Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

As I was drinking a couple of cans of Triptych Dank Meme yesterday I couldn't believe it is only 5% of alcohol for how pillowy it is. Really great. The bottom of the cans also have a fun inscription for the Chicagolands

 

Well Beyond is the epic combo I was talking about DDH Galaxy/Citra/Mosaic..

Not had Beyond yet but Bomb Atomically is absolutely incredible...

I really enjoyed Ghost when we had it yesterday... love how it's a little green ... the body is fucking sick on it for real.....

SB cans get better to me every time I have one!

 

I enjoyed Ghost quite a bit but found it a little "young," if that makes sense. I guess I am in the minority, but with some of these incredibly heavily-hopped beers, I'm of the opinion that a few extra days (maybe even a week, week-and-a-half) can really help integrate the hop profile in with the rest of the beer. If it's still on, I will be trying it again in the coming weeks.

 

That's quite possibly the funniest thing to hit the beer industry. Due you time your visit for the release and have an "immature beer", wait a few days later when it's at its prime, or compromise a sweet spot in between? The line hoarders are going to be so confused.

 

i remember Spacebar was green was a very long time the first go around. Haven't had any of this batch yet, does it need time? or just isn't hitting the mark for you?

 

I think the freshness obsession doesn't always result in the best beer. Sometimes brewers release things a bit too soon. Look at the comments about Snoochie Boochies. The first can I had was easily the worst (still really good), but every subsequent one really has tasted better, more integrated. I've also had this experience with both Tree House and Trillium beers in the past.

 

Just had some Fallen Flag for the first time in a while. I still say Narrow Gauge is King of the Midwest. Find some if you haven't had it

 

I get it. It really makes 4-6 packs more interesting if you drink a can each night. Almost like putting away a couple bottles of stouts to see how they develop over a few years, but you see the development with the 4-6 pack of a ddh ipa over 2 weeks not 2 years.

 

This is why Mikerphone frustrates me.

 

Binnys Lincoln Park has Dank Meme and Snoochie Boochies.

 

Love this thread..but i got to it late.
What are the top five spots for NE IPA in Chicago?

I live in Madison, WI...so I'm not down there that much. Spots I find myself going back to...
Dryhop/Corridor junkie here. Love em. Familiar.
Mikerphone...The Nelson IIPA I had was phenomenal, but some of the other beers were subpar enough that I don't feel it is worth the trek.
FFF..
Haymarket.

 

Friends shared some Narrow Gauge crowlers with me a few weeks back. They were very good. My favorite in order of the 4 we had: Fallen Flag, J.U.I.C.E., DDH Hoppy Meal, and Bird Law. The first 3 were top rate IMO. Bird was okay.

 

stopped at forbidden root tonight for a growler of ghost tropic. had a pour of snooze and radio swan. both were really really great. looking forward to opening my growler soon.

 

To me, Corridor is doing it best in the city. I'd say to check out Forbidden Root. They are doing some good things, and @BJP seems pretty dedicated.

 

Forbidden Root best in city for me. Corridor is behind mikerphone imo.

 

I had a friend who shared a fresh crowler of Juicy Bits with me last night. Out of everything I've had from all the usual suspects, it reminded me a lot of something from Corridor.

In terms of accessibility (meaning, excluding Transient), I would put Corridor and FR 1 and 2 respectively, with Mikerphone and Noon Whistle a full peg behind.

 

Chicago- Corridor and Forbidden Root are making a concerted effort with NEIPAs and have produced some excellent results. Both have brewpubs. Those two make the top 5. Maplewood and Hop Butcher are distro only, kind of led the hype of the style early on here, but the results have been surpassed by nimbleness of the other two and I haven't heard too much about them lately.

Suburbs- the other 3 spots for the top 5 I cannot attest to, but if you look at the reviews, comments and lines, they would surely go to Mikerphone (Haven't had their hyped stuff, wasn't a fan of the Special Sauce, but loved the wheat ipa). People like Noon Whistle who turns out a new can every week so it seems so they are moving beer. And finally the last spot would be held for More Brewing which isn't open yet, but the brewer was probably the most talked about in the style at his previous local gig before moving on.

 

Juicy Bits is so damn good. My sister lives less than 10 blocks from Weldwerks and always sends me porch bombs of Juicy and Alpha Bits.

I agree with the Corridor comparison as well, Squeezit was right up there with Juicy Bits

 

Anyone who got in on the recent Dank Meme drop get any Wake Up, Neo...? Pretty sure it's the first time it has been made, and certainly the first time canned. I know Beer Cellar got a little. Mosaic/Citra IIPA @ 8.2%. Damn good. Dank, juicy, nice bitterness to it. Curious as to how others think it stacks up?