Toppling Goliath in Chicago (2018)

This is on spot.

 

King Sue cans are now listed as a flagship beer instead of a rotating one on there website. Take that news with a grain of salt, but that would be nice.

 

I've heard there can be big batch variances so it's probably worth another shot. The one I tried was pretty bad, way too sweet.

 

Juice is Loose may be the test run for King Sue’s hype sustainability. It’s the most popular out of market hazy IPA in cans that we get. So far, it still flies but we’ll see over time

 

I hear ya. But for now it does still move pretty damn fast.

 

I'd buy both! I don't know which one I think is better, but I thought both were great. And if a few months from now it's possible to do a side by side in cans of King Sue and Boss Tweed - count me as a happy camper!

 

Yeah I don't know, I was pretty underwhelmed by JIL. I had a few more Transient IPAs recently too and didn't think much of them.

I don't get the hype.

 

2018 was the first time I've had King Sue and JiL. I did not believe the hype on King Sue, especially because I shy away from 8% +beers and wound up being blown away at how flavorful and balanced the beer was. I won't pass it up if I see it. On the other hand I bought the hype on JiL and it turned out to be one of the worst beers I've ever had. THis will be a permanent pass....

 

There had to have been something wrong with your cans, or that batch (or...most more recent batches? I haven't had any of the newer ones). That first batch of JiL in Chicago was better than the King Sue I've had (King Sue had a more forward bitterness that I didn't love), and about on par with DDH PS (and honestly not that dissimilar to the DDH Sue). I'm not even saying this because you're not entitled to your opinion (if you don't like JiL, that's cool), it's just that I found it to have a lot of similar qualities to the DDH I've had (very citra-forward).

 

Not sure why my previous reply didnt go thru, but I said I was very let down with the M-43 I had over the weekend. I will gladly give it another go as it could have been off, or perhaps my expectations were sky high.

 

Or was there something "wrong" with the first batches and they just got lucky and subsequent ones were the true beer? Recent reviews in the NEIPA thread reflect my experience.

 

Yeah, I already considered that (not necessarily "wrong," but an outlier). And yeah, I've seen the feedback on the more recent batches (which is why I added in "or most more recent batches"). I've been meaning to get a 4-pack just to see where it is to me, but with so many good local options, the $20 price tag isn't exciting me when everyone is complaining about taste...

 

FWIW the JIL I had and was unimpressed with was the 1st batch.

 

As a former Transient fanboy, I have been let down by their reentry into the Chicago market. IDK if it is me or them, but it is not the same.

 

The sours have been either great (Just Passing Through) or very good (Raspberry Maigre/Pineapple Salarium). So at least that part has been a success

 

True, the sours are still on point.