Best IPAs and DIPAs readily available in Mass

Discussion in 'New England' started by MVP09, Dec 5, 2012.

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  1. MVP09

    MVP09 Initiate (0) Oct 19, 2012 Massachusetts

    I am a relative newbie to craft, but I've had the pleasure of tasting, one 16oz pour of Pliney, wow! Also 1/2 a can of Heady, mmm! Both of which cannot be had with a routine trip to the packy. I've had the usuals like stone, founders, some of my favs have been GF WC IPA good stuff, Anderson Valley Ottin, FS Dbl Jack, Kiwi Rising (DIPL), and Baxter Stowaway. Just looking for suggests on anything to keep an eye out for when I see it on the shelves. I live on RI border so can travel to a Provi bottle shop.
     
  2. Goldfishman

    Goldfishman Initiate (0) Jan 29, 2012 Massachusetts

    Ithaca Flower power is a must try one of my favorite IPAs
     
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  3. BeerBum

    BeerBum Initiate (0) Nov 13, 2012 California

    Smuttynose makes a pretty solid IPA and I see it all the time when I'm back in Boston
     
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  4. AdamsDTD

    AdamsDTD Initiate (0) Jun 5, 2011 Massachusetts

    I love Dogfish 60, 90, and Burton Baton. Some of my go to choices. If you can snag Maine Beer Co Lunch, do it.
     
  5. BleepBloopBlap

    BleepBloopBlap Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2011 Massachusetts

    FW Union Jack, jacks Abby hoponius union, and harpoon leviathan imp IPA (fresh) is underrated IMO
     
  6. Jesse14

    Jesse14 Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2011 Massachusetts

    Sometimes harder to find but Wormtown Be Hoppy is a great local IPA. Alesmith IPA is very good when fresh too.
     
  7. youbrewidrink

    youbrewidrink Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2009 Vermont
    Deactivated

  8. T-RO

    T-RO Pundit (782) Nov 9, 2012 New Hampshire
    Trader

    Founders Reds Rye, Founders Harvest Ale, Firestone Walker Union Jack, Mayflower IPA, Oscar Blues Deviant Dales, Stone Ruination
     
  9. cbeer88

    cbeer88 Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2007 Massachusetts

    One huge thing to keep in my with hoppy beers (Particularly IPA/DIPAs), is that freshness is paramount. A super fresh average IPA typically tastes better than a 3 month old Pliny. So, above all, try to look for IPAs with less than 30 days on them.

    I think Wachusett Larry is one of the best local DIPA's that is reasonably priced and can easily be found fresh. Smuttynose IPA and Ithaca Flower Power are two others that I commonly purchase. Jack's Abby Hoponius Union is a little different being a lager, but one you should definitely try.

    Less regional and more east coast, you have Troegs Perpetual IPA, Dogfish Head 60/90, Victory Hop Devil... all very good.

    Much of the west coast stuff is great, but again, pay attention to freshness. Firestone, Bear Republic, and Green Flash stuff often rolls onto shelves with 2-3 months (or more) of age on them already. Stone tends to be more reliable, but it can linger.
     
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  10. kinopio

    kinopio Savant (1,013) Apr 30, 2009 Massachusetts

    Founders Reds Rye, Greenflash WC, FW Union Jack, Smutty IPA, Bear Republic Racer V are all very good and readily available but I don't buy them often because they are usually quite old if you check the bottled dates.
    Lunch and Be Hoppy are excellent but very expensive.

    Thats why my go to is Jack Abby Hoponious Union. Its delicious, affordable, and I can almost always find it very fresh. Mayflower IPA is a great recommendation as well, for those same reasons.
     
  11. cbutova

    cbutova Initiate (0) Oct 10, 2008 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Freshness + low price + very local = Hoponius Union. Technically not an IPA/DIPA but I think this is the best new year-round, go to beer in MA.
     
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  12. messrock

    messrock Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2010 Massachusetts

    FRESH LARRY still cannot be beat.
     
  13. BeerBum

    BeerBum Initiate (0) Nov 13, 2012 California

    v
    I'm going to have disagree a little with your statement about freshness. Many good IPAs last more than a month, often much longer. Have you ever actually had 3 month old Pliny? Drinks totally fine. Now at 6 months... thats a different story. I don't get how so many BAs panic when their IPA is a few weeks old. Oh crap... its three weeks old... guess it sucks now.

    Someone posted a quote from Jon Kimmich in another thread asking about how long cans of Heady last for. Here's his reply (Jen's actually):
    When we 'can' Heady Topper, it is only 3 weeks old. It is super young at this point, but we still make sure everything we package leaves the brewery within 5 days- we never sit on inventory. This ensures that Heady is always purchased young and fresh (hence no need for 'can on' date). Heady Topper is at its best (to our liking) between 5-16 weeks. So, it doesn't really hit its prime for about 2 weeks after it is purchased. Of course, we like Heady during its first 2 weeks in the can- it is raw and pungent. However, it becomes much more graceful over time. Heady will stay 'good' indefinitely- the hops are a natural preservative. However, the hop flavors and aromas will become less pungent and more subdued over time. We just tried some cans from last September and they were still delicious. Nice and hoppy, but very elegant and balanced. While it is nice like this, we prefer it younger and more raw, dank and pungent. Because it is unfiltered, it will evolve over time. Experiment with it and see how/when you like it best. While we like it best between 5-16 weeks (and this is how it is intended to be consumed), some folks like it with more age on it. It is personal preference. Also, because it is in a can and sunlight never effects the hops, Heady will stay fresh longer than many IPA's on the market. Sorry for the very lengthy response. I could talk about this forever... Kind Regards, Jen

    Please don't be afraid of month old IPA/DIPAs. They won't hurt anyone. Rant over.

    tl;dt Good IPA's last more than a month, just ask Jon Kimmich
     
  14. kinopio

    kinopio Savant (1,013) Apr 30, 2009 Massachusetts

    I agree that a month old IPA is ok. I won't buy anything that is older than 6 weeks. After that it is by no definition of the word "fresh".
    I've recently seen a 9 month old Union Jack in a store. Is that beer "readily available"? In a sense yes, but I'm not going to touch that.
     
  15. cbeer88

    cbeer88 Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2007 Massachusetts

    I've had this argument more times in the past than I really care to do again. But, people like myself say it because it is true...

    First off, if you parse out his own words, Heady is canned at 3 weeks, which means he considers it best before 13 weeks. That's 91 days, or, precisely the 3 month line that most people will agree marks the end of life for an IPA.

    Second, the last thing brewers want is 30 days to become the standard acceptable freshness norm for an IPA. Thus you have to take much of what they say with a grain of salt. Most of them know damn well how important freshness is on hoppy stuff, which is precisely why you'll never find a 10 week old IPA entered into a competition. But, the economic reality is that guaranteeing 30 days in a store is really hard.

    Now, you ask if I've had Pliny at 3 months? Yes, yes I have. Also 1 week, 1 month, and various other time frames. I've also had Heady at 1 day after canning, 3 months, and 4 months, and 6 months, and just about every other time frame you can imagine. Ditto for a very long line of other IPA's. I've experimented with aging, done a billion blind tastings/comparisons with friends, and feel I have a very solid and informed handle on the life of an IPA.

    With little exception, an IPA is markedly different beast at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. Now, some IPA's are still pretty good at 2-3 months. In fact, I would consider Heady Topper to be one of those. But, the vast majority are really "the fresher the better", and these beers generally just lose too much hoppiness for my liking after a month or so.

    Now, some people aren't as sensitive to the decrease in hops, and some people like the malt to stick out a bit more, and everybody has their own personal subjective opinions. But, if you want your IPA's to be as hoppy as they are meant to be, don't wait 3 months on them.
     
  16. gcamparone

    gcamparone Pooh-Bah (2,057) Dec 6, 2011 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Union Jack
    60 Minute
    Founders harvest (seasonal)
    Hoptimum
    Lagunitas Lil' Sumpin Sumpin (technically not an IPA, but super hoppy like one)

    Are my favorites
     
  17. Beerista

    Beerista Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2012 Massachusetts

    The following are available in Massachusetts:

    Ipswich IPA, Smuttynose Finest Kind & Tap Brewing (formerly Haverill) Leatherlips are good local IPAs.

    Founders Centennial, West Coast Green Flash & Bear Republic Racer5 are good out of state IPAs widely available here. SN Torpedo is very cheap & very good.

    If you haven't tasted rye IPAS, you might want to try Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye or Founders Red's Rye.
     
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  18. BeerBum

    BeerBum Initiate (0) Nov 13, 2012 California

    I appreciate the thoughtful response. I agree, wholeheartedly, the fresher the better. I was only trying to make the point that just because a good IPA is 4+ weeks old it doesn't necessarily mean it's become a drain pour. Are they different at 4+ weeks? Of course, but maybe OP would like to see the difference himself. "I'm a relative newbie to craft..." as he said. Your experience with craft and blind tastings of the same beer has given you the knowledge that you like IPAs as fresh as can be. Maybe OP has similar tastes, maybe not, but he'll never know unless he tries different ages and compares. I'm with you tho, for my palet I love IPAs at their youngest. Tonight I'm cracking a Pliny from (11.01.12) and one from (11.26.12) should be fun having them side by side. Cheers!
     
  19. Archemedies

    Archemedies Initiate (0) Dec 8, 2011 Massachusetts

    I have had three month old Pliny. Although still pretty good, it couldn't compare to a fresh bottle that was opened next to it.
     
  20. TheMonkfish

    TheMonkfish Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2012 Chad

    In a few weeks check out Lagunitas' Sucks - if you liked Kiwi Rising then Sucks should make you happy assuming it's as good as it was last year. Also, if you can get any "Audacity of Hops" super fresh then try that - it's a Belgian IPA that leans more IPA when really fresh. Same with Larry - it's really, really good when fresh (with age on it, it's pretty not so good.)
     
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