Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by SeanBond, Aug 29, 2016.

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  1. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Oh I know, I just think it's interesting that they've somehow managed to stay separate from the NE hype (although still mostly equal).
     
    #2961 SeanBond, Mar 16, 2017
  2. whatruDOINdragic

    whatruDOINdragic Zealot (694) Aug 22, 2013 Tennessee
    Trader

    Appears JiL is being released again in Bridgman today, with Flightless soon to follow.
     
    #2962 whatruDOINdragic, Mar 16, 2017
  3. Chuckdiesel24

    Chuckdiesel24 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,208) Jul 6, 2016 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    With all due respect, not true. The reason it's called New England (or Northeast) Style is Heady Topper. Alchemist was brewing Heady Topper starting back to 1994. I think Heady reached #1 on this site's "hype list" in 2011, when TGB was still in its infancy.
     
    #2963 Chuckdiesel24, Mar 16, 2017
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  4. HawksBeerFan

    HawksBeerFan Maven (1,378) Dec 24, 2011 Illinois
    Trader

    People won't give a shit about Heady Topper again until they release a barrel aged version with vanilla, cocoa nibs and cinnamon
     
    #2964 HawksBeerFan, Mar 16, 2017
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  5. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think it's unfair to definitively state that until we actually decide what NE style is. I agree with your point, but a lot of people would probably criticize heady for not being hazy/juicy enough nowadays. Everyone just wants TH/TR.
     
    #2965 SeanBond, Mar 16, 2017
  6. TigerDriver91

    TigerDriver91 Zealot (741) Jan 17, 2017 Czechia

    [​IMG] :wink::wink::wink::wink::wink:
     
    #2966 TigerDriver91, Mar 16, 2017
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  7. ratwheels

    ratwheels Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2011 Illinois

    Regardless of the actual definition (which I don't really see the need for, but that's another discussion), The Alchemist was the first big/popular IPA to look "hazy" or "not clear" and Kimmich was years ahead of TG.
     
    #2967 ratwheels, Mar 16, 2017
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  8. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    No debate here on that. I also don't need a definition, but my point is that since TG's stuff falls into the hazy/juicy category, yet doesn't get mentioned almost ever in this sort of thread (it was mentioned once by someone else, who was dismissed pretty quickly), I would imagine the reason is that it predates the haze craze.

    edit: Although when you get beers like some of HB's more recent tries, and a couple others (Maplewood, for one), it might be helpful to have some guidelines for the NE style.

    When Heady was king, the line was always "HT is the best, there's nothing like it, etc. etc." TG started up in 2009, which doesn't predate HT/The Alchemist, but certainly predates the crazy haze hype (which seems like it really started up in earnest in the last couple years). My theory is/was simply that TG's hazy stuff predates the idea that all the best hazy IPAs are coming out of NE (since back then there were so few "big ones"), which is a large part of why it never comes up in these threads. In other words, my assumption is that when TG started cranking out PS and KS, the "NE style" wasn't prevalent enough to merit being called a style, which is why TG gets left out of these discussions. It was simply "you guys have to try PsuedoSue, it's really good." If it came out today, it'd be "you guys should try PseudoSue, it's TG's attempt at an NE IPA."
     
    #2968 SeanBond, Mar 16, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2017
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  9. TigerDriver91

    TigerDriver91 Zealot (741) Jan 17, 2017 Czechia

    #2969 TigerDriver91, Mar 16, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2017
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  10. KrajDoesBeer

    KrajDoesBeer Savant (1,228) Aug 2, 2014 Illinois
    Trader

    NE Slapper, the latest batch of Juicy, and Hey Ya to me are by far the best NE style IPA... #treelium level....

    Forbidden Root and Noon Whistle have awesome talent are 100% only getting better. Had Jive Gummy last night- legit
     
    #2970 KrajDoesBeer, Mar 16, 2017
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  11. beerbelly_mike

    beerbelly_mike Initiate (0) May 19, 2016 Illinois

    For anyone on the south side, Horse Thief Hollow is doing a NE style. Not my favorite, but it is still an option.
     
    #2971 beerbelly_mike, Mar 16, 2017
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  12. Chuckdiesel24

    Chuckdiesel24 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,208) Jul 6, 2016 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I don't understand. Why unfair? Are you saying HT isn't a NE IPA? Google New England IPA. Every article will mention Heady Topper as the first. Sure the MA stuff is different from the VT stuff, but I think the overwhelming consensus is Heady Topper is not only in the "category" but was the start of the "category". (I know it's not an official style or whatever)

    I do agree here. I think it may be that the style has become common enough. And TG isn't in the Northeast. And they are actually better known for their stouts.

    As to why it's not mentioned in the thread - I think it's because when you started the thread (kudos), TGB wasn't in Chicago. And still today, the stuff you get in Chicago isn't hazy IPAs. PseudoSue cans don't qualify, I can see right through it :wink:
     
    #2972 Chuckdiesel24, Mar 16, 2017
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  13. Jangoon24

    Jangoon24 Savant (1,210) Jul 25, 2015 Illinois
    Trader

    Available to go? My girlfriend will be in Oak Lawn tonight, I might ask her to stop by and bring me home the goodies.....and some beer too.
     
    #2973 Jangoon24, Mar 16, 2017
  14. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    "Not fair" because a lot of people's expectation as to what an NE IPA is will not align with HT. Do I personally think HT is? Of course. Am I aware of Heady's history? Sure; I've mentioned it in this thread before as being the progenitor of the current style. My main point is that most people buying an "unproven" beer based on the "NE style" moniker are expecting/hoping for something that looks/tastes/feels like a Trillium/Treehouse (or Milkshake)-style beer, for better or for worse.

    To be clear, I'd put Focal Banger above almost all the IPAs/DIPAs I've ever had, so it wasn't a comment on anything other than the characteristics an Alchemist IPA has vs. the ones people "expect" now.

    For example, here's a (crappy) pic of one of my cans of Focal from a few months back:

    [​IMG]

    Were this a local beer, you'd hear lots of "doesn't have quite the pillowy mouthfeel I expect" or "isn't hazy enough." Is that a fair expectation for an NE style beer? Who knows. I'm just saying that there would be definite disappointment in terms of expectation (outside of the that imo FB tastes/feels fantastic).

    Honestly, it doesn't come up in the threads I've seen elsewhere on the site, either (which is what I meant; TG not being mentioned in general). And like I said, someone mentioned King Sue and was instantly met with "those aren't NE-style beers."

    Anyway, I don't mean to be argumentative or derail the thread, just pointing out the quirks that the vague NE definition brings up. Maplewood cranked out a Juice Pants that I thought was fantastic using citra and Conan yeast. Super low bitterness, but completely clear. They called it NE style, so I guess they were using the "it's got Heady's yeast in it" definition? I dunno, we're still on unproven ground here. :stuck_out_tongue:
     
    #2974 SeanBond, Mar 16, 2017
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  15. Jangoon24

    Jangoon24 Savant (1,210) Jul 25, 2015 Illinois
    Trader

    I agree Sean, in almost every aspect. At least around here, TG seems to be flying under the radar on the style. Maybe it's because TG isn't shipping that stuff into the Chicago area yet, but for everybody who has had a chance to grab some, all seem to be in agreement.

    I mean, look at this DDH Pseudo Sue offering! It honestly was one of the best offerings of the style I've had (even though they don't really market it as a NE Style IPA)

    [​IMG]
     
    #2975 Jangoon24, Mar 16, 2017
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  16. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I will cry happy tears the day we start getting DDH PS in Chicago. Especially if they start canning it like they're going to can KS.
     
    #2976 SeanBond, Mar 16, 2017
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  17. HouseofWortship

    HouseofWortship Pooh-Bah (2,735) May 3, 2016 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Heady was being called a Vermont Style IPA. HEady is also known for bitterness and people don't describe it as juicy, and it doesn't have a soft mouthfeel. Trillium and Treehouse put NE IPA on the map. TG is closer to Trillium/Treehouse.

    I hope we never get to this point:
     
    #2977 HouseofWortship, Mar 16, 2017
  18. mbockstruck30

    mbockstruck30 Pooh-Bah (1,800) Dec 31, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    So my initial thought is to agree with Chuckdiesel24 regarding Heady. I agree that they started (helped start?) the hazy IPA trend years ago. But what is making the NEIPA style trend these days is the haze/mouthfeel imparted by the flaked oats. Many other "hazy" IPAs (Heady, the DDH Pseudo Sue pictured above) are caused by excessive hopping and certain yeasts (which I prefer to "faking it" with the oats).

    So to me, the NEIPA that we know today uses flaked oats. Not saying this is correct, but that is how I view it.
     
    #2978 mbockstruck30, Mar 16, 2017
  19. Jangoon24

    Jangoon24 Savant (1,210) Jul 25, 2015 Illinois
    Trader

    Mixing beer geeks and kale shake health nuts is not a winning combo. That's definitely WAY too much "hip" to live inside on person...
     
    #2979 Jangoon24, Mar 16, 2017
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  20. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Wtf is that? I actually had to look at the date to be sure it wasn't an April fools joke ...
     
    #2980 FBarber, Mar 16, 2017
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