Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

Drinking a Hop Nawi canned in November(I think, date sticker was on the four pack holder) and this really sucks in my opinion. I don't know if it is just this batch as it seems people were high on this one?
It tastes like rotting vegetables and chalky and just got worse and worse as it warmed, and at 17.99 a four pack I expect a lot better.

 

I tried a Milkshake Nawi, which was fine, but as it warmed a lot of that acidic burning that you get in some NEIPAs really started to come through (the most extreme example of this was Trillium/Monkish Never & Again), which was a huge negative for me. I avoided trying Hop Nawi as a result.

 

I had Milkshake Nawi mango as well and was kind of meh the first can - similar to what you describe above but not over the top and thers wasn’t enough prevalent flavor too offset it.

I thought it was actually much better with a week plus on it. That burn was gone and the mango taste came through more.

 

I had 2 or 3 beers of theirs last month when I bought them in a mix sixer, and I haven't been compelled to try more. They were decent, and I wouldn't turn them down if offered, but not something to seek out IMO.

 

Has anyone tried Fuzz Pedal by Alarmist yet? I liked Le Jus enough and I would love to find a sub 6% hazy with good flavor.

 

Have you tried Traveling Scientist by Hop Butcher? Its like 5.5% and damn good!

 

I've been exploring some of Chicago's lower ABV hazy beers and came across Insufficient Clearance from Sketchbook Brewing out of Evanston. It's a citra/mosaic/simcoe mix and super crushable at 5.0%. Very tasty. I'm a fan.

 

Glad i passed on it yesterday and instead opted for another 4 pack of PW Citra.

 

this latest batch of hop nawi isn't great. i tried it at the brewery during the smores release and it tasted nothing like previous batches. hard pass.

keeping my fingers crossed there is some pipeworks citra available after work.

 

I'm curious what it is about NEIPAs in particular that makes them seemingly so much more vulnerable to batchiness. I get that different hop harvests yield slight changes here and there, but I have noticed a ton if variability in NEIPAs from very well-regarded producers to the point that I question whether different crops can be entirely to blame (especially when other styles, even other styles of IPA, don't seem to be as subject to change).

What really boggles my mind is when these changes are not just slightly different within an acceptable margin but clearly inferior, and they still package and sell the beer. That behavior is a quick way to lose the trust of customers if they don't know what they're getting from one batch to the next. It destroys any good will a particular brand has built up. I realize taking a hit by tossing a batch is a tough decision, but not selling beer because your QC is nonexistent will hurt more in the long run.

 

100% this. I used to buy every new NE IPA because I had this seriously strong pull to TRY EVERYTHING, FOMO to the max, even if one batch was great, another batch was absolute shit, etc. I'd still buy the next batch.
but now, if i get burned by one batch, that's it for me. i'm not buying any of your shit anymore period.

 

This is my mindset with Toppling Goliath bombers now. I totally fanboy'd out when we started getting them, as DDH Pseudo Sue is one of my favorite IPA's I've ever had. There's just so much variation between batches of their bombers that I've started leaving them on the shelf, which makes me sad.

 

I saw this hilarious and excellent quote from @islay in the Minnesota NE IPA thread on what you're describing...

"It's always nice to hear a new voice from someone who doesn't share in the false consensus that some people around here demand. The high prices on these products stem in part from expensive ingredients, but the market wouldn't bear them if not for hype built in forums like this one. It's absolutely the case that many NEIPA producers rely on minor tweaks to their recipes, sometimes simple hops substitutions, often coupled with major name changes, to create an exaggerated sense of variety in their product offerings to encourage consumers to continue to shell out money. That's a valid and salient point to raise on a consumer-oriented site like BeerAdvocate, and it behooves NEIPA drinkers at least to be aware of that marketing technique. That said, I generally leave this thread as a sandbox in which the Sweet IPA fans can play freely."

 

Plus a small brewery whose flagship is a Galaxy beer makes me wonder about how they secure their hops and if they're from a consistent source

 

I generally agree with this for breweries (and I guess for most business in general), however...

It seems like smaller breweries, particularly ones doing hazy IPAs, get something of a pass on that. I'm not opining here whether that's OK or not OK from consumers. But I do find it interesting.

 

Both new Brickstone hazed up beers are excellent. Maybe a slight nod to disco 5

 

IDK if it's just me, but Noon Whistle Gummy beers seem to be lacking in something. The taste just disappears a few seconds after drinking a sip. They almost taste watery.

 

was not a fan of the original noridic haze on draft. will definitely give this a try and possibly walk out with a 4-pack. that can art is great though, love the colors.

i dont understand the whole pre-order thing with these beers now...