The best IPA I have had

Orval

 

Rationale?

I've had Oval fresh in Brussels, Oval Green, and at several different bottle ages in the US but would never have thought liken it to an IPA or to put it in the category of an IPA of any kind or persuasion.

 

I too fondly remember drinking it fresh in Brussels, but I’m jealous that you had the Petite.

With my answer to the thread question, my tongue is half way (not all the way) in my cheek.

The question is how much Orval resembles English export pale ales from it’s day rather than today, and there are some who think it does to a great extent.

English beer was very popular in Belgium at the time of Orval’s development. It’s believed that Orval took its dry-hopping, infusion mashing, and caramel malt from English practices. English pale ale at the time also had brett. The color and abv are also on target.

Is Orval the best time capsule we currently have for early 20th century IPA?

While I don’t call Orval an IPA, I’m not going to rule it out either... and while there are American IPAs that I like a lot, I wouldn’t say that I like any of them more than Orval.

Now when you start thinking about Orval as a saison, things get really complicated.

 

Head hunter

 

The best IPA experience was my first trip into Waterbury Vt, sitting in Prohabition Pig it was snowing about 18 degrees sipping on my first Heady on tap. Followed that up with a HF Ephraim, that's a dynamite duo if there ever was one. They also had some pretty good NC BBQ of all things complete with collard greens.

 

Dale, a couple of weeks ago I had some BBQ at Moe's Original (Asheville NC) but I guess that 'counts' as Alabama BBQ?

Cheers!

 

We'll be in Asheville next weekend, never been there. I've always hit 12 Bones. One thing for sure Asheville does Collards right.

 

Right now, La Cumbre's Elevated is my go to IPA.

 

Recently....Lush...from Fremont Brewing

 

Going to visit Santa Rosa during the holidays to visit family. A case of Pliny the Elder is going to make the return trip for sure.

 

I agree that Celebration Ale set the standard and is still excellent. Fatheads with Head Hunter and Hop JuJu and NoDa with Hop Drop N Roll and Hoppy Holidays are my favorites. Two breweries here, Diamondback and Hysteria are putting out some real nice IPAs.

 

A case?? Dude - when you go to Mecca - you gotta think pallet.

 

IPAs that blew me away:
Ruinten
Chillwave
Enjoy By
Sublimely Self-righteous

Wondefully unique:
Urban South Milkshake IPA
Smuttynose Homunculus
Wild Devil

 

American IPA:
COOP F5
Lone Pint Yellow Rose

Belgian IPA:
Delirium Argentum

English IPA:
PAA Sluggworth

IIPA/DIPA:
RoughTail 1st Anniversary Ale
Mother's Oak-Aged Doozy

Black IPA:
Firestone Walker Wookey Jack

NEIPA:
RoughTail Everything Rhymes with Orange

Triple IPA:
Lagunitas The Waldos' Special Ale

**Note: All of these are my highest rated per IPA style (with a couple styles left out) according to my Untappd account. Total number of different IPAs across all IPA styles is 245.

 

I don't think I have a favorite IPA.
I rotate through so many. I like variety.

 

All these newer beers I've tried were terrible...Prospect, Iron Maiden, Mosaic, Cone Head, 2nd Fiddle etc. Also, Boom Sauce, Knee Deep's Breaking Bad and Lake Tahoe..Could not even choke them down..

Faves include:

Heady
Tribute
Racer 5
G-Bot
Space Dust
Captain's Daughter.

The Born Yesterday was excellent, but is already gone.

 

Heady
SoS
PtE
Congress St

 

Between la cumbre and melvin what more does a guy need?

 

Best I've had are Heady, and 120 Minute. Also had Pliny and it was great.

 

with the ever increasing number of IPA (variations) being brewed this is tough to pick but I think the best i've had (at least this year) would be Trillium Adult Human

followed closely by a couple of Other Half galaxy beers...Citra + Galaxy and Motueka + Galaxy