Arnold's Elissa - on cask at all times. I order a pint every time I go there and ask for it everywhere that carries craft beers to put a bug in their ear.
Elissa is just good in the bottle or even on draft, a quaffable, balanced American IPA with a nice mix of earthy and citric hops. However, on cask, the yeast's nutty qualities mingle with the other flavors and produce a much richer, fuller profile. The mouthfeel is also enhanced by lower levels of carbonation, and the result is a drink that is historical in its presentation and absolutely beautiful on the palate.
Regards,
Elissa is just good in the bottle or even on draft, a quaffable, balanced American IPA with a nice mix of earthy and citric hops. However, on cask, the yeast's nutty qualities mingle with the other flavors and produce a much richer, fuller profile. The mouthfeel is also enhanced by lower levels of carbonation, and the result is a drink that is historical in its presentation and absolutely beautiful on the palate.
Regards,
Regards,
Tim
Why should we not meet, not always as dyspeptics, to tell our bad dreams, but sometimes as eupeptics, to congratulate each other on the ever-glorious morning? - Henry David Thoreau
Tim
Why should we not meet, not always as dyspeptics, to tell our bad dreams, but sometimes as eupeptics, to congratulate each other on the ever-glorious morning? - Henry David Thoreau
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