"Pulp Free" Release- Fat Head's/Breakside Collaboration

There are a few Portland IPAs whose popularity always makes me go, "Huh? Really?" Periodically I go through and try them again. Sometimes my mind changes, sometimes not.

As my buddy James used to say, "It would suck if we all liked the same things."

Regarding Semper Fi, I'm a fan. Great beer.

 

What's wrong with Jop Juju, John?

 

agreed. I was pumped to try JuJu when it came out but I wasnt all that impressed. just heavy and bitter.

Overall, I have been really impressed with FatHeads beers though. HeadHunter and Pulp Free are two of the best IPAs I have had over the past year or two. And the Barrel aged beers they had on tap for their 1st Anniversary party were all really well executed.

The decor inside though.......

 

I'm a big fan of the most recent batch of Hop Juju, but it's definitely more of a traditional west coast ipa (which I'm totally ok with). Big pine and mild citrus notes with an aggressive bitterness.

 

Hop JuJu sort of reminded me of something from Barely Brown's, like Tank Slapper. Big, assertive, piney, dank, onion (in a good way), and smooth.

 

I rarely (if ever) reach for any of the "west coast" style Imperial IPAs anymore. Hop juju, barley browns imperial lineup etc, are what I would consider perfected examples of that style. My issue is this: I find them fairly 1 noted, and too bitter/taxing on the pallet. They have low drinkability to me. I'm a firm believer that the new wave of juicy, immensely drinkable IPAs is the next step in the IPA evolution. I'm not making a prophetic revelation, most of the highly rated IPAs are in the NE style (untappd, BA, etc.)

The lines for these styles are out the door around the country, and the juicy haze craze has now reached the PNW (WA has multiple NE style IPAs, all of which rate well and are selling like hotcakes.) This speaks volumes to ever evolving pallets. I'm not here to shit on our beloved breweries/beers. They are perfectly crafted and world class. They are exactly what the brewers intend them to be. I love seeing the diversity that the IPA style has to offer, and I can't wait to see what other local breweries do with the "juice" craze.

cliffs notes: I like the NE style IPA.

 

Based on your avatar, should we assume you still reach for a Notorious once in a while?

 

I rarely reach for a notorious, mostly b/c I like to remember the ending to my evenings. I don't group boneyard with the style mentioned above as they are more balance-focused. Boneyard's description of RPM sums up their overall philosophy well:

RPM IPA - 50 IBU/6.5% ABV

Brewed using 6 different NW varieties of hops at over 2.5 pounds per barrel, RPM IPA focuses on extreme hoppiness rather than bitterness. It’s golden to copper in color with a complex malt profile that will not overshadow the hops.

 

Having a Pulp Free at Fat Heads. Yuck. If I wanted orange juice I'd go to the Tropicana factory. Decidedly not an IPA if you ask me.

 

In 10 years, all of the current breweries in Portland will be replaced by Grape Lotion outposts. It's cool though, it's 'evolution'

 

GRAPE LOTION

 

MUFFIN BEERZ

 

In the future, all breweries are Grape Lotion.

#threeseashells

 

Not a lot of talk about the subject beer in this thread...
I've had a bunch of Pulp Free at Fat Heads. It has the sweet aroma and juiciness that I like in the NE IPA style, but also a little bit more body and hop biter/bitterness that I sometimes find lacking in that style. I think the brewers nailed what they were going for, and I am a fan. Hopefully they brew it again.
I will say, it's not a "pretty" beer