blind IPA tasting suggestions!!

Be aware palate fatigue with IPAs sets in fast. It becomes pretty hard to distinguish them after five or six samples
But it is fun. Good luck.

I'll only offer one beer suggestion. If you don't include Surly Abrasive, you're doing it wrong.

 

Do it over time definitely maybe focusing on one region at a time. For the north east, easy to get beers that represent the IPa/DIPA I would say a soft sweet 60 minute, Resin so dank, SouthHampton Burton IPA, more of an english style and Ommegang's Fleur De Houblon to represent the belgian pales with a very exciting beer , lemon and lime zest, really fruity.

Going further south east I would say dirtwolf, nugget nectar,jai alai, and westbrook IPA.
Much farther north east you want HF Edward , Headdy Topper, Larry and Maine Beer co Lunch

 

Yes man, take it easy on the palate. First couple of beers will be the winners since numer 5-12 will not taste as good as they usually do.

 

I ran a blind IPA tasting last month with 10 American IPAs, no IIPAs. 3 oz samples of each and we took a break after 5 and ate a bit. I worried about palate fatigue but the last beer tasted got the highest ratings. The 10 IPAs were a mix of local, regional and national brands and Surly Furious was that last one tasted with the highest rating.

 

Pour the beers before you put the blindfold on or else it gets messy.

 

I would do a tasting of 3-4 all within the same sub-category (i.e. all west-coast).

While they may not be dream beers, for the purposes of my own curiosity, I would like to see which of the following I like the most/ how I would rank :

Sculpin
Stone Enjoy By
Racer 5
Victory Hop ranch or Dirtwolf (when hop ranch not in season)

These are some of my favorite beers that I can get frequently.

 

Midwest I would do bells two hearted and shorts huma. They are single IPAs but are easy to find and tasty.

Edit: if you can get white rajah from the brew kettle in Ohio I would do it. One of the best ipas I've had to date.

 

I would set them out before hand. Serve chilled but not tooth cracking cold. Try an ice cold one next to a slightly chilled one. The warmer serving temp brings out tons more character.
Jai lai
Westbrook
Wiseacre
Highland Kashmir
Bells 2 hearted
Founders centennial
New Holland mad hatter
Sculpin
Stone IPA
Smutty Nose
Shipyard

 

Wow, gotta be fresh stuff , might be tough going that deep.

West - grapefruit ipa, enjoy by
Mid- headhunter , furious
East - Hdr, Foothills ipa if the month really fresh and outstanding.

 

If Founders Centennial isn't on the table, you suck and so does your tasting

For West Coast - Stone and Ballast Point products are excellent choices
East Coast - 90 Minute, Foothills Jade or Double Vision and On the Wings Of Armageddon
Midwest - Bells Two Hearted and you know my feeling on Founders

 

Just take your time with the tasting, and don't try to do too many... Your taste buds won't know which way is up after the first few, even for the most seasoned of ipa drinkers.

 

Did this recently with Pliny, 077xx, Pipeworks Citra, Three Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf, a local growler (Crown Brewing) and Knee Deep Deep River. All were less than a month old (the growler was filled that day).

The Deep River won by quite a wide margin. All of us had it as #1 or #2 on our blind tasting scorecards.

 

West: Pliny, Alpine Duet, Boneyard Hop Venom, La Cumbre Project Dank
Middle: New Glarus Scream, Revolution Unsessionable, Permanent Funeral, Chillwave
East: Heady, OTWOA, Double Sunshine, Lunch or Dinner (haven't had yet)