Chicagoland NE IPAs (2019)

Remember 2.5 years ago when chasing a 750ml bottle of mikerphone special sauce was basically the only option?

Its crazy that 8+ consistent Chicago breweries making NEIPA cans is considered a rut now

 

i wish his quality/consistency was on-par with 2.5 years ago. each one of those special sauce releases was damn near magical.

 

Has the quality actually dipped, or has everyone just caught up? I heard the same thing about those first RAM beers but I don't think they were anything special compared to what we have now.

 

This is my opinion. When they were the only game in town, they seemed superb. I don't think most would compare those beers to Tree House et al though. Nowadays many people think of Corridor, Hop Butcher, More, and others as being nearly on the same level as the NE OGs. Apart from the oxygen problems, Mikerphone is still where they've always been for me quality-wise. Everyone else has just caught, and in some cases, surpassed them.

 

Pretty big fan of the Lil Beaver/Crafted collab Lord of the Peach Rings. It’s a sour milkshake ipa. Pretty unique and enjoyable. Only available at Crafted in Mokena. They had one case left around 5, started with 25 according to the Average Joe podcast guy that works there.

 

Funny, I'm having one of these right now. I'm not a huge milkshake style IPA guy, but have liked the sour NEIPAs I've had. This beer is not doing much for me and I'm glad I just have the one can. The peach is just over the top for me. And I do love me some peach rings...and LOTR. But those two wonderful things do not work well together for me on this one. All I can think about is rinsing my mouth out with the fresh Radio Swan my wife is bringing home to me tomorrow.

 

I think Milkshake IPA’s have caught on here in Chicago though Sour NeIPA’a mostly haven’t. Fair to say?

 

Sure is. At least from my experience.

I guess my greater point was that I haven't loved the milkshake style in general. I have (to my surprise) enjoyed the sour NE PA/IPAs I've been lucky to have - I say to my surprise because I'm not a huge sour guy either. I didn't really enjoy this beer which is a mash up of those 2 styles. Others that really like really sweet leaning milkshake and NE styles may dig it. It definitely has the sweetness and tanginess of a peach ring. They hit that mark. Just wasn't for me.

 

In other news, opened my last Boss Tweed (canned 2/1) last night. Drank some water and waited an hour or so before opening after having most of that Lord of the Peach Rings can.

First 3 cans of this 4 pack were great as always, but it'd been a few weeks since having one. This can was slightly under-filled, which I didn't think much of upon opening. Seemed undercarbed on pouring it. Looked dark so I turned a brighter light on. Dark brown dish water. Smelled and tasted like...I don't know...overly ripe fruit salad on the verge of spoiling. I don't know how else to describe that NE IIPA thing that happens when it has completely turned. Just bad. I've not had this happen with an ON beer before and I know that occasionally there's just a bad can in the bunch. I just wonder if this was a bad can, or does this beer turn that quickly? After several sips over the next half hour I had to pour it out.

 

same here, M-43 and BT have fallen off very quickly in my experience.

likely passing on these from now on

 

Yeah, I was surprised. I guess when I've bought it in the past it didn't last that long in my fridge. I decided to hold onto that last one based on reports here to see what would happen. Yikes.

 

No one here really makes the latter, that's the main problem. I'd buy Forbidden Root's Assembly Required series at Binny's all the time if they canned it.

 

Roger had a good sour ipa at Corridor too. Marz has their tart n tangy offering as well. But I agree that it’s been a largely ignored style locally

 

Yeah, I liked Corridor's as well, which is saying nothing since I like almost all their stuff. I just meant only FR seems to be consistently trying; it's a shame because while I was sceptical at first, it's a perfect beer for when you're getting sick of drinking hazy IPAs all the time, but still want the monster burst of hops they give you.

 

M-43 and Boss Tweed have been great to me at 6-8 weeks. I’ve had them at that point and they’ve tasted fresh as can be. I buy them all the time with the utmost confidence, so I wouldn’t give up on them.

 

In 2016, I thought a few of their Special Sauces were the only things that compared to Tree House. I did a few side by sides and Mikerphone was actually in the ballpark. I've also enjoyed most of the SS's he's done since the taproom opened, but he's really only done a couple. I thought I read something that he didn't want to use the yeast that is the SS as much anymore. Wish he did.

 

If anyone is near this hit me up in dm

 

Juice Pants is officially my measuring stick for Chicago NEIPA

It has great aroma that translates to the flavor, proper carbonation, and a clean finish without a hint of chalkiness.

 

Anyone seen fresh King Sue in the burbs?

 

Binny's in Mokena had some on the floor yesterday.