NE Style IPAs in Maine

Foundation which you can walk to from Austin Street.Not sure of their current situation as they just opened their new expanded tap/tasting room into Bissell's old space but the draft selection looks pretty solid as far as IPAs go:

• Epiphany

• Afterglow

• Venture

• Cross Mojination I (Collaboration)

 

Foundation to an extent. But the hazy look has certainly gone away with the last few Epiphany pick ups I've had. If that matters to you.

I would not lump Tributary in there or SoMe(which is underwhelming to me personally)

 

Serious question: Why does the cloudy part matter?

I work at a bottle shop in Massachusetts and I get it all the time. "What do you have for cloudy IPA's?" Besides the cool camera shot, why are you actively seeking cloudy IPA's? What do they bring to the table that a non-cloudy IPA does not?

 

Fore River Brewing has available on tap / growler fills an offering called Pilot 3 that I had a few weeks ago that was particularly 'juicy' and had some of the same 'cloudy' characteristics you mention.

Description from the FRB website:
"A 9% double IPA featuring the Australian hop "Vic Secret". This hop has a strong flavor and aroma of tropical fruits, namely pineapple."

 

Banded Horn Daikaju. Not sure how cloudy it is these days but it's excellent

 

Totally agree - its an unsung beer from around here.

 

I think people tend to equate that look with the taste/feel of the NE style IPA.

 

Totally agree here. Why does it matter if it is cloudy or not? I know that people are just conditioned to think that cloudy turbid milkshakes equate to hoppy juice bombs these days, and generally beers that have that appearance are. That being said, there are plenty of super juicy top notch IPA's in the state of Maine (and New England as a whole) that don't look like a complete mess.

 

I think that's right. It's an easy shortcut. I've never had an ipa that was both malt forward and hazy...

As for the Op, in my opinion, if you're looking for that no malt hop punch cloudy ipa that I would classify as New England, I have never had a Bissell, Foundation, or Banded Horn that lived up to Austin Street. In particular, Patina. That's not at all to say the others make bad beers, and maybe there's a Bissell I haven't had that fits the bill. But if you're in that area and that's what you want, maybe double down on what Austin has to offer?

 

bad ass IPA. It's on a few shelves in Mass right now, so I think there's a new batch kicking around.

 

I don't disagree that there are lots of great non hazy IPAs, but I would love if you have a list.

 

Not so "cloudy," but damn good and underrated is sebago hop swap - new batch just came out. Will also repeat the vote for daikaju.

 

Maine Beer Company isn't bad either, though it's about 20 min from Bissell. And Riptide & Oxbow are solid. But if I could only pick three it's definitely Bissell, Foundation and Austin Street. And if you go to Foundation/Austin Street you might as well stop into Allagash for a free flight.

 

Who stole the haze?

 

Because people are crazy.

 

I've had Patina & it was really good. But I will definitely take Swish, Reciprocal, & Substance over Patina any day. To each his own. And I had Daikaiju a couple days ago. It was good but I wasn't blown away by any means. For a Maine local that's fairly easy to get I also just had Peak The Juice. I was actually really impressed by it. Not sure why it doesn't get more love.

 

Also, not native to Maine but I think there's a new batch of Stoneface Hopulization out. That's a very good beer from just over the border in New Hampshire.