some damn good IPA's out there

[ectreeskier11]

hop rising is still my favorite, dubhe is damn good too though

[Altaholic]

Nate,
if you swing up to JH this winter (I'll beat your ass if you don't), you gotta check out Pako's Eye-P.A. from Snake River (won gold at this year's GABF) & Thai Me UP Brewing in Jackson. The owner of Thai Me Up LOVES strong Pale Ales/IPAs & makes sure a few of them are on tap at all times.

[splitter]

for you californians,

they just started bottling and selling in your neck of the woods...

great basin brewing co. Ichthyosaur India Pale Ale

[fool]

Great Divide Titan IPA is my go to IPA, pretty delicious. Anybody been to any of the Syracuse beer week - it's occuring this week - events?

[BraddA]

^^^ Titan good, Hercules better.

[Captain Awesome]

A couple kegs of "Rumble" made it out this way. I really liked it.

[stapes]

Yea, both Great Divide Titan and Hercules are delicious. Been keeping Titan in the fridge a lot lately.

A growler of Asher Green Bullet IPA has been my Friday night routine as of late.

[uglymoney]

Still trying to find a decent Iowa IPA. This must be the nastiest IPA ever.



The Beer Advocate gives it a C. I give it a F because it is undrinkable and not really an IPA. I couldn't even finish the can. Brewed in Iowa so I should have figured. Thankfully I only bought one can and was able to wash away the terrible with a PBR.

[Mustonen]

Uglymoney washes out the taste of Big Cocks with PBR; and he doesn't even finish the job. </tag>

Been splitting my time between Founder's Centennial and Bell's Two Hearted. Really loving the Centennial hops lately....

Had some Surly Wet recently - oily and tasty, ran out just as I was really starting to dig it.

[BraddA]

Mountain Standard Time, anyone? Odell's seasonal specialty is back, though this is the first I've had of it. The black IPA's have been hit or miss for me over the last few years, but this one stands out. Not a hop-bomb by any means, this baby brings the roasty malts. Sweeter than it is bitter, I was definitely expecting more in the way of big, resiny, stank. Instead, MST offers a refreshing example of restrained balance and a return to sanity when it comes to the direction most are taking their big IPA's these days. I won't be buying fewer Pliny's, Maha's, or Hop Crises, but when I want a black, this is where I'll turn.

[HansJob]

[bushman]

Summit IPA tonite, quite drinkable, not a worldbeater. But at least the Bulldogs are throwing a spank to Alaska Anchorage for the sweep.

[fool]

Mountain Standard Time, anyone? Odell's seasonal specialty is back, though this is the first I've had of it. The black IPA's have been hit or miss for me over the last few years, but this one stands out. Not a hop-bomb by any means, this baby brings the roasty malts. Sweeter than it is bitter, I was definitely expecting more in the way of big, resiny, stank. Instead, MST offers a refreshing example of restrained balance and a return to sanity when it comes to the direction most are taking their big IPA's these days. I won't be buying fewer Pliny's, Maha's, or Hop Crises, but when I want a black, this is where I'll turn.

Just had my first "Black IPA" last week...Stone's Sublimely Self-Righteous (8.7% and 90 IBU's). Had it on draft while I was in Phoenix and it was quite delicious...definitely not as hoppy as the 90 IBU's would indicate. I really like how well the hops were balanced with the malts in addition to the darker flavor. If I can find other, similarly delicious Black IPA's, it seems like they'd be a good go-to winter beer. After catching up on this whole thread there's definitely a fair number of beers I want to try, but the Stone Cali-Belgique IPA sounds quite interesting and tasty.

(Great thread, by the way. It took me a while to find it with the newish vBB search, but subscription added. )

[Mustonen]

Mmmmmmm

[The AD]

I finally had a "black IPA" last week that I really liked: O'Dark:30 by Oakshire Brewing out of Eugene. It's their spring seasonal. Good stuff!

[bushman]

Rush River IPA tonight. Red Hook if I run out.

[Hugh Conway]

I finally had a "black IPA" last week that I really liked: O'Dark:30 by Oakshire Brewing out of Eugene. It's their spring seasonal. Good stuff!

You tried "back in black" from 21st amendment? It's good


Pliny the Younger available today

[Alaskan Rover]

Some damn fine tasty IPAs are mentioned in this thread!!!

I've gotta check out that "Pako's Eye-P.A." from Snake River Brewery. How in hell do I get a hold of that stuff?? I wonder if they will ship out? I've never tried getting alcohol shipped before. Seems there might be USPS rules (ATF laws, etc) against it...but maybe ok as FedEx or UPS??

--

[mmmm...pow!]

Haven't read this whole thread, so don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but right now I'm enjoying Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye. I'm usually not an IPA guy, and I'm not the biggest fan of SN, but this stuff is pretty tasty.

[concretejungle]

Haven't read this whole thread, so don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but right now I'm enjoying Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye. I'm usually not an IPA guy, and I'm not the biggest fan of SN, but this stuff is pretty tasty.

12 pack for 12.99 makes me a fan.

Also, had a Odell's Black IPA the other day which was pretty damn good as well.

AK, you can't ship beer with Fedex or UPS but if it breaks or they figure it out they just confiscate it. You have to be a licensed shipper but one beer packaged well is pretty easy to pull off.

[Hugh Conway]

Haven't read this whole thread, so don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but right now I'm enjoying Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye. I'm usually not an IPA guy, and I'm not the biggest fan of SN, but this stuff is pretty tasty.

meh. Widmer O'Ryeley Rotator >>> in the IPA stakes and roughly the same price.

[fool]

Been rocking the Stone IPA lately...so delicious!

Edit: It was Stone, not Rogue. Don't know what I was thinking.

[Crass3000]

Surprised to see no mention of Kern Citra or some of the Alpine beers, Ballast Point Sculpin, Surly Abrasive, Surly Wet, Surly Furious, Alchemist Heady Topper, Three Floyds Zombie Dust or quite a few from them, etc. There are so many good beers. Pliny the Elder isn't bad but I think it's a little hyped. Wish I could try Pliny the Younger. Have had Ska Modus Hoperandi and didn't care for it but no idea how old it was. PAs, IPAs, and DIPAs really need to be drank ASAP after bottling/canning. The flavor profile on even a month old beer isn't going to be as good even it it's been kept in proper conditions. Really hard to compare the tops of the styles objectively as everybody has a different pallette. I'm a sucker for a REALLY tropical IPA (not to say I don't like most though). IPAs really need to have dates on the cans/bottles. There are so many good ones out there so there is no reason to be drinking an older one.

Edit: Minneapolis Town Hall "Masala Mama" is a great IPA. Really a great brewery. Just happens to be barrell aged beer week in the next few weeks. Some nice growlers to be had during barrel aged week. They have two or three beers that seem to slide in and out of the top 100 beers on BeerAdvocate. Check out all the different beers MTH brews on BeerAdvocate and I've never had a bad one. Definately either Surly or Town Hall are the top breweries in Minnesota.

[Crass3000]

Some damn fine tasty IPAs are mentioned in this thread!!!

I've gotta check out that "Pako's Eye-P.A." from Snake River Brewery. How in hell do I get a hold of that stuff?? I wonder if they will ship out? I've never tried getting alcohol shipped before. Seems there might be USPS rules (ATF laws, etc) against it...but maybe ok as FedEx or UPS??

--

Go on the Snake River website. If I remember correctly they are one of the few breweries that will actually ship to you. Not sure where you are given only the Surfers reference. Their Zonker Stout is pretty damn good for how under the radar it is. Keep in mind it's not an RIS but still a great stout in the 6% or so category. As for shipping beer you just need to make sure it's packed well, temps are such that it won't freeze, and use UPS or Fedex. It is against the law but they tend to turn their head given all the revenue they generate from it. People typically say they are shipping snow globes, fancy olive oil, or anything else that might sound like a legal liquid to ship. You can also put in a box or two of skittles or something to mask the sound of the liquid (I've even seen empty pill bottles with a little gravel in them used).

[SchralphMacchio]

Just had my first "Black IPA" last week...Stone's Sublimely Self-Righteous

I finally had a "black IPA" last week that I really liked: O'Dark:30 by Oakshire Brewing out of Eugene

You tried "back in black" from 21st amendment? It's good

I've been so so on blacks, but the two this year that I really like are
Drake's Jolly RoDger - it was a damn straight winner last year, and this year's is almost as good
Alchemist/Ninkasi/Stone More Brown than Black - yes. oh yes.

Surprised to see no mention of Kern Citra or some of the Alpine beers, Ballast Point Sculpin, Surly Abrasive, Surly Wet, Surly Furious, Alchemist Heady Topper, Three Floyds Zombie Dust or quite a few from them, etc.

Ummm, actually quite a few of those were mentioned in this thread. Alpine's Nelson Sauvin was heavily praised, I'm sure someone reviewed Sculpin (possibly me, as I think it's too lignified and not bright enough), Surly has been talked about a lot, I'm pretty sure someone mentioned the Alchemist ... but hey, that's what IPA does for us, withers the memory a bit.


Who else is stoked for SF Beer Week? Yeah, I know you guys outside of Cali don't really pay attention, but all of the Northern California and San Diego brewers are bringing their best up here for Beer Week:
http://www.sfbeerweek.org/schedule