Hop Drop

I think it's the best easily obtainable IPA made in the Carolinas.

 

I agree. I only bought one as a $7 bomber. Now as a $10 16oz 4 pack I've bought and consumed 3 4-packs in less than 3 weeks.

NoDa is opening a few special kegs over the next few days for their anniversary. I'm gonna stop by this afternoon.

 

I was at the brewery last Wednesday and they had the moblie canner (Land of the Sky-Asheville) there finishing up from Tuesday PM/Wed AM canning Hop Drop and Jam Session. The mobile canning business is very cool and the beers are super fresh. The spiked up IPA (forget the name) is phenomenal. These guys are on the mark!

 

Hop drop is phenomenal

 

It is without a doubt my favorite IPA brewed in NC. Really excellent stuff. Although I don't think it tastes much like Surly Furious.

 

One of my buddies recently hooked me up with it, and it's probably my favorite standard IPA from NC. Looking forward to having it again!

 

There aren't many good IPAs brewed in NC to start with but 3C stands out. I like Jam Session a lot, too.

 

I love this beer and have been racking my brain trying to think of the commercial beer it most resembles. A smaller Enjoy By, maybe?

Whatever it is, it is indeed one of the best in the state, and I'm grateful NoDa took the plunge into canning. I can't wait 'til I can get Coco Loco in the can, too!

 

Any idea when his may happen?! I am slightly addicted to Coco Loco I don't like paying $15 for a growler fill ($13 fill +$1 tax + $1 tip) really eats up my $50/month beer budget & somehow Hop Drop is $17 a growler fill but 4 16oz cans is $10.99 - I guess I don't understand beerconomics.

 

Definitely my favorite NC IPA, and one of my top east coast IPAs as well. They did a batch for New Years Eve last year that was dry hopped with simcoe hops and it was one of my favorite IPAs ever.

Really stoked to try the BBA Imperial Hop Drop tomorrow for their 2 year anniversary.

 

No specific dates yet, just that it will likely be the next one to be canned. I'm with you on the growlers, though. I almost never bought growlers from NoDa just because I drink, on average, a beer a night. And as you've pointed out, the cans are also a much better value. I'm so grateful they have started canning. Drinking a Hop Drop 'n Roll right now!

 

Good thread. Love Hop Drop N Roll and frequent NoDa's brewery often. I had a bomber of hop Drop a few months ago and it was really strong/aggressive on the hops. I preferred on draft. I will try the cans soon but have enjoyed the Jam Session cans and eagerly await Coco Loco, especially for winter!

I'm heading to the brewery tonight for some barrel-aged tasting!

 

BTW, the other NC IPAs that can compete with Hop Drop, IMO, are:
-Birdsong - Higher Ground IPA - it's more balanced
-Triple C 3C IPA - similar style to Hop Drop but not quite a good
-almost any IPA from Wicked Weed. Thought their session one was just decent, but had a 1/2 Freak and it was awesome!

Haven't had Foothills Jade yet.
What's awesome is that you can now get Hop Drop outside of Charlotte, in cans. Huge.

 

This whole thread is awesome!!! Love the NoDa recognition. They are doing great things!!!

 

Couldn't agree more about HDnR. Had it for the first time back in August with a friend. Both of us were very impressed and hate that we missed out for so long. Now I'm thankful its available in cans in the triad.

 

Ehh, I'd beg to differ. Maybe not many good widely available IPA's, but The Freak from WW, and Noon Day from Nantahala are awesome.

 

OK. So we're up to 4 with Hop Drop, 3C, The Freak and Noon Day. Let's say there are another 4 I don't know about. There are 100 breweries in NC. If each produce 1) IPA and 1) DIPA, that's 200 possible hoppy beers. 4% of those standout? I can think of multiple west coast breweries that sell 4 solid hoppy beers such as Lagunitas, Bear Republic, Green Flash, and Ballast Point. If NC breweries distributed solid hoppy beers, I'd buy them happily, but most underwhelm. Sure, you can name exceptions, but a handful of exceptions don't disprove the point I'm trying to make.

 

No one would say North Carolina brews great IPAs anywhere near the number, say, of even San Diego. But the greater point is that they are coming on, and that's a damned good thing! You may not like Jade and Hoppyum- I don't know- but they work for me and they are fresh and reasonably priced. Drink one of those most every day.

 

My local favorite to this point is Jade, but neither it nor Freak are bottled/canned at this point, and Hop Drop n Roll is right up there with them. Heading down to Charlotte/Fort Mill this weekend and am planning to pick up some HDR when I'm there. Great stuff.