Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

It was called juicy double - was a west coast IPA though. I had one in between trying Cuvee of Darkness and Netflix and Chill and didn't really like care for it much.

Probably because of what it was sandwiched in between...

 

I was there about five weeks ago and I did try it. They screwed up my order and gave me everything under the sun for free (even my growler of their APA) so I got free samples of that and some other good stuff. There was a very slight haze to it but there was nothing that stood out like the other NE IPA's I have had but it was still good. Also, it was the only beer that was not being served for growlers.

 

Haven't had juice pants or Juicy, but SS is definitely the closest by far to the IPAs from NE area. Will be looking to try the next batch of Juicy from Shaun.

 

I think I will be in the major minority here, but I actually preferred Cumulus over SS (specifically batch #5). It may not have been as traditional to the style based on haze, but the overall flavor I was blown away by. I do love me some SS, but Cumulus won it for me. Maybe it also had to do with the easy accessibility to get it and not have to hunt it down.

 

Piece in the middle yeast. I believe it was brewed like a NE IPA and then finished like a standard IPA to clear it up. I had it, nothing to write home about.

 

Sure Bet reminded me of a NE IPA.

 

Whale tickler is super NE-like IMO

 

What about Stratus from Hailstorm? I realize it is a DIPA but sounds like it is worthy of discussion / following. Reviews are still limited but I assume we in Chicago can find this one at Binny's, etc?

 

According to Hailstorm's description, Cumulus, Nimbus and Stratus are all brewed to be NE style DIPAs/IPAs. I've just had Cumulus. It's good, but thinner / less head than what I've had from there (mostly thinking Treehouse - Vermont/Alchemist/HillFarm stuff is slightly different). I thought SS batch 6 was the closest I've had. Didn't get on the Mikerphone train before that!

 

I just moved to Chicago from Northern New Jersey. I used to take camping trips up to Vermont and pick up cases of Heady, Sip, and Treehouse about every 3 months, so Northeast DIPAs are my addiction. I just got a few packs of Cumulus on Friday, and out of everything else I've tried (not very much, tbh) I've found that it hews closest to the style so far, although it just doesn't have that over-the-top juiciness that I've come to love from Treehouse or heavy malt backbone of Heady. I like it though! VERY excited to try Mikerphone, as SS sounds like it's the shiznit out here.

 

Crap, more competition for SS!!!

Just kidding, welcome to Chicago!

 

Thanks for the perspective. Don't bother trying Mikerphone, leave the rest of us Midwesterners to drink that stuff.

 

Thanks for the warm welcome! Don't worry, I barely have time to hunt for beer anymore with my new job...

 

I'm thinking of trying to grab some of this when it comes out on Friday. Am I right that the release for Juice Pants was kind of crazy? I had heard about Juice Pants coming out but didn't know there'd be so much hype around it, so I'm wondering what to expect for Son of Juice.

 

Well, if there is stuff you're interested in trying from the area and you don't have time to get it, feel free to reach out and I'll see if I can help out.

 

Thanks! I'm definitely thinking of crashing the Juice Pants release. Is it expected that there will be a pretty long line at the store? I won't be able to get over there until 5:30 at the earliest.