Best available hoppy session ale?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by MrDave, May 29, 2014.

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Best available hoppy session ale?

Poll closed Jul 29, 2014.

  1. Founders All Day

    58 vote(s)
    28.2%

  2. Lagunitas Daytime

    28 vote(s)
    13.6%

  3. Stone Go To

    61 vote(s)
    29.6%

  4. Firestone Walker Easy Jack

    30 vote(s)
    14.6%

  5. other (widely available)

    29 vote(s)
    14.1%
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  1. MrDave

    MrDave Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 California

    I've had some good ones from Altamont and Cellarmaker, but I wouldn't say those are widely available. It's no secret that the "craze" has lead to plenty of places churning out sub 5% abv beers with low malt levels and big hop profiles, but only a handful of such beers are available to most of us. Most states see at least 3 out of 4 of these guys. So which do you prefer?

    If you don't care for the style in general, that's cool and all, but nobody's asking.

    If you have strong feelings about the terminology of the style, that's kinda weird, right?
     
    #1 MrDave, May 29, 2014
    Harnkus likes this.
  2. audioserf

    audioserf Initiate (0) Sep 3, 2010 Connecticut

    Daytime is the best of these that I've had, and strangely enough, I was only able to find it locally (CT) one time ever. I did really enjoy that six pack, though.

    Blue Point's Mosaic Session IPA was a surprisingly enjoyable brew.
     
    #2 audioserf, May 29, 2014
    Wingfan13, BeerGreg and cavedave like this.
  3. tectactoe

    tectactoe Pooh-Bah (2,386) Mar 20, 2012 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Firestone Walker? Since when is less than half the USA considered "widely available"?
     
    #3 tectactoe, May 29, 2014
    xShoWTeKx, blivingston1985, cavedave and 3 others like this.
  4. reefer_bob

    reefer_bob Savant (1,010) May 13, 2014 California
    Trader

    Having had all 4 of those, I voted for Easy Jack. Founders is better, but it's not available in Nor-Cal.

    Both the Stone and Lagunitas in my opinion are hop water. No backbone, and not good beers. Easy Jack and All Day are both really well balanced tasty brews! Again, my opinion. :slight_smile:
     
    #4 reefer_bob, May 29, 2014
    Ricelikesbeer likes this.
  5. MrDave

    MrDave Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 California

    Since about 20 minutes ago. Deal with it.

    EDIT: same for Founders
     
    #5 MrDave, May 29, 2014
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  6. tjensen3618

    tjensen3618 Maven (1,391) Mar 23, 2008 California

    Other- Firestone Walker Pale 31
     
    #6 tjensen3618, May 29, 2014
    e34john, bnuno, iHia and 2 others like this.
  7. dustinjkline

    dustinjkline Zealot (520) Aug 30, 2007 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Wachusett Light IPA I find to have much more flavor than the listed choices. I haven't tried the FW Easy Jack yet however.
     
    #7 dustinjkline, May 29, 2014
    Andrew041180 likes this.
  8. SerialTicker

    SerialTicker Pooh-Bah (2,851) Jun 18, 2012 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm from Michigan, but I'm no homer -- Go-To.
     
    #8 SerialTicker, May 29, 2014
    MrDave likes this.
  9. MrDave

    MrDave Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 California

    I think GoTo has the best hop flavor. Brilliant nose.

    A couple years ago I thought Daytime was amazing, but it tastes pretty watery compared to the other ones listed here.
     
    #9 MrDave, May 29, 2014
  10. HopBomb515

    HopBomb515 Pooh-Bah (2,277) Jun 15, 2013 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm sorry, I can't conform. Trade with someone and get Carton Boat. Nothing I've had comes remotely close.
     
    #10 HopBomb515, May 29, 2014
    JimGraz, j47paco, comfortablynirm and 4 others like this.
  11. tectactoe

    tectactoe Pooh-Bah (2,386) Mar 20, 2012 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    lol
     
    #11 tectactoe, May 29, 2014
  12. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    Seems like a weekly topic.
     
    #12 nc41, May 29, 2014
  13. LMT

    LMT Initiate (0) Oct 15, 2009 Virginia

    There is one that I tried for the first time this past weekend. No, it's not widely available, but it's unreal. If I had closed my eyes, I would have thought someone put some grapefruit juice into my my beer (that's how intense the grapefruity hoppiness was).

    Carton Boat Beer!

    Even though it's only 4.2%, it was one of the best overall beers I've had this year (not just one of the best session brews).
     
    #13 LMT, May 29, 2014
    DrStiffington, IndyDad, JimGraz and 4 others like this.
  14. MrDave

    MrDave Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 California

    I just got done reading up on it after another poster praised it. OK, someone BM me if you want to send a couple cans my way. We'll figure something out.
     
    #14 MrDave, May 29, 2014
  15. Fezzik1970

    Fezzik1970 Initiate (0) Feb 22, 2014 New Jersey

    On your list Go To but, and I can't believe I am doing a third pro-carton post in a day (I'll spend all of Saturday in the Kane tasting room out of principle) but, and even though it's only in 3 states it's Boat Beer. It"s 4.2 ,it's as hoppy as Pliny, and I've had hundreds at this point and still want more. It might be a perfect beer.
     
    #15 Fezzik1970, May 29, 2014
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  16. augiecarton

    augiecarton Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2010 New Jersey

    settle down
     
    #16 augiecarton, May 29, 2014
    IndyDad, BradenMK, j47paco and 5 others like this.
  17. Domingo

    Domingo Grand Pooh-Bah (4,252) Apr 23, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    Hazed.
     
    #17 Domingo, May 29, 2014
    SFACRKnight likes this.
  18. turbotype

    turbotype Savant (1,035) Nov 5, 2013 California

    I'll bite :grinning: Talking about "session beer" again? Hops and session should not even be used in the same sentence. Man up and drink something that doesn't taste like BMC.:wink:
     
    #18 turbotype, May 29, 2014
  19. tylerstravis

    tylerstravis Pooh-Bah (2,487) Feb 14, 2014 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    I have had all of these plus some not listed and my personal favorite goes to Daytime :slight_smile:
     
    #19 tylerstravis, May 29, 2014
  20. MrDave

    MrDave Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 California

    17 comments in before the troll. Not too bad!
     
    #20 MrDave, May 29, 2014
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