Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

It's like a great West Coast IPA if you drank it completely flat or watered down. Great hop flavor, but no backbone on the mouthfeel to balance it out.

 

Trying out my first of the style from Forbidden Root. It's just ok honestly - it doesn't smell like a giant bouquet of citrus like the best ones I've had, and the mouth feel is very thin. It sort of reminds me of Reply Hazy (which I didn't like) in the smell/taste.

I'm sure I'll finish the howler, but now I'm regretting not getting a Snooze Juice...

 

I know, I am a WI guy but this thread has provided very insightful feedback. Going to hit up Hailstorm and Forbidden Root for sure. Possibly Noon Whistle, but only so much stamina. Been following this thread for a few weeks. Thanks guys, cheers!

 

Be smart, you can extend your stamina with crowlers at Noon Whistle and growlers at Forbidden Root. Also, if Mikerphone opens this week, they have crowlers too...

 

Really want to try some Mikerphone stuff and hearing some great reviews. I have a Chicago native guide. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the great advice... love the HA taproom but only so much time in a day.

 

Just stopped at Forbidden Root and was very impressed. Ranked in order of enjoyment - Snooze Juice, Death by snu snu and Yayo.

 

I stopped into Forbidden Root today also.
Thanks for the recommendations everyone because on the way I hit up Dark Matter Coffee which was great. Really cool atmosphere, cool coffees, cool vibe. Loved it, so thanks again.
Forbidden Root was really really cool. While I enjoyed the two newer ones (Yayo and Death by Snu Snu), I felt Snooze Juice was awesome and definitely the best one of the styles. If I could get Snooze Juice in cans or a bomber or six pack of bottles regularly I would.
(on a side note, had the burger which was great and also Purple Pils which was great as it was crisp and I could really feel the lavender.)
Cool place and would definitely go back again.
PACKAGE UP THE SNOOZE JUICE!!

 

Probably crossed paths with you guys. Made my stops today and reporting back. I will start with Stratus. I thought it was next level hazy juice bomb. Hit up On Tour, I guess open less than 6 months. Nothing mind blowing or NE style, but great execution. Final stop was Forbidden Root. This is a hidden hem. I am not sure, but I think I agree that Snoochie Boochie was my fav, but closely followed by Yayo. Again, thanks guys for the input. Love finding these guys that have solid brews before they make it big. Hailstorm and Forbidden Root have real potential. Need another trip for Noon Whistle. Cheers all!

 

FFF has a new NE IPA on draft named VCR/Gun/PHD. At 4.9% I found it a bit thin and way too bitter. Overall a mediocre IPA that doesn't seem to fit the style.

 

Any tailor worth his salt will make certain the hem is hidden.

 

Anyone end up trying El Train from Cruz Blanca or Pantsless Pale Ale from Alarmist?
Are they in the style?

 

I don't think the Pantsless is.

 

Ah ok, thanks. The recent pics on untappd looked hazy and since they described it as low bitterness I thought it might be.

 

Tried Two if by Citra from Windmill which they bill as a NE IPA. Neat place, good beer, reminded me of Half Acre's hoppy offerings, but didn't get haze and didn't feel like it was NE style. Very big hop bite that got in the way of being "juicy", but it was crisp, but in your face so, not subtle. Definitely had a soft, well rounded mouth feel. If it wasn't so hop bitey/carbonation forward, I'd classify it as NE. Worth grabbing a growler of something from their if you go to FFF since it's less than 10 minutes down the road.

 

I picked up a 4-pack of the El Train. It is a great IPA and very hazy with a thicker mouthfeel. Something about the flavor seems different than most NE style IPAs i've had. Less of a juicy/fruit flavor and more of a floral hop flavor with another taste on the back end that I can't really put my finger on. In general, very enjoyable, but sightly different than other beers mentioned in this thread in my opinion.

 

Maplewood has a site up for the "Juice Pants" series, lists hop info etc. pretty cool.
http://www.maplewoodbrew.com/juicepants

The labels for Husky Pants say "double dry hopped" so that's exciting.
I wonder if they will land at all Binny's today or just the Lincoln Park one today for the release party.

 

I'm hoping this is good. I thought Son of Juice was below average and Juice Pants about average.

 

I hope it's good also. I like Son of Juice but it's a bit thin and watery and not a go to buy for me.
Was just in Binny's Grand, no Husky Pants, so seems it's just at the Lincoln Park one for the release party tonight. Expected to be at the other Binny's later in the week according to the guy I asked at Grand.

 

I really enjoyed son of juice, but i wouldn't called it NE style. I thought it was simply a well made pale ale. Glad I got to try it on draft.

If they canned it, along with charleton, I'd be all over it. But in bomber format, it's an easy pass. I'll take any number of 12/16oz bottles or cans.

I'll give husky pants a try though. Hopefully it's available somewhere on draft.

 

11.99 a bomber(Husky Pants price) is so annoying these days. We don't even know if it will be good... you can buy 3 Canned beers from world class breweries in other areas... or get A quad of Hailstorm Cloud for that price... Marz, Maplewood have pricing problems for me...