Why are VT Double IPAs so good?

I've had HT a couple times.. I ask myself after having them? Now what? It's not like I can go to the store and buy more. I found them great. But my local IPA game is kicking butt too. Seeing as how HT in the aftermarket was going for $7.50/can and I can get Elevated IPA for $8/4 pack, is HT that much better? These great beers were fun to try. But actively seeking them out became more of a chore. I'm glad people are enjoying them now. But Eventually they all may lose some luster when truly local beers step their game up and come close. They need to set themselves apart a bit.

 

Ridgerunner, where you at in CT? Unless you're down in Farifield County, youre also within easy reach of Tree House. Simply awesome fresh "VT Style" hoppy beers without having to go to VT. I'd say they Nate & Co. hold their own with the best in New England.

 

For the people saying their brews arent as good as people make them out to be you have to be kidding...HF ipas, DS, and HT are an insane group of ipas...ofcourse other regions are doing amazing things just the same but i think if a brewery like fiddlehead is a comfortable 4th place for that state, then they are doing something right

 

I only get up to VT 5-6 times a year and I swear, as far as IPAS/ DIPAS Trillium is just as good as HF, Lawson's, etc.....Not knocking the VT beers, more giving props to a very good local purveyor of beer.

What's nice about having tons of small breweries opening up nationwide is you can go to your local guy and get (for the most part) really good beer.

 

No one has mentioned Bissell Bros. yet in this thread I think their Substance and Swish stands up to anything that comes out of VT.

 

After drinking many highly regarded VT beers in one session, I was highly disappointed with Hill Farmstead. As far as VT DIPAs go for me it is Second Fiddle > Sip of Sunshine > Heady Topper ....... > Abner. I'm sure many will think that is ridiculous, but just one man's opinion...

 

Did you have abner at the source or through a shipped growler?

 

Several factors I think including yeast, late kettle hopping techniques to extract as much hop oils as possible, and keeping their beer small batch and local.

 

True but you would never ever use tap water in brewing nor even Brita filtered. It would screw up everything.

Most people on this site think that their state is in the top 3 of having the best breweries. I'd like to hear from someone that can tell me their favorites and not being biased by their own location.

 

Nearly every local scene has what that scene considers to be 'world class' DIPAs (CT has Ghandi Bot and imo Firefly Hollow Cone Flakes is right up there, NJ has Overhead, Exit 16, and 077XX), so it's everywhere now.

It's just that the Vermont scene is at the point where it still feels small and yet everyone knows about it unlike say, CT and NJ's scenes.

They're good beers but there are good beers everywhere now. They just don't have the reputation that Vermont has yet.

 

Easy...

Pipeworks- Chicago Illinois
3 Floyds- Indiana
Bells- Michigan

 

I've been asking myself this question since I returned from Vt. last winter, and it seems every answer I can come up with has been debunked with this thread. So all I can come up with now is simply...magic. I figure with those long, dark winters VT folks have much time on their hands to dabble in the archaic arts, creating hoppy elixirs of great flavor. The Alchemist anyone? It's really the only logical answer.

 

A good brewer can make a great IPA, or at least one that scores well on sites like BA. I havent had Second Fiddle, but the Substance was pretty mediocre to me and considered world class here. Right hop combo makes up for homebrew quality. I consider it mere coincidence that a number of the top ranked IPAs come from VT. Trillium and Treehouse make IPAs that are as good if not better than the best from VT. I believe it has nothing to do with geography.

 

Guess I gotta try Pipeworks. Bells on the other hand... Nah. not in the top 3.

 

Because fanboyism.

 

Where did you find it?

 

there is so much fucking nonsense in this thread

 

Well im assuming i cant use anything from new england as my 3rd since thats probably considered my location.. But your right, i wouldnt consider bells to be my 3rd. I was just under pressure.