Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

Here was some sediment from a bottle of galaxy unicorn I purchased at binnys...though this was 2 years ago so they may have fixed these issues....


http://imgur.com/a/T0qiQ

 

Ugh, that straight up looks like sand. I've never seen that in any of the bombers I've purchased in the last year and a half, nor would I want to.

 

With respect....Honestly, I don't know how relevant it is to post that from 2 (TWO) years ago?? In this industry that is light years ago IMO.

 

Glass one of SS7 looked like a Half Acre IPA and glass 2 looked like Trillium. The biggest disparity in looks between glasses I've ever had for a bomber

 

I picked up on that "rind-y" bitterness more with this batch than I did with 5 and 6. I had gotten that as well in the couple of prior batches I had. That presence being gone, or more subdued, in 5 and 6 are why I liked them more.

 

Odd...I thought this batch was way less bitter than batch 6. So interesting to hear different takes on these brews!!

 

I find just about all of these NE style beers to be some of the more bitter beers I've had, actually. As I've said before, though, it's that citrus rind flavor that gives bitterness to me - everyone else seems to be tasting orange juice and I get that rind flavor. SS 5 & 6 were the versions that had less of that rind flavor as compared to nearly all the other NE style IPA's.

Of course, this should all be prefaced with the potential that I really don't have the ability to truly remember these beers weeks apart (and in those intervening weeks, I've drank many other beers). So, who knows in terms of comparison with these different batches.

 

I get bitterness in every NE IPA; I get more dry grass than orange rind.

When it's mild to faint I enjoy the flavor as it balances the fruity sweetness. However, it can be over the top & ruin the experience as well. A delicate balance.

 

I was able to try The Juice is Loose yesterday and wow did it blow me away. Way better than any SS batch I have had. SS is still a great beer for sure, but Transient wins this hands down for me. I love Maplewood, but Juicy Pants did not come close to JIL or SS.

 

I'm starting to wonder if palette fatigue impacts NEIPAs for me more than a typical, higher IBU IPA. I had The Juice Is Loose on tap after having a couple experimental hopped IPAs at Bell's on my way back to Chicago from Grand Rapids. I wasn't super wow'd, but still bought a 4pk of cans with the intent of sending my out-of-state brother a couple as a house warming gift. I popped a can of The Juice Is Loose a day or so later as my first beer and now my brother is getting some Navaja cans instead. Definitely not a bad consolation prize, but those TJIL cans didn't survive the weekend.

 

I like the term "softness"...that's definitely part of the appeal of the style when done well. That's why too much bitterness can overpower & ruin them.

 

They had Son of Juice at Beer Temple on Friday as well, though I'd imagine it's long gone by now.

 

This is the first time I've spoken about the Chicagoland attempts at the NE IPA. To preface my experiences, I have only had Ram's Juicy and the Citra and Galaxy version of Special Sauce. I think that Shaun at Ram did a very good job with his attempt. My only critique of that beer was that it lacked that 'hit you in the nose and mouth' aroma and taste that the Treehouses and Trilliums create.

While I can appreciate the hometown love for Mikerphone and people stalking liquor stores and following the delivery trucks, personally I just dont see the comparison to the stuff from out east. I too, get that rind-y bitterness from both of the special sauces batches I have tried. To me, to compare special sauce to anything from Treehouse or Trillium is laughable. The real secret to what makes those beers 'feel' less bitter is that those beers have that unique pillow-y soft mouthfeel that takes away from the bitterness. I dont find the Mikerphone beers to be overly soft in any way. Personally I think the yeast he uses is the culprit, but I am just a so-so homebrewer so what do I know. Just my .02