Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

Haze, Bright and Doppelganger are all DIPA. Alter Ego, Julius, Green, and Sap are all IPA. Most comparisons are to the IPAs and a few to Haze.

 

For me the separating factor is really that creamy, pillowy yet full-tasting mouthfeel. That is still the one thing that misses for me from most of the Chicagoland NE IPAs with the exception of very few (less than a handful for me). When we talk 'beggining-middle-end' (like in that article) as far as tasting a beer, those 4 Tree House ones just nail it on the next level for me. King Julius especially was 'palate changing' and is something I've been seeking ever since.

 

Figuring out who is better Treehouse vs everybody is quite simple:
For the locals, which Illinois city has the best tasting water?

If everyone is in agreement I'll declare Treehouse the best NEIPA, if people offer up different towns than I am going to accept we all have different tastes that make us appreciate different flavor profiles in our NEIPAs thus there is no best. As BJP mentioned he didn't like the caramel malt notes in the Treehouse beers. I'd be willing to bet that most of Chicagoland will be exposed to the local NEIPAs before Treehouse so their tastes of what is good will be more in line with what they have had and they may find Treehouse stuff a bit odd in that regard. It's why I've had trouble enjoying the traditional IPAs coming out of the East and West Coasts that are highly ranked compared to the the Midwest stuff that has shaped my palate....

 

standing in line in an open field for 3 hours on a random wednesday afternoon for 2 4 packs?

 

Snoochie and Squeezit are DIPAs.

Radio Swan, Atomic Child, Van Hazen, Cosmic Juicebox are all IPAs, aren't they?

 

Ummm, it's 3 4-packs. Get it right buddy!

Actually Wednesday releases aren't all that bad. I've been in and out with allotment in 10 mins on Wednesdays there a few times. It's Thursday releases that can be absolutely brutal, and you don't usually even get 2 4-packs on that day.

 

Maybe we need a separate thread for xxx beer is or isn't better than Treehouse.

 

Dammnit.

I'll actually be out there in 2 weeks driving south from Maine to Rhode Island. There's no way I could convince my wife to take a detour with our 2 kids to pick up beer. But I'm still trying to figure out a way to try.

 

I've developed a skill for figuring out ways to do that kind of stuff. I always look for parks nearby that can let the kids kill time for a couple hours. That depends on the age of your kids, though.

 

Trillium in Canton would work better for you logistically (just south-west of Boston). Always has a great selection with higher limits and far less hassle/shorter lines.

 

I'm not sure on all of them, but you're probably right on their correct 'style'. @HouseofWortship has a good point which I agree with: if you've had stuff from Chicagoland or actual NE first (and/or more of one than the other), it will likely dictate what one prefers.

 

It's interesting you say that because to me Corridor stuff tastes closest to Tree House, which is why I thoroughly enjoy all Corridor's NE style offerings (especially the Cosmic Juice Box, as evidence by the absurd volume Ive consumed of that beer thus far), and Tree House and Trillium have a good bit of similarity to me (albeit not the same). So, I'll look forward to hearing (errr, reading) what your opinion will be once you get your hands on some Tree House.

 

I love this. This is what needs to be a thread. In case anyone is headed south this summer, Bearded Iris was about 5 minutes off of I-24 on the way through Nashville. You also pass a Christie Cookies that had a big "warm, fresh cookies" neon sign on the way to it. Perfect child (and wife) ammo to compromise on a stop. Pretty sure they gave my kids free cookies too. I also changed a poopy diaper (not mine thank you very much) in their parking lot. Another reason I'm a top candidate for Dad of the Year.

Back on topic, had a Double Juice: Husky Pants last night. It was fine. Not really impressed...unfortunately. Considering that I quite like SoJ, I was a little disappointed.

 

St. Charles

 

What's wrong with Dekalb?

 

Anyone try the new Maplewood Juice Pants Chapter 5 release yet? Thoughts???

 

18th Street is releasing two new beers this Saturday at Capones, both are NEIPA's.

 

No doubt. My dad just used to leave me and my brother in the car when he went drinking. But it was the 70's then and nobody really cared. At least we never made the news.