Other Half (2019)

I got cans the first batch when it came out with Tremendous Cream, liked TC a bit more but thought Dollar was pretty solid for a standard OH lactose IPA.

 

Have you had anything from Conclave in NJ. I think they do a really good job of making great beers that are in that 6-7.5% range but drink like some of the doubles I have had

 

From OH or in general?

I know predictable from me - but HF Susan has always been a favorite

 

In the area, Troon gets all the hype but I agree Conclave does a great job with IPAs on the lower end (relatively speaking) of the ABV spectrum. Among the best in the state for sure. Just wish they were able to can more often.

 

110% Troon is good, but its mostly hype IMO, sue me. Their IPAs I have had were good but not blow my mind good. Conclaves lower ABV offerings are better IMO and Tim and team are totally awesome. I will say the Conclave/Troon IPA collab was ridiculously good.

 

This doesn't help much since they don't distro to NY from what I remember, but Tonewood Fuego was my go-to in the 6%'ish range when I lived on the NJ border. Whenever my wife had a ladies night on Friday, I'd grab a pizza for me and my son and grab a six pack of Fuego. I wouldn't feel (that) bad about downing 2-3.

 

Actually on the topic of Hill Farmstead, we never really dissected the (sort of; we really need black cups for the next one) blind taste test from the last meet up.

I know that in both cases they were easy to tell apart, and the consensus was OH was "better", but here's the way I look at it by way of an anecdote (I've told this one before - apologies):

A few years ago (maybe 2013 or 2014, I can't quite remember), my bro-in-law and I had a BCBS to split. Prior to opening we were each drinking a Founders Breakfast Stout (I was a huge fan at the time and drank it on the reg). By the time we cracked the BCBS I had drank about 2/3 of the FBS - it tasted just as rich and delicious as it always did (remember - these were more innocent times). Opened the BCBS. Also delicious and rich and intense. Finished it and went back to the rest of the FBS. Tasted like Guinness....Obviously a much more extreme / not quite apples to apples (BA vs non BA, and big ABV diff) example but it's still somewhat relevant

So I think the OH single hopped DIPAs we compared to their HF counterparts were definitely more intense. Better? It's so hard to say because in a blind taste test intensity in some instances is going to have a big advantage. Especially because when I did both taste tests, I ended up getting the OH beer first. I'm sure someone not afflicted with a Basic Palate like mine could do better job of compartmentalizing the intensity at the time, I'm just not at that level. But in short I still love the HF beers and would still prefer to take down a 64oz growler of those vs the OH ones.

End of apologist/fanboy HF post.

 

I've not had very much HF (a few times on tap), but I feel basically the exact way about OH vs TH. OH is way more intense, but TH tastes maybe...fresher? More real? Not 100% sure how to describe it.

Hard to say which I would consider "better", since their goals are clearly different and they're both accomplishing those goals to a T.

 

As someone who also suffers from BPS (basic palate syndrome), I have to agree with you and @rozzom about this. Had Edward and some other HF beers a few times when in VT last month. Very hard to describe but especially at a low ABV, the beers just seemed thick and flavorful.

 

if we dont get a BPS stamp on the bottom a can soon I'll be disappointed

 

“BPS is like a disability man!”

 

Not a good batch of Cabbage I'm sorry to say. Probably my least favorite in the past couple years.

 

i bought a 4pack and have had several previous batches so ill chime in later because i plan on getting absolutely shithouse drunk tonight.

#staytuned

 

At OH (super hot wife in tow). Within the space of one minute:

1. Patagucci vest
2. Polo shirt + vivid blue jeans + gucci loafers (no socks)
3. “Sign in bonus bro” to friend going to bathroom

Independent sightings/incidents.

Good times

 

How was this batch of Nelson daydream? I heard it’s going to be a really good year for Nelson hops based on the harvest.

 

Looking at the new OH post does this mean they have new taster glasses?

 

Glad to see some takeaways from the HF OH galaxy challenge. I was wondering about that.

Up here in Maine at the end of my week vacay, I did a lot of OH and Bissel Bros drinking and as much as I love BB’s offerings, it just doesn’t compare to the level of OH IPAs. And if I’m being honest, my last HF I had (which was one of the society and solitudes) didn’t make me harken back to my “omg HF is the best beer ever” screams from the mountaintops I used to do. But I wonder if it has anything to do with the “intensity” of OH beers compared to the seemingly more well rounded/balanced stuff that HF (and others) tend to produce. Am I now suffering from #overstimulatedpalatesyndrome??

 

To keep it pretty basic: distribution, availability, access...Sloop often targets the 6/7% abv range

 

There is nothing better than getting SHD.