Hailstorm Brewing Company

I had a few from last year and while they were really good, they had a green pepper sort of smell in the background. That said, I still plan on going there tomorrow sometime to grab a couple of this year's release.

Maybe fill a couple of the 6-8 empty Hailstorm growlers I have sitting around too.

 

I tried both last night, and have to say they were both tasty. I preferred the Banaba and I think they hit the mark with the west coast ipa. I have had so many NEIPA lately that it was refreshing to drink and making me realize what I have left behind! it was a well structured beer and had a nice full mouth feel. Piney, bitter grapefruit hops that lingered a bit (something I have been missing w the neipa) after you took a sip. I would buy this again.

Makatea was a good beer. it was pretty simple and straight forward as a 6% beer should be. I personally don't think it was west coast style per say but was a nice clean beer. i didnt pick up the piney notes i was hoping for. I don't think I would search this out again, but would absolutely drink it or purchase if I wanted an easy dinking IPA for the night and it was available.

sorry guys, im not much of a reviewer or good at descriptions but those were my impressions of the beers.

 

This is exactly how I feel about well-balanced non-NE IPAs now, so you nailed it. One of the best things about drinking a bunch of NE beers is that it really has given me more appreciation for well-down IPAs that aren't of that style.

 

Drank Banaba last night and liked it a lot. A little bitter up front, followed by a burst of citrus and piney sweetness. Dry finish. They hit the nail on the head for a West Coast IPA.

 

Yeah it really shocked me...I was thinking damn I miss these beers!

 

Thanks for taking the time to review them. I plan on picking some up today or tomorrow. Makatea sounds like a potential pool beer for me this summer then but will need "field research" to confirm that.

I haven't had Prairie Madness in awhile. Have you had it lately?

 

no haven't had it in a long time, Ive only tried it once tbh.

makatea would be a fine pool or bbq beer. its not gonna blow you away w abv. I could see knocking these back this summer if its around.

 

Any insight as to if/when people line up for their Saturday releases? I'll be down that way this weekend and wouldn't mind picking up that Coffee BA Vlad at all! That being said, I don't want to have to wake up earlier than intended and wait in a long line

 

The line shouldn't be too bad, and it always moves fairly quickly. You could show up right at 11 and get your beer within 30 minutes, guaranteed. There's usually a bottle share in line, which is why I normally get there a few hours early. I'll be working there in some capacity tomorrow, but I'm still going to peek my head outside and enjoy the bottle share before they open.

 

I got there today around 3 and my understanding is they had plenty left. Have yet to stand in line for one of their releases.

 

Just left at 9pm. Plenty of bottes left. It's a solid coffee stout but I'm wondering how long they aged it in barrels because there's no barrel presence.

 

Makatea seems like non-NE style Cirrus- has the pine and bitterness, but without the weird haze. Cirrus was terrible, Makatea seems like your solid West Coast IPA. Nothing makes it spectacular, but it hits all the notes to style and you'll be happy with it. Sad time for beer when a well made West Coast IPA is unremarkable because we have so many high quality same style options now. Wish I would have gotten the 5 Rabbit Ironica I sampled, was more complex.

 

Just opened one. I agree. Really good coffee stout but lacking the barrel.

 

I definitely prefer Banaba over Makatea. Had both the other night.

 

This version of Vlad is amazing, I'm glad I picked up 5 bottles. The barrel everybody is looking for is definitely there, it's just covered up by the huge coffee flavor. Let it warm up almost to room temp, that's when I experienced the barrel coming through. It's not a ton, like BCBCS for example, but I'm definitely getting it

 

My Google-Fu was pretty weak. Are the BA Vlads getting distro in Chicago?

 

Already seen at The Open Bottle yesterday (see their FB post).
I'm sure it is good, but is it $20 worth of good?

 

I personally passed on paying $20 for the Vlad with coffee. Enjoyed the pour I had yesterday. Solid coffee stout. For me, it had no barrel presence and that's something I want from a BA stout. Others have said they got barrel once it warmed up. The Coconut Vlad, on the other hand, is something they need to barrel and release next year. Such a kicksss beer.

 

I wasn’t a fan of the price increase obviously. Would have gotten two instead of one if they stayed at 15 a piece. Now that they’re charging 15 each for the non-barrel aged milk stouts they’ve been doing the last few months I guess it makes sense that they’re charging 5 bucks more for the BA stuff.

I really did enjoy this year’s BA coffee. As other’s have said, I really didn’t get much barrel presence as I think the coffee overpowers it. Didn’t mind that at all though. Really easy drinking for over 14%.

I just hope that they’re as heavy handed with the soon coming vanilla as they were with the coffee.

 

Had a few Hailstorm beers this past weekend for the first time and they were amazing! Lumberjack Breakfast, **** Stache and their NE IPA ... all phenomenal. Don't sleep on these guys.