Chicagoland NE IPAs (2019)

I bought some recently.

It’s really well executed.

Proper Carbonation ✔️
Low bitterness ✔️
Clean finish ✔️
Repeatability ✔️

But even with that, I don’t think it provides the hop experience worthy of the new price point. Once you get past $13-14.99 you really need to show me something. I get way more critical at that price point and it’s just not an explosive beer. It’s clean and well made, but so it’s NvU and SoJ and those beers are way cheaper.

 

Anyone else try saint errant chasing vanity? I was blown away. I haven’t purchased much of their stuff lately, but glad I nabbed this one. Great representation of the NE style. Grab this if you see it!

 

This thread has kind of trail off in terms of highlighting all but a select group of NEIPA brewers. I appreciate the feed back on them.

Haven't heard much lately, but general question for the thread: how are the rest of the St. E NEIPAs coming out lately? How about the new Energy City stuff that came out recently? How about the Riverlands stuff that came out recently?

 

I haven't enjoyed any of the Energy City stuff I've tried, whether "regular" NE IPA, milkshake or fruited milkshake NE IPA.

None have been terrible, but after 3 or 4 single cans I stopped trying them.

Riverlands Silt was above average, and I'd buy another 4 pack from them.

 

I haven’t had this batch of Green Cloud but the one from last summer was excellent

 

St. Errant seems to be in a really good groove lately - at least the ones I've picked up. Overgolded and Strange Loops were excellent. Chasing Vanity, Rhythm Recipe and Bandersnatch which was a little while ago were also good.

I've had a handful of Energy City's NE stuff as well and they are also tasty but maybe slightly below the level that St. Errant is putting out - at least according to my palate.

 

The only milkshakes I've had from them basically tasted like NE IPAs with vanilla added; I never really picked up on the fruit. Otherwise, I thought they were fine, just nothing special like others have said.

I still think people should at least try a can of Pterodactyl Deathscream from Burnt City. It may be very slightly green (or was when I first had it a couple weeks back), but it was otherwise very good for the style--thick and creamy.

 

So I’ve been out of the country for 2 weeks and am trying to get caught up and would appreciate some info:

-Are Green Clouds cans from Saint Errant still out in the craft shops or did those go quickly?

-Has anyone batch of Shimmy Shimmy Ya from Mikerphone? I have enjoyed that beer in past years.

Thanks!

Neal

 

Green clouds was still at open bottle as of yesterday afternoon. I’d assume they’re floating around still

 

St. Errant Green Cloud- was somewhere between Hop Butcher sweetness and Corridor rindyness. A very good NEIPA if not too sweet. Need to crack open a Strange Loop and see if these guys should be on my radar going forth.

Energy City Hop Jon- This beer gets a massive amount of mouthfeel from what feels like too much carbonation. Reminiscent of a more flavorful Maplewood Son of Juice. Doesn't have the sweetness you look for in an NEIPA, but I actually enjoyed this for what it was despite constantly feeling it was overcarbed on mouthfeel. Somehow it worked to be a refreshing beer you want to keep sipping.

 

I’ve noticed a size-able drop in Corridor ratings on Untappd (from the 4-4.25 range to 3.6-3.8 ish). Are these an accurate reflection of the new brew team? I plan on trying myself next weekend

 

In my opinion, no.

 

I was wondering about Corridor's NE IPA 'game' lately as well. It's been probably over a month since I've been there and I don't see that much chatter or discussion on their recent offerings, specifically since their former brewer went to MoRE.

 

I haven't been there as often recently (partially because a friend who used to work there no longer does, so it's not as "convenient), but the last few times I've had their beers, I didn't notice anything different about them quality-wise. Now, they have always done some weird hop combos, so maybe they've been experimenting with less "crowd-pleasing" recipes lately?

 

I haven't noticed any difference in Corridor's quality either. There seems to be less updates on this board than in the past and it looks like they gave up on Twitter back in April in favor of instagram. If you are packing the place there really isn't a reason to hype it up on social media I guess.

 

Where would y’all put SingleCut in the rankings?

Also, I think Chasing Vanity by St Errant is good, but man oh man is it sweet.

 

Solid...we'll see how fresh this stuff stays out here and if any of the one-offs make there way here.

 

I did not think the quality has changed in my most recent visits. I will say that in general it seemed like they were brewing more different style beers/different hops whereas in the past it was the traditional DDHIPAs (mosaic/citra). The drop in rating could be due to that (as dumb as that is).

 

I agree with this...it seems like they aren't pumping out the hazy beers quite as much these days.

 

Is it crazy to think that Corridor's success in "haze" was actually detrimental to their overall business plan? Hordes of neckbeards (myself included) hording around the bar, just getting crowler's to go, gumming up the service for the neighborhood patrons there for brunch with their family?

Possibly a dumb idea...but it did occur to me a few times whilst awkwardly hovering near the bar.