Maharaja and Knuckle Sandwich

I have not had them side-by-side, but I think they are similar. I prefer Knuckle Sandwich, though.

 

I find Maharaja much maltier than KS. I used to like Maharaja a lot, but haven't enjoyed it as much the last few times I've had it. I had KS on tap last night, which is a much better beer, IMO.

 

I would have to try side by side. But do like KS better

 

Having JUST hit up Bootlegger's for their current release of Knuckle Sandwich, I agree that it shares the prominent "maltiness" of Maharaja, but with WAY more of my beloved hops to balance the malt. I really dislike Maharaja- too damn sweet and syrupy. It might be great on pancakes, but not in my glass. I prefer to compare Knuckle to DFH90, Sneaky Pete, and (especially) Exponential Hoppiness. I'd LOVE to try Knuckle and Expo side-by-side. My guess is I'd give Expo a SLIGHT edge, but I do love me some Knuckle...

 

Have had both, but KS is a tough get here in NC. IMO Maharaja is a sweet mess, at least the last batch I had. I liked the KS, it's very solid, but I can get Pliny and HT without too much of an effort, which I prefer.

 

I think something has changed in the last year with Maharaja....it was much sweeter and syrupy than in previous years. Was once my favorite DIPA, but not so much any more.

 

Why am I just now hearing about Knuckle Sandwich? How hard is it to find in So Cal?

 

I don't THINK they're distributing this batch. You might have to drive to Fullerton (maybe 10 mins north of Dland). Call first, but they should have some available tomorrow (saturday). If you like Alpine's Expo (or DFH90 or Sneaky Pete), you will like Knuckle. And the truth is, I don't care for Bootlegger's normal lineup. But Knuckle Sandwich is pretty damn solid.

 

A balanced DIPA? For SHAME!

 

It IS pretty damn "balanced," isn't it?
[After imbibing 2 of my 6 bombers (plus 1 growler), I do see why people love this beer. It's about as "balanced" as anything you'll find this side of Expo. Good poo.]

 

Avery so hard to get in upstate NY. When we get it it's all old an cocconutty. Wonder what it tastes like fresh. Knuckle Ball is still made? We had to sell it for $3 a six pack to make it go away for ever. Yucky.

 

In 2010, KS lingered on shelves for months. It was a good beer, but no one really knew about it. Since then something happened, and it became the next Pliny. Occasionally I'll see bottles, but I'm not going to go on some wild goose chase across the Southland or drive to Fullerton to pick some up. Beachwood gets a keg pretty much every release, and I'll drink a couple pints.

 

Yes it's being distributed this time, not that it'll be all over the place.

 

I definitely don't see Knuckle as "the next Pliny"- 2 very different beers. And I'm not a huge fan of Bootlegger's. But I DO think Knuckle Sandwich is a damn good recipe for people who want a "balanced" DIPA: plenty of sweet malt to bump up the ABV, with just enough hops to assuage the "cloying" and syrupy sweetness of malt (which, after all, is the ingredient that provides the alcohol).
If I were forced (at gunpoint) to rank the most "balanced" DIPA/TIPAs, it would be:
1. Russian River Pliny the Younger
2. Alpine Exponential Hoppiness
3. Bootlegger's Knuckle Sandwich

But bear in mind that this definitely doesn't reflect my ranking of personal "favorite" DIPA/TIPAs...

 

I think the sweetness from the KS is more fruit based in taste where the sweetness in the "I'm not your Farjha Maharaja" is more malty. I prefer KS, it has more of the fruity notes I look for. I do enjoy Maha, just not as much. Could possibly because the Maha is more widely distroed compared to KS which I believe would help the freshness issue. Heck, I actually prefer Maha with a good year to year and a half age on it, I think it rounds out to a very delicisous almost barley wine.
to throw another XXXIPA in the ring, though uber expensive. I thoroughly enjoyed Hoppin Frog's Hop Dam. Very tasty.

 

They are both great.

 

The word is that Knuckle will see a limited distribution to local stores in LA/OC starting next week. It has been released on an irregular basis over the past year - previous releases were in February (brewery only) and last December.

And yeah, it's one tasty, well-balanced malt bomb. One big plus as a maltier, higher ABV DIPA (10%), Knuckle seems to age pretty decently. A KS from the December batch that I drank recently suffered little drop-off - lost a bit of hops edge and hence a touch of citrus flavor, but since that was never the dominant flavor, not much difference.

 

Could someone translate this troll post into English?

 

The malt complexity is greater in KS, but overall I think they are both similar in other respects. With that being said, I'll take KS over The Maharaja any day.