Pioneer Trailblazer IPA

I'll be trying this tonight and likewise, haven't been overly impressed with anything Pioneer's put out before. Either the brewery's got a strong ground game blowing smoke for this release, or they turned a corner and hit a home run. The reviews (descriptions more so than the ratings) on Untappd are pretty unbelievable.

 

I've only had their regular IPA, and I liked it...as a $9.99/4pack zero expectation option.

I'd only found out Pioneer through working in CT once a week for months and looking for the SoS & G-Bots. Just about every store that pointed me towards anything, pointed me towards Pioneer. I've been digging it.

(Same stores steered me away from their DIPA, so I trust that too)

I'll definitely be on the lookout for this one.

 

I bought a four pack of 'The New Frontier' and was not impressed. It's 11% and you can taste it. It was my first Pioneer and I can't say Im likely to try more.

 

Funny, I'm drinking a Captain's Daughter right now. That is probably one instance, although Grey Sail showed evidence of making "good" low gravity beers to that point...to bust out a DIPA (although admittedly inconsistent) like CD was unexpected.

 

I definitely think it's good. It's way out of nowhere, you are right. And Pioneer has such a weird history, coming down from Mass. to contract brew at Olde Burnside, then getting partnered with that new brewery opening in South Windsor (CT Valley Brewing) and now contract brewing out of Shebeen.

Anyways, it's good, and I was super skeptical.

 

HYPE! No really, I'm sure it's good. Haven't tried it yet. But the hype machine is on overdrive with this beer. From FB groups to here to other forums. Everyone's like: GIMME THE NEW TREEHOUSE! lol

 

Oh yeah, it's insane. And it's why I was super skeptical. I thought they might be all friends of the brewer. But it's a good beer. It's not as soft or refined as Tree House. Not even close. They have some work to do to dial this thing in to get even close to TH level, if that's what they want this to be. And $15/16 a four pack is steep right out of the gate. But it's interesting that the soon-to-be South Windsor brewery has a hot commodity before they even open.

 

I thought it tasted like it was brewed with grapefruit juice. Like Sculpin or Electric Peel. I don't like IPA's brewed with juice. Not saying this one is but that's how it tastes to me. Everyone says Julius tastes like oj but you still taste hops if you know what I mean. It's amazing that Pioneer gets that taste from hops but for me it's out of balance.

 

Pretty sure it's just a mosaic bomb, not brewed with juice. This beer is really good, IMO. It reminds me more of Swish then any TH beer but it's in that ballpark and a welcomed addition to the CT beer scene. It's almost completely still, no lacing or head at all after a few minutes in the glass. Very tasty though.

 

Saw it offered for $5 a can yesterday. 2 pp. Kind of steep. Another shop had it at $3.99 per can. I will see if I can find some. Haven't tried any of the Pioneer yet, see it around, but I am not much of an 11% drinker these days.

 

I thought Pioneer was near Sturbridge, MA?

 

This one is at 8%. I got my four pack for $16. On Pioneer's FB page, someone said one M&R location was selling a four pack for $26!

 

Craziness. The place with $5 cans sold out.

 

This has my attention, gonna have to seek this out

 

Not any longer. It's a tangled timeline, something like Hyland stopped brewing, Pioneer became it's own company and took over, meanwhile Concord/Rapscallion kept changing hands, Rapscallion buys out the Hyland operation, Pioneer buys themselves out, moves to CT, someone else buys Rapscallion. Pioneer moves again ...

It's like Dr. Who found a DeLorean and crashed into a dinosaur.

 

Currently drinking New Frontier DIPA @ 11%. Great nose and lacing; you'd never guess this was an 11%er either.

I'm very interested in their other offerings. By no means in the same ballpark as TH, though.

 

Next up:
Java Pig > KBS

On serious note, my buddy is huge TH/Trillium fan and said Trailblazer was legit (in that vein).