Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

Transient probably has the best art work imo

 

Any more canning runs on the horizon (apart from Radio Swan)?

 

Finally had a few Windmill IPA's.

Memes & Dreams was above average for the "scene" here, a touch bitter on the finish but once it warmed pleasant mango & vanilla flavors emerged.

Fakie, the session NE IPA, was mild as expected & didn't make much of an impression, but was decent enough.

I'll probably stop back in once Two If By Citra drops again...they earned enough cred with me to try that one.

 

I've found everything about Mikerphone to be extremely hit and miss, from the label art work, to some of the beer.

Some of the stuff is absolutely killer, and some is completely forgettable.

The innocent criminal artwork is especially goofy.

 

Could use a dank meme drop soon....

 

The Devin Townsend video that it's based on is pretty goofy, so it works out.

Some of his labels are not great, but there are MUCH worse examples of bad labels, even isolated to the Chicago area. Ten Ninety's labels are absolutely terrible. Miskatonic's are bad as well. Noon Whistle's are just okay (unique though). Hailstorm's are in the Ten Ninety camp and are truly awful. Hubbard/Une both have bad labels too.

I'm a big fan of Forbidden Root's labels, especially Snoochie, and Transient's are cool as well.

 

Ten Ninety's labels are so generic I refuse to try the beer.

 

The beer is decent but nothing earth-shattering, but the fact that few other local Chicago breweries are really doing Belgians (Goose Island is the main one that pops into my head) would help them stand out...if the labels wouldn't keep people from picking the beers up in the first place.

 

Any updates on any more Chicago drops soon?

 

could not agree more on ten ninety.

enjoy Noon Whistles.

Hailstorm's labels for the most park look cheap.

I enjoy Hubbard's Caves' minimal design though.

 

Yea I think the Hubbard's Cave labels are super awesome.

 

Had the $25,000,000 Man from Three Floyds last night. Not bad. Looked the part and had some mild citrus, tropical notes with a familiar Three Floyds bitter and malt finish. I would get it again, but I wouldn't put it quite in the category of the stuff coming out of Corridor or Forbidden Root. The NE IPAs from those two have deeper, cloudy appearance with more juicy flavors and lower bitterness. Not sure Three Floyds was going for that specifically but just saying that if that's what you are expecting when you go for the $25,000,000 Man, it won't meet your expectations.

 

I actually enjoy Miskatonic's can art. Epilogue and Wise Fool/Catch Penny have such beautiful sleek matte cans. Simple but elegant.

 

Damn me

 

I agree with all of these things.

I will say, these names are kinda getting ridiculous.

 

I completely agree about the Memes & Dreams. The nose was right off the bat. As it warmed, the mango flavor was like a warm hug. Windmill is on to something.

 

Anyone see Snoochie around town yet?

 

I saw that it was listed in the Binny's database but not listed as available. I did not call to ask though, sometimes I've seen a discrepancy between what they have as available and not available.
http://www.binnys.com/all/snoochie
4 pack of 16oz cans - $15.99

 

Thursday was the day I heard from a couple stores. Not sure about the big guys like Binny's

 

While legit can art is always a bonus, are we seriously rating beers/breweries on their can art? Really?