Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

If you think the stuff you can buy on the shelves at Binny's is comparable to Monkish, then no, you wouldn't think we were behind other cities.

But if you didn't think that way, I prefer Monkish to anything we can get here (outside of Shaun's stuff). Noble Ale's NE-Style IPAs are absolutely killer. Mumford is making exceptional IPAs.

NYC has Other Half, Sand City, Interboro, Finback, Grimm (no taproom).

These breweries are releasing beers weekly to bi-weekly, in 16 ounce canned to-go formats, plus have operating tap rooms to visit and enjoy their beer. We currently have none of that, unless you count Hailstorm, which is 90 minutes from the city by train or Transient, which is 90 minutes from the city by car. Forbidden Root and Noon Whistle are both doing a very good job, but you're still stuck buying beer in 32 or 64oz sizes to-go.

Again, a lot of it is personal preference, but there is no doubt that craft beer is moving away from shelf space and into a more intimate setting within one's own taproom or brewpub. The NE-style IPA is perfect for this switch.

 

While I agree with your point in general, we're in a NE-Style IPA thread. I don't think we're behind in any other way, from a beer-making standpoint.

 

No shit.

Zombie Dust is available by the case at Bonny's right now if you're so inclined.

That beer is still better than anything 95% of Chicago breweries put out, and in a years time has basically become an afterthought to some pretty mediocre beers all because of hype.

 

It's interesting to me, because in my short time here I don't feel Chicago is so far behind in regards to this style. Sure, some of the stuff needs dialing in and I think it will get there. I feel like this maybe has more to do with perception and hype, and things that specifically drive hype (other factors beyond just quality) than what is actually available here in terms of the style.

But then again, we will end up getting back into the discussion from a few pages ago about the subjectivity of taste.

I've had some beers from Monkish in this style that I thought were absolute garbage (Days of Underoos, Monkish / Trillium Never and Again) and if I would have waited hours in line to pay 20 bucks for a four pack of that I'd be pretty pissed off.

I'm also sort of an anti social nervous person in general, so I don't like to visit taprooms very often and do most of my drinking at home. So I'm quite happy walking into Binny's and grabbing a four pack of Hailstorm for 9.99 or whatever with zero line waiting.

 

Totally valid opinion! I dig a lot of the stuff here.

For some (maybe a lot) people, it might be about the hype. But personally, I've had my fair share and if I could drink Julius, Green, or Doppelganger every day, I'd gladly pay a premium. I realize not everyone would agree with that.

And yes, those nationally hyped breweries definitely have their misses. But they're also putting out multiple beers per week so they have a lot of hits.

 

Honestly, I've been pretty underwhelmed by most of the Chicago NEIPA's I've tried (Narrow Gauge is my pick for standard bearer in the Midwest) but I do think there's hope in Shaun and Noon Whistles stuff. They're improving each time I try a new beer

 

Yep, exactly my thoughts. I need to get some Narrow Gauge. The options here are a nice alternative when I'm in between trades, but I still prefer what I trade for to just about anything here. Like you said, Noon Whistle and Shaun/More offer the most hope.

 

I enjoyed Jive Gummy from NW. It's much more balanced than Vortex, imo. Jive definitely still has some bite on the back end, but way more subtle than Vortex. I'd probably order Funny Gummy over Jive simply due to the hop profile (Jive is El Dorado and Simcoe), but another solid hazy beer from NW.

My only selfish want, as a personal preference in the style, is a touch more sweetness in these Gummy beers. They're all on the dry side for my preference.

 

Except for the fact that Zombie Dust flavor falls off quicker than any beer I know. I can't even enjoy it after two weeks of bottling.

 

That's why there are usually 6-pack limits. If people buy any more than that, it'll be VERY obvious how much it falls off.

 

I'd say Zombie Dust fits right in with Chicago IPAs; overhyped & just OK.

EDIT: OK, I'm drunk. Zombie Dust is delicious. Leaving the original post as a testament to my stupidity.

 

Its pretty amazing how much the game has changed since Spotted Puffer (which is the still the highest ranked non-Bourbon County beer in IL on BA) came out a year ago. There was no such thing as Mikerphone NE Style IPAs, Juicy, The Juice is Loose, etc available in the Chicagoland area. Now, people wouldn't even consider Pipeworks IPAs in the same breath as the top 5-10 NE style IPAs. At some point, you'd think Pipeworks would give the style a shot.

 

Did you have the peach version? That might have scratched your itch

 

Well, people wouldn't mention them in the same breath because they are different. But, there are plenty of people that wouldn't mention them in the same breath either because they like the PW style. Plenty of people have tastebuds for both. This is the NE IPA thread, so you won't see mention of Spotted Puffer much at all (which you shouldn't, since Puffer isn't a NE IPA).

I'm not saying this is the case, but there could be a reason why PW, Half Acre, etc. aren't doing this style. I have no idea why that would be, but I get the sense they're doing the "brewed for us" (a la Founders) thing. They brew what they want to brew. Or, maybe they have tried that style and they just suck at it...who knows.

 

Does anyone else extremely dislike the term "NE style ipa"?

 

I don't dislike it, but I'm open to an improvement if you have one...

 

I don't know. To me it just seems like "hey I'm going to make an ipa like this guys because his is better than mine." I would be fine with IPA or DIPA. I mean thats simply what those guys call their own.

 

I got to try Jive Gummy from a crowler this week, my first Noon Whistle NEIPA, and was really hoping to like it more. It had some hop burn going on and didn't have the juice, though it did nail the mouthfeel. I'm curious if you all feel this beer is representative of their usual?

I agree about Shaun leading the way and I'd put Mikerphone/Forbidden Root in following on the hazy forefront (Transient too if we leave Chicago). Still though, aside from Ram and Transient, the other locals dont seem comparable to Treehouse/Trillium/Tired Hands, for me at least.

 

I don't hate the term NE IPA - in fact I actually like it. We have milk stouts, irish stouts, imperial stouts, russian imperial stouts. If the product warrants it's own category, I don't mind.

Regarding Noon Whistle NE IPA - so far they've had:
-Zabba Abba - very good, not complete "haze" expected in NE style (this one has been out a few times in prior years).
-Funny Gummy - my 2nd favorite so far, great color/haze, delicious taste
-Peach Boyyee - forget the actual name, but it was Funny Gummy brewed with peaches i believe, this one was awesome. I liked it better than regular Funny Gummy, however liked both these the best.
-Gummy Vortex - Less fruity flavor, a bit more hop kick at end. Still good, but i liked their others better.
-Jive Gummy - In between Funny Gummy & Vortex imo, still pretty damn good though.

My rankings = Peach, Funny, Zabba, Vortex, Jive in that order.

 

I also don't mind it being called NEIPA, just as I don't mind things being called West Coast IPA etc.

picked up a four pack of the newest batch of Cumulus. Had a can. I didn't get much in the way of aroma coming from the can I opened, but the mouthfeel and taste were decent.