Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

think they will make it to monday?

 

yeah 12oz 4-packs for 12.99 at the brewery

seemed like that had a ton, and im sure some will be hitting distro. i imagine it will last a bit.

 

Picked some up today will report back and Sticky Gummy releasing next Thursday

 

Dropped by Dryhop today and had $4000 Suit and Karmavore.

The first is a Brut IPA, the first I have had so I don't know how true to style it was, but I really enjoyed it. It had grapes added as well as Nelson Sauvin hops (my two favorite things in IPAs), ans the finish was very dry. Carb was on the high side as well. Otherwise it was a standard NEIPA (though mouthfeel and a sweet finish are pretty essential to NEIPA, so I guess it is pretty different). The flavor profile is very grape forward, green, and stonefruit.

Karmavore was as great as most NEIPAs I have had in the city. Loads of mango, papaya, passion fruit, and orange. Bitterness was very low. Mouthfeel was full and soft, and the finish was on the sweeter side (almost made me think there was lactose in it, most definitely oats and/or wheat).

I think they reformulated Shark Meets Hipster as well, as it was much more NE style: hazy, overripe fruits, soft feel, etc. It was good, not great, but better than I remembered.

Lastly, the session wheat ale (which is not a NE-style beer but rather more of a wit or saisons) was excellent and very flavorful at 3.8% (an actual session strength for once). Spicy, citrusy, crackery, and yeasty came together nicely to give the impression of a higher ABV. This would make a great summer crusher for sure. It reminded me a bit of Smuttynose's dearly departed grisette, Hayseed, which is a big positive for me.

 

Picked up some Noon Whistle G'day gummy at Arlington Heights Binny's yesterday and they had a 1 4-pack limit, hopefully there is still some on the shelves today for anybody interested.

 

Straight Apricot juice bomb! Not a fan of lactose in ipa's but I think they got the balance right on this beer. I would rate it a buy if fruited ipa's is in your wheelhouse. Leave the trub in the can if you do.

 

Avoidable Chicago NE IPA pt 304: Wild Onion's Puffy Shirt. Tastes like stale bubblegum with some wheat mixed in.

It's not gross, but it's not worth buying.

 

Headed over to Energy City this morning for the Hop Nawi release (first time in cans which I think are being done at Church Street). They’ll also have a heady topper yeast variant in bombers. I’ve had Nawi before and it’s really good though I am a sucker for Galaxy.

 

Double Spaceboots is really good.

 

I was lucky to find myself with a prior engagement in the area a couple blocks from there so it was easy to pop in. Hop Nawi was pretty good. I wouldn’t drive in from Chicago to get it, but my girlfriend liked the sample enough to make me get an extra 4 pack just for her. Given the support I’m curious what the plan is to grow this out or if it will remain a hobby. Would be nice for that area to have a good quality NEIPA brewpub vs a once a month nano bottle release.

 

where is the can release?>

 

It’s in downtown Batavia beneath a coffee shop in a retail center.

With the move to cans and the beginning of self-distro, I imagine growth is a goal.

 

Picked up a single. Man is this awful! Definitely wouldn’t describe the taste of apricots and had zero juiciness as well. First time in many years I’ve actually drain poured a beer

 

I will say this - Wander On’s name and flavor profile has inspired many walkabouts with to-go coffee cups in hand so far this summer.

Hope y’all are enjoying the weather!

 

I’m actually really digging the Apricot Milkshake. Juice, tart and hoppy. Will drink again.

 

Just grabbed stratus canned 5/31/18. On par with the better batches for certain.

 

had the Penrose Midwest Vice tonight. To be honest I wasn't expecting much. But wow, this was actually really good in my opinion.

 

If anyone is looking for something to do tonight, come check out a few IBW beers at The Beer Temple. We've got a little hazy IPA tap takeover with Fruit Slave, Gay Agenda, and a sour IPA Tavour collab called Thwack!

 

I’ll add to the previous comments that Penrose Midwest Vice is a pretty good beer. Nice full body and super juicy.

 

Anyone try Hop Nawi by Energy City? Grabbed a 4 pack the other day. Was gonna perhaps crack one tonight, I'll report back.