Drink IPA

This blog is a tribute to one of the best ales in the world. It will serve as an archive and guide to the beers I sample. Hopefully this will inspire a few of you to step into the delicious world of IPA.

Thanks for taking a look and enjoy.
21st Amendment - Bitter American Extra Pale Ale Stats: 4.4% AVB IBU: 42 Hops: Warrior, Cascade, Simcoe (dry), Centennial (dry) Price: In NYC arrpox. $14 per sixer (depending on where you buy) I think I have found my “go-to” summer beer. In my opinion, this is perfection in a can. THE perfect beer to take to any cookout, summer party, beach day, or relaxing just about anywhere. Drink it right from the can and you’ll enjoy all the bitterness and hop character you could ask for without knocking you on your ass. Further more, its crisp and refreshing, you’ll be grabbing for another one before you even know it. I highly recommend picking up the Bitter American on your next beer run, you won’t be disappointed. Bottom Line: Drink it!

21st Amendment - Bitter American Extra Pale Ale

Stats:
4.4% AVB
IBU: 42
Hops: Warrior, Cascade, Simcoe (dry), Centennial (dry)
Price: In NYC arrpox. $14 per sixer (depending on where you buy)

I think I have found my “go-to” summer beer. In my opinion, this is perfection in a can. THE perfect beer to take to any cookout, summer party, beach day, or relaxing just about anywhere.

Drink it right from the can and you’ll enjoy all the bitterness and hop character you could ask for without knocking you on your ass. Further more, its crisp and refreshing, you’ll be grabbing for another one before you even know it. I highly recommend picking up the Bitter American on your next beer run, you won’t be disappointed.

Bottom Line: Drink it!

The Alchemist-Vermont Heady-Topper Double IPA Waterbury, VT For some of you, this beer doesn’t need an introduction. I happen to have been blessed with two cans of this fine liquid due to a good hook up. This will be my first experience drinking this beer, so lets crack this thing and see how it holds up. Again I’m looking for Balance, Complexity and Brewer Execution. I have very high expectations, and will be drinking this from the can, as it suggest. First whiff; lots of fresh dank hops, citrus, pine, I can pick out centennial for sure and some other “C” hops, and I’m sure there are others in the mix as well. First sip; a tad of alcohol up front, but very silky in the mouth. A little caramel sweetness and tons of hops! Loads of hop character here. Is it balanced? Yes. For sure there is a definite lean toward hops and a tad of alcohol in there at 8%, but overall I prefer a hop forward DIPA rather than something on the sweet side. Is it complex? Yes. There is a lot of hop character going on here. Malts are in the background providing a silky medium mouth feel, leading to a powerful, but not overpowering bitterness. I’m wondering what the IBUs are on this, my guess is somewhere in the mid to upper 70s?, maybe more. Execution: For sure, 100%, this is a double IPA that would satisfy any IPA lover and Hop Head. I have to say that this beer is unique in its flavor. I can’t think of anything I’ve had in the past that is similar. Heady Topper really lives up to the hype and I feel pretty lucky to have a few cans of it. I’ll be heading up to VT this summer and hope to sample this on draft. Bottom Line: DRINK IT!

The Alchemist-Vermont Heady-Topper Double IPA Waterbury, VT

For some of you, this beer doesn’t need an introduction. I happen to have been blessed with two cans of this fine liquid due to a good hook up.

This will be my first experience drinking this beer, so lets crack this thing and see how it holds up. Again I’m looking for Balance, Complexity and Brewer Execution.
I have very high expectations, and will be drinking this from the can, as it suggest.

First whiff; lots of fresh dank hops, citrus, pine, I can pick out centennial for sure and some other “C” hops, and I’m sure there are others in the mix as well.

First sip; a tad of alcohol up front, but very silky in the mouth. A little caramel sweetness and tons of hops! Loads of hop character here.

Is it balanced? Yes. For sure there is a definite lean toward hops and a tad of alcohol in there at 8%, but overall I prefer a hop forward DIPA rather than something on the sweet side.

Is it complex? Yes. There is a lot of hop character going on here. Malts are in the background providing a silky medium mouth feel, leading to a powerful, but not overpowering bitterness. I’m wondering what the IBUs are on this, my guess is somewhere in the mid to upper 70s?, maybe more.

Execution: For sure, 100%, this is a double IPA that would satisfy any IPA lover and Hop Head.

I have to say that this beer is unique in its flavor. I can’t think of anything I’ve had in the past that is similar. Heady Topper really lives up to the hype and I feel pretty lucky to have a few cans of it. I’ll be heading up to VT this summer and hope to sample this on draft.

Bottom Line: DRINK IT!

Founders All Day IPA DRINK THIS BEER if you have access to it! It is extremely good. Very well balanced with a delightful aroma and the taste is absolutely delicious. When I taste a beer for the first time I think about three main things: 1. Balance 2. Complexity 3. Did the brewer execute their intended outcome Based on these three factors All Day IPA is a perfect score. I would drink this beer all day, every day. If they would just release this beer to the East Coast, I’d be able to do that! Bottom Line: DRINK IT! DRINK IT! DRINK IT!

Founders All Day IPA

DRINK THIS BEER if you have access to it! It is extremely good. Very well balanced with a delightful aroma and the taste is absolutely delicious.

When I taste a beer for the first time I think about three main things:

1. Balance
2. Complexity
3. Did the brewer execute their intended outcome

Based on these three factors All Day IPA is a perfect score. I would drink this beer all day, every day. If they would just release this beer to the East Coast, I’d be able to do that!

Bottom Line: DRINK IT! DRINK IT! DRINK IT!

Oskar Blues Deviant Dale’s IPA My first impression of this beer are the dank hops off the whiff, mostly citrus and tropical fruits stand out. The color boasts a nice amber tone. I think of a nice grade B maple syrup color when I see this beer in the glass. The first sip… Wow. This beer is excellent. Tons of hops up front and a very strong bitterness through the finish. This brew for sure has the hops shining first and foremost, but it still has balance from the malts. Hop heads unite, as this one’s for us! Other notes; as this has warmed up the malts really begin to come through, as well as the alcohol in the finish. If you prefer a hop forward IPA (which I do) then this beer will deliver. At $3.50 per 16oz can, this is a great value especially when you factor in the 8% abv too. Bottom Line: DRINK IT!

Oskar Blues Deviant Dale’s IPA

My first impression of this beer are the dank hops off the whiff, mostly citrus and tropical fruits stand out. The color boasts a nice amber tone. I think of a nice grade B maple syrup color when I see this beer in the glass.

The first sip… Wow. This beer is excellent. Tons of hops up front and a very strong bitterness through the finish. This brew for sure has the hops shining first and foremost, but it still has balance from the malts.
Hop heads unite, as this one’s for us!

Other notes; as this has warmed up the malts really begin to come through, as well as the alcohol in the finish.
If you prefer a hop forward IPA (which I do) then this beer will deliver.
At $3.50 per 16oz can, this is a great value especially when you factor in the 8% abv too.

Bottom Line: DRINK IT!

Nothing quite like a fresh Pliny on a perfect Friday afternoon off work in NYC… Thanks Kevan

Nothing quite like a fresh Pliny on a perfect Friday afternoon off work in NYC… Thanks Kevan

Dogfish Head Burton Baton Imperial IPA This is my first taste of this offering from DFH. Let’s get started! The color is what I expected from beer aged in wood. It had a deep amber color with a thin white head. I unfortunately can’t remember anything about the aroma. However, the first sip is a tad overpowering with the 10%, but it does mellow out in the mouth over time. It’s very well balanced on the palate with a sold wood character. And, there are enough hops in here to satisfy your quest for bitterness. All in all, this is a solid drink from DFH and I’d recommend this to someone looking to step outside their comfort zone a little bit. Bottom Line: DRINK IT!

Dogfish Head Burton Baton Imperial IPA

This is my first taste of this offering from DFH. Let’s get started!
The color is what I expected from beer aged in wood. It had a deep amber color with a thin white head. I unfortunately can’t remember anything about the aroma.

However, the first sip is a tad overpowering with the 10%, but it does mellow out in the mouth over time. It’s very well balanced on the palate with a sold wood character. And, there are enough hops in here to satisfy your quest for bitterness.

All in all, this is a solid drink from DFH and I’d recommend this to someone looking to step outside their comfort zone a little bit.

Bottom Line: DRINK IT!

French Broad Brewing Co. IPA Asheville, NC “A very drinkable IPA loaded w/ hop flavor and a long malt finish” - Brewers Note This is my very first taste of the brewery and its beer. My First impression is that there isn’t much going on here in terms of aroma, a little malt but pretty subdued in terms of hops off the whiff. The first sip… quite good. It was actually well balanced. It isn’t too powerful or overwhelming on the palate. There is a pleasant bitterness and the finish is tipped toward the malt side but there is a slight bitterness peaking out in the finish as well. I’d have to agree that this is definitely “drinkable” and on the mild side for IPAs. Its a solid example that I feel is true to style. If you’re looking to expand your palate into IPAs or more bitter beers this is a great place to get started. Bottom Line: Drink It!

French Broad Brewing Co. IPA Asheville, NC

“A very drinkable IPA loaded w/ hop flavor and a long malt finish” - Brewers Note

This is my very first taste of the brewery and its beer. My First impression is that there isn’t much going on here in terms of aroma, a little malt but pretty subdued in terms of hops off the whiff.

The first sip… quite good. It was actually well balanced. It isn’t too powerful or overwhelming on the palate. There is a pleasant bitterness and the finish is tipped toward the malt side but there is a slight bitterness peaking out in the finish as well.

I’d have to agree that this is definitely “drinkable” and on the mild side for IPAs. Its a solid example that I feel is true to style.

If you’re looking to expand your palate into IPAs or more bitter beers this is a great place to get started.

Bottom Line: Drink It!

Smuttynose - Big A IPA All I remember about this beer is that it was just ok. Middle of the road for IPAs in my opinion. It is however, far better than their standard IPA. That’s for sure. The only thing in terms of flavor I can remember is that it has a solid bitterness. Other than that I wasn’t impressed, nor was I completely disappointed. Will I drink it again? Maybe, but not any time soon. Bottom Line: It’s worth a try

Smuttynose - Big A IPA

All I remember about this beer is that it was just ok. Middle of the road for IPAs in my opinion. It is however, far better than their standard IPA. That’s for sure.
The only thing in terms of flavor I can remember is that it has a solid bitterness. Other than that I wasn’t impressed, nor was I completely disappointed.
Will I drink it again? Maybe, but not any time soon.

Bottom Line: It’s worth a try

Arcadia Ales - Hop Rocket To say the least, this beer is a complete FAIL. Now, that may seem harsh, but its the truth. I had very high expectations for a beer with a name like “Hop Rocket”, but the two bottles I bought are either old or the batch “went sour”. It has a pretty nasty tang to it especially in the finish. If this is how the beer is supposed to taste then count me out. However, I really don’t believe this is how they intended it to taste, reason be The Hopmouth Double IPA they make is actually pretty good. Can anyone else confirm if they had a bad bottle? Bottom Line: Don’t drink it.

Arcadia Ales - Hop Rocket

To say the least, this beer is a complete FAIL. Now, that may seem harsh, but its the truth.
I had very high expectations for a beer with a name like “Hop Rocket”, but the two bottles I bought are either old or the batch “went sour”. It has a pretty nasty tang to it especially in the finish.
If this is how the beer is supposed to taste then count me out. However, I really don’t believe this is how they intended it to taste, reason be The Hopmouth Double IPA they make is actually pretty good.

Can anyone else confirm if they had a bad bottle?

Bottom Line: Don’t drink it.

Sixpoint SOL Single Hop “Nugget” IPA Yet another addition to the 12 months series on hops from Sixpoint. February’s hop is Nugget, described as “spicy and herbal with a powerful bitterness”. One thing you’ll notice is I didn’t include a photo of this beer and I may not for any more of them because they all look exactly the same. A bright orange hue with a thin bright white head. There is little aroma from this beer and after the first sip, I wasn’t the biggest fan. Nugget just isn’t working for me in a singular hop format. The bitterness is highly present, drawn out long after your first sip, and a bit overpowering. Now, I can see why this hop is best used for bittering. Overall Nugget isn’t something I crave like the Nelson, Simcoe, or even the Amarillo. Bottom Line: While drinkable and bitter, its doesn’t stand out in the SOL Series.

Sixpoint SOL Single Hop “Nugget” IPA

Yet another addition to the 12 months series on hops from Sixpoint. February’s hop is Nugget, described as “spicy and herbal with a powerful bitterness”.

One thing you’ll notice is I didn’t include a photo of this beer and I may not for any more of them because they all look exactly the same. A bright orange hue with a thin bright white head.

There is little aroma from this beer and after the first sip, I wasn’t the biggest fan. Nugget just isn’t working for me in a singular hop format. The bitterness is highly present, drawn out long after your first sip, and a bit overpowering. Now, I can see why this hop is best used for bittering.
Overall Nugget isn’t something I crave like the Nelson, Simcoe, or even the Amarillo.

Bottom Line: While drinkable and bitter, its doesn’t stand out in the SOL Series.