Tap Brewing - Solar Plexus DIPA rocks

Discussion in 'New England' started by meefmoff, Jan 14, 2017.

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  1. meefmoff

    meefmoff Pooh-Bah (1,922) Jul 6, 2014 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just picked up a 4 pack for the second time (new canning run went out on 1/4 apparently) and it just might be my new favorite DIPA at the moment. NE style in the nose and body but with a bit of good old fashioned bitterness which I find myself craving again these days. It's 9% ABV but you'd never know it. I'd buy this every week if it was regularly available, and I'm going to make a point to head up to Haverhill and check out the pub.

    Definitely worth a purchase if that description sounds up your alley (I found mine at Rapid Liquors). Anyone else had it?
     
    #1 meefmoff, Jan 14, 2017
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  2. mrz200

    mrz200 Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2013 Massachusetts

    I'm a town over from the Tap, and just had this two days ago for the first time. Yes it's delicious! My BIL gave me 2 of his 4 pack, and swears it's far better on draft at the pub.
    I try the Tap's stuff every so often over the years (leather lips IPA, a west coast lager, some others) and it's fine, but mostly forgettable, and was easily outclassed by the immediately local stuff like ipswich, riverwalk & clown shoes. Solar Plexus definitely changes that opinion in the IPA category.

    They introduced an imperial stout (Joshua Norton) at the same time solar plexus came out, and that's fantastic as well.

    Agreed on your description: fruity nose & a NE-style mouthfeel but a nice bitterness and that 9% ABV is dangerously unnoticeable!
     
    #2 mrz200, Jan 14, 2017
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  3. meefmoff

    meefmoff Pooh-Bah (1,922) Jul 6, 2014 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Glad to hear the stout's good too as I've seen that hanging around on the shelves longer than the Solar Plexus. Nice to see an "old school" brewery offer up something that makes the nerds take notice (just like the Beer Works did recently). Although I guess that's a double edged sword...

    How's the brewery for food, atmosphere etc? Is it worth a trip up from Boston? Reviews seem decent but there aren't many recent ones.
     
    #3 meefmoff, Jan 14, 2017
  4. Jesse14

    Jesse14 Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2011 Massachusetts

    I couldn't agree with your description more. Had my first one last night. I really like it for a slight change of pace from the Trillium/Tree House options. The extra bitterness is a nice touch.

    Get this now before its in short supply. At $14 a 4-pack its a great price to boot.
     
    #4 Jesse14, Jan 14, 2017
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  5. hemiman

    hemiman Initiate (0) Dec 17, 2014 Massachusetts

    Glad to hear the good reviews. I picked up a 4 pack the other day when I saw it at my local beer store and noticed the recent canning date. I'm looking forward to trying it now.
     
    #5 hemiman, Jan 15, 2017
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  6. messrock

    messrock Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2010 Massachusetts

    Joshua Norton is nowhere near new and has been fantastic in it's many incarnations for probably 10 years or more.

    Historically the Tap has excelled at European/German/lager styles. Their schwarzbier, Berliner and helles are outstanding.
     
    #6 messrock, Jan 15, 2017
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  7. meefmoff

    meefmoff Pooh-Bah (1,922) Jul 6, 2014 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Good to know! Looking forward to trying that Helles in particular then.
     
    #7 meefmoff, Jan 15, 2017
  8. nolanz14

    nolanz14 Pundit (827) Aug 31, 2009 Massachusetts
    Trader

    I totally agree. I grabbed some last week and it's delicious. I was surprised at how good it was and that no one talks about it. Definitely and under the radar beer and much better than the Exhibit A hops I bought during that trip.
     
    #8 nolanz14, Jan 16, 2017
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  9. SunDevilBeer

    SunDevilBeer Pooh-Bah (1,945) May 9, 2003 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Visited the Tap for the 1st time in a few years last week - the place and its beers had frankly fallen off my radar after a disappointing visit and some mediocre packaged product.

    I'll agree that the DIPA is nice - more my speed as an old timer who isn't a fan of the orange juice IPA's that seem to be popular today. Nice balance and the high ABV is hidden. Also noticed they revamped the food menu - had a nice tasty meal too.

    At least to me, seems the Tap is making a comeback. Glad to see it as a fan that used to go there often back when it opened with Dann Paquette.
     
    #9 SunDevilBeer, Jan 16, 2017
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  10. meefmoff

    meefmoff Pooh-Bah (1,922) Jul 6, 2014 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Awesome, thanks for the pub review! I think I'll drag the wife up there some time soon.

    And yeah, I liked them more to start with than you apparently did, but I am definitely feeling a bit burnt out on the juice bombs. My sweet spot these days is more like the Alchemist's stuff and Plexus fits right in there.
     
    #10 meefmoff, Jan 16, 2017
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  11. DeweyCheatem-n-Howe

    DeweyCheatem-n-Howe Initiate (0) May 23, 2015 Massachusetts

    I thought the DIPA was decent to good; I think with what Bldg8 and Exhibit 'A' have done my expectations for a local DIPA are a bit higher than they used to be.

    That said, Joshua Norton is a very good stout. I'd drink that stuff all winter long.
     
    #11 DeweyCheatem-n-Howe, Jan 18, 2017
  12. meefmoff

    meefmoff Pooh-Bah (1,922) Jul 6, 2014 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I really liked Bldg8's as well (enough that I started a thread about that one too). I do gravitate to high abv DIPA's though so the Plexus is particularly well aimed at my sweet spot.

    I liked Exhibit A's Kolsch a lot but haven't tried their hoppy offerings yet. Looking forward to recitifying that situation as soon as I can.
     
    #12 meefmoff, Jan 18, 2017
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