NE IPAs in Michigan?

Ok, my wife and I have been into the NE style IPA's for a while now and have traded for a decent amount of Treehouse and Trillium offerings in the past couple years. We've also had all of Transient's NE Style offerings, and past releases of M-43/Boxer. That said, I can say without a doubt this latest batch of M-43 (for both my wife and I) is by far the best NE Style IPA offering we've had from the state. Had a growler filled at Monelli's Sports Bar & Grill in Wyoming. If they keep up the quality and increase availability on their product, they'll have two happy customers who have no reason to drive around (or trade) for anything else.

 

Please don't mention growler fill and Monelli's again, thank you. I do enjoy their Lobster Fettuccine though, and their service is excellent.

I've been doing the same for a few weeks now and agree it is on par with the stuff we have to trade for from MA. I have yet to have Boxer or Greenstone.

 

Yes, I agree with that. I won't buy boxer again, but will definitely buy M43

 

Has anyone had a chance to try the latest batch of You Can Get With That... JUICE from Ellison yet? I'm hoping it's more like the first time around when it was bottled.

 

Interesting. I picked both up on Thursday and while I liked both and would definitely buy both again, I liked Boxer more.

 

I'm loving the mixed reviews between boxer and M43. I bet Old nation is too. Good sign for us local folk, as the NE IPA choices continue to increase for us.

On a side note, I bought my first Old nation 4 pack from the local store last week. While I enjoy visiting the brewery, I seriously can not wait until I can grab fresh NEIPAs at the store on a regular basis.

 

I enjoyed it, but fell well short of m43 and this guy for me. Recognizably similar but not quite as good as the first batch of juice.

 

Because they had 250 cases of boxer...

Not to mention 43 is better

Pretty much the exact convo we've been having. Do I still love a tasty ddh trillium. Heck yeah but 43 is keeping me happy. Hopefully have they have same plan of variations on it (the pineapple passion fruit version of 43 was amazing) with some ddh and other versions.

 

This canned batch of Boxer is quite a bit hazier and jucier than the batch I had on draft a month or so ago. A definite improvement for my taste.


Still like M43 better but I like this batch of Boxer a lot!!!

 

I noticed that as well. My pint at ON was more murky. Same cloudy brown as yours... i'll take the brighter glow and taste of m43 also.

 

Finally made it in to Beer Church when visiting the fam.

The NE IPA (Pontius Pilate) was good. B- level; nice flavor but a hint pine-y/bitter for me. I wouldn't go out of my way for it but if you're in New Buffalo or nearby, it's worth popping in for.

 

I chatted up one of the owners over the weekend and the word is the coming batch of Pontius Pilate has been tweaked giving it a 'juicier' profile. The place is still a work in progress, but they seem very receptive to comments regarding the product. Given time, I think they'll do alright.

 

Just throwing some datapoints out there ...
Had M43 last night on draft, and Transient JiL and Flightless today from can.
The juiciest of these is probably Flightless ,with M43 a close second.
JiL is definitely less hazy, and darker then M43 and Flightless.
I like all three of these beers, and will continue to buy them when I can.
M43


Flightless


Juice is Loose

 

That JiL looks like my home brew after what I think is too much exposure to oxygen during dry hopping additions or bottling. I'm not an experienced home brewer, so it could be something else.

Is JiL always that dark?

 

It was my first JiL, so I can't answer. I wasn't expecting that color though..
Both Transient cans were purchased March 23, fwiw.

 

I don't think it used to be. I remember the first batch I had being pretty solidly NEIPA style. Now it seems to be a regular Midwestern DIPA.

 

i'll say it....this batch of JIL was very underwhelming... couple of my cans were kinda awful.. way too sweet.......lacked aroma and flavor...i don't care about "haze" like some folks do either. just didn't taste right. Flightless is tits though. so is cromulent.

 

Had it on Sunday. As just an IPA, it was pretty tasty. As advertised, though, it didn't hold up. No haze, and didn't have the mouthfeel of a NE style.

 

M43 is the real deal.

I've had most Treehouse stuff as my cousin lives near the brewery.

M43 is good, but I feel like it needs just a bit more bitter at the finish to make it great.

 

I have had every batch of JiL except this past one and its always been very much a NE style DIPA. I remember a getting growler fills of Cromulent last fall that were as clear as Zombie Dust. It appears that variations in batches does indeed happen.