Troegs - Nimble Giant

Did you have the Lil' Blizzard? I thought that was like a light MBC "Lunch" and the best brew that I've had from them. Hoping it is a sign of things to come.

 

Had my first one. That beer is every bit as good as all the smaller local "line up for" breweries' 16 oz 4 pack DIPAs people are going crazy for.

 

The Double Blizzard was really good too.

 

Blah blah blah. Since they've hit their ceiling you won't be trying anything else from Troeg's? Especially since the last one you had was the best yet? What a dumb statement.

 

Certainly worth trying, I picked up a 4-pack tonight. I'll report back my thoughts in the next day or two.

 

tried it last night after picking up a 4pack tuesday. @PA-Michigander has an off palate when it comes to ipas, so take his previous post with a few grains of salt. nimble giant is pretty damn good.

 

Is this one of those new style yeasty malt free IPAs?

 

Had it last night. Didn't think it was anything special. Wasn't bad either, though.

 

Without researching it first, that'd be an accurate statement. Perpetual, Java Head, Mad Elf, Hopback, etc. I would never buy, and the majority of their Scratch Series (that I've had) have been a disappointment to me.

Nimble Giant is good, but I can assure you that Troeg's is not capable of producing a Tree House, Trillium, etc caliber, unfiltered, juice-like IPA/DIPA. If you think they can, you're sadly misguided. I wish I was wrong because it'd be extremely easy for me to obtain, and that'd be a great problem to have.

 

So you drive to Massachusetts all the time then?

 

Why does every IPA/DIPA have to be like Trillium or Tree House? Why can't breweries just make beer anymore without it being compared to Julius or Mettle? I really don't get this train of thought.

 

Exactly. When Treehouse and Trillium start distributing as widely as Troegs does and at a reasonable cost we can talk about comparing.

 

To me, that's essentially the gold standard for an IPA/DIPA production. Troeg's/Nimble Giant doesn't have to be like that, but that's the cream crop for me - so of course I'm going use that to base all other comparisons.

Production aside and basing quality purely on overall taste, there's no comparison.

 

This is an entirely different discussion. I'd actually agree with what you're implying, but the genesis of my comments regarding Nimble Giant were based essentially on taste.

 

This is stupidity at its finest. Structure your arguments with a little more thought.

So if I think PtE is better than Nimble Giant, do I have to drive to California all the time just to think that it's a better overall taste?

 

I appreciate the level headed response and I agree with you, the few TH and Trilliums I've had are undoubtedly world class. I guess comparison is something that will always exist in this world. Whether or not you prefer the Stones over Zeppelin or if you think Mike Schmidt is a better third baseman than Chipper Jones, etc.

My only point was, why can't a beer just stand out on its own? I'm not the hugest fan of Troegs myself. I do love a fresh Perpetual and I like Mad Elf with some age on it and Hopback is a good amber, Nugget Nectar is probably my favorite...but why can't Troegs just make it's version of a "hazy" IPA and just judge it on that merit alone? I think anyone who has drank long enough, hell, I think the guys that brew at Troegs will be the first to tell you, they're not trying to make a Trillium beer, they're trying to make a DIPA from Troegs. And, that's perfectly ok.

 

youve been hanging around nick too long .

 

I'm just curious where you buy your IPA's if you compare everything to world class beers that are only available in a state several hours from PA.

 

I'd agree with that. I guess whenever I try something new, my first thought is: "where do I put this in my wheelhouse of stuff that I've had?"

For Troeg's, NG is killer. I actually split a case of it with a buddy of mine - first time I've ever bought a Troeg's case. So I'd think that's a pretty good tip of the hat to them. If we'd get into the production discussion, I'd agree and say I would probably get a case of NG fairly often if this were produced year-round. I guess my comments were inflammatory because of where I put it on my personal sliding scale of IPAs.

 

Well for starters, I live 20 minutes from Tired Hands, and they're fairly high on that scale to me. So typically there if you must know.

 

I guess that gets back to my question from earlier, and I was just looking for a little clarification : is this really a Troegs 'hazy ' IPA? (to those who've had it )

 

had one last night - i wouldn't call it hazy or cloudy. It's a good IPA and fairly clear in fact.

 

I'm probably mistaken on this because virtually all I know about this beer is this thread and a few reviews I read but I thought it was being marketed as such. I'm trying to get a 4-pack today, so I'll report back after I've had it.

 

I had it last night myself, an outstanding IPA with lots of tropical fruit notes, not cloudy. Looked pretty clear to me, but I would buy more.

 

I don't think it was very hazy, but I did think it was very good.

 

Anything show up in NYC yet? Hoping to get a pack for the weekend.

[Edit:] Looks like it's at Brooklyn Harvest. Maybe it will hit other shops by tomorrow, I don't want to give that store any money.

 

Thanks, that's good to know.

 

Michael Michael Michael. For all the beer I've drank, there's just no way for me to train my taste buds to taste rarity and hype, as much as I've tried to In all seriousness I've only had one so far, maybe it'll grow on me.

He's not that unlucky!

 

I have not, but that's good to know. If I ever see it make a comeback, I will definitely try it.

 

Reporting back--had one tonight, was good, but not great. I would grab Perpetual or Dirt Wolf over this.

 

Bottle king in Ramsey was sold out already

 

Be still my beating heart. @Houser will need to see you in his office first thing tomorrow morning! Agree 100% with your premise btw.

 

Not as good as $35 a case perpetual. hmm

I think your premise is based on E-penis size based on how rare your IPAs are.

 

Serves me right , after vacillating and then deciding to go for it, it'll be gone before I can hit the store.

I guess there's no limits with this one, which isn't helping.

 

Not sure I follow you or you're not following me. I've said twice I'd prefer Perperual over Nimble Giant.

 

how rare is this one? its gotta be pretty limited or brewery only as ive never heard of it. prolly dong, but id love to try it!

 

I'd say its comparable to Dirtwolf for sure. That's the closest beer to Nimble Giant, IMO. Solid new offering from Troegs.

 

• I feel Dirt Wolf sits because like most of the beers these last few years it came out with a lot of hype and became quickly popular because it was the next new thing, the brewery produced to meet the demands and then suddenly people were on to the other next new thing. I enjoy DW but Victory may want to consider moving to a 6-pack format and keeping the price on the lower side, sales may take off again then and there may be a renewed interest.
• I like Troegs and I support them for many reasons but I have to admit I have never been blown away by anything they have done. But hey they do make solid beers and are always a safe purchase so maybe that is what makes them great?
• A limited, pricier beer does not = better than a less limited and/or cheaper beer to me and quite honestly I am finding as I get older I enjoy the more available stuff a little better and many beers in that camp don't get the praise that they deserve (this goes back to the "next new thing" I am sure).

I will definitely try this beer and I am sure I will enjoy it but I won't go out of my way for it or pay a lot for it if the store I am in happens to be one of the ones that likes to inflate the price (what a lovely new trend that is). I will keep an open mind and who knows, maybe it will end up blowing me away after all...

 

I'm not going to chase it around. If I see it I will grab some.
I've got plenty of 077XX and Head high to keep my need for hops in check.
I stopped in shop Rite in West Paterson earlier. The guy there said they got it Monday and it was gone right away.

 

I'll just chime in after trying this last night. Absolutely love it. Dry tropical stone fruit salad sprinkled with pine needles. Best beer out of Troegs ever. If the can said Veil, Aslin, RAR, Grimm, Alchemist, Trillium, Tree House, etc...people would lie cheat and steal to get their hands on it.