Best packaged IPA available in CO

95% of my IPA drinking right there.

 

No love for Avery Maharaja? I enjoyed this before I got into IPAs, back when my watering hole would get it on tap once a year..and would do my old stein of it.

 

I also buy Elevated almost every time I'm in a liquor store, and it's usually fresh — their spring four pack of Project Dank is also great, and I loved Altimeter IPA. They can't do anything wrong (don't tell that to the LC sour four-pack I've seen languishing on shelves).

 

Totally agree on Mountain Standard. Coaltrain Wine in Colorado Springs did a bracket style blind tasting of 64 IPAs and it came out on top. It really stood out in the blind tastings even when paired against some other highly regarded beers.

Also, I really love Rupture by them as well. Such an aromatic beer. Excited to try the upcoming DIPA using the same hop grinding process. The seasonal IPA Wolf Picker is also real tasty.

 

Coming to Colorado this weekend. Any recommendations on where I can get those fresh la cumbre and Melvin cans near downtown? I'll be staying in highland.

Thanks.

 

Those two are quite easy to find almost anywhere (particularly Elevated). FYI - the freshest of the Melvin RIPA series right now is going to be "Chuck Morris" but I also always recommend Hubert, 2 x 4, and Asterisk if you can still find one that isn't too old.

 

Altimeter was great, agreed.

 

how fresh is the current batch of Amalgamator? I was in Mexico all last week and haven't been at the store I work in but we didn't have any when I left 4/3 although some may have come in that day. This is a pretty fantastic beer IMO, in terms of out-of-state IPA occasionally available packaged.

 

3-22-19. I think it’s the best out of state ipa we get. Which is saying a lot given how spoiled for options we are.

 

That Amalgamator is the truth. It's absolutely up there with the best packaged IPA's available here...or anywhere.

 

I agree with most of what’s already been said on this thread...

Mondo Vino has a good selection but charge way too much...in the Highlands by far the best stores are Highlands Wine & Liquors and Small Batch.

 

Four Noses Bout Damn Time gets my vote.

 

Highlands was a great suggestion. Got all the hops I wanted and coffee Maple achromatic!

 

Couldn't agree more. Beachwood and La Cumbre are absolutely slaying the packaged IPA game right now. Amalgamator may be my favorite IPA period. Pick up some cans of Simcoast to Coast while you can too. It's a nice crisp modern IPA.

And all of these new canned west coast IPAs that we're seeing from La Cumbre are the bomb. Altimeter is awesome, the recent batches of Project Dank are phenomenal. Even going back to Make IPA Clear Again collaboration with comrade. Also they've got a new PA on the shelves, Acclimated, that's perfect as well. All of this is in addition to maybe the best year-round IPA on the shelves, Elevated. They're killing it.

 

So I think I mentioned this in another thread. Maybe?
Oskar Blues Can-O-Bliss is a great light tropical IPA
Oskar Blues Steep Coast Strata is a great DIPA- also tropical, but heavier flavor than COB

They are both "hazy" but not turbid. Hazy like mountain haze from River North. In the end, I care more about how something tastes than if it is hazy enough to bring the hazebros to the yard.

 

Buddy left a Modus in my fridge over the weekend... best by 8/14/2019.

I recall this beer being one that I’d grab regularly like 5-7 years ago, so I was excited to have one for the first time in a few years. I realize this OG style has fallen out of favor, but damn do I get it now. I just don’t think I like bitter AND malty beer anymore that isn’t named Bigfoot. Honestly, its a good beer, but my tastes have changed quite a bit evidently... although it did pair well with the stuffed peppers we had for dinner.

 

Troy Casey posted yesterday that they just brewed their first IPA with all Nelson. I can't see them half-assing this endeavor, so we might have a new contender coming in the future. Should be interesting to see what volume and distro on their clean beers is like.

 

Just returned from a weekend in Denver for a wedding an was able to pick up at my the one beer store I know, Mr. B's:
La Cumbra El Jugo and Acclimated canned on 4/12 and Elevated canned on 3/29
Beechwood Citra
Station 26 Juicy Banger
Odells Mountain Standard Time
Thankfully we fly Southwest and extra bags are free.
Also want to give a shout out to Denver which is definitely the best beer city in America. Friendly people, breweries who all pour taster sizes, not overpriced, and very walkable. Had dinner at Fresh Craft, visited Falling Rock twice for some Pliny and Superpower and was able to visit 6 breweries in Rino and also enjoyed the wedding. Not to mention the dispensaries. Cheers to you Denver!

 

Shhhh... just say we are rude assholes with bad beer next time.