Forbidden Root (2018)

There are just still way too many misses locally. Getting Corridor cans is impossible for me and I have no desire to drink an entire crowler. More's IPAs frankly haven't been very good, outside of 2 or 3. Mikerphone, Hop Butcher, Marz and the like are fine but are numerous notches below OH, Hudson Valley, Veil, Tree House, Trillium, Monkish, etc.

Forbidden Root cans are basically the only local hops I keep in my fridge regularly.

 

I'm mostly with you. I think the top Mikerphone and Marz cans are right up there with the big boys. The problem is, they get them out every month or so and Monkish/Tree House/etc. do it every release.

 

I think this is perfectly fair, and if you're drinking enough of the stuff that you need quantities like you'd get from a place that is churning a bunch out weekly, I can see still needing to trade. A 4-pack will typically last me a couple weeks, because I usually have a beer or two that isn't hazy (I know, god forbid), and don't drink that much beer a week (less than one a day).

 

Not so sure this discussion makes sense in this thread, probably moreso in the Chicago NE thread. But I have to disagree with the sentiment that these types of beers taste relatively the same. I find that the NE IPA has approached the level that the heavy hitters across the country are producing unique NE IPAs that have their own somewhat recognizable 'in house' character, and that alone is worth trading for imo. I believe Forbidden Root and Corridor are the top in this city and on the level, but everything else is still levels below them. The in-house character of Tree House, Trillium, Monkish, Hudson Valley, etc. are very different from each other, let alone very different from what we have here in the city as well, I think that is still worth seeking out and experiencing.

 

i put that here, because that was my take away from the bottle share held at forbidden root.

There were a million IPAs, and IMO, they all tasted very similar. Sure some were better than others, but for the most part it was “here’s another NE. It’s going to taste exactly like you think it will”.

Which has also been my take when getting flights at bars that specialize in the style (ie Great Notion)

 

To be fair, it is my go to style for an everyday drink. I usually end up drinking one a day. I don't think that's a particularly big amount, and I definitely end up with a lower hit rate than I would out east or west.

That's not your say I'm down on the scene here, I love a lot of these local places and enjoy getting out to try their stuff. But the thought that the Chicago scene has basically "caught up" with the others is something I very much disagree with.

 

I tend to feel the same way. Obviously different breweries will have their own spin on every aspect of the beer, but at the end of the day I'm still tasting a juicy version of X hop (or hops) +

I don't know if that was explicitly said; I wouldn't say it (since I don't have enough experience outside Chicago's stuff), and the first comment that started this admittedly slightly off-topic discussion was just that local stuff is good, and he thought it was a waste to trade when there's good stuff here.

I think that just comes down to preference. I like trying new local stuff more than trading for something that may or may not be as good/better (I think that's the gist of the original statement, too). I feel this way for most styles of beer, not just the NE stuff. I understand why some would feel differently though.

 

(sorry for the double-quote at the top; ignore that part )

 

2 day BA suspension!

Make it 3 days!

 

@KrajDoesBeer, as April meanders through snow and rain showers and Chicago seems intent on skipping springtime, I have two thoughts:

1.) May is approaching, and a share seems like a great idea.

2.) I think we need more Forbidden Root Brewer thoughts. I miss the old guy’s musings! (BJ? My memory is real bad). State of the industry, hop feelings, tasting notes, etc.

 

Any can releases coming up?

 

I agree it is time to schedule a May share. Let me look at my schedule and let me see what can work for us.

I doubt you see the second question- Nick isn’t even on BA. Nick does do most of our Instagram post notes for the new beers. So that’s where you will find his feelings on beer!

Couple other things...

Next Wednesday at 4pm is Radio Swan Cans! Phil brewed this batch again(last batch was no cans) to be exactly like his last one. 100 lbs of hops in this bad boy...
Our mobile canner is crazy busy and Tuesday was best day for them and I didn’t want the cans to wait till Saturday andddddddddddd

The debut of a brand new IIPA from Power Trip lineage. Nick saw the recipe made some tweaks and hopped the heck out of it. It is a gigantic Pineapple bomb. GROWLERS only...

I also have some pretty awesome guest kegs rolling in lately and will put something else awesome on for Wednesday.

May 23rd is the 2nd Annual New England Style IPA tape takeover! Last year was awesome! This year will be even bigger. We will have two brand new beers there for this. Plus Corridor, Maplewood, Lil Beaver, Mikerphone, Hop Butcher, Old Irving and Saint Errand confirmed.

Cheers all.

 

Well, I really enjoyed last year's takeover, hope I've got time for this one. Also:

"The debut of a brand new IIPA from Power Trip lineage. Nick saw the recipe made some tweaks and hopped the heck out of it. It is a gigantic Pineapple bomb. GROWLERS only..."

PT is still my favorite FR beer, and easily one of my favorite NE IPAs. I'm so in.

 

No. Nick Williams is our Head Brewer...

We had a previous awesome dude and brewer named Nik that is with Omega Yeast now!

 

well I just went from 6 to midnight

 

Start up the spreadsheet! Make six beer columns!

 

Hmm this is going to be an interesting month given that Dark Lord Day is on the 19th and I want to make it out on the 23rd.

 

Lactated ringers!

—-

I kept in the names from last time:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1d3CKX-uMQJCH9GjY9hrAibkXrzAhBOtYy6HGI97ueKE