Phase Three Brewing (2020)

No. I never thought much of the couple HF IPAs I’ve had, but Heady was in a league if it’s own for me. Pliny is the most balanced IPA you can get, where as Heady is a punch to the mouth of bitter juicy hops. Blue Hour hop profile isn’t the same. It’s not a bad beer by any means, but it has the soft body of current hybrids. Maybe it is more in line with some other Vermont IPAs (I’ve never had Focal Banger), but it’s not HT.

 

My comment was less about how Blue Hour stacks up to Heady, and more about Heady in general. But your point is well taken.

 

Yeah, and as I originally said, it’s most likely my fault for assuming this would be a Heady clone. I suppose I was hoping. So I can’t vouch for how this compares to a “Vermont Style IPA” outside of HT. But I can say it’s not HT!

 

Side note: I’m visiting LA next week (quick trip that popped up this week) and I ordered a delivery of Russian River to where I’m staying. I’m very happy to bring back whatever is left of the cases of Pliny and mixed can packs I ordered this morning.

 

Totally. Heady blew my mind when I tried it years ago. I was excited to try it whenever possible. Now, too many people do similar thing better. I got a 4 pack from a friend who went to Vermont a few years ago and 3 of the cans sat in my fridge for 6 months. It just wasn’t good to me anymore. The HF and Foam stuff he gifted was gone within a week.

 

It’s one of the more unique IPAs on the market. I don’t think it would do well in a blind test test around here though. It’s got some malt character, some bitterness and some dank resinous qualities I don’t think NEIPA drinkers in Illinois would love

hill farmstead is a different story. I think hillfarm would do well in pretty much any tasting

 

I stopped by in the afternoon yesterday...place was hopping! 4 of the 8 taps outside had already kicked (Helles, Oktoberfest, Nectar, and Porter). I didn't go inside to see what else was on as there was a decent size line.

Seems like the Affy Tapple cans went super quick...good on them. I tried the beer and all I'll say is a small pour was plenty. Not in my wheelhouse. Grabbed some doughnuts on my way out to bring home for the kids.

Nice day to hang out, though if you are not a fan of crowds right now and they are busy, I would suggest having a Plan B.

 

Yeah thankfully to go at 2pm was easy. Big crowd and had to park really far away. I learned what kind of shape I’m not in with carrying the case back to my car. I have to say this Affy Tapple hype is something I didn’t see coming

 

I mean, I actually kinda liked the Affy Tapple beer. Seems like it’s exactly what they were going for. I could see this being a fall staple, kind of like a pumpkin beer for me - have one when Fall comes and then not again until next year.

 

It was a crazy rush of caramel at the top. And as it warmed (I guess? its a Golden Ale) I got more of the apple. I never tasted "salty peanuts" like some people on Untappd have said but I have 4 cans to taste through. Maybe it'll show up.

 

It's a good question. I would have no idea, honestly. Are there current IPAs with characteristics of HT but might blind test better for me? I would love to know but there are too many damn beers out there to find out. I'm a big proponent of blind tastings to remove any possible biases and if I participated in one, I would certainly become a regular purchaser (assuming it was something readily available in our market) of that beer which I preferred the most in the blind taste test.

 

Blue Hour had what a friend described as a funky/stinky cheese note and nose her I found to be true.

 

I got there about 1145am Saturday and it was a total zoo. I split about 6 or 7 short pours with my friend..the maple pressed was by far the winner. As for the taffy apple beer. It was average at best. one 5 oz pour was more than enough. Frankly it tasted exactly like "Dirty Blonde" from Great River Brewery in Davenport.

 

That beer is terrible.

 

Ugh, Pressed is so good. That's it that's the whole thing. I don't know how they do this or why they call it a Porter but whatever.

 

I'll weigh in - yes. It's a pretty unique (and uniquely tasty) beer to my tastes at least.

 

Blue or heady?

 

Heady.

 

Every Pressed I've ever had was awesome.

I'm pretty sure the word "porter" doesn't mean anything any more. Some people use it to mean a dark ale that is lighter in flavor, color, and alcohol than most stouts. Some people (Angry Chair) use it to mean a stout to which they have added even more lactose than they normally do. Shaun seems to use it to mean "stout that I put in cans instead of bottles."

 

I remember a brewer talking imperial porter a few years ago. The reason he labeled imperial beer as a porter was to communicate the black beer was not as roasty as beers he labeled stout