Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

I agree. The first can of my Stratus four pack was surprisingly clear from the first pour to the last. I didn't see much sediment in the can either, so I felt a bit let down compared to my experience with Cumulus. It was still a good and drinkable DIPA, but it was not as good as what we can easily get on the market (Navaja, NvU, etc.).

 

Drinking a stratus right now. If the can didn't say 'Northeast style,' I'd think it was a very good DIPA. But if you create that expectation, you'd better deliver. This beer looks, smells, tastes, etc, about as west-coast as an IPA gets in my experience.

 

Been following this thread because I'm a fan of good beer West Coast, Northeast or whatever.
Don't trade and haven't beercationed northeast yet so I haven't had Trillium or Treehouse. I have had Transients Juice Is Loose and to me, it hits all the descriptors for a northeast style IPA. I had a couple of Stratus last night and didn't get any of that. In fact I thought it was an average DIPA at best.

 

I know what you're saying, but sometimes i laugh. ITS AN IPA afterall.

We all loved ipas with some bitterness 3 years ago, but now its all about lack of bitterness and drinkability... yet i don't see uptick in wheat beers or kolsch. We want our ipas to be low in bitterness.

I dont really have a point i guess. Just felt like chiming in.

 

I thought Stratus was solid DIPA. Didn't have the bitterness of a classic west coast IPAs like sculpin or Stone IPA, but it wasn't as soft as cumulus was, or as full bodied.

If it had a different label, i think peoples reactions would have been better. 10.99 a quad for a 8% beer hopped that well seems like a good price point. Seems like it could hold its own against other nice DIPAs around here like Hop Skip, Clencher, Nvu, Working for the Weeked, ect...

 

I never completely understood the bitter IPA thing. I always felt like the "super-bitter-I-love-Surly-Furious-cuz-I'm-a-real-man" was silly.

I always liked the hop forward taste of an IPA, but would have preferred it didn't have the bitter aftertaste. Still drank them, but not like I do now. The NE IPAs found a way to mute that bitterness. Don't think it's that surprising they're popular.

 

im not surprised either. I enjoy NE style hoppy beers too.

I simply think its kind of intriguing how sharp a turn we've seen recently away from even just what people believe to be moderately bitter IPAs

im afraid people are going to see 75 IBUs on a beer can and be afraid to by it. Well, Julius is 70 IBUs and green is 90. Navaja is probably 100+... ect ect.

 

Finally had Stratus; pine, soap & bitterness. Not fruity at all. Complete misfire IMO. For me, it fails not just as a NE IPA but completely. Really not my profile at all.

On to Juicy....

 

I probably liked it better than you did then, but I'd never buy it when, say, Ninja vs Unicorn is sitting there next to it. In fact I'm sure I'll always be able to find something I like better.

 

After trying nimbus, cumulus, stratus and the prairie madness over the weekend, I have to say the Cumulus was my fav followed by the nimbus. They were all quite drinkable but found them to lack structure and depth. almost no aftertaste for me in any of them. I am ok with that bc sometimes I want something super drinkable but as far as flavor goes, they fell a little flat for me. I had to crack a couple huma lupa to get that punch i was hoping for.

Overall I think Hailstorm makes good beers and I will def purchase Cumulus again. Possibly the style just isnt for me. Nice round mouthfeel but thats the highlight. Perfectly drinkable for football however...i think i will polish them off next weekend for the Mich game.

 

I did a 40th b-day trip out to NE this past week. I finally tried Trillium (I also loaded up about 12 cases of Alchemist and Sip). Anyway, we got a long way to go with the NE IPA thing.

 

Same here. Will be trying Stratus today and posting on WBAYDN thread.

 

Looks like Hubbards Cave Fresh v4 was bottled today. Not sure if it's hit any stores yet. Last release was in stores hours after bottling.

Anyone seen it out and about this afternoon?

 

If its anything like v1, ill pass. It was a near drain pour for me. Just really didnt care for it.

 

It's all about Juicy release about now, methinks...