Looking for a recommendation: High ABV, medium hops

You said "high ABV" and then "8% to 9%". That's not high ABV anymore. High ABV is 12+. I drink mostly stouts, and in my experience they are seldom highly hopped - at least if they are they don't taste like it.

 

I agree w bbtkd. Barleywines and the odd porter might be in that area as well.

 

well not sure where you are from, and a lot of beer is local, so I would recommend giving people a heads up on where you are located. Milk Stouts are usually in the 5 to 6% range but there are a lot that are Imperial, those usually have roasted background, and just enough bitterness to take the edge off. The lactose that is added also helps beat down any hop bitterness. Baltic Porters are up in that ABV range and most don't have too much bitterness to them. If you are looking at Barley Wines, go to the English variety, as they are usually not hopped as much as their American counterparts. And sorry have to throw this in the mix Steel Reserve 211, just enough bitterness in it to take some sweetness off that fermented corn goodness. Drink fast, loses its appeal when it warms

 

Scotch Ales

 

Duvel should fit your bill (perhaps with 6 months on it )

 

You're in luck, pumpkin season starts in like a week or two. Plenty of high ABV beers with virtually no hop bitterness. Schlafly(8%) and Pumking(8.?) are great and pretty widely distributed. Someone mentioned scotch ales and English barleywines. Founders Backwoods Bastard and Schlafly Oak Aged Barleywine are in that category with low bitterness, though they have slightly higher ABVs. There are plenty of stouts that aren't hopped up too. Breakfast Stout (8.3%) is awesome and not hoppy at all, so is Terrapin Wake N Bake. Lastly, there are a TON of Belgians that fit the bill. Check out something like New Belgium's Trippel or Dubbel for cheap yet solid beers to experiment with. Chimay is also widely available and they're great, especially the blue.

 

I can't recall if Victory's Sour Monkey (9-10%) is dry hopped or not. I'd recommend exploring that.

 

Belgian styles may be worth a try. Unibroue La Fin du Monde and/or Trois Pistoles are two good starters.

 

Can you give a few examples of the beers you've found excessively hopped to your taste? It may help others in giving you some recommendations. Cheers.

 

Is it the hop flavors you don't like, the hop bitterness, or both? For me, I don't mind most hop flavors, but it's extreme bitterness I don't like - and this extends to bitter coffee beers.

 

Weihenstephaner Vitus, slightly under your 8-9% range at 7.7% but definitely not hoppy at all.

 

Westmalle Triple

 

Belgian beers all the way. Tripels are usually in that range. Many stouts in that range as well. There are a few higher ABV brown ales and strong ales, although some will be heavily hopped. I'd skip the barleywines unless they're from England, because nearly every American barleywine is heavily hopped. But your easiest bet, as several have mentioned, are Belgians.

 

doppelbocks, I would say.

 

First off. Oskar Blues Old Chub. Next. Smuttynose Old Brown Dog. Third. Coppertail Unholy.

 

It would be very helpful if you mentioned beers you already had and disliked, etc. This would eliminate or allow others to figure out your tastes. Also, were your located? Location dictates a lot regarding available items.
On a side note why does it have to be high ABV low hops? How about just low hops if that is the desired item? I guess a little more feed from you would help tons.

 

^He asked for a recommendation of 8-9% abv. with medium hops. He didnt say low hops or no hops at all. And his name is HopSop somethin. I would probly rec something like Firestone Walker Fortem, a Dipa without over the top bitterness or a NE Dipa. Also Boulevard Tank 7 Is 8.5% 38 ibu. It could be considered about medium bitter depending on ur taste. For high abv, Ballast Point Barmy is 12%, sweet, fruity, not bitter.
Founders Breakfast Stout and Chimay Blue are awesome recommendations, but to me they are not medium hoppy (whatever that is).

 

Lagunitas - Brown Shugga

 

Most any Imperial Stout will work.