Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

How so?

 

Care to elaborate? I like Charlatan, but I'm kinda surprised to see it mentioned in this thread. I passed on it yesterday and went with Cumulus instead, but would be intrigued if Maplewood is doing something new with it.

 

It took a bronze at GABF this year, why would they intentionally tweak it unless it was due to hop shortage, cost cutting, or supplier issues?

 

I have no idea. I'm genuinely curious about what beardown meant about this latest batch. I've been drinking it pretty regularly over the last month and skipped it yesterday simply to get something new into the fridge. If there has been a change, I'd be interested in checking it out sooner rather than later, otherwise I'm sure I'll pick some up in a few weeks. Regardless, I don't think I'd ever refer to it as a "NE-style" beer, so I guess I'm a bit puzzled about why it's being brought up here.

 

if i could upload a picture i would. I'm sure you can find one on untapped

 

Just picked up 1/10 cans today (on sale at WF), and literally just opened this thread to see if Charlatan had been mentioned in this thread (was guessing "no" due to APA status) OR had always been this hazy. This is so good!

 

do you really want me to answer that question. I think you know the answer

 

As much as I love games, sometimes an answer is better for expediency...or anyone else following the thread...so yes, answer please.

 

That's more hazy than I've ever seen it. It's never been crystal clear, but prior to this I would have called it more of a "mildly unfiltered" appearance. I'll pick up a 4-pack today since I'm also curious about whether the taste has changed. I would generally call it more balanced (i.e. slightly malty) with a greater pine presence than most NE-style ales. Citrus notes are there, but it was never a juice bomb, and it was considerably thinner. Frankly, I like it more than most of the local NE-style beers I've had, so a shift toward that style is not necessarily a positive development in my eyes. That said, I'm willing to give it a chance.

 

Just my opinion, but they know that's one of their best shots at staying (or becoming) relevant. Our shelves are too crowded and most of their beer doesn't stand out compared to other offerings.

 

Of course.

And it's nice to seem them keep brewing it, knowing people want it. So many other new breweries would instead move on to 7 different beers styles everyone else makes better, before they returned to what they're actually good at making.

 

Charlatan is by no means a NE IPA. Juice Pants had a ton of sediment/ almost a sludge, that this does not have. That Charlatan looks more like the TG stuff that just hasn't been through filtration. Not filtering does not make something automatically a NE IPA. The December batch I had was very flavorful, maybe as potent as SoJ in the fruity hops, but as mentioned it has the piney hop bite as well as the carbonation that gives it a more traditional mouthfeel. I think the usual suspects in this thread are higher abv DIPA guys, so I wouldn't recommend Charlatan, but if you are a pale ale person, it is up there with the other Chicago can't go wrong, stand bys for pale ales.

 

I bet if I bottle a hazy bottle of piss and wrote "NE IPA" on it with a marker people would be chasing my car around to try and buy it.

 

It's worked for some brewers so far...