Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

Beer Cellar just posted a picture... looks like Mind to Devour, Crunchable and Refraction cans

 

Anyone know what version of refraction this this is?

 

Citra

 

I don't know what happened to the cloud series from Hailstorm. There was a period where they really hit their stride with making pillowy hoppy beers for a decent price for a four pack easily attainable on the shelf. Now there is nothing "NE" about them at all. They are about as hazy as Lizard King (not a diss, I love Lizard King, just not to style), and the taste, flavor, mouth feel, bitterness, crispness, are very standard IPA. Just had a Cumulus canned on November 2nd and a Stratus canned on October 31st. Both were good IPAs, lots of hop presence, and I enjoyed them, great aroma, good flavors, just nothing NE about them imo. The problem for me is I buy them craving one thing but end up with something else, albeit something else that is good, but not what I was expecting.

 

Transient JIL on tap at beer temple....

 

That’s such a shame. There was a point that Stratus was my go to. Not any more.

 

I'm really disappointed in the lack of consistency in Hailstorm batches. I purchased a 4-pack of the 10/31 batch of Stratus and I absolutely regret it.

The mouth feel is way off from previous batches, and it's really malty - not to mention the look of the beer itself:

 

Yea I passed on some Hailstorm this week after reading reviews on BA. Disappointing to read. I was really loving the cloud series earlier this year.

 

Hailstorm is top tier New England IPA's as this is to a mechanic's shop:

I say this as someone who, early in my journey through the style, thought Hailstorm's versions were pretty good.

 

I think this is a bit much, while I agree that their batches are inconsistent when they are on point they are solid (above average) NE Style IPA. Plus, their pricing (at least at the brewery) is very good.

 

Not trying to pile on here - I've liked Hailstorm and have been lucky to not hit one of these sub par Cloud series batches. All the ones I've had have been great for a reasonably priced IPA that's readily available, but I know many others have experienced inconsistency a lot with these beers. This post on Open Bottle's Instagram account made me do a double take. I mean, this looks absolutely nothing like the Cumulus I've had in the past. Have they had brewer changes or something, or are they really having this hard of a time dialing these beers in?

 

I respectfully disagree, especially since the cost is irrelevant to me (I'll pay up for premium beers).

My photo analogy was over the top though, you got me there. I blame Black Note.

 

yea, as i posted earlier, i think i have this same exact batch of cumulus and stratus in my fridge right now (i think the can dates are 11/2 and 10/31). they both pour looking exactly like that instagram pic above. nothing NE about either of these. very thin. both are decent as IPAs go though, lots of hop aroma and has a typical west coast style crisp clean hop bite finish. but just wasn't what i was expecting when i picked them up though, so pretty disappointed. these beers are absolutely nothing like what they used to be. if you want a west coast style IPA, go for it. don't pick them up thinking you are going to get anything juicy, fluffy, soft, thick, insert any NE IPA descriptor you can think of here etc. though.

 

Black Note will do that! Cheers!!

 

For anybody in the Oak Park/River Forest/Forest Park areas: Famous Liquors on Madison has 4-packs of the latest Snoochie batch. I believe there were 5-7 left with no limit.

 

Assuming this may have some haze...

 

Mosaic Gummy is flawless

 

Please tell me they have good ale yeast and aren't using their Belgian yeast for this.....

 

I read that Noon Whisle isn't releasing it till tomorrow???