Great IPA/IIPA Blind Tasting - Interesting Results

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by DIPAFAN, Aug 19, 2014.

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  1. DIPAFAN

    DIPAFAN Savant (1,034) Dec 16, 2012 New Jersey
    Trader

    Did a great blind tasting with 2 friends last night. Each pour was 3oz. and was completely blind. We really had a tough time ranking them as each beer was fantastic on its own. I realize that the styles mix a little here, but its not often that we get the chance to have all these great beers so fresh.

    Alchemist Headytopper - Picked up 2 days ago at the Waterbury sale (Aug 16)
    Alchemist Crusher - Picked up 2 days ago at the Waterbury sale (Aug 16)
    Alchemist Focal Banger - Picked up 2 days ago at the Waterbury sale (Aug 16)
    Alchemist Rapture - Picked up 2 days ago at the Waterbury sale (Aug 16)
    Fiddlehead IPA - 2 days old (Fresh growler filled on Aug 16 at Brewery)
    Block15/Fort George/Boneyard - 3 Way IPA - Canned on 7/30)

    Here are the results.

    Me:
    1. Crusher
    2. Fiddlehead IPA
    3. Focal Banger
    4. Heady
    5. 3-Way
    6. Rapture

    Friend 1:
    1. Crusher
    2. Rapture
    3. Focal Banger
    4. 3-Way
    5. Fiddlehead IPA
    6. Heady

    Friend 2:
    1. Rapture
    2. Focal Banger
    3. Heady
    4. Fiddlehead IPA
    5. 3-Way
    6. Crusher

    Anyone else do a similar tasting? Results?
     
    #1 DIPAFAN, Aug 19, 2014
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  2. NorCalAussie

    NorCalAussie Pundit (894) Jun 26, 2013 California
    Trader

    I will be happy to see if my results match yours... Kindly send me one can/bottle of each of these and I will get back to you:wink:
    Seriously though I am jealous of that line up.
     
    #2 NorCalAussie, Aug 19, 2014
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  3. richobrien

    richobrien Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2013 California

    Love the tasting "exbeeriments". Thanks for sharing!
     
    #3 richobrien, Aug 19, 2014
  4. Mo_fro

    Mo_fro Initiate (0) Feb 15, 2014 Connecticut

    I picked up the same haul in Waterbury. I didn't do a blind taste test but I put Focal over Heady.
     
    #4 Mo_fro, Aug 19, 2014
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  5. BucketBoy

    BucketBoy Zealot (649) May 6, 2008 Pennsylvania

    For science!

    Interesting that Focal Banger ended up in everyone's top 3, 3-Way in everyone's bottom 3, and that the favorite for one could end up the least favorite for another.
     
    #5 BucketBoy, Aug 19, 2014
  6. CapnTrav

    CapnTrav Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2014 California

    we did one here in SD a few weeks ago that was heady, pliney, stone enjoy by, alpine duet, sculpin, drakes aroma coma, and nelson. for the most part heady had the top picks in both flavor and smell. all were less than a week old too.
     
    #6 CapnTrav, Aug 19, 2014
  7. Joe_Grizzly

    Joe_Grizzly Pundit (754) Jul 27, 2013 New Hampshire
    Trader

    ya i love the focal too someday it will be in the top 10

    the new batch is esp amazing

    i actually traded my crusher at the sale so i could get an extra four pack of the bangah
     
    #7 Joe_Grizzly, Aug 19, 2014
  8. BrahptimusPrime

    BrahptimusPrime Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2014 Connecticut

    #8 BrahptimusPrime, Aug 19, 2014
  9. Masters

    Masters Savant (1,217) Mar 7, 2014 Massachusetts

    Heady
    Focal
    Crusher
    Rapture
    Abner
    Walden
    Friendship and devotion

    Doing a better one this weekend though

    all above and also including

    Lawsons double sunshine
    Pliny the elder
    MBC Dinner
     
    #9 Masters, Aug 19, 2014
  10. beatenbyjacks

    beatenbyjacks Savant (1,151) Apr 17, 2011 Colorado

    We used New Belgium Rampant, Odell Myrcenary, Dogfish Head 90 Minute, Bell's Hopslam, Great Divide Hercules, and Firestone Walker Double Jack. Results varied with the 3 other friends, but Myrcenary had the best overall average.
     
    #10 beatenbyjacks, Aug 19, 2014
  11. MrDave

    MrDave Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 California

    Focal Banger and 3-Way are two of the best new IPAs imho.
     
    #11 MrDave, Aug 19, 2014
  12. BucketBoy

    BucketBoy Zealot (649) May 6, 2008 Pennsylvania

    Haven't tried them but I'm sure you are right. 3-Way ending up in the bottom three isn't saying much considering the class of IPAs it was up against. Since it wasn't the last for anyone, it must still beat the pants off of most other IPAs out there.

    I look forward to seeing for myself.
     
    #12 BucketBoy, Aug 19, 2014
  13. Oktoberfiesta

    Oktoberfiesta Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2013 New Mexico

    I find that my palette is wrecked half way through these hoppy samplings, and it just seems like a huge waste of GREAT beer. They basically blend together, where one beer just wrecks your palette going into the next one. I really dont know how beer judges do it.. Anyone know?

    They are almost better served separately, 15 minutes apart... I get the whole blind aspect. But I just can't do it anymore. For a sampling a couple months back, I did the three La Cumbre IPA/DIPAs out of NM- Dank, Elevated, and Father Nelson, combined with some Sculpin, Heady Topper, and Pliny the elder in a true showdown.
     
    #13 Oktoberfiesta, Aug 19, 2014
  14. TonyLema1

    TonyLema1 Pooh-Bah (2,890) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    I REALLY need to try Heady....and from what it sounds like, the others too
     
    #14 TonyLema1, Aug 19, 2014
  15. CavemanRamblin

    CavemanRamblin Initiate (0) Jun 19, 2014 North Carolina

    I'd be interested to see what order you tried them in. I'd be willing to bet the ones you drank first were ranked higher.
     
    #15 CavemanRamblin, Aug 19, 2014
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  16. DIPAFAN

    DIPAFAN Savant (1,034) Dec 16, 2012 New Jersey
    Trader

    Actually, that was not quite the case. Here was the order I tried them in:
    Focal Banger
    Heady
    Rapture
    Crusher
    3-way
    Fiddlehead.

    To clarify, we had plain chips and water to cleanse palates and I went through the entire lineup 3 times before finally deciding the order.

    I also just had another Rapture tonight by itself and can confirm it still falls at #6 for this group for my tastes.
     
    #16 DIPAFAN, Aug 20, 2014
  17. mattvaletudo

    mattvaletudo Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2011 Illinois


    having a tasting of all the same types will make it tough to say what is the best - specifically IPA. your pallet will be wrecked after the 1st one, pallet cleanse and all. you're better served to taste at separate tastings and to take notes to compare. score them on the standard 100 point scale. also comparing IPA to IIPA isn't really fair. This would be like comparing stout to RIS to coffee stout to oatmeal stout. similar, but different categories.
     
    #17 mattvaletudo, Aug 20, 2014
  18. DIPAFAN

    DIPAFAN Savant (1,034) Dec 16, 2012 New Jersey
    Trader

    I agree, 3-way is without question one of my favorite new IPA's. I was pleasantly surprised the first time I had it a few weeks ago.
     
    #18 DIPAFAN, Aug 20, 2014
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  19. michaelstolzman

    michaelstolzman Initiate (0) Mar 13, 2014 Wisconsin

    We did a similar test for fun (see BA photo), realizing they are not the same, with a bunch of novices, and had some interesting results.
    1. Pliny (5 of 6 people)
    2. Pseudo
    3. Heady/Zombie
    4. Focal/Crusher
     
    #19 michaelstolzman, Aug 20, 2014
  20. CavemanRamblin

    CavemanRamblin Initiate (0) Jun 19, 2014 North Carolina

    Fair enough, thanks! Definitely sounds like you thought this out well.

    ISO Crusher!
     
    #20 CavemanRamblin, Aug 20, 2014
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