New Glarus IIPA (Scream?) Release Info

Early reports seem to say that it is pretty different from IIPA, mostly due to the type of hops used and the amount of dry-hopping.

 

Is this in Kenosha yet?

 

Sorry, posted in another NG thread. Woodmans in Kenosha had Scream as of last night. Looking forward to trying it!

 

I admit being concern when I read the recipe changed, but this release is even better in my opinion. As others have mentioned, more tropical in aroma and flavor, which I love.

 

This stuff is awesome. So glad that my fresh IIPA of the month comes from one of my favorite breweries. This is going to be a good summer.

 

It's at Club Liquor in Menasha.

 

Any sightings in the Milwaukee area yet?

 

Thanks...i stopped in and asked if they had it. She said "no, not yet". Shopped around for a bit...they were right in front, facing the register. Thanks for the heads up! I'm glad I didn't leave.

 

Discount has/had it as of Tuesday.

 

Just stopped at Sendiks in Brookfield and they had IIPA in the back, not on the shelves yet. Picked up a couple 4-packs to start out.

 

Burnhearts just announced they have it on tap.

 

I called Woodman's in Kenosha today. They have it. Amazing what a phone call can accomplish.

 

Two bottles into a 4-pack. Easily the best hoppy beer NG has ever brewed. Everything is on target for a big, sweet, cleanly bitter IIPA. If you like Double Trouble, APW, or Dreadnaught, this is that style of IIPA. Here are my Wisco IIPA 2014 rankings so far:

5. Johnson- Lakefront's first(?) entry into the world of IIPA. Which is weird because they make a killer IPA that straddles the British and American versions. Small single batch, some very minor off-flavors, not quite enough going on malt-wise to cover them up. The lightest of the Wisco 2014 IIPA's, the most enjoyable beer LF has brewed in a long, long time. Which is sad because it was a single batch and they very well might tie up their brewhouse letting every employee brew a beer before ever making this gem again. They should stay on it, put it in small batch rotation, and let their brewers knock the very few kinks out of it. Could be a WBC medal winner with a little practice. $11-12/4-pack. 8%, 74 IBUs. (BA 95 w/ 72 ratings)

4. Illumination- Central Waters' seasonal IIPA. New packaging and now in 6-packs, dramatically lowering the per bottle $ from $3.25 to $2.35. This alone makes this beer more approachable. The most inherently "bitter" of the 5 beers, this one was most enjoyable after letting the glass warm up a bit. Least potent aroma of this group, I liked that CW didn't give in to making this beer sweeter. More West Coast than East Coast, this is a beer your Grandfather will hate.. $14/6-pack. 9%, rumored 108 IBUs (I think it's more like 85-90). (BA 91 w/ 649 ratings)

3. Bunny Green Toes- Lake Louie doesn't brew much beer. So when he decides to brew a small batch series, you know it's going to be hard to (if not impossible) to find. Up until know, his Scotch Ales have stolen the show. I didn't even know this beer existed until I saw a single, lonely bottle of it on a shelf at a liquor store far from Milwaukee. I bought it. I didn't think much of it. I cracked it open and split it with a friend. I was after a funeral, so I didn't feel like taking notes. But I do remember that this was the best West Coast-style IPA/IIPA that I've ever tasted from Wisconsin. Tried in vain to hunt down a full 6-pack for a month since. May be re-brewed later this summer. $2 for a single bottle. 6.8% (right on the border- I'd call this more of a "big IPA" than a "little IIPA". No listing for IBUs. I would guess 70. No BA rating.

2. Howler- The biggest of the 5. This beer doesn't mess around. The best mouthfeel I've ever experienced in a non-Stout/Porter/Smoked ale. Very full, a ton of homebrew character. Black Husky officially calls this an "Imperial Pale Ale" which is incredibly accurate. While the hops are huge, this isn't a hop bomb. The malts are just as huge. If you're a fan of Hopslam, this is probably what it tasted like in small test batches way back when. I hear that they will be experimenting with other hops (this baby is ALL Simcoe, I believe- I have no problem with that) soon. That'll be a treat. I have a feeling that his beer with age similar to a hoppy barleywine, so I'm sticking a bottle in the corner for a year or so.
$9-10 for a 20oz bomber (most BH beers retail for $6-8, so you know this one is big). 10.20%, no IBUs listed, but probably over 90 to keep a beer this malty tasting hoppy. (BA 89 w/ 14 ratings- not sure why this beer doesn't have more ratings. Most are over 4.)

1. Scream IIPA- I've only had 2 bottles thus far, but this is easily my favorite New Glarus beer yet. Even tops last years Wild Sour Ale (although I didn't get a bottle of the VVBS.) Cant say enough about the balance on this- solid aroma, a touch of sweetness, but a nice bitter wash at the end to remind you that you're drinking an IIPA. Very clean and clear. I get a bunch of tangerine of of this beer, both in the nose and on the tongue. If you can get it, do. $10/4-pack. ABV unlisted (not sure why NG does this for their thumbprint beers) I would guess 7.5-8%. IBUs 85. (BA 94 w/ 35 ratings)

It's been quite a late Spring for Wisconsin IIPAs. No doubt brewers are inspired by our neighboring states offerings (Surly, Toppling Goliath, Half Acre, Pipeworks, Bell's, Founders, that one I can remember how to spell from MI) and have upped their collective game. As far as my top 10 all-time favorite IIPA's, Scream, Howler, and Bunny Green Toes all stand a chance of sneaking in there after I've had a few more. (BGT only if they brew another batch.)

I firmly believe that it takes a brewer years to perfect his/her use of hops. And many of these Wisconsin breweries were built on standard styles (and lagers). So it's great to see how our local IIPA's have gotten better and better with each new release.

Cheers!

Here's looking at you, Karben4. You're up. Let's see what you can do.

 

New Glarus Thumbprint Series Scream IIPA is on shelves now. Picked up a 4 for $10 tonight but didn't try one yet. 85 ibu and 9%. Getting some good reviews from what I've seen...

 

Sorry, just realized this might be more appropriate for the regional forum, mods can delete if that's the case. Sorry for the rookie mistake...

 

Scream is amazing. I think it's very close to the same NG IIPA recipe from past years, rebranded. I need to buy more... One of my two favorite WI beers.

 

Moon Man on Steroids, read all the hype and still blew me away. I bought this and Devil Dancer other night, two 4 packs of Scream IIPA over a four pack of DD any day of the week

 

This beer is the real deal. I always chided people for buying a case or more of IIPAs and yet this might finally be the one that I drink a case of before it's all over. So good, so so good.

 

So are the red labels on the bottles now what is the Thumbprint series? Instead of the red foil and something saying thumbprint?