some damn good IPA's out there

[Shogun]

^^^ However you feel about their beer, the Anchor Brewing tour is a blast. You will need a reservation.

Liberty Ale, Porter and their somewhat new Brekle's Brown are my favs.

Argh! Anchor Brewery's reservations are all filled up for the next week...might try to go see if there are some no-show's though.

Yeah, I figured they have a wait... good luck, hopefully someone doesn't show!

[SchralphMacchio]

Finally had the Gubna in a can at Beer Rev on Saturday night. Pretty good stuff, of course it was canned in December so it's probably missing a little pizazz.

Opened a 22 of Dr. Hoptologist (Knee Deep Brewing Co) that I got at Whole Foods for Cinco de Mayo, and that was quite enjoyable. Nice light honey/syrup resin on top of a piney nose of hops, good citrus. Really good shit.

Interesting new (to me) brews of the week:
Oakland Brewing Company Double-Up 840 Double IPA on tap at Cato's alehouse - great brew, well balanced, good bite, on the dryer side of malts, awesome nose
Green Flash / Founder's White IPA on tap at Beer Revolution - nice spicy belgian yeasts with a good hop nose and just enough bite to keep the beer fun

fool, get the over to Beer Revolution and if Rebecca is there, tell her that Alex in the Boneyard Hoodie said that this was a must-go-to place. I should have time after work on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday for at least one brew after you're back in town. Plans on Thursday and possibly heading up to Lassen on Friday night ...

[Hugh Conway]

2nd Beer Revolution, there's also Trappist in Oakland. In SF Monk's Kettle or Toronado.

[bendtheski]

Just tried New Belgians "Dig" seasonal pale ale. Not exactly an IPA, but yum. New Belgian's Ranger IPA is still my favorite safe pick.

Alaska's Black IPA is a nice departure from their underwhelming IPA.

Others I like:
Breckenridge's Lucky U IPA
O'dells IPA
Titan IPA
Avery IPA
Can't really go wrong with any of those, but if I'm in the mood for something more dank then I go for Boulder's Mojo or a slightly less dense Deschutes Inversion.

When I lived on the east coast my every day IPA was usually Long Trail or Harpoon, with an occasional Magic Hat HIPA.

When I first moved west I drank a bunch of Red Hooks Longhammer IPA, but after getting used to some of the other local offerings, coming back to Longhammer is kind of a let down.

Personal gripe; I hate going to restaurants that think having Sam Adams or Fat Tire on tap is an adequate "Craft Beer" offering. Maybe my taste is a little one dimensional, but if those are the only "Craft" choices I'd almost rather just order a glass of house Merlot or Cab and call it good. (almost)

[Crass3000]

Checking in with the 1st Surly Furious of the night. Everybody is talking about some nice beers. They are having some nice tap takeovers around here soon. Founder's takeover with KBS and CBS and some other crazy stuff. Another takeover by Bell's with some really crazy stuff. Me, staying home and not getting a DWI. At least I'm starting to learn. And yah I know some of them are not IPAs but some off them are going for $150/750mL on Ebay and I'm still not going.

[fool]

fool, get the over to Beer Revolution and if Rebecca is there, tell her that Alex in the Boneyard Hoodie said that this was a must-go-to place. I should have time after work on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday for at least one brew after you're back in town. Plans on Thursday and possibly heading up to Lassen on Friday night ...

Just sent you my number in a PM about tomorrow, but something tonight might work as well. Check your messages and maybe we can meet up. I've been doing work on IPA's this week, TR to come later...

[snapt]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...ef=email_share
Apparently pliny the younger is the best in the world

[Hugh Conway]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...ef=email_share
Apparently pliny the younger is the best in the world

3245724987 fapping NorCal douchebags can't be wrong

[snapt]

Seriously, it's good, but the best?

[SchralphMacchio]

picking Pyramid over Drakes for the Top 11 local craft brews, and also picking 2 Anchors when everyone else gets one brew, instantly invalidates that article.

Besides, beer is a time variable thing. That's like saying that Phelps Insignia is the best wine ever, every year. Okay, some vintages, like 2007, were exceptionally strong but each vintage is going to be different. And I happen to not really like Robert Parker wines that are 96-98 points.

Same story for the Younger. It's an incredible beer. But not the best, not every year anyways.

[Name Redacted]

Picking up the best ipa is like picking the best color.

[pappag]

Apparently it's been mentioned in this thread a bunch, but I just had the Sculpin IPA from Ballast point last night.... fuck me, what a beer. Checked out BeerAdvocate and this thing sports a 98 score.

[Hugh Conway]

Good:
Widmer Shaddock - the X-114 w/Grapefruit aka a nice citrus IPA
Ok
Stone 10th Ruination. Jut too much
Meh
Napa Smith Hopageddon

[SchralphMacchio]

Finally got my hands on some Alpine Beer Company: Nelson, Duet, and Pure Hoppiness.
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/alpine-...son-ipa/63165/

Nelson - really nice overall, soft mouthfeel, well balanced. Not quite as deep tangerine flavors as Widmer or Mikeller Nelson IPAs - more floral than those other two, and way less malt than Widmer's take. "Soft" is the key word - the mouthfeel is very striking for a hoppy beer. This is the first Nelson I've had that demonstrates the "sauvignon" (blanc) name of the hop.

Duet - pungent (the Amarillo is very present in the nose) with light caramel malts, similar to Drakes standard IPA with less malt. Great expression of these two classic hops (Simcoe and Amarillo).

Pure Hoppiness - bitter but well balanced, nothing over the top. Practically he minimum malt body required to counter the alcohol - way less defining characteristics than other 8% doubles like Pliny, Dorado, Racer X, etc.

Overall, I feel like Alpine's style is less punchy and extreme than most of their counterpart California hop-heavy boutique breweries: they seem to really go for total balance and as a result the IPAs don't have particularly eminent defining qualities but are all excellent and very drinkable.

I also ended up at Pizza Port in Ocean Beach (San Diego) over the weekend, and their pizza brewpubs are pretty fun, really affordable, and the guest brew selection is incredible. First time I had a float made of vanilla ice cream and Knee Deep Tanilla Porter - yum!

[~mikey b]

pouring some Stone 10th Anniversary Ruination to toast my mom and pops - pops died July 3, 1989 - mom died July 2, 2011

[the Cock]

^^ I'll drink to that.

If you're in Pa and god help you if you are. Troegs Perpetal IPA may be the best I've ever tasted.

[madmike]

I haven't kept up with this thread so I'm not sure if this has been mentioned. I had my first trip to San Diego last week and lost myself in all of the great brews in SD County. I'm a beer dummy really, but I've taken a liking to IPA since moving to CO. I don't know much about them, just what I feel tastes good.

That being said, Ballast Point Scuplin IPA is now right near the top of my favorites. Other favorites are Pliny and Firestone Walker Union Jack.

EDIT: Fuck me, I didn't even look at this page before I posted. Sculpin mentioned just a few posts above.

[PowerWhore7]

FKNA killed it tonight...

[masterofgreenbeans]

I'm certainly looking forward to this for my 4th year in a row.

http://www.mammothbluesbrewsfest.com/

[Doughnuts01]

That blind pig is real good. They had it on tap at the Brick Oven Pizzeria in CB..Amazing handle selection there

[guroo270]

Went to NY a couple weeks ago and went to a brewery that had a double ipa that knocked my socks off on tap. Bought a sixer and it was not nearly as good.

[crackboy]

^^ I'll drink to that.

If you're in Pa and god help you if you are. Troegs Perpetal IPA may be the best I've ever tasted.

might have to try that out, though i hate PA beer sales. since i don't want to spring for a case if i won't like it.

just picked up a case of Anderson valley IPA, its quite bitter. don't know how i feel about it

[the Cock]

might have to try that out, though i hate PA beer sales. since i don't want to spring for a case if i won't like it.

just picked up a case of Anderson valley IPA, its quite bitter. don't know how i feel about it

I'm not much a fan of the Anderson Valley IPA. I would definitely recommend the Troegs Perpetual. Not bitter, clean and crisp. If Anderson Valley is a carp the Perpetual is a brook trout if ya know what I mean.

edit: 7.5% alc ain't to bad neither.

[jahoney]

I haven't kept up with this thread so I'm not sure if this has been mentioned. I had my first trip to San Diego last week and lost myself in all of the great brews in SD County. I'm a beer dummy really, but I've taken a liking to IPA since moving to CO. I don't know much about them, just what I feel tastes good.

That being said, Ballast Point Scuplin IPA is now right near the top of my favorites. Other favorites are Pliny and Firestone Walker Union Jack.

EDIT: Fuck me, I didn't even look at this page before I posted. Sculpin mentioned just a few posts above.

Union jack is bomb, if you like it and can handle a little more try the double jack, it's 9% and has quite the kick. Did you go to stone brewery? That's the first place i'd hit if I was in SD... ruination is my favorite beer, ever.

And what's funny about Pliny, I just had some literally at the russian river brewery in downtown Rosa.. it was delicious. What's this about Pliny the younger though, I had pliny the elder? and it was delicious

[Doughnuts01]

Just bought a 6er of Bear Republic's Racer #5. Sipping on the first one now. Pretty solid beer. Also picked up a couple of Pliny's, a Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel--amazing! And a Maharaja...Felt like a good score in the beer store!