IPA Tasting

[hops99]

What better thing could I do on a listless Tuesday night than sample some of the better IPA's that have been taunting me in my beer fridge the past few weeks...So, I've had one each of the following:

New Glarus Hop Hearty Ale
Michigan Brewing High Seas IPA
Victory Hop Devil
Harpoon IPA
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

First and foremost, each of these IPA's is fantastic IMO. That being said, I felt that the Victory Hop Devil was the best of the bunch - it seemed to me to have the best balance of them all (lots of hops, lots of malt). The New Glarus was the hoppiest overall, and the Harpoon was the most mild, but again, they were all great.

Next, I'm going to sample bottled waters before I mysteriously wake up face down in the basement....

[tubetek]

Howdy-
Add Stone IPA and switch the Dogfish 60 for 90; You've got the A list IMHO...
Enjoy

[threecb]

Sounds like Hop Heaven!

I've only had the last 3 and they are 3 that I consider some of the best in the East.

As for 60 vs. 90 DFH, I think they're 2 very different beers for coming from the same place and the same basic recipe. I like the 90 -- big beer with a more complex, fruitier hop flavor/aroma. But I love the 60 if I'm gonna have a couplefew -- hop nose is way more floral/leafy than the 90. It's crisper and lighter and it goes great with spicy foods!

(Victory, of course, rocks. And Harpoon was the one that got me lovin' IPAs)

[hopjack13]

i had a similar experiance yesterday myself, although they were mostly of the west coast verity. the ruination is a huge hop monster with a nice malt balance, better then the stone ipa imo.
also a big eye ipa from ballast point, not a huge hoppy brew . very subtle and very well balanced, also very nice brew.
then i got in to a HUGE HUGE brew! the dreadnaught ipa from three floyds. probably the most aggressive onslaught to the pallate i've ever experienced . hoppy beyond anything i've ever had before....WOW!

i envy you however, i wish i could buy the 90min out here, that is a beautiful beer! also i enjoy the hop devil as well as the alpha king from the floyds.

[tubetek]

Howdy Hopjack-
Where are you? (I'm in the mountains in eastern Kentucky.) Don't think for a moment that I can cruise the local "LIKKERBIGGIE" and grab DFH90(sigh)
We make the trip to Lexington about once a week; there's a place called Liquor Barn that has one of the best selections of craft/micros that I've ever seen.
However, it's a 150 mile round trip to Lexington...
If we can score in KY....
Enjoy!

[steveh]

Although I feel I've had my fill of Pale Ales, I've recently (and highly) enjoyed Three Floyds' (Indiana) Alpha King Pale and their Dreadnaught IPA - both on draft. The Dreadnaught is outstandingly complex...and strong!

S.

[threecb]

Oh how I wish that Three Floyds would come to Jersey!
I've had the Alpha King in other places, never the Dreadnaught...:mad:

I've been diversifying my tastings lately, also...but I could never give
up my Hoppy roots!

[beerturtle]

Looks like a pretty good list. Harpoon was my first IPA experience. Back in my college days, I actually bought a couple to 'bribe' a professor and wound up just drinking them myself. Luckily, I had access to great imports and micros from a little beer bar in a little yellow-fizz town. I'm lucky enough to live in PA, relatively close to Dogfish and Victory (PA's best micro/craft brewery IMHO, although i haven't tried them all yet!). I took an end of the summer trip to Rehoboth last summer and was lucky enough to stay across the street from Dogfish. Needless to say, i was there about every afternoon or evening, and managed to bring home growlers of the 60 Min. IPA. I liek it better than the 90, but am not averse. Can't wait to try the 120 someday....

[hopjack13]

Originally posted by tubetek
Howdy Hopjack-
Where are you? (I'm in the mountains in eastern Kentucky.)


im in southern california, and here in orange county we have a couple great beer stores. i have only been able to sample the victory and three floyds line through beer trading as they do not distribute out this way.....except the raison, chicory,brown from dfh and just recenty victorys golden monkey, hopdevil and prima pils. i've heard of the 60min out in pasadena but i didn't like it that much to go all that far...now the 90min..differnt story.

as for the 120.....i was disappointed, so i thought,' well maybe i should try another bottle' (in case there was something wrong with the first) nope ..same thing, if it's an ipa? where are all the hops...120 ibu's? where? and it was too sweet for my liking as well. i felt like i got ripped off, especially what i had to trade for it, which was a speedway stout from the alesmith on two differnt trades.i'd been better off keeping the speedway for myself, thats a damn tasty brew! but the people i traded with were great at getting me what i was after and im glad they get to enjoy the west coasts finest.
cheers

[brewmonkey]

When you have a beer that big, the hops can hide in the alcohol and the body that is there.

Take 2 beers and brew them to the same IBU's, but change the malt bill so that one has a starting gravity of 15P and the other is at 25P. The hops will certainly be more pronounced in the 15P beer as there is not a lot of places to hide or be masked.

I am expecting some 120 minute this Friday, I am looking anxiously towards tasting it, but I also have some 90 minute coming with it.

Thanks to Ray M for the trade last time, that 90 minute is a kick ass beer in my book and represents what I think craft brewing is all about.

[hops99]

I definitely should have added the Three Floyds lineup to my tasting list - they're available in the store right down the street. I've had the Alpha King and Dreadnaught before though, and they are about as hoppy as they come, IMO.

[hopjack13]

Originally posted by brewmonkey
90 minute is a kick ass beer in my book and represents what I think craft brewing is all about.

i fully agree, i loved the 90min.
i can asure you you will find the 90min a much better beer then 120. if you like barleywines then you'll most likely enjoy the 120.
the best barly wine i've had (and i haven't had too many) was a tohmas hardys 1996 i had just the other day. i am also sitting on an old knumbskull 2000 from the alesmith, although i am not really in to barlywines im looking forward to this one on thnxgiving.

[fretlessman71]

I grew up only having access to Red Hook Ballard Bitter as far as IPAs went. Now, I have to say that I LOVE that stuff, but I'm getting the distinct impression that I've been missing out on some really frickin' fine beer. I'm just about to receive a DGH 60 and a 90 in a week or two from BREWERDLUX, and I thought I'd ask the panel here what they think I"m in for. Tennessee, as I've said before, doesn't get much in the way of microbrews from around the country - SN, some Stone (had my first Arrogant Bastard last week - would I be lynched if I said that I still like SN Bigfoot a little better?), Anchor (which doesn't really count as a micro anymore, does it?) and the occasional New Belgium and Left Hand, but not much selection. Guess I'm going to have to move back to CO to get some real beer on a regular basis, eh what?

[brewmonkey]

Well the doorbell just rang and it was the deliveryman with my stuff.

I am now the proud owner of 12 90 Minute I2PA and 12 120 Minute IPA's. :D

Sitting in the beer fridge coming down to a comfortable 50F and this evening I will be tasting the 120 for the first time. As a HUGE barleywine fan (Rouge's Old Crustacean is the shit!) I am sure looking forward to this beer.

[hopjack13]

Originally posted by brewmonkey

Sitting in the beer fridge coming down to a comfortable 50F and this evening I will be tasting the 120 for the first time.
well keep us updated, i'd like to hear your thoughts on the 120

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by hops99
I definitely should have added the Three Floyds lineup to my tasting list - they're available in the store right down the street. I've had the Alpha King and Dreadnaught before though, and they are about as hoppy as they come, IMO.

I thought Alpha King was WAS the king of "normal" IPA's (haven't had Dreadnaught yet)...then I had a Tyranena "Bitter Woman" .
Had them back to back tonight...The Bitter Woman is unreal...made the Alpha King, which I dearly love, seem downright malty.:D

[dillen]

Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA Go Cubs

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by dillen
Go Cubs

...and take the Bears with you. :D