Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

I'm going to disagree. Personally, the SoJ I had was nowhere near a NE style. I'm taking this picture from Untappd, because it's what the SoJ I had looked like:




And the Juice Pants I had was hazy, juicy, and had a thick mouthfeel. Like everybody mentioned though, all palates are different.

The Juice Pants I had:

 

LOL - basically the two switched:

Round 1: Juice pants 2 (August) / Son of Juice 1st batch (September)
JP - clear, SoJ - hazy

Round 2: Juice pants 3 / Son of Juice 2nd/3rd batch
JP - hazy, SoJ - clear

 

Such an interesting comparison between batches of these two brews. I honestly hated the batch of SoJ I had, and it definitely resembled the first picture I posted. If I had the same batch as the picture you posted, I'm sure I'd feel differently about it, however I didn't

Also, I've only had V3 Juice Pants and wasn't able to score any V2 - so both of our arguments are literally 100% opposite and not comparable, haha

 

1st SoJ pic was on draft? So from a keg....the sediment might have all settled whereas the bottle stuff, the yeast gets oscillated and makes it into the glass.

 

Honestly I think it was just that batch in general. I can't find the picture I took of the batch of SoJ I had, but I used that one from Untappd because it's exactly what mine looked like.

Here's how this guy's looked out of a bomber as well:

 

You seem to be getting a lot of dirty glasses for your NE IPA's.

 

The newest batch of Cumulus is looking bright, hazy and delicious. I know The Open Bottle got it in today, I'll definitely be on the lookout

 

Curious, does Hailstorm typically run out of the cloud series? Is it like FFF with ZD where they only release batches on given days?

 

Awesome. Thanks for that. I'll be in the area this weekend, so I'll swing by.

 

oh hell yeah. will do. that's as good excuse as any to be away from the in-laws.

 

I havent had a chance to try Cummulus or Nimbus yet, but the 12/21 batch of Stratus is really great stuff. I got it a couple weeks ago and picked up another 4pack the other day. All deliveries this week were of the 12/21 batch.

 

Cumulus is always good, Nimbus was sort of bleh for me. Being listed as a NE Style Session IPA intrigued me, but it wasn't quite up to par. I finished the can I opened, but gave away the remaining 3 - it's just missing something. That's just one man's opinion though

 

When I tried all 3 at the brewery 4-6 months ago, Nimbus was my favorite, but I just lean towards pale ales... All three are unique and solid, go for the one which style you most prefer- pale, ipa or dipa

 

re: Hailstorm's NE's, it's to the point where I get them confused due to the similar packaging & my lack of cloud knowlege. If I didn't take notes I would've long ago forgot my preferences (1. Cumulus 2. Nimbus 3. Stratus).

 

Just got back from the Noon Whistle release thingy (definitely the proper terminology). The non-peach NE Style IPA they had on tap, Yummy Gummy, was great. Bright, orange/yellow, hazy, with a great mouth feel. Tons of juicy, tropical fruit on the nose and the taste. It was more hoppy than the last batches of JiL/Morning Fog/Reply Hazy but I'm not complaining at all. I'm a huge hop head and I thought the extra bite on the end of it was fantastic. Good enough to take home 2 crowlers of it!