Hoppiest Beer?

[deanna]

I like 'em hoppy. And I've had some very hoppy beers, but I know my beer tasting is limited when I consider the vast number of brews out there.

What is the hoppiest?

The two killer hoppy beers I can think of are (on tap):

Three Floyds Alpha King -- I thought this was hop heaven until I had...
Minneapolis Town Hall's Masala Mama IPA -- my knees buckled

[beer]

The Avery brewery, from Boulder Colorado has a beer called "Hog Heaven" with flying pigs on the label. That's the hoppiest I've ever had. And it was really good!

[BrewBetty]

a few of my favorite hoppy beers are:

Pliny the Elder Russian River Brewing Co(CA)
Maximus Lagunitas Brewing Co(CA)
Moylander Moylans Brewing Co(CA)

[Aleman]

My favorite is Rogue Ale's Arrogant Double Bastard

Regular Arrogant Bastard recipe with double hops.

[billy frank]

Arrogant Bastard is brewed by Stone brewing Co in San Marcos. A very good beer, have not had the good fortune to try the double. Another good one is Bear Republic's Red racer IPA #6, they are located in Healdsburg, Ca. Very good brewery. A bunch of hopheads over here on the left coast it seems.
Good subject,
Billy

[BrewBetty]

The beer by Bear Republic is called RACER 5. Also, try Hop Rod Rye. It is an IPA brewed with rye. it is my fav beer right now!!!

[ale_brewer]

I too love Alpha King from 3 Floyds. Had it on cask once at Clark St. Ale House in Chicago, talk about a sublime occasion!

Just had the Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA. 9% a.b.v. and 90 IBUs. A wonderfully balanced beer. Definitely a new favorite.

[billy frank]

Brewbetty- you are right about the name, I got confused because last time I was in there(2 years+) they had several versions of the same style that they were messing with. Add to that the several pitchers we drank and you can understand my confusion. Is the rye IPA also brewed there? Gonna have to make a roas trip soon.
Billy

[BREWERDLUX]

I REALLY LIKE ROGUE BRUTAL BITTER. NOT THE HOPPIEST BEER AROUND BUT A GOOD BALANCE AND A NICE HOP FLAVOR.

RED SEAL ALE IS NICE AS WELL. ITS FROM THE NORTH COAST BREWERY IN CALI.

[beerguy101]

Stone Ruination IPA
Dogfishhead 90 Minute IPA

[beerman1001001]

Mendocino White Hawk IPA and Anderson Valley ESB are both pretty good.

[bsardin]

You can't go wrong with Sierria Navada IPA. It is probably the best IPA out there.

[Aleman]

I will always cherish the memory of having Sierra Nevada Harvest on tap. Harvest is made each year from hops fresh from the fields. It is brewed within eight hours from the time the hops are picked in the fields. The brewers typically wait until the truck pulls up on the dock before they start the batch. Oh, that wonderfully bitter flavor!

Look for it next September-October. Extremely limited distribution.

[kpo]

Favorite SUPER HOPPY beers:

Uplands (Bloomington, IN): Dragonfly IPA

Rogue: Dreadnought IPA
Rogue: Brutal Bitter
Dogfishhead: 90 minute IPA
Anderson Valley: Hop Ottin' IPA

[Beer Nazi]

You hopheads are tough!!! Gimme malty sweetness over hops nine times out of ten. But beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.

I don't care for extremely hoppy beers most of the time, but when I'm in the mood for one I usually go for an IPA. Lagunitas IPA does the trick for me.

[BigIndieBeerMan]

Although I'm sure they're nowhere near the hoppiest beers in existence, these are the three hoppiest that I've had (that I recall drinking at least)...All three are brewed by Middle Ages Brewery (http://www.middleagesbrewery.com) in Syracuse, NY

[list=1]
ImPaled Ale - A wicked Cascade finish!

Druid Fluid - I was told to let this barley wine age for a couple of months, but I couldn't wait to drink it. The hops nearly knocked me on my butt. Really, really good hoppie brew. I hope to let one age someday so I can see how the flavor matures.

Beast Bitter - This ESB won the Bronze medal at the 1998 World Beer Championships. While it's not as bitter as other ESBs out there, the aroma and depth of flavor are amazing. This is truly one of my favorite hoppie beers.
[/list=1]

[IPA]

For hoppiness, I'll go with Phantom Canyon IPA (Colo Springs). This brew is hand drawn, and served at cellar temperature. You can almost chew it!! Great Belgian lace, and a head so thick that if you carve your initials on top, by the time you've tipped for the final sip your entire name is written across the bottom of the glass!!! Slainte!

[Danimal]

My top 5 votes for the hopheads out there....

Alpha King, Three Floyds Brewing
Samuel Smiths IPA, Old Brewery Tadcaster
American Pale Ale, Bluegrass Brewing Company
Celebration Ale, Sierra Nevada
Bell's Pale Ale, Kalamazoo Brewing Co


Enjoy!
Dan

[beerbuzz]

The hoppiest beer I've tasted is the Victory Hop Devil and I can't imagine that a beer could be hoppier.

My favorite hoppy beers are :

McNeils Dead Horse IPA
McNeils Ruby red
Rogue brutal bitter

btw, McNeils is a small microbrew in Brattleboro, VT, their pub is worth the trip, beleive me !!

[kpo]

Just had "The Bitter End" by Two Brothers brewery. A very, very well named beer.

Found it in a fine little deli in Akron, OH called "Primo's Deli" (it was technically in"Barberton", on the outskirts of Akron). Check it out: Hard-core food, hard core beer selection.

[Danimal]

I am sitting here sipping on one of the best IPAs that I have ever had, Two Hearted Ale from Kalamazoo Brewing. Wow, this stuff is awesome - not the most hoppy, but it has to be one of the best complete ales - hoppy, floral aroma, great head, smooth, etc. Anyone else try this one? Agree/disagree? I just got this stuff tonight based on the high rating from www.beeradvocate.com - I am going back tomorrow for more...

Dan

[beer ninja]

Stone Brewing's Ruination IPA!
Marin's "White Knuckles"!
Yum!

[deanna]

Originally posted by Danimal
My top 5 votes for the hopheads out there....

Alpha King, Three Floyds Brewing
Samuel Smiths IPA, Old Brewery Tadcaster
American Pale Ale, Bluegrass Brewing Company
Celebration Ale, Sierra Nevada
Bell's Pale Ale, Kalamazoo Brewing Co


Enjoy!
Dan

Got that Bell's Pale in my fridge now. Gee, I need to make a trip to Kalamazoo. I've loved every Bell's I've ever tried -- bottle or (when lucky) tap.

[deanna]

Originally posted by Danimal
I am sitting here sipping on one of the best IPAs that I have ever had, Two Hearted Ale from Kalamazoo Brewing. Wow, this stuff is awesome - not the most hoppy, but it has to be one of the best complete ales - hoppy, floral aroma, great head, smooth, etc. Anyone else try this one? Agree/disagree? I just got this stuff tonight based on the high rating from www.beeradvocate.com - I am going back tomorrow for more...

Dan

Oh my word, I can't believe I forgot that one. It is B]tremendous[/B] . Love that stuff. Now I'm craving it. Look what you've done! May have to search it out tomorrow. It sells out at my fave store.[

[deanna]

Originally posted by beerbuzz
The hoppiest beer I've tasted is the Victory Hop Devil and I can't imagine that a beer could be hoppier.

Hey, tried HopDevil this week. I really like it. I could drink that regularly.

Also, trying Two Brother's Heavy_Handed IPA. Believe it or not, it's hoppier than HopDevil. Almost makes me pucker. Wouldn't drink it everyday, but when I'm craving a real hop experience, this will fit the bill.

From the info on the bottle, it appears the hops are taken straight from harvest to brew process -- wet hops. Bitter baby, bitter.

[Beer Nazi]

O.k., I'm not a real hop-head, so please tell me, in all sincerity, do all of these super-hoppy brews taste like soap, like Bigfoot Ale?

[Kiltlifter]

Bigfoot taste like soap? No way! Abrosia of the gods is more like it. :D

Everybody had different tastes of course but I disagree with your opinion of this beer. Skoal!

[Danimal]

Deanna,

Two Hearted Ale is quite the find... As an Ohio ntive, It always sucks to find something redeeming about MI - but Kalamazoo brewing is the exception....

Dan

[beast]

I've tried many hoppy ales. Two that are plenty hoppy are Oregon's Extra Pale Ale and Summitt EPA from St. Paul, MN
A beer called GREAt BAMBINO ALE in Boston is fabulous!
I definitely recomend all-Beast

[Beer Nazi]

Originally posted by Kiltlifter
Bigfoot taste like soap? No way! Abrosia of the gods is more like it.

Everybody had different tastes of course but I disagree with your opinion of this beer. Skoal!

:D

Well, you are right - we all have different taste buds!!

I do remember liking Lagunitas IPA, it has less of a "soapy" taste to me. And on occassion I get the hankerin' for a SN Celebration.

[bierman2000]

I am not a hophead but yes Three Floyds has to be the most bitter and Alimony Ale is right up there.

[kpo]

Originally posted by bierman2000
I am not a hophead but yes Three Floyds has to be the most bitter and Alimony Ale is right up there.

Haha, I dare you to try "Alpha King" then Rogue's "Brutal Bitter", then Dogfishhead's "90 Minute IPA" Back-to-Back!

Man, I love Hops

and for those of you into both Hops AND High Gravity beers, you should visit Rich O's Public House the week after March 7th. Rich O's has an annual festival called GRAVITY HEAD where nothing is under 9% . The link is in my signature.

Here's the skinny:

***Now Drink This:***
Gravity Head 2003 opens Friday, March 7.
Already the Liteweights are running for cover as Gravity Head 2003
approaches. Following is a list of confirmed beers, to which I'll be adding
selections as the weeks slowly pass. Those with a "-" before them are new
additions since the last update.

BBC Bearded Pat's Barley Wine 2001
-Bell's Consecrator Doppelbock
Bell's Sparkling Ale
-Browning's Doppelbock
Corsendonk Christmas Ale
De Dolle Mad Bitch
Delirium Noel
Gale's Prize Old Ale 1998
-J.W. Lees Vintage Harvest Ale cask-conditioned (sherry-primed cask)
-J.W. Lees Vintage Harvest Ale cask-conditioned (port-primed cask)
-Kasteel "K-8"
-Kwak
NABC Solidarity (Baltic-style porter)
Rogue Old Crustacean (date to be revealed)
Rogue Oregon Brewers Festival 2002
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2002
-Triple Karmeliet
Upland Winter Warmer

[Danimal]

kpo,

I have a similar back to back to back challenge, in which I partook in last month....

Two Hearted Ale, Kalamazoo Brewing
Alpha King, 3 Floyds
Winter Welcome Ale, Samuel Smiths

Talk about an attack of the killer hops...
D

[skar]

Some of my favorite hoppy beers.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
Brooklyn East India Pale Ale
Avery 14'er ESB

Ohh yeah the SOB Seasonal at Sherlock's Home in Minnetonka, MN. :D

[pubscout]

At the Hop Contest:

Dance with Victory's Hop Devil and rock to Weyerbachers' Hops Infusion...you'll be glad you did.

[billy frank]

Just added a new hoppy beer to my list, Hop ottin' by Anderson Valley, great beer with a great hop kick.
Love them hops,
Billy

[kapital]

It's already been mentioned once, but:

Avery Brewing's Hog Heaven Barleywine. Smells and tastes like fresh hops - no malt, no alcohol, just hops.

[Firkin]

While some of these beers are really good,
if you want the hoppiest, here are my top 2

1) Big Daddy IPA - Speakeasy, CA
2) Maximuus IPA - Lagunitas.

[Danimal]

Skar,

Just tried SN Bigfoot for the first time tonight...yep, its on my list now. So my revised top three is:

Kalamazoo Two Hearted Ale
Sierra Navada Bigfoot Ale
Three Floyds Alpha King

Thanks for the recommendation...

Dan

[guzzler67]

Two of my favorites:
--Victory (PA) Hop Devil
--Tuppers (VA/DC) Hop Pocket Ale

[kpo]

for those of you who like Bell's "Two Hearted Ale", check out this notice from the Rich O's newsletter: 2/14/03


==============================
CASK-CONDITIONED REPORT.

Today (Friday, February 14): Bell's Two Hearted Ale.

To celebrate the grand opening of Kalamazoo Brewing Company's new 50-barrel brewhouse, which was attended last Friday by NABC's brain(dead)trust of Michael Borchers, Joey Burns and the author, we're selling cask-conditioned Bell's Two Hearted Ale today for fifty cents off the regular price: $3.50 an Imperial pint, while it lasts.

===============================:p

[HomebrewinAr]

There is a brew pub in Fayetteville, AR ,The Ozark Brewery, That brews a couple of hoppy beers. They have an I.P.A. I like real well. We brew our own as well and we make a California Common with lots of hops. Its hard to mess up a brew by putting hops in itlol

[Bill Ahlman]

HOPPY BEERS? How about Arrogant Bastard! Available in bottles at BRAVE beer stores, and on tap at a few GUTSY pubs!

[kpo]

Originally posted by Bill Ahlman
HOPPY BEERS? How about Arrogant Bastard! Available in bottles at BRAVE beer stores, and on tap at a few GUTSY pubs!

On Tap at Rich O's in New Albany, IN - just across the river from Louisville, KY. One of the long-time staff ("Buddy") recently had the Arrogant Bastard logo tattooed on his arm - he now displays it proudly!

The Publican at Rich O's is a very intense guy, and won't stand for lousy beer. He recently took a tour and tasting at the brewery that makes A.B., and was impressed by both their ethos *and* their beer - thus their recent placementas a "regular guest" on the taps at Rich O's.

[Bill Ahlman]

I forgot to mention before, Arrogant Bastard is on tap at BJ's Brewhouse in Lewisville, TX here in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Don't know if it is available on tap at any of the other BJ's around the country. Who knows?

[beerinator]

Ruination IPA from Stone pushes down all competitors, and stomps on their entrails! Ok, maybe thats an exageration. But its got a pretty damned hoppy bite.

I recently was in the San Francisco area, and found 21st Amendment Brewpub... Their 'Double Trouble IPA', tasted very much like a Stone Product. I was very impressed with their regular IPA as well... Those guys are close friends with hops!

[jeffmac]

Bell's Two Hearted Ale has to be not only my favorite hoppiest beer but, one of my all-time favorite beers in general. Does anyone have any idea what the IBU's are on this beer? Some of my other favorite hoppy beers are:

Sierra Nevada Celebration
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barley Wine
Stone Ruination
Goose Island I.P.A.
Rogue I2PA

[PDSROX]

YOU CAN'T GET IT IN THE MARKET, BUT PENN BREWERY'S KAISER PILS IS A HOPPY BEER THAT IS WELL MADE WITH A DELICATE, PEFECT, AND HOP BITTERNESS AND AROMA. I JUST LOVE IT!

[batkins]

This is gonna be fun. I went to Belmont Station yesterday. I brought home a Racer 5, a Stone Ruination IPA, a Dogfish Head 90 Min IPA, a Sierra Nevada Bigfoot and a few others. I love hops! :D

[beerinator]

Did you consult your physician first?

[jeffmac]

Ahhh, is there anything better than hops (in the context of beer anyway)? I just returned from picking up a Rogue Imperial Pale Ale. It's been a while since I had this one so I thought I would renew the acquaintance. Speaking of Racer 5, the Bear Republic brews just hit my area a couple of weeks ago but I haven't tried any yet. The one I'm really looking forward to is the Hop Rod Rye, apparently in the style of an IPA but with about 18% rye.

[BluesHarp]

Ah, my first post and what a great topic. I see the Alpha King well represented here, and with good reason; in fact, I have two six packs in the fridge as I type.

I have just finished a "Hearty Hop Ale" from Wisconsin's New Glarus Brewery, and having just tapped an "Alpha King", I think the WI beer just blew it away! Slightly less bitter than the king, but a more pronounced hop flavor.

If there are any fellow Cheeseheads out there, you owe it to yourself to look up the Great Dane and Grumpy Troll Breweries in Wisconsin; both make a pale ale that will curl your toes!

I am talking now about hop flavor; for pure bitterness, the Bigfoot Barleywine is hard to beat.

the only problem is, it is so bitter, I can't blow my harp...that will never do!:D

I just stumbled across this forum, but I think I am home. I look forward to many good beer discussions.

[jeffmac]

Welcome to the forum BluesHaprp. I just discovered it a couple of weeks and yes it does have a nice, at-home feels doesn't it?

[Guy Sajer, FS]

so I can't verify if they are more/less hopped, but Lagunitas puts out the hoppiest beer I've ever tried. If that doesn't give you a hop attack, I don't know what would.
I like highly hopped beers, but this one was too much for me. The next day I was STILL burping hops! Sort of like drinking liquid froot loops:p
I'd probably never drink it again, but I always like to try something new.

[threecb]

Yeah, I love dem hops!

believe it or not, ALL of my faves have been mentioned already:

Middle Ages Druid Fluid Barleywine
(in-sane on cask!)
Victory HopDevil
DogfishHead 90 minute
(now there's a 120 min. -- gotta try that!)
3 Floyd's Alpha King
SN Celebration (i've never had the bigfoot, tough to get on the EC!)

and, mentioned a few posts back by beerinator,
21st Amendment's Double Trouble (SFO) -- this was one of the best
beers in my 10 brewpub honeymoon!