Pioneer Trailblazer IPA

Had a trailblazer tonight, according to the sticker it was received 4/4 and the cost was $16 for the 4pack.

It pours like a hazy juice bomb akin to anything TreeHouse/Bissel/Trillium are putting out and smells like a citrusy, fruity smoothy. Honestly the nose on this beer is amazing, I didn't get any of the super dank/cat pissy smells that I do on a lot of off the shelf IPAs, this was all citrus. The overall taste was great but fell short to what I was expecting when compared to something like Julius (which it looked and smelled like). The overall big hoppieness was there but I felt this was just super bitter and didn't finish well. Not as clean and crisp as some other beers i've had.

I don't know a lot about Pioneer but I know they've had a weird past. This beer is contract brewerd at Sheeban in Wolcott CT, which has a horrible reputation among CT Beer drinkers. That being said, i'd give this 3/4 stars and will say that I think with some tweaking this could be really really good. I could easily see this being something that flies off the shelves and for good reason however it falls short to anything TreeHouse is putting out. I'm not sure it was worth the $16/4pack for me, I would buy Sip of Sunshine over this if I saw them side by side in a package store.

 

Yeah the recipe can be dialed in, but it's definitely a good beer. Maybe when they move into their permanent brewery in South Windsor we will see that evolution. Agree on the price. I bought Sip the same day as this. $14/4 for Sip and $16/4 for Trailblazer.

 

I really liked this and a few of their other offerings, and also, the best beer to come out of Shebeen!

 

Out of curiosity, are there any New England contract brewers, outside of Two Roads, that have a good reputation?

 

I know Hooker does some contract brewing. They do Relic's 12 oz bottles.

 

Ipswich/ Mercury?

 

Yeah, realized I should have included them with Two Roads as the big players. Was thinking more the smaller guys that people don't think of immediately.

 

Can you get it in MA or only CT?

 

I think Hooker also does a lot of the bigger Back East canning runs but could be wrong on that

 

Where in CT has this been available? Only hartford area, or has anyone seen it farther south?

 

They posted a list of stores that got shipments on their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pioneerbeercompany/posts/1180086488682933

 

Except that Villa in Storrs never got the delivery

 

Perfect, thanks for the link, exactly what I was looking for. I hope they make their way farther south in the future.

 

Pioneer's Recent Brewing History in CT:

- contract brewed at Hooker, didn't work out
- contract brewed Olde Burnside, didn't work out
- supposed to contract at Overshores, never happened, didn't work out
- contract brewed at Shebeen, best beer ever. lol

Plus as someone mentioned upthread, he (Todd) was at a few locations before this, in MA. Really, ahem, interesting history.

 

No. Back East Summer Cans are brewed at Two Roads this year.

 

Should be in Fairfield County next week

 

A couple of days later and my second try poured into a glass was more enjoyable than the first from the can. Still could use some improvement but a surprise from CT.

 

Just what I thought. Great nose, no body with a bitterness at the end that didnt compliment the mango/grapefruit up front. Disappointing.

 

Spot on.

 

I managed to get one can from my brother in law and I liked it a lot. It is being compared to Tree House, which is kind of setting it up for failure in that regard. It isn't as good as Tree House, but it is a great representation of the NE IPA style. Fruity, citrus like hop aroma and flavor, full and smooth mouth-feel, not overly bitter. It is a winner in my book.

Compare it to Back East's NE IPA attempt, Intergalactic Lupulinary, and you should appreciate what Pioneer was able to do, Back East is really unimpressive. I don't care much for Pioneer's other brews, but the new Trail Blazer is one I'll buy again for sure.