Imperial IPA

Posted in The Hop Concept Brewing, Don't Miss This, Seasonal Return

The Hop Concept IPA Galaxy & Comet is back for another citrusy spring

The Hop Concept IPA Galaxy & Comet is back for a second time in March, 2017.

California’s Port/Lost Abbey launched a new line extension in 2015 dubbed, The Hop Concept. The Hop Freshener series featured some of the THC’s first beers, focusing on how hops change IPAs.

The Hop Concept India pale ales focus on the dry-hopping process, focusing on how the brewing technique changes smell and aroma. In this case, Galaxy and Comet hops.

This edition is all about the tropical fruit, and dank pine flavors. Galaxy boasts peach and passionfruit flavors, and Comet – even more citrus. If you love a bright IPAs with just a bit of bitterness, don’t sleep on this release. The brewery touched up the recipe a bit for this second release.

“We really liked the way Galaxy and Comet turned out last year, but we felt we could do better this year. Tweaking the recipe this year gave us a chance to really let these two hops shine much more in this years batch.”  Steve Burchill, Lead Brewer for The Hop Concept

The Hop Concept IPA Galaxy & Comet is a draft and 22 ounce bottle release.

Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Galaxy, Comet

Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Latest Return: March, 2017

8% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in The Veil Brewing, New Releases, Trillium Brewing

Awesome can design: The Veil Brewing Extra Kreme, with Trillium Brewing

Virginia runs on DIPA. The Veil Brewing Extra Kreme, a collaboration with Trillium Brewing, debuted this week.

Besides the fantastic branding, The Veil Brewing Extra Kreme is a collaboration with Massachusetts based Trillium Brewing. The hop bomb is an “oat” imperial IPA, brewed with Simcoe lupulin powder, Simcoe hop pellets, and Australian Enigma hops. Additionally, oat milk, oat flour and oat malt was used in the brew, making this beer silky smooth.

This beer is actually one of two collaborations created with Trillium Brewing recently. The hoppy one you see above, and a funky beer that has been racked to wine barrels. Debut to be announced.

Extra Kreme debuted Tuesday in the taproom, and as of Thursday, still available in 16 ounce cans.

Style: Imperial IPA (w/ Oat Milk, Oat Flour)
Availability: 16oz Cans
Debut: 3/7/17

8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Passionfruit Imperial IPA look to expand “Voodoo” series

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Passionfruit Imperial IPA, a future special release by the Colorado/North Carolina based brewery.

As 2016 drew to a close, New Belgium made few changes to their lineup, adding the Voodoo Ranger Series. The name is a nod to their beer reps in the field, lovingly referred to as “Beer Rangers”.

The lineup now includes 8 Hop IPA, and Imperial IPA. In a future potential special release, look for New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Passionfruit Imperial IPA. The tropical flavors of the passionfruit are backed back a copious amount of Citra and Galaxy hops. Sounds like a tropical hop explosion.

We’re told to eat 1 pint of fruit per day, id on’t know much about food, but I do know about pints. I also know what you should by my Passionfruit Imperial IPA. What should you expect from this expertly crafted ale? Tons of fresh tropical aromas backed by strong hop presence from Citra and Galaxy hops. Crack open my Passionfruit Imperial and add a pint of IPA to your day.

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Passionfruit Imperial IPA will be a 22 ounce bottle release. The brewery has not yet announced this release.

Style: Imperial IPA (w/ Passionfruit)
Hops: Citra, Galaxy
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: TBA

8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Stone Brewing Co., Ardent Craft Ales, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, New Releases

Stone Give Me IPA or Give Me Death, Virginia collaboration #2

Stone Give Me IPA or Give Me Death is a second Virginia commemorative collaboration, is now available.

For 20 years, Stone has been brewing in Escondido, California. Growth and demand has prompted the brewery to build on the east coast, in Richmond, Virginia. To commemorate the new digs coming online, Stone Give Me Stout or Give Me Death hit shelves as 2016 wound down. A second collaboration, Give Me IPA or Give Me Death is ready for a little patriotic drinking.

State Governor Terry McAuliffe, as well as Virginia based Ardent Craft Ales, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, collaborated on this release. Much like its predecessor, Stone Give Me IPA or Give Me Death is brewed with blackberries and raspberries.

Just as Patrick Henry once stood addressing the city of Richmond in 1775 to spur resistance against the tyrannical British Empire, 20 years ago we were stirred to join the cry for resistance agains the tyrannical oppression of industrial beer. And now, the opening of our Richmond brewery is yet another shot in the salvo that has been fired on behalf of American brewing independence. If we wish to brew free, if we mean to retain our identity and preserve the privilege of access to independent craft beer, we must recognize it a group effort. We do not stand alone. And so, on our new brewing grounds, we gathered with fellow craft breweries and “His Excellency,” Governor McAuliffe, to join together in force. A group cry of freedom & independence! Consider this aggressively  hopped imperial IPA, jam-packed with Virginia raspberries and blackberries, a testament to our passion and unwillingness to settle or sell out! We think Patrick Henry would be proud, and hope you will be too.

Stone Give Me IPA or Give Me Death is a 22 ounce bottle release, with larger distribution then Collaboration #1.

Style: Imperial IPA (w/ Blackberries, Raspberries)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: February/March, 2017

8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Adroit Theory Brewing, New Releases

Adroit Theory Now I Am Death, Destroyer of Worlds (and palates)

Adroit Theory Now I Am Death, Destroyer of Worlds is the latest badass artifice that just happens to also be a beer.

Title first. The beer’s name comes from J. Robert Oppenheimer. The theoretical physicist is among those called the “father of the atomic bomb” for their work on the Manhattan Project, that produced the first nuclear weapons. Upon the first atomic bomb detonation in the Trinity Test in New Mexico on July 16, 1945, Oppenheimer quoted the Bhagavad Gita “Now I am become Death, Destroyer of worlds.” Hiroshima and Nagasaki saw it first hand in August of 1945.

Adroit Theory Now I Am Death, Destroyer of Worlds is slightly more innocuous when compared to Oppenheimer’s creation. The “triple” India pale ale is brewed with over 10 pounds of hops per 31 gallons, heavy on Citra and Mosaic.

Aromas of orange, mango & lychee meld with malt sweetness. Assertive bitterness relaxes into a semi-dry finish.

Adroit Theory Now I Am Death, Destroyer of Worlds is available now in 22 ounce bottles and draft.

Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Citra, Mosaic
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.

Debut: Late February, 2017

10% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Scofflaw Brewing Co., New Releases

Scofflaw Double Basement, the “bigger, badder brother”

Scofflaw Double Basement, a bigger, bolder edition of the brewery’s Basement IPA, debuts on draft this weekend.

As Scofflaw’s co-founder Matt Shirah mentions, “It’s Basement’s bigger, badder brother.”  He means it when is says there’s a “f ton” of juicy hops in Double Basement. The brewery uses nearly 5 pounds of (predominantly Citra) hops per barrel.

While it will only be found on tap this weekend, the brewery tells Beer Street Journal the label is done. It’s up to the fans whether it’s ready for the big show or not.

Scofflaw Double Basement is currently available as a draft-only offering, starting March 2nd.

Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Citra

Availability: Draft
Debut: 3/2/17

10.5% ABV

Image: Scofflaw Brewing 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Left Hand Brewing, Coming Soon, Don't Miss This

Left Hand A Blessing & A Curse is slated for May

Left Hand A Blessing & A Curse joins the Colorado brewery’s ‘Big ‘Mo” lineup in May.

The brewery partners hops from the northern and southern hemispheres when creating this imperial India pale ale. The finished beer boasts citrus, pine and tropical fruit.

This double IPA delivers a synthesis of hops from opposite hemispheres with an aggressive disposition of citrus, pine, and tropical fruit characteristics for a delightfully juxtaposed consequence. Count your blessings, accept the curse.

Left Hand A Blessing & A Curse is slated for a May, 2017 release.

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

9.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay