Imperial IPA

Offshoot Beer’s Horse, before the Cart?

Offshoot Beer Horse IPA, is the fourth release from the hoppy, IPA extension of The Bruery.

RELATED: The Bruery Launches Offshoot Beer Co.

April saw the launch of the brand, as well as the first two releases, Fashionably Late IPA, and Better Continue Reading →

Posted in The Veil Brewing, New Releases

The Veil Brewing Chubbles, a collaboration with Cloudwater Brew

The Veil Brewing Chubbles, a new collaboration with England based Cloudwater Brew Co., debuts on May 30th.

RELATED: The Veil Brewing Chubbles

The Richmond, Virginia based brewery calls this a “proper English triple IPA”. By proper, they mean an intensely imperial IPA with Galaxy, Citra, and El Dorado hops, plus English malt and yeast.

The Veil Brewing Chubbles will be available in 16 ounce cans when the brewery opens on May 30th.

Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: El Dorado, Citra, Galaxy
Malts: English, Flaked Oats
Yeast: English Ale

Availability: 16oz Cans
Debut: 5/30/17

10.9% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, New Releases

Westbrook releases new imperial “Three Claw”

It all started with One Claw a pale ale heavy on the rye malt. Next came came the hazy, juicy Two Claw IPA. This week, Westbrook Three Claw Imperial IPA makes its debut.

Expect more of the ever popular juice and haze in this release, which sports more “new world hops”. (The brewery hasn’t specified, but to us new world hops are varieties like Equinox, Mosaic, Citra, Galaxy, etc.)

The biggest claw of them all is a hazy double IPA with a heaping dose of new world hops.

Westbrook Three Claw is available in the brewery’s taproom in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. No distribution has been specified.

Style: Imperial IPA
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: 5/25/17

8% ABV

Ed Note: Article updated to reflect 16 ounce cans. Image: Westbrook Brewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Offshoot Beer Co.

Offshoot Beer’s Horse, before the Cart?

Offshoot Beer Horse IPA, is the fourth release from the hoppy, IPA extension of The Bruery.

RELATED: The Bruery Launches Offshoot Beer Co.

April saw the launch of the brand, as well as the first two releases, Fashionably Late IPA, and Better Late Than Never IPA. Offshoot is releasing these cans at the rate of two offerings per month, sold only at the brewery.

For May, Offshoot Beer Co. is putting the “Horse” before the “Cart”, or vice versa. If you aren’t getting what we’re saying – May’s IPAs are Cart IPA and Horse IPA. The order just depends on how drink them?

Offshoot Beer Horse IPA is actually juicy, hazy imperial IPA (the first imperial in the lineup), brewed with Citra, Huell Melon and Simcoe hops.

The only way to get any of Offshoot’s lineup is to be on their exclusive mailing list, buy online, and have the beer picked up within 7 seven days at the brewery (or shipped within California).

Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Citra, Huell Melon, Simcoe
Malts: 2 Row, Pilsner, Rolled Oats

Availability: 16oz Cans, Limtied
Debut: 5/24/17

8.2% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Sierra Nevada, Seasonal Return

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum 2017: “Our hoppiest beer yet”

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum 2017 is hitting shelves, one of the brewery’s most aggressive India pale ales in their lineup.

2011 was the first year the beer drinking public found Hoptimum, a whole cone “triple IPA.” This 2017 iteration has been reimagined a bit, creating their hoppiest beer to date.

…providing a blend of tropical and citrus hop aroma that delivers a refined yet aggressive character.

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum is available in 12 ounce bottles and draft as a late-spring seasonal.

Style: Imperial IPA

Hops: Simcoe, Citra, Chinook
Malts: 2 Row Pale, Wheat
Yeast: Ale

Latest Return: May, 2017

9.6% ABV, 65 IBUs

Image: Sierra Nevada

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Stone Brewing Co., Coming Soon, Headlines

Stone is brewing a New England IPA, Nor’East Nod

It’s undeniable that Stone Brewing is well-known for brewing big west coast style IPAs. Breweries like Stone and Sierra Nevada have shaped the perception of the American IPA. Then quietly, or not-so-quietly, folks in New England brought the the haze craze to life. Paying homage to the new, Stone Nor’ East Nod Double IPA is coming.

The lack of bitterness is an earmark of the “New England Style IPA” or NEIPA. Stone’s repertoire of west coast styles are big on hops, finishing notably bitter. Stone Nor’ East Nod Double IPA will be far less so than the brewery is accustomed to.

The 21st Anniversary Nor’East Nod India pale ale is in inspiration of, and ode to, what many of our comrades in the northeast are currently brewing, and we happily drinking. It’s an India pale ale, for sure, but not like we’ve ever experienced before. Our past as early progenitor of the West Coast style of India pale ale means we are intimately familiar, in fact still very much in love with, lingering bitterness. Unlike that, THIS India pale ale is all ’bout hop flavor with a sweet, bright, decidedly UN-bitter finish. ‘Nuff said. Give this sweet hoppy nectar a try. We’re pretty sure you’ll like it as much as we do.

Stone Nor’ East Nod Double IPA is slated for 22 ounce bottles and draft, potentially in August. The brewery has not yet announced this release.

Style: Imperial IPA
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: August, 2017

9% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Wild Heaven Craft Beers, Don't Miss This

Wild Heaven Goodvice will be the brewery’s first imperial IPA

Avondale Estates, Georgia based Wild Heaven is on the cusp of releasing their first imperial IPA. It was almost exactly a year ago that the brewery released their first packaged IPA. According to head brewer and co-owner Eric Johnson, Wild Heaven Goodvice is nearly ready for the big time.

Johnson has chosen Loral, Ariana, and Ekuanot*, three very new varieties of hops and a hefty dose of lupulin powder. Using a cryogenic separation process, all the components of each hop fraction are preserved, producing two simultaneous products: concentrated lupulin powder, and debittered leaf.  All that hop talk boils down to an imperial IPA that will be extra dank.

If you aren’t familiar with Eric Johnson’s massive attention to brewing detail, he’s been test batching this beer for months. You might think the final release is a game of hop chemistry. For Johnson, it’s a complex game of hop combination and water chemistry. Paying close attention to the water ph has a direct effect on final hop aroma.

As for the name, Johnson says “there are all manners of vices, he hopes drinking this is a good one. Aka Goodvice”.

Some of the test batches are on tap in the brewery’s taproom now. Look for Wild Heaven Goodvice in 12 ounce cans and draft in the market in late May or June.

Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Loral, Ariana, Ekuanot
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: TBA

8.5% ABV

*Ekuanot was previously called Equinox.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Bell's Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Bell’s Mars is back on shelves, inspired by Gustav Holst

Bell’s Mars, part of the brewery’s “Planetary Series” is making a second appearance this month.

In 2014, Bell’s Mars was the first release in a series of beers inspired by composer Gustav Holst’s The Planets. The piece was first conceived in 1913, thanks to his interest in astrology. Mars was the first to be written, with Mercury completed in 1915. (Don’t go looking for Pluto.) The brewery released beers in order of composition. Bell’s Mars was first.

An imperial IPA was chosen to represent Mars, The Bringer of War. The dank, hop bomb was easily one of the most popular in the series.

Mars (The Bringer of War) is a Double IPA inspired by the music of Gustav Holst. An intense hopping regime imparts incredible notes of tropical fruit, citrus and pine, while Munich malt provides balance and a deep red hue.

Bell’s Mars has returned to brewery’s lineup for a limited time in April, 2017. Important to note – the brewery plans to have a little bit more stock to go around this time.

Style: Imperial IPA
Availability: 12oz Bottles
Latest Return: April, 2017

10.1% ABV

by Reid Ramsay