Knee Deep Simtra, opinions?

So because you do not like a beer it is of low quality? I dont like Pliny but that doesn't mean it's low quality. It just means I don't like it. I work at a shop and we can't keep Simtra on shelves because we have people that want it by the case. Doubt that means it's a low quality beer.

 

I know people like this and they always grab Hop Stoopid or Racer 5. ALWAYS.

 

It's cool if you like it, I just don't find their stuff that great. Most of their stuff is too sweet and has that generic hoppy taste to me. Not saying it's low quality but they do have some batch variation and I just don't think it justifies the price they're asking. Maybe it's really subjective but I don't feel like they craft their recipes much to be interesting or different, it's just all throwing an assload of hops into everything. But that's just my 2¢

 

Triple IPA is a misnomer. Double IPA refers to IIPA which is Imperial IPA. It refers to the acronym, not the ingredients.

Triple IPA would then be IIIPA. I'm sure we can make up something for that first "I"...

 

But we still have the beer style "Double Stout" so...

maybe there should be a quad Ipa. Now there we go!

 

I don't think the custom of putting Imperial before all bigger beers had spread beyond Russian Imperial Stouts when IIPAs were first made (back in the early 90s). I think it's simply because they would use twice the hops of their standard IPAs. I think the term Triple IPA just came about to evoke the sense that they're bigger and hoppier than a Double IPA. Of course, there are some Double IPAs that are just as big Triple IPAs, so it's kind of just whatever the brewer feels like naming it.

Also: I did a blind Double/Triple IPA tasting a few months ago, and Simtra came in 8th for me (or, last). Of course, drinking 8 IIPAs at once is certainly an abnormal circumstance, so make of that what you will.

 

I was trolling and have no basis for my previous comment. But it should be noted that an IPA doesn't need to have "double" the hops or malt in order to be a DIPA or IIPA. It simply needs to be stronger than the current definition of IPA (as defined by the BJCP, usually.)

 

I like Simtra. A LOT. A fresh batch is on par with Younger IMO, and has more flavor. Younger is better crafted, and more balanced, but isn't as floral.

 

Technically, IIPA is a misnomer. The word "Imperial" when it comes to beer has just been slapped on beers with higher ABV with no regard as to where the label came from. People just keep throwing an I on something when it has more alcohol.

 

Just out of curiousity, what were the 8 IIPA's you had (and if you remember, their rankings)?

Just finished a bomber of Simtra, first time having it. I liked it quite a bit, though not my favorite DIPA. Had an even fresher PtE on Monday and would put it on par with that, which I consider a very good thing.

 

Luckily, I wrote them down:

1. BP Dorado
2. GF Imperial
3. Deschutes Hop Henge
4. Stone Enjoy By
5. Double Jack
6. Drakes Hopocalypes
7. Simtra

The 8th beer was Alpine Expo, which I was able to point out immediately. Because of that, I didn't feel like I could rank it while being unbiased (though I still enjoyed it immensely).

My ranking was pretty similar to everyone else's, though certainly not identical. I placed Hop Henge far higher, and I know that one of my friends had Double Jack at number 1, with another having Enjoy By there. The big surprise for everyone was the Dorado: no one really thought all that highly of it going in, but it was in everyone's Top 3. However, you need to take into account that this was 8 bombers between 6 people; roughly 30oz of 100ish IBU beer per person. That's a far cry from how one would normally enjoy these beers, and definitely highlighted certain characteristics that I never would have noticed having a glass by itself. Hell, I had a glass of Double Jack on Monday and thought it was phenomenal.

Regardless, it was a fun night, and it was very exciting to find out that my 2 favorites were beers that are EVERYWHERE in San Diego. Lol