Chicagoland NE IPAs (2019)

Not Chicago brewed, but since I saw Southern Grist posted in the Mikerphone thread I thought I’d post their tap takeover at the Green Lady event. Couple hazies and a milkshake on tap 1/7.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=981175052070910

 

Update from the weekend, the SOSUS (4.32 rating) picked up was very good, and the M-43 (4.47 rating) was even better. Very balanced NE IPA, the hops were real and they were spectacular! Will definitely be on the lookout for these two offerings in the future.

 

King Sue just hit Binny's so you need to try that one next!

 

Methode Haze at Maplewood is next level. But the newer one South of Passion not so much. Still some inconsistency but when they are on I'm not sure there is better hazy beer in the city right now.

 

I still have yet to make it to Maplewood, which I badly need to correct. I think the start of this thread for 2019 and some conversation going on in other threads has me wondering who the top dog really is in Chicagoland for NEIPAs now. A year or so ago, it seemed Corridor and Forbidden Root were the top two. But now there have been brewer changes and releases not occurring as much, along with other breweries like Maplewood and Hop Butcher ramping up.

I still lean towards Corridor, but I think there has been a slight dip since last year. Although, that could also be me growing a bit tired of the style, perhaps due to overload in the prior 18 months or so.

 

anyone try fruit slave cans yet?

 

Top tier is Maplewood, Pipeworks and Hop Butcher. All 3 have issues. Pipeworks lacks a place to drink these beers on tap but is killing it on distribution. Hop Butcher basically the same thing but less consistent. Maplewood is not distributing their top tier stuff nor are they set up to do that. Their tap room stuff can be the best hazy beer in the city but it is not consistently there yet.

2nd tier is Corridor, Forbidden Root, and Marz. Solid beer, sometimes more consistent than the top tier but not knocking it out of the park anymore. All 3 have solid taprooms but only Marz distributes and price is an issue.

3rd tier is everyone else.

 

Damn dude, Corridor and FR being 2nd tier is quite the hot take!

 

Tier 1- Hop Butcher, Corridor, Toppling Goliath....and maybe Old Nation (M-43 was good, but only one I've had from them so basing this off that) and Half Acre (not fair that they have one entry, but Wait for the Sound was great, but can they pull off more in that vein? If not they drop)


Tier 2. Pipeworks and FR taste very similar to me. In a blind taste test, I'm not sure I could tell the difference. Maplewood, Marz.

 

Top tier for me is Corridor, all by themselves. I don't think anyone else consistently delivers at as high of a level. If we're talking about each places' absolute best then you can slide in Maplewood and Hop Butcher, but I think they have too many dips.

 

We liked how this run came out! Should be out to city accounts and west burbs by now. North and South early next week.

 

Picked up King Sue and Pipeworks Speed of Sound at Binnys Six Corners on way home.

At some point I’ll stick w one of my NY Resolutions and refrain from beer purchases when I have plenty on hand.

 

Nobody is a bigger fanboy of Roger than myself, but Maplewood is pretty far behind Corridor right now in my opinion. I haven’t loved the Shakes series and Method Haze was just decent to me. Hoping things improve there though since they crowler (horribly planned space though. Had to wait in line outside last Saturday afternoon since it’s so tiny)

 

Glad to see I'm not the only one already breaking this resolution.

 

Just got back from old Irving brewing and I have to say that their Beezer has tasted better than it ever has before. If you haven’t been over there highly recommend, great food and they still have BA Krampus cookies on draft. Tvs for nfl playoffs as well.

 

Since they are a huge carrier of local NEIPAS I thought this good news was properly shared here...

 

This thread popped up at the perfect time. My brother-in-law is visiting Moline, Illinois which is about a two hr drive from Chicago. He'll be in town for work for about a month or so. Coming from VA so typically drinking stuff on The Veil and The Answer level. I'm already aware of breweries such as Hubbards Cave, Mikerphone, MORE, Maplewood and a few others and have already recommended them to him. I'm looking for any info on other lesser known but just as good places to also recommend to him. I hear Binny's is the best bottle shop in the area so also referred him to that place. Any other solid options closer to Moline or are must visit types while in Chicago? Not interested in anything along the lines of Pipeworks or TG, really don't care for their stuff that much. Also any good craft beer bars in the area? Any and all help is greatly appreciated, thanks everyone!

 

this is huge. i frequented the beer cellar's original location when i first moved to geneva. they actually gave me my first taste of galaxy bowl when i went in for one of the mikerphone releases, i want to say bean spirit or innocent crimincal.

being a local in geneva now, this makes me so god damn happy.