SN High Altitude Series

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by RBassSFHOPit2ME, May 6, 2013.

?

Which do you prefer?

  1. Narwhal

    95 vote(s)
    30.8%

  2. Hoptimum

    113 vote(s)
    36.7%

  3. Bigfoot

    100 vote(s)
    32.5%
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  1. RBassSFHOPit2ME

    RBassSFHOPit2ME Initiate (0) Mar 1, 2009 California

    Well...the inspiration for this post for me is that no matter how much progress and "innovation" is made in this industry, some of the classics just can't be beat.

    What am I getting at? As a Hophead and beer enthusiast, one would think I'd gravitate towards Hoptimum. And while I'm drinking a Hoptimum now, and appreciating how 2013's batch has been better balanced, and more refined since it's original tap first then bottle release, Bigfoot still stands out as my favorite and just all around best beer of the series. I also felt this year's batch of Bigfoot to be easier drinking, & cleaner than year's past, but palate's change. I could be wrong...

    Which of the series is best for you?
     
    #1 RBassSFHOPit2ME, May 6, 2013
  2. dennis3951

    dennis3951 Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 New Jersey

    Narwhal, but I prefer Imperial Stouts to DIPA's or Barleywines. All 3 are excellent examples of their style in any case.
     
    #2 dennis3951, May 6, 2013
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  3. Pahn

    Pahn Initiate (0) Dec 2, 2009 New York

    they're all excellent. the best seasonal line-up on the market, "pound for pound" i'd say (metaphorically talking about value).
     
    #3 Pahn, May 6, 2013
    JohnnyMc, Ristaccia, SanFranJake and 4 others like this.
  4. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Voting Bigfoot even though I still haven't had Hoptimum. But even if it's as good as I think it will be, my decades-long love affair with Bigfoot will still give it the edge.
     
    #4 TongoRad, May 6, 2013
  5. Droogins

    Droogins Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2012 Massachusetts

    I don't understand the big deal about Bigfoot, and Narwhal's one of those things I'll happily get one pack of when it comes out, but I'll buy Hoptimum until my stores run out or the hops fall off... whichever comes first
     
    #5 Droogins, May 6, 2013
  6. raynmoon

    raynmoon Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2011 Colorado

    As a DIPA, Hoptimum is very good but way too hot.
    As an Barleywine, Bigfoot is perfect.
    As an Imperial Stout, Narwhal is nearly perfect.

    But I like Narwhal the best. Over Stone IRS and Old Rasputin.
     
    #6 raynmoon, May 6, 2013
    GeezLynn and RBassSFHOPit2ME like this.
  7. HoptimusMax1mus

    HoptimusMax1mus Initiate (0) Jul 10, 2012 Arizona

    I love all 3 but Bigfoot is my favorite.
     
    #7 HoptimusMax1mus, May 6, 2013
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  8. Pahn

    Pahn Initiate (0) Dec 2, 2009 New York

    have you only had batch 1 hoptimum (the 24oz bottle) or the 4pks of 12oz'ers with the tweaked recipe?

    Batch 1 was unforgivably hot for the flavors it was trying to pull off. Tweaked recipe is near perfect in my opinion.
     
    #8 Pahn, May 7, 2013
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  9. Jadjunk

    Jadjunk Maven (1,417) Dec 6, 2009 Georgia

    Bigfoot FTW.
     
    #9 Jadjunk, May 7, 2013
  10. sixerofelixir

    sixerofelixir Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2009 Ohio

    Always enjoy Bigfoot, didn't care much for Narwhal, but Hoptimum is kicking some ass in 2013..
     
    #10 sixerofelixir, May 7, 2013
  11. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    Hoptimum over Bigfoot but only because I prefer IPAs.
     
    #11 otispdriftwood, May 7, 2013
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  12. RBassSFHOPit2ME

    RBassSFHOPit2ME Initiate (0) Mar 1, 2009 California

    I guess I'll chime in now. Surprised at the voting quite honestly. Quite a few many better DIPAs out there for the style than Hoptimum IMHO (Subjective). But I can't say the same for Bigfoot. Can only think of 3-4 off the top of my head for Narwhal. Again, Subjective.

    Cheers and thanks for the participation!
     
    #12 RBassSFHOPit2ME, May 7, 2013
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  13. raynmoon

    raynmoon Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2011 Colorado

    Never had the 2011, which I too heard was pretty forgettable. I had the 2012 and loved every other bottle; thought at times it was a little too agressive and hot.

    But I am definitely excited to try this years, which from the reviews say it has gotten better.
     
    #13 raynmoon, May 7, 2013
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  14. Treyliff

    Treyliff Grand Pooh-Bah (5,025) Aug 10, 2010 West Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    All 3 are great and I purchase them all when they are released, but I have to go with Narwhal. I stocked up on it last year so that I'd have enough to get me to this fall.
     
    #14 Treyliff, May 7, 2013
  15. SomethingClever

    SomethingClever Grand Pooh-Bah (4,871) Feb 22, 2013 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    narwhal is great beer. I haven't had hoptimum yet but I'm looking forward to it. I've never just been in love with barley wines but Bigfoot was easy drinking and delightful it made me buy several other barleywines. I have a question about narwhal I was recently at a liquor store and they had three unopened cases are these worth pursuing or would it be no good if not properly stored? they were basically sitting in an aisle unopened.
     
    #15 SomethingClever, May 7, 2013
  16. WassailWilly

    WassailWilly Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2007 New York

    1. Bigfoot
    2. Hoptimum
    3. Narwhal
     
    #16 WassailWilly, May 7, 2013
  17. surfcaster

    surfcaster Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2013 North Carolina
    Trader

    Bigfoot was my, and suspect many others intro to the style. I still love it. Local man has many cases going back 6+ years that have been in a cooler. 6 yo Bigfoot is just amazing.
     
    #17 surfcaster, May 7, 2013
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  18. Lantern

    Lantern Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2011

    Hoptimum. By far.
     
    #18 Lantern, May 7, 2013
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  19. lucasj82

    lucasj82 Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2009 Indiana

    Slight edge to Bigfoot, followed closely by Narwhal, and in a not very distant third Hoptimum.
     
    #19 lucasj82, May 7, 2013
    RBassSFHOPit2ME likes this.
  20. shand

    shand Pooh-Bah (2,240) Jul 13, 2010 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    As long as the liquor store doesn't heat up over about 78 degrees, I'd say those are just fine.
     
    #20 shand, May 7, 2013
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