Anybody try Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA?

Kevin T · Jan 9, 2011

mikeler said:
I'm in your camp on the opposite side of KevinT. I have to admit I enjoyed my Hop Devil a little more last night. It is growing on me a little bit which is good since I still have 4 left to polish off.

In Sacto this weekend and visited my fave brew pub. 2 Pliney the Elder, 1 Brother Thelonius, 1 Delirium Tremens, 1 Port Wipeout IPA...1 headache this morning.

My buddy lives a block away and it's always nice (and dangerous) having a place with so many good beers on tap.

SlapShot · Jan 9, 2011

I've been sampling some of the stuff from Tallgrass lately - their Oasis is a very well balanced beer, and their standard ale is also extremely well balanced. Nothing extreme about it, but quite tasty nonetheless.

jhick · Jan 10, 2011

Lindros13 said:
That's that hoppy citrus harshness that we discussed a while back in this thread. I remember someone associated it with some west coast IPAs. Hop Devil has it as I recall, as does Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA, and many others. I like my share of hoppy beers and strong beers, but the ones that have that overly powerful citrus-like hop flavor are not high on my list. I wouldn't buy the HopDevil or Weyerbacher Simcoe again - I just think the sharpness isn't balanced enough. DFH90 has a very noticeably sweet flavor when you put it side-by-side to one of these sharp citrusy hop/IPA beers.

Double Simcoe = mmmm

jhick · Jan 10, 2011

SlapShot said:
I've been sampling some of the stuff from Tallgrass lately - their Oasis is a very well balanced beer, and their standard ale is also extremely well balanced. Nothing extreme about it, but quite tasty nonetheless.

I've seen empty shelf space saving space for Tallgrass here in Rochester. Looks like they recently entered the MN market. I don't know much about them and am interested in trying.

SlapShot · Jan 10, 2011

jhick said:
I've seen empty shelf space saving space for Tallgrass here in Rochester. Looks like they recently entered the MN market. I don't know much about them and am interested in trying.

I tried out their standard IPA last night after a nice mixed doubles win, and it is a tasty IPA - much like everything else I've tried of theirs. Good balance of hoppiness and malts, and not overly "earthy" like certain IPA's can be.

mikeler · Jan 10, 2011

Just had a Bells 2 Hearted IPA on draft at World of Beer. I had the Jai Alai last night on draft at a different place. Sampled some Stone, Hercules DIPA, Arrogant B@stard and some Left something or other tonight. The 2 hearted won out with the Stone being a close 2nd for me.

jhick · Jan 12, 2011

If anyone lives or happens to live or be travelling to Vermont, there is a brewery named Hill Farmstead that is getting a lot of hype lately. They seem to specialize in hoppy beers from what I can tell.

They also have some very limited distribution to New York City, Boston, Philly, and Denmark.

http://hillfarmstead.com/wpblog/

mikeler · Jan 12, 2011

Only two more Hop Devils left to get through. It's not bad as a change up but I'll be glad when it is out of my fridge.

Douggo · Jan 13, 2011

jhick said:
If anyone lives or happens to live or be travelling to Vermont, there is a brewery named Hill Farmstead that is getting a lot of hype lately. They seem to specialize in hoppy beers from what I can tell.

They also have some very limited distribution to New York City, Boston, Philly, and Denmark.

http://hillfarmstead.com/wpblog/

Where is this hype coming from? I need to be better plugged in.

FloridaAG · Jan 13, 2011

mikeler said:
Only two more Hop Devils left to get through. It's not bad as a change up but I'll be glad when it is out of my fridge.

If I lived closer I would take them off your hands

mikeler · Jan 13, 2011

FloridaAG said:
If I lived closer I would take them off your hands

Hey, weren't you just at Disney? Should have thought of that earlier.

FloridaAG · Jan 13, 2011

mikeler said:
Hey, weren't you just at Disney? Should have thought of that earlier.

Yup - a Bass was about the best I did on the trip

mikeler · Jan 13, 2011

FloridaAG said:
Yup - a Bass was about the best I did on the trip

I should have given you directions to World of Beer.

FloridaAG · Jan 13, 2011

No time - Bass was at Islands of Adventure

jhick · Jan 13, 2011

Douggo said:
Where is this hype coming from? I need to be better plugged in.

ratebeer.com which is the other forum that I visit often besides this one.

mikeler · Jan 13, 2011

FloridaAG said:
No time - Bass was at Islands of Adventure

You were about 2 miles away from it then!

Douggo · Jan 13, 2011

jhick said:
ratebeer.com which is the other forum that I visit often besides this one.

I'll have to check that out. I'm on BeerAdvocate, but I don't love the forum navigation there.

jhick · Jan 13, 2011

Douggo said:
I'll have to check that out. I'm on BeerAdvocate, but I don't love the forum navigation there.

I use beeradvocate occasionally for the local group forums, as I find them to be more active than the ratebeer local forums. Ratebeer is where I have rated and generally go, however.

FloridaAG · Jan 13, 2011

mikeler said:
You were about 2 miles away from it then!

There is also one here in Coral Springs but that is like 45 minutes from my house in Hollywood, so frankly I am just as likely to go to the Orlando one as that one. I do most of my craft beer drinking at The Porch in Key West anyway.

*breaksracquet · Jan 14, 2011

still finishing up my growler of Aviator Hog Wild IPA.... I do enjoy this one.

mikeler · Jan 14, 2011

Polished off the last Hop Devil last night. Now I've got 1 Dogfish Head 60, 1 Jai Alai and 1 Bell's 2 hearted left in the fridge. Time to figure out what I'm going to be drinking tomorrow...

Douggo · Jan 14, 2011

jhick said:
I use beeradvocate occasionally for the local group forums, as I find them to be more active than the ratebeer local forums. Ratebeer is where I have rated and generally go, however.

Dang! Somebody went to ratebeer in Nov. 2003, took my screenname, and never came back to the site.

mikeler · Jan 14, 2011

Douggo said:
Dang! Somebody went to ratebeer in Nov. 2003, took my screenname, and never came back to the site.

That's annoying.

Kevin T · Jan 14, 2011

Fellas,

I'm going big this weekend. Stopping after work to pick up some Pliny. Great way to start the weekend.

jhick · Jan 14, 2011

Kevin T said:
Fellas,

I'm going big this weekend. Stopping after work to pick up some Pliny. Great way to start the weekend.

Well, you know what they say, "Go Big or Go Home".

Kevin T · Jan 14, 2011

jhick said:
Well, you know what they say, "Go Big or Go Home".

You said it, my man! We have a beer festival coming up, and I'll be looking for Green Flash Pallet Wrecker and Moylan's Hopsickle XXX IPA. Great names and supposedly very good beers. Have a great weekend everyone!

mikeler · Jan 16, 2011

Went back to the Loose Cannon IPA last night. For some reason it was not really doing it for me. Maybe because I had a Jai Alai IPA right before it.

Kevin T · Jan 17, 2011

A bit of a downer on Friday...no Pliny!! I can only find this stuff at one place in town and their shipments are erratic at best. The beer buyer said he's lucky to get it once a month and having met the guys from Russian River Brewing, it's done on purpose.

He's not so sure it's craft-brewing at it's finest/purest or really working the laws of supply and demand. It seems the workers at this spot are also Pliny fans (who isn't?) and take most of the limited stock that makes it in. Nice fringe benefit. Anyway, there were some new IPAs to try, making for an enjoyable weekend. All were 22-24oz bottles.

1. Sierrra Nevada Hoptimum-described as a "whole cone" Imperial IPA. This one hits you in the mouth hard with big hoppiness/bitterness up front. Not sweet at all, this is a true west coast style IPA will citrus/hops/bitterness from the front to the back of your mouth. I really enjoyed it but my wife found it a bit too harsh and bitter. $8 for a 24oz bottle.

2. Lucky B*stard from Stone Brewing. My wife's fave of the weekend. It's a blend of Arrogant B*stard, Double B*stard and Oaked Arrogant B, made to celebrate their 13th anniversary. Nice and dry and hoppy but good hints of malt and very smooth. Very drinkable. If you like each of the 3 Stone beers it contains, you'll love the blend. On sale for $6.50.

3. Stone Cali-Belgie IPA. This one is basically Stone IPA brewed with a special Belgian yeast strain. Tastes like they took Stone IPA and cut it 50/50 with a good Belgian-style beer like a Saison. Think a slightly lighter/more tart Stone IPA. Just okay for me but my wife didn't like the tartness at all. $6.50 on sale.

4. Beer Valley Brewing Leafer Madness Imperial IPA. My least fave of the weekend. This one was on the sweeter/peppery side of the IPA spectrum, which doesn't do it for me. It's also unfiltered and there was a ton of sediment floating around my glass. This is the kind of beer my wife calls "chewy", almost feels like you are driking liquid bread. $4 on sale.

Not sure how many of these will be available outside California but I would certainly recommende the Hoptimum and Lucky B.

mikeler · Jan 17, 2011

^^^ Excellent reviews Kevin T.

jhick · Jan 17, 2011

Kevin T said:
A bit of a downer on Friday...no Pliny!!

Were you trying to get the Elder or the Younger?

Kevin T · Jan 17, 2011

jhick said:
Were you trying to get the Elder or the Younger?

Elder, though I would have gladly taken the younger. I can get it on-tap at two local bars but we just wanted to hang around the house this weekend. No biggie, as we got to try some new brews.

jhick · Jan 18, 2011

Kevin T said:
Elder, though I would have gladly taken the younger. I can get it on-tap at two local bars but we just wanted to hang around the house this weekend. No biggie, as we got to try some new brews.

Well at least Elder is brewed year round. Where do you live? When I visited San Diego it wasn't too hard to get, you just have to know where to go.

mikeler · Jan 18, 2011

Had a Full Sail IPA out of the in-laws fridge last night. Meh. A little too watered down for my taste buds. Of course, I think it has been sitting in th fridge for a year now so it may not have aged well.

jhick · Jan 18, 2011

mikeler said:
Had a Full Sail IPA out of the in-laws fridge last night. Meh. A little too watered down for my taste buds. Of course, I think it has been sitting in th fridge for a year now so it may not have aged well.

Full Sail Amber Ale is pretty good. The IPA is mostly forgettable however.

FloridaAG · Jan 18, 2011

mikeler said:
Had a Full Sail IPA out of the in-laws fridge last night. Meh. A little too watered down for my taste buds. Of course, I think it has been sitting in th fridge for a year now so it may not have aged well.

That's about right. Frankly, it is an ok choice from a grocery store or where there is nothing better but not a great beer.

Kevin T · Jan 18, 2011

jhick said:
Well at least Elder is brewed year round. Where do you live? When I visited San Diego it wasn't too hard to get, you just have to know where to go.

Yeah, it's easier to get in San Diego (where I usually live) for some reason. I'm a visiting prof in the Sacto area this year and it seems to be a little more scarce. I only know of two spots that get it retail and two places that have it on-tap. Where did you find it in San Diego?

jhick · Jan 18, 2011

Kevin T said:
Where did you find it in San Diego?

Olive Tree Marketplace in Ocean Beach

Kevin T · Jan 18, 2011

jhick said:
Olive Tree Marketplace in Ocean Beach

If you were there, we may have crossed paths a time or two! I live just up the hill and will literally stop in on a daily basis for bread, side dishes, wine, beer, etc. Love that place! Newport Pizza will also have it on-tap from time to time. I'll go for an evening run up to the cliffs 3-4 times/week and stop by Olive Tree on the way home. Like I said above, I'm in the Sacramento area for the academic year but can't wait to get back this summer.

jhick · Jan 18, 2011

Kevin T said:
If you were there, we may have crossed paths a time or two! I live just up the hill and will literally stop in on a daily basis for bread, side dishes, wine, beer, etc. Love that place! Newport Pizza will also have it on-tap from time to time. I'll go for an evening run up to the cliffs 3-4 times/week and stop by Olive Tree on the way home. Like I said above, I'm in the Sacramento area for the academic year but can't wait to get back this summer.

I was there in early October last year for a work conference. One of the guys who worked there was from Minnesota (I was wearing my Twins cap), so we had a casual conversation about the Twins making the MLB playoffs. The CA guys were talking about how bummed out they were that the Padres had lost the final game to the Giants to get into the NL playoffs.

jhick · Jan 19, 2011

Gonna stop by the local liquor store tonight hoping to locate some Hopslam.

Douggo · Jan 19, 2011

I missed Hopslam Day over in Cottage Grove on Monday, and am hoping to get some tonight as well. Anybody here got a review yet?

Douggo · Jan 19, 2011

Okay, then, I'll start. I almost hate to drink this beer because once it's all drunk, I can't smell it anymore. It just smells delicious. When I first tasted this beer at this time last year, it was like nothing I'd ever tasted. Now, I may have to taste it alongside Surly Abrasive - I know most of you haven't had the good fortune, but that's the closest beer I can think of to Hopslam. Hopefully, jhick will chime in here, as his experience is more well-rounded than mine. I'd guess that Hopslam has a touch more bittering hops than the Abrasive, and a little less sharp flavor with a caramel-sugary dull sweetness instead.

Oh, and here's what ratebeer has to say:

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Starting with six different hop varietals added to the brew kettle & culminating with a massive dry-hop addition of Simcoe hops, Bell’s Hopslam Ale possesses the most complex hopping schedule in the Bell’s repetoire. Selected specifically because of their aromatic qualities, these Pacific Northwest varieties contribute a pungent blend of grapefruit, stone fruit, and floral notes. A generous malt bill and a solid dollop of honey provide just enough body to keep the balance in check, resulting in a remarkably drinkable rendition of the Double India Pale Ale style.

FloridaAG · Jan 19, 2011

Thank you all - will have to keep my eyes open for the Hopslam

mikeler · Jan 20, 2011

FloridaAG said:
Thank you all - will have to keep my eyes open for the Hopslam

If it has Hop in the name, I will have to pass.

FloridaAG · Jan 20, 2011

mikeler said:
If it has Hop in the name, I will have to pass.

I think it is just a stylistic thing, the Dog Fish Head beers are really hoppy also - let's just call the Hop Devil a failed experiment.

mikeler · Jan 20, 2011

FloridaAG said:
I think it is just a stylistic thing, the Dog Fish Head beers are really hoppy also - let's just call the Hop Devil a failed experiment.

I need to read up and get a better beer education. You people make me feel like a beer rookie at times. :?

jhick · Jan 20, 2011

Douggo said:
Okay, then, I'll start. I almost hate to drink this beer because once it's all drunk, I can't smell it anymore. It just smells delicious. When I first tasted this beer at this time last year, it was like nothing I'd ever tasted. Now, I may have to taste it alongside Surly Abrasive - I know most of you haven't had the good fortune, but that's the closest beer I can think of to Hopslam. Hopefully, jhick will chime in here, as his experience is more well-rounded than mine. I'd guess that Hopslam has a touch more bittering hops than the Abrasive, and a little less sharp flavor with a caramel-sugary dull sweetness instead.

Oh, and here's what ratebeer has to say:

OK...I was able to pick up a 6 pack of Hopslam last night. In the past I have been mixed on Hopslam, as sometimes I think the alcohol flavor can be a bit too forward. Other than that, it is a wonderful beer. In this year's version I barely noticed the ABV, so I'd say it's drinking really well right now.

Surly Abrasive Ale is also good and has improved over last year's quite a bit. I recall some kind of off flavor in 2010 that made Abrasive not so enjoyable. This year, it is much better, and IMO flavor-wise has more in common with Furious, which IS my go to IPA for regular drinking.

Comparing Abrasive to Hopslam, I would say that Abrasive has more of a tangerine flavor to it, while Hopslam has more of the traditional citris flavored hops you tend to find in the style. Both very good beers.

I also picked up a sixer of Rush River Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, which will be a nice change of pace from the hoppy beers, as well as Boulevard Tank 6, a saison, which is probably my favorite Belgian style of beer.

FloridaAG · Jan 20, 2011

mikeler said:
I need to read up and get a better beer education. You people make me feel like a beer rookie at times. :?

I am by no means a beer expert, wine on the other hand . . .. But pretty much all IPAs are hoppy (compared to other kinds of beer) - it goes with with the territory so I don't think it is hops that you didn't like about the Hop Devil as opposed to something more particular about how they made that beer. It is a different taste so I can seet it, but all the other beers you like are hoppy also so I was just pointing that out.

mikeler · Jan 20, 2011

FloridaAG said:
I am by no means a beer expert, wine on the other hand . . .. But pretty much all IPAs are hoppy (compared to other kinds of beer) - it goes with with the territory so I don't think it is hops that you didn't like about the Hop Devil as opposed to something more particular about how they made that beer. It is a different taste so I can seet it, but all the other beers you like are hoppy also so I was just pointing that out.

Gotcha. Then there is a certain ingredient in some of these IPAs that just does not suit my palette. I'd like to know what it is so I can avoid it!

SlapShot · Jan 20, 2011

I'm looking to procure a sixer of Hopslam sometime soon - I know most places in MN are sold out, so I'll wait for batch 2.

I know one thing about Hopslam (apart from the wonderful aroma as mentioned by Douggo), and that is....it is a STRONG beer, even for a 10% beer. Not strong as far as alcohol flavor, but rather that it starts your buzz quickly...

Anybody try Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA?

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