Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

I'd be interested in hearing more about your experiences there, then. I'm in Lafayette so I don't get there often, but every time I've gone, they've had more and better on draft than before. I had an exploding can of Cafe Lite once about two years ago, but I haven't personally had any bad experiences with their NEIPAs; perhaps I've gotten lucky in catching them at good times? Did they have some mediocre can releases?

 

Alarmist did a "New England-Style India Pale Ale" available only in the taproom & Bottles and Cans called Just Clap Your Hands.

If you are looking for a dry, bitter, baking soda & orange peel vibe, you've found a real winner.

This is so much closer to a punishing west coast IPA than their intended style that it's hard to fathom them calling this a NE IPA for anything other than marketing purposes.

In a crowded market, you should feel very good about passing on this.

 

I've personally had about three can releases now that were very bad. Not just mediocre, but brown, sludgy messes. I often love their stuff on draft and think their "on" milkshake beers are some of the best I've ever had. But a lot of people focus on taking stuff home (me included) and I just can't recommend them based on what I've had so far.

Their highs are so high that I'm sure I'll try them again and I hope they figure it out.

 

Yeah, this one was BAD.

 

But they’re a top tier producer of NEIPA’s!!!

 

Thanks for sharing, sounds like maybe they have some issues with their canning process. I've never been able to get any of the canned Memes-series stuff that seems to sell out pretty quickly, but it would make sense that those would be most susceptible to turning quickly. I've had those on draft and loved them, but in terms of what NEIPAs have been available to go when I'm there, it's usually their cheaper tier like Two If By Citra, and Citra Galactic Planetary (which I've had good canned experiences with).

 

Epic hoppy release week with this week's Hop Butcher releases and the two from PW's and HA's I will just refer to as Wait for the Speed of Sound....

 

Anyone try the latest batch of Juice is Loose? Supposedly he used the old yeast or something else from the original recipe.

 

Had one last night. Not sure it’s exactly the same as 2 years ago but it’s the best it’s been in that long. Very juicy and worth a pickup.

 

I don't understand why they would change an acclaimed recipe. Trillium did it, too.

Does anyone have any insight as to why a brewery would mess with a very successful beer?

 

I have zero insight other than to say Transient’s change corresponded to a major upscale in production. Could that be why? Trillium’s fermentation profile feels more like a choice that went south

 

No clue. I didn't realize he'd changed anything and figured my distaste for later batches was just my tastes changing. This gives me a little hope.

 

I know they had high production costs for that beer, perhaps, they had to change ingredients to improve their margin so they wouldn't have to charge $25 a 4 pack.

 

Makes sense. But the change nearly killed the brand so it wasn’t worth it. Hopefully they can restore its reputation

 

Anyone try the recent drop of Crushed Velvet? Sounds like this batch of Juice is Loose is worth the $20? Trying to determine how to allocate resources once my sleigh pulls into town tomorrow.

 

Just go to the Mikerphone thread. That should give you all your answers.

 

Awww, but I don't wanna go to the Mikerphone thread. It tastes like hops and sadness over there

 

Well he “is” an out of towner

 

Don't worry, I just packed the one dolly this time. Gifts take up a lot of space .