Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

If has the great mouthfeel that Marz seems to achieve a lot. It’s the best use of Meridian hops I have had yet and there was a new NZ Hop in there too. There’s even almost a little spice hanging out in the background that I can’t put my finger on. I passed at first due to the price for the format but it was worth getting a 4 pack

 

File Under: New England IPA's not made in Chicago, but now available in Chicago: Blue Blood Brewing (Nebraska) Hop Abduction.

This one is pretty dry, grassy & bitter; there's some orange peel notes but not enough to bring me back. Closer to a west coast style in my opinion, but hey, they advertise it as a "New England-style IPA".

Their milkshake IPA, Blueberry Hop Pursuit, is also available; honestly, I would never guess there was any lactose in this, but it tastes like an above average fruited wheat beer.

I won't be buying either again, but I'd recommend the Blueberry Hop Pursuit over the Hop Abduction in a pinch.

 

Yes please. Brewery only. Even better.

 

Any NEIPA suggestions for an out of towner hitting Binny's LP this weekend?

 

My Binny’s got a 2nd drop of Juice Pants which is worth a pickup

 

I like Marz stuff - not exactly which hazies are on the shelf from them now.

 

New juice pants is really good

 

I thought it was good, but not much more. Didn’t think there was much “juice”.

 

I thought Juice Pants was a brutal, bitter misfire of a beer. The reference won't make much sense to you, @Lazhal but Roger hasn't made dent at this mediocre brewery. Please don't judge Chicago "NE IPA"s by this one if you do purchase it.

An interesting one that might still be around is the Pipeworks Unicorn vs. Science...it's not advertised as a New England as every charlatan brewery is wont to do, but it's hazy, fruit forward and made by an interesting process..."hop oils" made by a distillery in NYC.

I'm not sure I love it, but it's unique, only available in Chicago (I believe) and certainly worth trying.

 

Have you had their “real” NEIPAs that are produced with Roger on board? I agree that Juice Pants isn’t special and probably not different than pre-Roger, but I haven’t had the few other NEIPAs that Roger produced at Maplewood.

 

No, I haven't, and maybe I should pump the breaks. I don't see them in stores, to be fair...and this was meant as an opposing opinion for @Lazhal -- while I'm shitting on breweries, though, Hailstorm & Noon Whistle will likely be available at Binny's and will likely not taste very good.

OK, going to bed now.

(edit: again, talking about NE IPA's re: Hailstorm & Noon Whistle)

 

Interesting to hear you say that. I had something by them, Juice Pants, or son of Juice maybe about a year or two ago and did not like it. May just have been age, I dunno, pretty sure I had it within a month. Thanks for the info.

 

Had a bit of burn to it but I like that. Seems like a lot of breweries are going that way lately. Not a defect but a feature.

 

I find Maplewood stuff to be my go to shelf beer. Charlatan, SOJ and Juice Pants might not blow anyone away, but when there isn't a new NEIPA at the liquor store I want to try and I don't want to make the trip to HA to grab one of their IPA one-offs, those are a solid.

 

If you have time, I suggest going to Bottles & Cans. You'll be able to buy singles of just about every available NE IPA in Chicago & decide for yourself what the best of Chicago is!

https://www.bottlesandcanschicago.com/

 

I am sure I love it, and am going to buy a second bottle. Which is rare AF for me regarding an IPA in that format.

 

Wallabreezy @ Maplewood is damnnnn good. They should can this.

 

I had One Hop Centennial by HC. I think it probably delivered exactly as intended but I think the hazy style and Centennial might just be a misfit, at least to me. Still a solid beer to have though