Juiciest West Coast IPA?

@chipawayboy Haha. I think I get a little salty seeing so much of the TH, Trillium, HF etc get a ton of love and then in the same breath, people dismiss anything from the west coast saying that our breweries "aren't on the same level ". Which I think is really horseshit considering that SARA, Russian River, Cellarmaker and Modern Times are absolutely killing it right now.

@2ellas I for sure overstated that, again got carried away with saltiness. I think you're right in that west coast traders are after the boutique breweries in NE. The first trade I did was for a Clown Shoes MA-only release called "Breakfast Exorcism". I have another one almost complete for some Heady and SoS. I know, I'm a damned hypocrite but in my defense I'm not sure these beers are considered "Juicy". Have had Heady before and simply thought it was unique and delicious.

 

I completely agree! I noticed a substantial change in the bottles and growlers I had the day I picked them up at Trillium and the ones I flew home when sampled a week later. They were stored cold the entire time except when in flight, so the change in my opinion was mostly due to some combination of time and travel with the possibility there could have also been some palate shift. I would expect an even longer transit time and more variable storage would likely exacerbate this occurrence. I feel that one doesn't truly get the same experience from these types of beers unless they are enjoyed at (or very near) the source.

 

How do you know for sure unless you're the one tasting them at the start and end of the journey?

 

This has been my experience. Seriously it makes a huge difference. Do you really think that a beer poured on draft 15 feet from where it was made will be the same (every time) as a beer that has been in the back of a truck for a week without temperature control in the middle of winter (or summer)?

 

There is no doubt that these super hoppy beers drop off fast, or at the very least change. I've noticed it even with stuff that's just been in a keg for a few weeks.

This is why Cellarmaker doesn't want to bottle. They also only work with tap rooms that put their beer on immediately.

I think if you are to package these beers, cans are the superior vessel.

SARA will never bottle hoppy beers because Tim doesn't separate clean and sour equipment, so it would all go sour over time.

 

Never is a long time. Certainly they don't have enough space at the current location.

 

The steelers always have a chance to win the superbowl. that's why they have six rings.
Hill Farmstead may make the best ipas in the world. nothing beats them. come out to Greensboro and message me when you have changed your mind.

Cheers Bro.

 

It makes an amazing backdrop for amazing beers. Hats off to you good sir!

I agree completely. We all defend the shit out of our locals but all we really want is good beer. I'm happy to enjoy good brews from the west coast, east coast, north coast, south coast, mid-coast etc. I'm just into beer and enjoying said good beer with good friends. Let's just all agree to disagree, drink what we like and be bros!

 

I've been twice. Probably don't need to go again. Not worth it after two.

 

What's your schtick "willem"? You an old timey newsboy? Or just dude that fooled around with Utah and fell in love? Also, there's no substitute for Trillium beers mate. No matter how close you are to any source, Trillium tops it.

 

I love what Trillium is doing, but you need to travel more.

 

I'm totally open for options my man. What's going to top Trillium for me?

 

The Intergalactic Hop Shop may be brewed again in the summer, so not all hope is lost. Also, here's a reference to the Intergalactic Hop Shop for those who haven't seen it.

 

What style(s) you looking for?

 

If you don't love hill farmstead IPAs you are a bad person.

 

What we can deduct from this thread is that East Coast BAs have the most refined palates in the world, capable of declaring absolute claims such as "...is the best in the world." My goal in life now is to move to the east coast so that I, too, can make such claims,

 

Enjoy By Unfiltered is definitely the 'juiciest' IPA I've ever had from Stone. The nose is just awesome. (It's still quite different from the likes of HF, TH, Trillium, etc) Unfiltered. Just like the difference between Alpine beers brewed in the original brewery vs those at Green Flash, the Green Flash filtered bottles aren't as juicy, 'fresh', and 'bright' as the unfiltered from Alpine itself.

I really hope there is a big crazy over the Unfiltered Enjoy By that will push Stone to skip filtration more often.

 

haha I suppose Ill have to live with that..

 

Big ipas (juicy and other) and big stouts are my favorite. Trillium makes the only barleywine I've ever liked. Day and night, it's mind blowing.

I'm a bad person then. I think they're good but not the best.

 

Haha! Yeah, because over the past twenty years we've never heard Californians boast about West Coast IPAs being the best in the world.