Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by SeanBond, Aug 29, 2016.

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  1. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Why? It's not like ZD is the only well-balanced beer ever made. I've always given it credit for its balance, I've just never been a huge fan of the beer's taste overall. I prefer a little more prominence in citra flavor (ala Beer Hates Astronauts of Citra from PW, for local examples).
     
    #941 SeanBond, Nov 7, 2016
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  2. Chuckdiesel24

    Chuckdiesel24 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,208) Jul 6, 2016 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah, I think a few of the folks here who don't love the juiciest versions of this style would really like this beer. I got the maximum 8 and am 2 beers in already :slight_smile:

    I got Drip on draft at 18th Street. I liked Drip a lot the first half, but then the second half of the glass wasn't as good. It kind of went downhill as it warmed. At first I got a ton of great hop flavor, but toward the end I got vegetable pepper.

    Also - I keep reading Heady topper is not NE style! It is most definitely NE style. It's not the same as TH or Trillium (orange) but it's the original and some would say definitive NE style.
     
    #942 Chuckdiesel24, Nov 7, 2016
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  3. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I dunno if that's a reference to what I said, but I tried to make it clear that I was talking about what most people expect from the NE style (which is the Galaxy Bowl/SS/Treehouse type). Heady is certainly one of, if not THE progenitor of the hazy, unfiltered IPA, but it's also not particularly similar to the beers I just mentioned.

    Also, does anyone know if this Teddy Bear Picnic will be distributed to Chicago? I haven't had many of 18th's beers, and would like to try this if it makes it in town.
     
    #943 SeanBond, Nov 7, 2016
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  4. Chuckdiesel24

    Chuckdiesel24 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,208) Jul 6, 2016 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I may have just been reading too quickly.

    I kind of doubt it - but don't know for sure. It sounds like it's a part of a series they do where they only do small batches.
     
    #944 Chuckdiesel24, Nov 7, 2016
  5. GuyFawkes

    GuyFawkes Grand Pooh-Bah (5,630) Apr 7, 2011 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I must admit, I had a Heady this weekend (canned 10/22/16) and man, that beer doesn't do it for me at all. I get a ton of pine & not much fruit at all; plus it's pretty caramel forward.
     
    #945 GuyFawkes, Nov 7, 2016
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  6. ratwheels

    ratwheels Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2011 Illinois

    Yeah, I'm with Sean - I don't get this. I used to enjoy Zombie Dust a lot more than I do now, most likely due to experiencing better tasting (IMO) beers. Zombie Dust just feels a bit thin and lacks big flavor. It has nothing to do with the malt character or the bitterness. I still think it's a fine brew, just something that is quite easy to pass on for me now.
     
    #946 ratwheels, Nov 7, 2016
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  7. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah, that sounds pretty accurate. The one thing I'll say about Heady (technically this is true of all beers, but still) is that it's extremely sensitive to the condition of your palate, at least in my experience. I've had 3 cans in the last week or so, and the first can was awesome (empty stomach, and my palate was pretty clean as well), whereas the next two were simply good (but more caramel-forward, as you said, both when I'd eaten recently). Heady is the most balanced of the 3 Alchemist beers I've had (Crusher, Focal Banger), but it's also probably my least favorite (Focal Banger being my favorite, Crusher having the best mouthfeel and look), because the hops aren't as fruity (Focal has a really good citra-mosaic flavor).
     
    #947 SeanBond, Nov 7, 2016
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  8. Makubex

    Makubex Initiate (0) Jul 4, 2012 Illinois

    Weird. My bottle looked NOTHING like that. Somewhat opaque and more brown than tan.
     
    #948 Makubex, Nov 7, 2016
  9. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Somebody drink a bottle of Fresh V1 and tell me it's like V4, and that I should buy it. Had my last bottle of V4 during one of be debates, so I figure V1 could be good Election Night material.
     
    #949 SeanBond, Nov 8, 2016
  10. croush

    croush Pooh-Bah (2,407) Mar 20, 2015 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Maybe you should test it out for the rest of us. :wink:
     
    #950 croush, Nov 8, 2016
  11. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Can't. I'm already home and my shoes are off.
     
    #951 SeanBond, Nov 8, 2016
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  12. Weirdwell

    Weirdwell Devotee (391) Apr 3, 2016 Nebraska
    Trader

    So much better than V2!! A little more bitter than V4, but very good! Will have to go back to Binnys and pick up another bottle for this weekend!
     
    #952 Weirdwell, Nov 9, 2016
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  13. TonyLuvsBeer

    TonyLuvsBeer Pundit (828) Mar 28, 2015 Michigan
    Trader

    That's great to hear. The last V4 was great. The last V2 was drain pour bad for me.
     
    #953 TonyLuvsBeer, Nov 9, 2016
  14. dwduncan2

    dwduncan2 Initiate (0) Feb 8, 2012 Illinois

    It's better than v4. More tropical, fruity, and balanced.
     
    #954 dwduncan2, Nov 9, 2016
  15. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I passed on a bottle yesterday, but you guys have me interested again!
     
    #955 SeanBond, Nov 9, 2016
  16. HawksBeerFan

    HawksBeerFan Maven (1,378) Dec 24, 2011 Illinois
    Trader

    I'm holding out until the V69 release
     
    #956 HawksBeerFan, Nov 9, 2016
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  17. JJH1018

    JJH1018 Zealot (699) Sep 13, 2013 Illinois

    How's the carbonation on V1? V2 was a bit under carbed for my taste.
     
    #957 JJH1018, Nov 9, 2016
  18. Beanblossom

    Beanblossom Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2015 Indiana

    Anyone have a bottle of The Devil's Reign from Une Annee? This was incredible.
     
    #958 Beanblossom, Nov 9, 2016
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  19. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    EXPLAIN

    Are you saying it reminds you of an NE IPA?
     
    #959 SeanBond, Nov 9, 2016
  20. dwduncan2

    dwduncan2 Initiate (0) Feb 8, 2012 Illinois

    I had one last night. It was spot on. This one's up there with most of the Mikerphone Special Sauces. A few of them beat it out as well as Get Fresh Flow, but for the availability and price you can't beat it.
     
    #960 dwduncan2, Nov 9, 2016
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