Red Hook or better?

I enjoyed longhammer ipa but for price and availability being the same, Lagunitas ipa i like a little better. It says "homicidally" hoppy but its a very good, not over the top ipa.

 

The Pete's brand was purchased in 1998 by Gambrinus - (ex-Corona importer which now owns Spoetzl [Shiner], Trumer & BridgePort) which discontinued the brand in 2011. Previously, by the mid-1990s Pete's had been closely linked to Stroh (the #4 US brewer at the time) - they contract-brewed the brand, had executives on the board who owned a good share of the company, etc. - more than Pete himself. In fact, after the demise of the company Slosberg claimed in an interview with the Denver Post the following year, "The reality is, I was never the owner of Pete's; there were more than 100 shareholders. My part was 5 1/2 percent. I was the spokesmodel...."

 

Not that stuff. Stone. Drink Stone. You'll never go back.

Other better choices that are widely distributed: Torpedo. Racer 5. Lagunitas. Rebel.

Sculpin has a unique secondary flavor that I personally hate, hate, hate. You might like it.

 

Red Hook is solid for the price and being widely available. In the same vein, Goose IPA and Autumn Ale, or Bell's Two Hearted also fit that bill.

 

There are so many IPA option available in stores or bars these days. Try any,and they'll probably be better than Red Hook.

 

Maybe American Pale Ales are more your thing. If you have Deschutes available try their Mirror Pond; it leans hoppy like an IPA, but isn't as bitter overall. Same thing for Anchor Liberty Ale. I think both are better than Red Hook Longhammer, no matter the style.

 

You know, I've never had a Red Hook IPA. Almost everyone bashes them.

 

If your criterion is smoothness, then just get nitro IPAs of any brand. You'll definitely get your smoothness then.

 

Love Saga.

 

Ballantine is quite solid and not over the top, plus it has the nostalgia thing going along with a good price point.

 

Not all beer is distributed everywhere. We want to make suggestions that are readily available to you.

 

Two Hearted is also a good end-level IPA imo.

 

Rejected advertising slogans:
"Redhook Long Hammer... despite it's name, it won't hammer you with a million IBU's."

 

It was the first IPA I liked.

 

Longhammer isn't bad, but it means you have MANY MORE choices.

 

What is worse? Like really non home brew I can't think of a worse ipa.

 

If you're looking to stay in the same price range, Bridgeport and Widmer make smooth IPAs that don't get a lot of attention. For a little more, No-Li and Bale Breaker (both Topcutter and Field 41) are quality local options. Walk down the store aisle and see what looks interesting to you; no one's going to be able to predict your palate, and if you try 100 IPAs and find Red Hook is still your favorite, that's perfectly valid. Recommendations can help get you started, but your palate is unique and there are worse things than discovering your favorite beer is the affordable easy to find one instead of the expensive rare one.

 

Check out the Northwest forum, you'll get suggestions from locals who know exactly which beers you do and don't get, so you're not wasting time looking for Two Hearted or other beers not distributed to WA. Also, many excellent IPAs are draft only and don't make it to 6pks or 22s. Growlers and your local taphouses will open up your options to thousands more IPAs.