Discovered IPAs and need recommendations

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by leosfire, Jun 5, 2014.

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  1. leosfire

    leosfire Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2014 Arizona

    Have you been to GABF? I like going to the one we have here in AZ, but now that I've been doing research, I'm a little disappointed that there won't be better breweries there. I'm really bummed that Stone isn't coming this year. :slight_frown: I think learning more about beer is a catch 22.
     
    #81 leosfire, Jun 7, 2014
  2. leosfire

    leosfire Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2014 Arizona

    I'm drinking the Ballast Point Sculpin IPA now, and it's amazing!! Comparable to Fresh Squeezed, because to me, it's really juicy. I looked up good places to buy beer in my area and found a couple places a mile apart. I hit up one and bought Racer 5, then went to the other place a mile away that growlers with beer on tap. I tasted a few, then I tasted the Sculpin and knew I would not be walking out of the store without that beer. It really is awesome! Thanks to all of you that recommended that one! I haven't tried the Racer 5 yet, but will be shortly. :slight_smile:
     
    #82 leosfire, Jun 7, 2014
    StLeasy and Hoptimus-Prime like this.
  3. leosfire

    leosfire Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2014 Arizona

    So, I'm at the store tonight and I'm taking out the bottles, looking for a date and couldn't find one. I feel sheepish for asking, but where do I find a date to make sure it's fresh?
     
    #83 leosfire, Jun 7, 2014
  4. AHeaston8

    AHeaston8 Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2013 Ohio


    Try out Lagunitas IPA. If you like Stone, this one is better. Perfect west coast style IPA. A classic. I enjoy most things by Stone and Lagunitas.

    Check out Founder's All Day and Centennial
    If you could trade for it, Revolution Anti-Hero is one of my personal favorite beers ever.


    Cheers!!!
     
    #84 AHeaston8, Jun 7, 2014
  5. Hoptimus-Prime

    Hoptimus-Prime Pundit (946) Dec 7, 2012 North Carolina
    Trader

    Some breweries (looking at you Lagunitas) make it very difficult to find/ read the bottle date, gotta catch it in the right light , at the right angle lol...typically on the neck of the bottle, bottom of the can or somewhere on the lable. There are some breweries that don't even date their bottles.

    Recommendations based on you're distro:
    Victory Dirt wolf
    Modus Hoperandi
    Stone Go to IPA, Ruination,Enjoy by (when available)
    Avery Maharaja,Dugana
    Clown Shoes Space Cake, Galactica
    Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' , Hop Stoopid....and keep your eyes open for Sucks! Its a winter seasonal in 6 packs but 32s are year round (I've yet to spot a 32 in nc or va)
    Firestone Double Jack and Wookey Jack Wookey Jack is a Black Rye IPA, one of the best imo, great hop profile!
    Cheers man, enjoy the journey!
     
    #85 Hoptimus-Prime, Jun 7, 2014
  6. nauc

    nauc Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2013 New York

    Stone etches them near the bend, its kinda a pita to find

    Also, you gotta try Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA

    ps, Rate Beer and Beer Buddy are nice apps
     
    #86 nauc, Jun 7, 2014
  7. dennis3951

    dennis3951 Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 New Jersey

    I would tell you to go to the IPA section of the best beer store near you and just pick some at random. Just check the freshness date take nothing much more than 60 days old.
     
    #87 dennis3951, Jun 7, 2014
  8. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I went last year and I don't plan on going back. The breweries I was looking forward to seeing like three floyds aand sun king brought enough beer for the first day. About half way through the evening people started knocking cups out of the hands of strangers, and at the end I had to make my way around pools of vomit to get to the door. Its become a frat party unfortunately. I've talke to some other BA's and have been advised to try the Thursday session before I write it off completely, but with all the grreat beer hitting the local bars, tappings of hard to get brews, and rare beer fest, I'm not sure if I want to bother going back.
    On another note, had a fleur de hublon from ommegang last night and it's a delightfully hoppy belgian.
     
    #88 SFACRKnight, Jun 7, 2014
  9. T6PP

    T6PP Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2014 Massachusetts

    Dogfish 60 and 90, stone ipa, sculpin by ballast point is a favorite
     
    #89 T6PP, Jun 7, 2014
  10. leosfire

    leosfire Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2014 Arizona


    Ok, so I wasn't off base examining the bottle for the date. Good to know. I had the Victory Dirt Wolf in my hand, but decided to try the Racer 5 first. I wrote down the others you suggested that weren't listed here yet. My husband liked a black IPA we had a few weeks ago, but neither of us can remember the name. I've had the Founder's Red Rye IPA, but I've never had a Black Rye IPA, so I will look for that one. It seems like Firestone makes some damn good beer.
     
    #90 leosfire, Jun 7, 2014
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  11. leosfire

    leosfire Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2014 Arizona

    Thanks for the app suggestions!
     
    #91 leosfire, Jun 7, 2014
  12. Travitten

    Travitten Savant (1,014) Feb 8, 2014 Iowa
    Trader

    Tg Psuedosue (none better, or any Tg ipa)
    Heady topper
    Pliny the elder
    Anything from HF.
    Alpine Nelson (or any alpine)
    Lots more...

    Bigger distribution beers: Fresh sqeezed and two hearted are excellent.
     
    #92 Travitten, Jun 7, 2014
  13. kwakwhore

    kwakwhore Maven (1,413) Nov 1, 2004 North Carolina
    Trader

    And don't forget Apex. That one is outstanding.
     
    #93 kwakwhore, Jun 7, 2014
  14. JayORear

    JayORear Grand Pooh-Bah (3,058) Feb 22, 2012 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The Dude approves of all the thoughtful, snark-free advice given to the OP.

    He also seconds any and all advice to try Alpine Nelson, aka IPA of the gods.
     
    #94 JayORear, Jun 7, 2014
    Knocksvil, TongoRad and utopiajane like this.
  15. Wolfhead

    Wolfhead Pundit (795) Sep 1, 2009 Illinois

    Try all of them and then go back to the ones you like
    Enjoy the ride
     
    #95 Wolfhead, Jun 7, 2014
  16. leosfire

    leosfire Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2014 Arizona


    That sounds awful! So, the weekend of the GABF, the local bars around the town get unique beers? I think that would definitely be preferable to walking around vomit and men acting like dumb asses. :wink: The little beer fest I'm heading to next weekend isn't like that, although they have a tenth of the beer too. I wouldn't have anything near the tolerance needed to drink that much beer anyway. I looked up the fleur de hublon and it looks great....not sure if I can get it here. I didn't even know that a pale ale could be so hoppy.
     
    #96 leosfire, Jun 7, 2014
  17. leosfire

    leosfire Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2014 Arizona

    Alpine Nelson.....another reason to make a trip to CA. I think CA might be my first brewery trip!
     
    #97 leosfire, Jun 7, 2014
  18. DeFaz

    DeFaz Initiate (0) Jun 30, 2013 Ohio

    I don't know what's available in Arizona. I drink White Rajah (big citrus) and Fathead's Head Hunter (big pine) all the time. But, living in the southwest you may be able to get your hands on Pliny the Younger, in which case you're not going to want anything else.
     
    #98 DeFaz, Jun 7, 2014
  19. leosfire

    leosfire Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2014 Arizona

     
    #99 leosfire, Jun 7, 2014
  20. StLeasy

    StLeasy Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2013 Illinois

    Pliny the Younger is only released once a year and tap-only, but Pliny the Elder is (limited, but) available in bottles year-round. You could probably trade for some via this website, but personally, I'd rather "fall in love" with beers that are much more easily available. That said, if you're ever in NorCal, definitely try to make a trip to the Russian River brewery to try fresh Pliny :slight_smile:

    I mentioned earlier that I base my IPA purchases entirely on freshness. A couple specific beers to look out for soon-

    Stone RuinTen IIPA 22oz bottles/bombers, will be on the shelves in a week or so. A once-a-year release of a 10%, incredibly hoppy IPA. Also, Stone Enjoy By 7/4/14, which just hit shelves.

    Founders Double Trouble IIPA in 4-packs in July. One of my favorite hop profile/flavors of any IPA (Simcoe and Amarillo); dank, piney, yet bright and floral. A pale IPA, not red and/or rye like Red's.
     
    #100 StLeasy, Jun 7, 2014
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