Talking Trillium IPAs

I generally don't like the DDH versions as much either with some exceptions (Melcher). I don't know about raw or vegetal; for lack of a better way to describe it, they're just too damn hoppy for me. I get less of the actual flavors of the hops.

 

One man's opinion of their top 5:

Vicinity
DDH FPPA
Congress St
Upper Case
Heavy Mettle

 

I guess I might as well. Top Five:

Vicinity
DDH Melcher
Sleeper St
Fort Point
Fort Point w/Mosaic
Fort Point w/Galaxy

Six beers in my top five. They're just that good of a brewery. Also I know Fort Point isn't technically an IPA but lets be real, it's basically an IPA.

 

Every time I see this list in threads I gotta chuckle because before Trillium came along I pretty much declared I was "all set" with Columbus. Just never liked the hop much....I think I still don't love it when it's used late boil or for dry hopping. As I understand it Trillium uses it as a backbone/bittering hop on which the other hops stand and shine (perhaps I'm mistaken?). If that's right then I've discovered what it's best for.

 

Many of Hill Farmstead's hoppy and dark beers use Columbus too. Those turn out pretty well.

 

Really more of a JC question, but I believe it's used more broadly than this.

 

Yeah to be honest I always thought HF was the exception. But even with them, the all-columbus pale ale I had a long time ago is probably my least fav pale ale of theirs (maybe tied with the cascade pale ale...another hop I don't love as much as others). Still good beers of course, but those hops typically don't do it for me as much as others.

 

You could say the same thing about Hill Farmstead....either way both HF and Trillium are the new standard by which pale ales (of any kind) are judged.

My Favorites:
Galaxy DH FPPA
DDH FPPA
Vicinity
Congress Street
Upper Case

 

Love Trillium beers. As has been mentioned Congress St and Fort Point are the standard for what a world class New England IPA and APA should taste like. Their lesser talked about beers are also great. For example, I had a tasting recently where a bunch of people preferred Stumpy Duck over Julius. Different styles I know, but there is something to be said when you have a beer no one seems to talk about being compared to a beer everyone talks about.

 

Whirpool is a very nice APA in a great format, but overall Trillium hops > Nightshift hops.

 

Same here, DEFINITELY not good for bank account!

Agreed, my top 3 that I would love to have in cans in my fridge....always:

FFPA
Congress St
Galaxy FPPA

 

I also agree that I generally prefer the regular Fort Point, Congress St, etc over their DDH versions.

 

The best IPA I've ever had was Melcher St, I believe 2 batches ago, the day after bottling. It was just perfect. Not that others haven't been close, but it was just the right combo of piney/citrus hops and just the right balance of hop flavors. Trillium definitely makes my favorite IPAs - it's so nice they're in Boston, because for a while, when I would crave delicious hops the only thing I could do was make the big trip up to Hill Farmstead.

 

I'll be in the minority with you. Drain pour/Trade away city for me with the DDH versions.

 

It's only a minority within a very specific population of beer drinkers. People who like stuff that hoppy are obviously an extreme minority in the general population, and even within people who drink craft beer of some sort, I'm not sure a majority are into beers as extremely hoppy as, say, DDH Congress.

 

Lol

 

If I saw someone drain pour one of their beers I would probably disconnect the U tube on their sink and pour it into a tulip glass. That juice would probably still be world class.

 

My favorite 3 in no specific order because picking a favorite would be like choosing my favorite kid.

DDH Fort Point
GDH Fort Point
Fort Point

 

Hard to imagine someone drain pouring DDH congress. But I also know people who can't even tolerate mildly spicy food. What a sucky life to live

 

I put many of their hoppy beers on par with Heady and light years better than SoS which was a huge disappointment for me.