Belgian IPAs : What's Your Take?

I've recently started hitting up a lot of Belgians. I love the flavor of the Belgian yeast.

So far the closest I've had to a Belgian IPA is Sumpin Sumpin Wild and I loved it. I remember trying Cali Belgique years ago and not liking it, maybe I will revisit it, we all know that our palates tend to change with time.

 

Don't know if this qualifies, but I find the SN Beer Camp Belgian black IPA to be delicious. I hope they decide to add it to their line up.

 

Or you could kick it up (or down) a notch and go for De Ranke XXX Bitter at 6.0%. It's scrumptious.

 

Ale Asylum Bedlam. An awesome take on Belgian IPA. Citra hops and Belgian yeast are so delicious together.

 

I wouldn't say the style is "imperialized" for no good reason. It's kind of a hybrid between American IPAs and Belgian Tripels, and the latter of those two tends to be in the range of 8% and up when it comes to ABV.

As far as Cali-Belgique goes, it's been many months since I last had it, but while it smelled like a Belgian ale from the distinctive yeast, the taste was mostly just a standard west coast IPA. If I'm drinking a Belgian IPA, I want something that tastes kind of like a hoppy tripel. Le Freak, Raging Bitch, Little Sumpin' Wild and Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel all seem to fit that bill.

For suggestions of other Belgian IPAs that the OP might find more to his (her?) liking based on enjoying Cali-Belgique, I would recommend Chainbreaker by Deschutes and Belgo by New Belgium (if this one is still around--I'd heard that they weren't producing it any longer).

 

Since the former has 611 reviews while the latter has only 5, I was assuming that one is not particularly easy to come by?

 

All of this is spot on.

 

It was brewed for The Festival this year w/a limited bottle run afterward. So maybe not the best rec for the OP here, but changed my view of what BIPAs could be. A lower ABV offering packed with flavor - the potential is there.

 

I absolutely love Belgian IPAs, although they can be hit or miss.. I like the ones with hop flavor and not just hop bitterness..

My faves are Sumpin' Wild, Raging Bitch, and Columbus Big Frank

 

I love Cali-Belgique, Le Freak and Sumpin Wild but I've had Piraat and Houblon Chouffe multiple times and they always taste skunked and void of hop flavor. I think that every bottle I've had was sitting for too long by the time I got to them. Same thing with the De Ranke XX I had a couple weeks ago although I know it had been sitting for over a year due to the freshness date. Living and learning is expensive.

 

I agree with geocool’s first post. Below is something I posted previously:

“I am of the opinion that there are two sub-styles of Belgian IPAs.

“There is an American style Belgian IPA where American hops are used. Examples of this sub-style are Flying Dog Raging Bitch, Lagunitas A Little Sumpin Wild, Stone Cali-Belgique, Green Flash Le Freak, etc.

The Belgian brewed Belgian IPAs utilize European hops which result in a beer of a different character. Examples of this sub-style are De Ranke XX Bitter, Poperings Hommel Bier, Piraat, etc.

My personal preference is the American style Belgian IPA with my favorite being Flying Dog Raging Bitch. I also really like the Flying Dog’s new beer: Wildeman Farmhouse IPA.”

Cheers!

 

I realise "IPA" can mean almost anything, but Piraat? Really? Seemed like a Tripel to me. Never in a million years would I have called it an IPA.

 

I agree.

 

Not really a fan, but to each his own.

My biggest beef is with american breweries who just label their brews as an IPA when the brew is clearly a BIPA style. If brewing a Belgian style IPA, please label it as such. I have bought several IPA that turned out to be a BIPA style without knowing. Don't always have time to check reviews first.

 

I am a big fan of Belgian IPAs. Not sure how easy it is to find outside of Canada (probably not very), but Microbrasserie Charlevoix's Dominus Vobiscum Lupulus is my favourite. A really wonderful beer. Aside from that, I am surprised nobody has mentioned Duvel Tripel Hop yet. Great twist on a classic!

 

I've only had 2 belgian IPA (Raging Bitch and my own homebrewed one) and loved it, its definitely up there for brews I will be seeking out

 

Wingman Ace IPA was one that I had a few months back (maybe 6 months ago?). No mention of a "B" or "Begian" on the can. Maybe they have changed the cans since then but at least the can I got back then and the photo in the link below just shows IPA.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24029/72808

There are a couple others I have tried but can't think of them off the top of my head.

 

I was going to mention Rayon Vert but I guess that's just more of a Belgian pale. Still awesome though.