Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

Agreed. Besides the New York options, they get drafts from Tired Hands and Hill Farmstead and cans from Alchemist, Lawson's and Fiddlehead. It is on another level entirely.

 

Is there something different the bars are doing or do you just like the beer selection better?

 

That would be pretty awesome.

My take on it that not only is Chicagoland relatively new to brewing the style as a whole, but there is so much competition here that I'm not sure how much sense it would make for Corridor or Forbidden Root or any of those guys to send their beers via kegs to a bunch of bars when they can sell out of that same beer relatively quickly in their own establishment. The guys in New England, like Hill Farmstead (middle of nowhere), Alchemist (kind of middle of nowhere), Trillium (2, or is it 3 locations now?) even Tree House(now that they are in Sturbridge) have A LOT larger capacity than Corridor, Forbidden Root, MoRE or any of those guys. It makes sense for New England breweries to distro their beers into NY rather than just sit on it where they are located on all that capacity they have.

But what do I know... I just drink the beer.

 

I might be in the minority here but I'm never super impressed with the "OG's" anymore. I think Chicago (and most major commerical markets) have already arrived. I'd be willing to bet that even the most hardcore snobs would look like fools in a large blind tasting.

I get what you are all talking about as far as availability and distribution go but I'm not clamoring to find cheap flights anymore simply to "try the best."

 

I was cautiously optimistic and thought cryoflayer was quite good. Liked it Much better than crazy straws.

I got mango, grapefruit and a bit of dankess on the finish. Kinda reminds me of a smoother waldo’s special from lagunitas, which i always look forward to

 

what are the opinions of the North Island IPA from Coronado

 

^^^^^^ I have only had east coast OG NEIPA from cans, but I agree that Chicago is getting it down that you might be surprised with a blind taste test who you choose. I love doing blind taste test at my house with my friends and they are always sure they know their favorite brewery, but get surprised a lot.

I have been a Transient supporter forever,I agree their consistency is frustrating, I just got the most recent JIL, going to try it now and hope not to be disappointed.

 

I just had a can last night and felt the same way. FWIW, I picked up these cans at Transient after drinking it on tap. Thought it was back on track based on the pint I had there, really disappointed with the can.

 

Has anybody tried Fizzy Britches by Saint Errant? It looks like it dropped around the area yesterday, and there's only one check-in on Untappd so far. I would think a DDH Galaxy, Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo IPA would draw more attention around here - unless people are keeping it under wraps.

 

I have to agree with this. I've just become tired of purchasing this format. Plus, if I'm going to buy a large format IPA, the 3 or 4 different beers Toppling Goliath has come out with recently have trumped bombers from Saint Errant or Mikerphone or Hubbard's Cave for me. At least the latter two you can easily find on tap.

 

Not NE, but Todd is on sale for $9.99 at Binny's! 1/8/18 canning date.

 

Yeah, Gummy Vortex is legit. I hope they continue to work on the main three and dial them in. This is something I'd buy all the time.

 

One Trick Pony is following up on Friendly Hazing. This Sunday, they're putting two new NE Style IPA's on tap:

"Sunday includes not one, but two New England IPAs being tapped: Loral Canyon (hopped with Loral & Simcoe hops) and Misty Mansion (hopped with lots of Amarillo and a dash of Mosaic). Hoppy and cloudy from use of oats and wheat malts in greater percentages than usual, just like the category demands"

Friendly Hazing was great - we stopped in there last weekend and it's dangerously crushable. I love everything they do, and if their NE IPA expansion is as dialed in as everything else, I'll be bringing home pallets of crowlers.

 

I personally haven't seen Todd under a month old in 18 months so this is a welcomed tip. Thanks!

 

Heading to the store now. Gummy Vortex, Cromulent, or Pseudo? Anyone have the particular batches at stores now?

 

Haven't tried the latest Pseudo, but I don't think you can go wrong with either Cromulent or Vortex. I love both of these batches.

 

Latest batch of Mind to Devour is sooo good. Citra hop is so upfront, fantastic taste from front to finish. This is not a beer trying to be overtly in the New England style. Just a deliciously hopped beer that is a bit hazy.