2015 Blind IIPA tasting

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by smanrob, Jan 1, 2015.

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  1. smanrob

    smanrob Initiate (0) Feb 9, 2014 California

    Last year I set up a blind taste testing of 20 I/IPA's with a couple of friends (thread and results click here).
    It was a great time, and I've been enlisted to set up a 2015 tasting.
    I'm asking for your feedback regarding the beers to be included this year.
    1. Is there anything sorely missing from either list?
    2. Is there anything that I'm not going to be able to get relatively fresh in the next 4-6 weeks?

    Some general notes about what I'm trying to coordinate this year...
    Shooting to set this up in late January or early February so we can get as many fresh bottles as possible (Hopslam, Apex, Hi-Res, etc. - hopefully).
    Last year we just threw the IPA's in with the IIPA's, and tracked their results both along with IIPA's and separately. This year, we'll include more IPA's and give them their own flights.
    Some of the top performers are coming back, but most of last year's entrants will be cycled out.
    Most of the bottles come in through trade, so this list is really just a target list right now. With any luck, I'm hoping to score a few of the Wish List bottles, but who knows. If we can get more than 10 good entrants, then we'll just add more flights :grinning:.

    Here's the target list so far...
    [​IMG]

    Cheers!
     
    #1 smanrob, Jan 1, 2015
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  2. rather

    rather Initiate (0) May 31, 2013 California

    pizza port swami could be a good addition.
     
    #2 rather, Jan 1, 2015
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  3. TurkeyFeathers

    TurkeyFeathers Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2014 New York

    Fresh Dirtwolf ,Bells Two Hearted
     
    #3 TurkeyFeathers, Jan 1, 2015
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  4. DrRambis

    DrRambis Initiate (0) Jan 10, 2014 New Jersey

    Wow there are so many great beers out there that I feel like I could throw out 50 suggestions for IIPA and IPA alone. One random IPA that I liked this year was Long Trail Limbo IPA (very tropical and light) and its available year round as of now so it shouldnt be hard to trade for. For DIPA I really enjoyed Boulevard's Double Wide IIPA (just recently available in my area).

    As towards your wish-list I don't think you will find fresh Neshaminy Creek Shape... pretty sure it was a rotating/limited release and I havnt gotten my hands on it around here but may not be the case in PA. HI-Res is also only a limited release and has not been released for a while. Pretty sure it will get re-released towards the end of January. IMO its a totally different beer (much heavier) from Resin, which is a year-round release and really freaking awesome and easy to find and would be an awesome addition to your lineup. Dinner is brewery only release so that may cost you a bit, but it went out not too long ago.
     
    #4 DrRambis, Jan 1, 2015
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  5. THANAT0PSIS

    THANAT0PSIS Pooh-Bah (2,275) Aug 3, 2010 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    You're from CA and no Alpine?
     
    #5 THANAT0PSIS, Jan 1, 2015
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  6. fehrminator

    fehrminator Maven (1,301) Jan 26, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    Hop ranch
     
    #6 fehrminator, Jan 1, 2015
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  7. SenatorSpaceman

    SenatorSpaceman Savant (1,015) May 24, 2014 Connecticut

    Unfortunately, it will likely be a while before some of the beers on your wish list are available again fresh (i.e. Crusher, FBD).
     
    #7 SenatorSpaceman, Jan 1, 2015
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  8. MisSigsFan

    MisSigsFan Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2013 California

    This. Nelson, Duet, Pure/Exp Hop should be wish list worthy for sure.
     
    #8 MisSigsFan, Jan 1, 2015
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  9. TonyLema1

    TonyLema1 Pooh-Bah (2,890) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    I was really disappointed in Hop Ranch, and I'm a huge Victory Fan...DirtWolf should be on your list
     
    #9 TonyLema1, Jan 1, 2015
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  10. SenatorSpaceman

    SenatorSpaceman Savant (1,015) May 24, 2014 Connecticut

    No single IPA wishlist would be complete without Nelson. The only single that compares IMO is Focal Banger (which might still be floating around semi-fresh). It's latest release was early December.
     
    #10 SenatorSpaceman, Jan 1, 2015
  11. woodchipper

    woodchipper Grand Pooh-Bah (3,735) Oct 25, 2005 Connecticut
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I would love to see Heady in a blind test, but I do agree with the brewer that it is better 'from the can', hence would not be blind if drank as recommended. I love Heady, but I don't think it would fair well blind against other IPAs if style was taken into account in the rating process. Actually, for anyone who has had it, I think it would be very recognizable. If it was "known" that it was among the samples it would be super easy to pick out if you have had it.

    By the way to the poster-- great list, great organization, great plan. I wish I was one of your friends.
     
    #11 woodchipper, Jan 1, 2015
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  12. bonercityUSA

    bonercityUSA Initiate (0) Dec 30, 2013 Texas

    Since you are in CA, I would add Double Jack to the IIPA list. Can't be too hard to find a couple of fresh bottles, right?

    For an IPA, fresh Jai Alai is easy to obtain in a trade.
     
    #12 bonercityUSA, Jan 1, 2015
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  13. craft_is_king

    craft_is_king Pundit (773) Jul 24, 2014 California

    What part of Ca are you?

    Beachwood, Cellermaker, Societe (depending LA/SF/SD)
     
    #13 craft_is_king, Jan 1, 2015
  14. mrcraft

    mrcraft Grand Pooh-Bah (3,396) Dec 15, 2012 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Tree House Julius. And, of course, my favorite beer, Alpine Nelson. :slight_smile:
     
    #14 mrcraft, Jan 1, 2015
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  15. CavemanRamblin

    CavemanRamblin Initiate (0) Jun 19, 2014 North Carolina

    Julius is the best regular IPA I've had and it's not close. Try and get a couple growlers of that if you can OP.
     
    #15 CavemanRamblin, Jan 1, 2015
  16. HereforBeer

    HereforBeer Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2012 Washington

    Unsessionable by Revolution should be on this list.
     
    #16 HereforBeer, Jan 1, 2015
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  17. MisSigsFan

    MisSigsFan Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2013 California

    I'd love to get my hands on some Focal Banger.
     
    #17 MisSigsFan, Jan 1, 2015
  18. TylerKitchens

    TylerKitchens Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2014 Massachusetts

    Cross Dinner off of the wishlist...it's an awesome beer but does not do well after a month, it wouldn't be the same if you got a bottle this late after the release
     
    #18 TylerKitchens, Jan 1, 2015
  19. SenatorSpaceman

    SenatorSpaceman Savant (1,015) May 24, 2014 Connecticut

    Once the new cannery is operating, Focal is supposedly going to be available year-round. It's apparently getting an actual can design too. No more sticker on a plain metal can.

    Somebody posted this on Instagram:

    [​IMG]
     
    #19 SenatorSpaceman, Jan 1, 2015
  20. smanrob

    smanrob Initiate (0) Feb 9, 2014 California

    Thanks for all the great feedback BA's! I've already begun updating the target list.
    To answer a couple of questions...
    I'm in the Sacramento area - close enough to the Bay Area and Sonoma county to head over there and pick up bottles fresh at the breweries.
    Alpine doesn't make it up our direction very often, and I've never had Nelson, so based on everyone's feedback, it's definitely on the list now. Dirtwolf is also fast tracked to the list.
    I enjoy Heady as much as the next guy, but it had it's shot last year.
    I'll keep updating the list as more great feedback comes in. Cheers!
     
    #20 smanrob, Jan 1, 2015
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