Hop Butcher (2019)

Did a Hop Butcher night. Skeleton Key is definitely a nice west coaster. Hop Butcher does these really well so who cares what the Untappd ratings are. Keep me coming! Heck Yessum probably isn’t one I would buy again (just because I like most other HB beers more) though I appreciate them moving their ABV around. Duchess is solid but again probably forgettable compared to their DIPA lineup. It probably doesn’t come across but this was a nice 3 beer evening of HB

 

Looks like a new pale ale, new Pilsner and Craniac returning next week

 

I’ve had a few hop butcher ipas/dipas on tap and they have been very sweet. Admittedly I like NE ipas hoppier. I had Dutchess last night and again too sweet (I get orange dreamsicle rather than orange juice).

Are there any less sweet hop butcher beers I should out for? Or should I just give up on these guys altogether?

 

Did you try the new west coast style they did? Skeleton cruise? I don’t have an answer for you because I haven’t had this one ...but I’m curious if that one is too sweet for you.

 

I haven’t! But I’ll keep a look out for it.

But I’m looking for different things if I knowingly order a hazy vs a west cost ipa. In my limited experience the hop butcher ipas are well made but just really sweet...

 

Then maybe they just aren’t for you. Have you had any Hubbard’s Cave hazies? I find those to be more bitter than sweet...palate caveat applies, of course. For the record I love HB and have enjoyed most everything they’ve done (I prefer the sweeter ones).

 

Have you tried Pipeworks' hazies? I find them on the bitter side, relatively.

 

If you're looking for a bitter, and less sweet NE Style, Hop Butcher is not for you. Maybe Double Grid whenever it comes back, but a fair majority of their hazy IPAs are incredibly sweet from the added lactose.

 

Looks like HB has Craniac on deck and two new ones:

A pilsner: http://www.hopbutcher.com/#/supreme-being/

And this guy which could be interesting if and NEIPA and less so if it is a westie: http://www.hopbutcher.com/#/snorkel-squad/

 

If Crainiac is on deck next, I suggest you try that one. It's probably the most bitter hazy beer I've ever tried from HB. Or at least it was. They tend to change things from batch to batch, and I feel like they have reformulated some of their more bitter beers to be more sweet in later batches.

 

Pretty sure theres a number on Reply Hazy too, I have not tried calling.

 

What’s the number?

 

There was a number on the Galaxy bowl cans. Don’t remember the exact words, but it was thanking the caller for buying GB.

 

It's a Hop Butcher hotline with #fastfacts

 

Is the pilsner on sale at 1/pp yet?

 

Per recent IG post/Tweet, Snorkel Squad is "[a] single hopped hayzee ipa." Count me very interested.

 

And more importantly (in my opinion), a single-hopped citra IPA. I know citra's old hat now, but that's still an instant-win for me.

 

As long as they let the citra hops do their thing, instead of covering them up with lactose, I'll be in. I hate expecting a great hop presence in a single-hopped IPA, then having the beer taste like cheap, fruity candy