What is THE Iconic Southern IPA?

Discussion in 'South Atlantic' started by StevenJPatrick, May 19, 2022.

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  1. StevenJPatrick

    StevenJPatrick Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2020 Washington

    Parameters: This is not your current fave, not the hot IPA of this week, month, or year...not necessarily. Maybe it's one you don't even drink but when it comes up in conversation, you might say, "Well, I don't like it personally but you have to give it up for that beer." This is an IPA which has a long track record, which has continued to sell a LOT for a long time. Whether it's a simple IPA, a DIPA/Imperial, Quad, whatever. The enduring IPA of this region.

    Thanks!

    My vote: "A Night on Ponce", Three Taverns
     
  2. fadgen

    fadgen Devotee (372) May 5, 2005 California

    Jai alai or Westbrook.
     
  3. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

  4. sweetsimon

    sweetsimon Aspirant (281) Oct 22, 2017 Louisiana

    In my region I'd say Ghost in the Machine by Parish Brewing is the iconic IPA, but you're probably going to get different answers based on which area of the South people live in or are familiar with.
     
  5. johnyb

    johnyb Pooh-Bah (2,336) Aug 11, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Cigar city sells a LOT of Jai Alai, and for good reason. Never disappoints, it’s $10 for a six pack at the grocery stores, and you can find it on draft in most local places that have crazy beer on tap
     
  6. joerooster2

    joerooster2 Aspirant (254) Aug 18, 2020 District of Columbia

    Jai Alai is disgusting but it's probably the most well known IPA from the south. Pernicious is another popular IPA from the south.
     
  7. hoppytobehere

    hoppytobehere Pooh-Bah (2,046) Aug 10, 2012 District of Columbia
    Pooh-Bah

  8. carolinabeerguy

    carolinabeerguy Pooh-Bah (2,035) Oct 10, 2005 North Carolina
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I’d also say Jai Alai. Locally it’s Foothills Jade.
     
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  9. miguel_loves_beer

    miguel_loves_beer Aspirant (249) Feb 7, 2017

    Tampa isn't "the South".

    I'll go with Tropicalia.
     
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  10. StevenJPatrick

    StevenJPatrick Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2020 Washington

    A HUGE Thank You to everyone who replied, here. Some of you ran past the parameter of "long history and continued sales" but that's fine, too, as those mentioned are probably where the new icons are going to come from.

    What I get is "Jai Alai", which figures and is somewhat inarguable, and "Ghost in The Machine", which is newer but jaw-dropping. I suspect, with absolutely NO proof, that anything from Louisiana is hampered just a bit by the fact that LA brewing was so hamstrung by its own legislature for so long that the state is just a bit late to the party. What I've tasted from Louisiana is excellent, overall. In time, the rest of the South, in that same transcendent tradition of Flavor as Southern cooking, MAY wind up being the country's most explosive beer region.
     
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  11. Runnerhiker

    Runnerhiker Devotee (309) Jun 4, 2019 North Carolina

    As someone who is originally from the Tampa Bay area, I can assure you that Central Florida is about as Southern as it gets.

    Another vote for Jai Alai
     
  12. sweetsimon

    sweetsimon Aspirant (281) Oct 22, 2017 Louisiana

    It's my understanding that Mississippi and Alabama brewers were limited by ABV laws up until relatively recently, but I'm not sure that was the case in Louisiana (Abita has been brewing here since 1986). I only moved here in 2013 though, so there may be more to the story than I'm familiar with. Ghost in the Machine has definitely been consistently popular and sought out (at least around here) since about 2015, although it's only been within the last 5 years or so that I noticed it become available year-round rather than seasonally both fresh at the brewery and at stores in bottles.
     
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  13. donspublic

    donspublic Grand Pooh-Bah (3,552) Aug 4, 2014 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah from Texas I would have to say Yellow Rose. Louisiana would be probably go to Parish Ghost in the Machine, but man when I go thru South LA now I am stopping looking for 12 packs of Jucifier (Gnarly Barley) it is damned good and has a better shelf life.
     
  14. miguel_loves_beer

    miguel_loves_beer Aspirant (249) Feb 7, 2017

    I've lived in Clearwater.

    Florida is just its own beast. Sure you've got hillbillies/rednecks in Central Florida. But there are hillbillies/rednecks in Maine. Just about anywhere in the country outside of metro areas is going to be "country folk".

    If the default isn't "sweet tea" or at minimum, the choice isn't offered, it's not the South.
     
  15. russpowell

    russpowell Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,292) May 24, 2005 Arkansas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Numbers say Jai Alai, but personally I never buy it any more. Technically Sierra Nevada is Southern now, so there's that...
     
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  16. russpowell

    russpowell Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,292) May 24, 2005 Arkansas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I prefer Ghost, but that Gnarly was everywhere the last time I was down there
     
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  17. Beertracker

    Beertracker Maven (1,322) Mar 3, 2004 Oklahoma
    Trader

    I'm obviously late to this conversation but I'm really surprised that Sweetwater IPA &/or Terrapin Hopsecutioner wasn't at least mentioned. Both of those breweries have been slinging hops down south for a long time. Cheers! :beers:
     
  18. BeTheBall

    BeTheBall Pundit (932) Jun 9, 2004 Florida

    At least in SWFL, has to be Jai Alai!
     
  19. marktough

    marktough Initiate (0) Dec 5, 2008 Maryland

    The geographic breadth of this group makes this a challenge. Jai Alai is a reasonable choice for the southeast. Hopsecutioner is in the convo, I think. Then again, to the extent that this group includes pretty much the entire Mid-Atlantic (for better or worse), I think you have to give a historical nod to Dogfish 60, even if it doesn't own the taps like it once did. Granted, it's fairly nuts bestowing that honor on a beer brewed in a place from which you can see the Philly skyline on a clear day, but in the context of the group, it's worth a mention.
     
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  20. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Yeah, Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA does not get the same level of love as it used to; a beer that has been around for almost 20 years. You have to give it props for its staying power; I still have a few bottles in my fridge from a recent six-pack purchase (and thankfully it is still available in six-packs/12 ounce format).

    Cheers to Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA!
     
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