Sierra Nevada changes up the 4-way IPA box

Had it. The Blindfold and Ruthless are probably the best in the pack, but the Torpedo has been a longstanding fav of mine as well. The golden was skunky as hell to me, and I did not enjoy it. Similar to the Boomerang. Someone was like, "We gotta get rid of all these skunky Aussie hops - what were we thinking?" then locked eyes with a coworker, and both said in unison, "Mix-pack!" Just kidding I'm sure there are a lot of fans of both, just not my thing.

 

I forgot I have had Dubhe quite a bit and it was pretty awesome.

 

The only black IPA I've had was Founders Dark Penance, and it was way better than I expected it to be. It didn't taste anything like a porter or a stout, it tasted like an IPA with a stronger malt backbone. Actually, what it really reminded me of was a heavier Sierra Nevada Flipside.

 

I bought a 12 and thought all of them were solid. As with most SN I can find better, but not at this price. 13.00 a 12 at costco.

 

Probably going to swing by Costco to pick one of these up.

 

I bought this pack last year (case) and ended up not liking the Nooner IPA at all, found Snow Wit to be just okay, loved Blindfold Black and Torpedo is a classic. I didn't get this pack this year because now I have had all of the beers except for one numerous times and so far I have only seen cases around me and no 12 packs, despite the late start in my market (thanks, PA! ), and I didn't want 24 of them this time around. But I did end up getting the four beers from a place that was selling them as singles for the heck of it. My thoughts below...

I didn't like the Boomerang IPA much at all but I really enjoyed this Golden IPA a lot! But it had an almost Lager-esque quality to me and I love Lagers, so that probably comes into play.

Ruthless' formula changed slightly this year and I feel as if I can notice it, as it seems *slightly* subdued this year. I still enjoyed it, though, and actually enjoyed it more than I have in years past.

Black IPAs are a style I wasn't too sure about (even though I love Stouts/Porters) but so far I have enjoyed every one I have tried, and there have been quite a few.

And I have to say it is funny how palates and times have changed, the IBUs found in this pack would have been in the top tier at one time, and now they are middle of the road. Please don't view that as a complaint, though, and I actually like that and I think these beers are just right.

 

Add Uninta's Dubhe (can you say doo bie?) to the list of black IPAs to try. It's an Imperial that runs a tad over 9% and hits 109 IBUs. It's made with hemp, hence the name. One of my favorites!

 

Saw this yesterday. Kinda burnt out on Black IPA's but looking forward to trying the Golden IPA.

 

All this talk of Black IPAs and no mention of Blakkr?
One local to me that will be bottled in a year is Karben4 Silk Scorpion. It is comparable to Black Rajah, but even better.

 

I got sick of them at one point. That's the last trend I've followed, other than beer in cans. I would rather have a golden stout similar to what Stone collaborated with than a middle of the road "black ipa".

The style is so 2011. Get out of there. Call it what it is. A goddamn hoppy stout. Not unusual when a lot of imperial stouts have a stronger hop aroma when fresh.

 

Maybe. But most black IPAs lack the body of a full stout. I've had black IPAs that remind me of an IPA with a roasted malt character. Probably the closest match up is a hoppy porter, which often have a lighter, less full or slick mouthfeel but still focus on roasted malts. I think the reason why marketers came up with the black IPA moniker is the difference in focus - for a black IPA it is the hops, whereas even a hoppy porter or stout should still be about the roasted malts.

 

Got a few of these new IPA mix packs last weekend.

Golden IPA is awesome. To me that is a "session" style IPA. Lots of flavor and not watered down like the Nooner IPA last year was.

Ruthless Rye to me was just as good as it has been even with the hop change

Torpedo is always welcome and I loved the Blindfold so I am glad that one is back.

Overall between this the Hoppy Lager and the Nooner Pilsner I don't really need to buy any other companies beers for a while..

 

Decent pack if you like IPA's. I liked it

 

They call them "Cascadian Dark Ales" out here in the PNW. I've never found a Black IPA that I truly enjoy, not even Wookey Jack, but I've had a few CDAs here in Oregon that bordered on mind-blowing. Boneyard's Armored Fist is my favorite, followed by Barley Brown's Chaos which is well into the Imperial range (haven't had the Turmoil lower ABV that Chaos is based on). I also had a really good one at Pfriem.

But overall, I think I agree with you. I'm not sure what, if anything, is different about these Cascadian Dark Ales (compared to Black IPAs) other than the brewers, but these are the first I've really liked.

 

Can't wait to find this here is KS. I loved the black ipa, torpedo is always a good standby, haven't had ruthless in a while and last time I did I was not a huge fan so I look forward to revisiting it, and can't wait to try the new cascade brew, which is one of my favorite hops and I'm sure SN knows what to do with it.

 

I really liked the pack. Torpedo and Ruthless were great as ever. The Golden (I felt) was a pretty basic IPA, but nothing to complain about. Blindfold was very tasty. Now to get the Hoppy Lager and Nooner Pils...

 

Love Ruthless Rye and Torpedo. Would gladly try the other two.

 

I'm in, a very good mixed 12!

 

Gone through 2 cases of this variety pack already, they are all very good, Ruthless Rye 2015 is a stellar brew.

 

You on the Sierra Nevada valued customer plan too eh? Where is @sierranevadabill with our coupons?!