Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

I tried Snoochie and Radio Swan for the first time this weekend they go toe to toe with east coast stuff, and in some cases exceed the TH, Trill, Alchemist, Foam, and Hill I've had.

 

Definitely try some more NW stuff. Their gummy series features other hops besides citra on several occasions. And obviously, special sauce is one of the best way to isolate hops and see what you like and dislike about it. I hear tomorrow they are releasing SS Vic Secret

 

Don't feel too bad, you'be found what you really like. Remember, there are people out there who drink the same beer their entire lives.

 

Thrilled to have Radio Swan released 4 days before my bday. Might have to test out shotgunning one of those bad boys

Couldn't be happier to have this place a few blocks away. Keep killing it!

 

We all have different taste buds and all that but I think some people are getting a bit ahead of themselves saying what we have in Chicagoland is 'better' than Tree House, Trillium, Alchemist, HF, etc.

Also, most people here will have a lot of the NE IPAs from Chicago area right from draft or on day of canning/release whereas I doubt so many have had Tree House, Trillium, etc on day of their releases or on draft, so it's really not a fair comparison even in that regard.

But whatever. If people prefer Chicago NE IPAs over the ones from New England, it makes no difference to me. Indulge in whichever you like more.

 

Awesome, can't wait to grab a couple crowlers of this for the 4th

 

Citra & Galaxy are my favorites by far...I don't even have a distant third.

 

Isn't this kinda contradictory?

You do have a point about the freshness thing, but there are beers I've had from this area that are weeks old that I preferred over the TH/Alchemist/Trill beers at the same age. Of course, we know I'm a weirdo that didn't like most of those east coast beers anyway.

 

Anyone try the new Dry Hop IPA yet?

 

Yeah, you're probably right. I just get annoyed sometimes reading so much homerism going on, and it gets out of control. I'm still waiting on the first claim that Half-Acre sours are up there or even better than many Hill Farmstead and Side Project.

Done with my mini-rant.

 

100% agree. Like I said, to me knowingly, they may not be Treehouse or Trillium. But, because I can get it fresher and an abundance, it edges the aforementioned breweries for those reasons. Not really homerism, but kind of homerism haha.

 

I remember, about a month after Mikerphone opened, seeing posts here and on Facebook claiming that now Chicago has IPAs just as good or better than the stuff out east. I agree that the quality here has improved very quickly and I feel no need to do much trading as we can get fresh local stuff that's very, very good. But I feel like most of this is Chicago beer people talking themselves into it.

 

Homerism is rampant everywhere, that's for sure. I think @SeanBond nailed it, though...some of it is genuine opinion, but it can be tough to weed through it. Ultimately, as long we all drink what we like, we should be all happy!

 

Some of it is definitely "homerism", and everybody will have their own opinion. Although I've had offerings from Tree House (Green, Alter Ego, Doppleganger, Julius) and Trillium (Vicinity, Fort Point, Galaxy DH Fort Point), and how I feel about those is exactly how I feel about what comes out of this area. They were all very good offerings, some were just okay, and a select few blew me away - that's what I think about what's coming out of the Chicago area as well.

From out East, Fort Point, Julius, and Alter Ego absolutely knocked my socks off. I can say the same thing for Juicy, Mic Check 1, 2 (batch 1), Stay Lit, and Sqeezit (v1). It's a personal opinion, but it's a great time to live here if you enjoy the #haze4dayz IPA's.

 

You hit the nail on the head here. No Chicago NEIPA is better than Doubleganger, Very Hazy, or Juice Machine to name a few. Any of the clowns on this page that claim this are frauds. How many of these so called experts are working off a 1oz thimble full of Tree House they had a beer share when their palate was already blown?! Chicago is getting better but isn't at Tree House/Monkish level yet.