Beer!

Well my foray into the IPA world is continuing.

One thing I learned this weekend is that the classification "double IPA" is misleading.  To me that always meant twice as many hops which of course made me steer far away from them.  What I learned is that it really means the same amount of hops offset by more malts.  And I'm finding that I love them.  So far I've tried Avery's Maharaja double IPA and Founders Double Trouble double IPA and I've enjoyed both.

You'll be trying Dogfish Head 120 soon.

I doubt it.  Their beers aren't available here. 

But I can't believe I bought a 4pk of Founder's "Double Trouble" and enjoyed it.  Founders is my favorite brewery so I figured if I was going to venture into the IPA world, that would be a good place to start.  Plus they list the IBU on their beers so once I get to one I don't like, I know what to look for. 

So far I've had their Dark Rye, Decadence and Double Trouble beers and I've enjoyed all of them.

It pains me Founders hasn't made it out to the West yet. I hear rumors though so i'm hopeful. Funny, we get Dogfish Head but you don't and you're much closer.

Who are you and what have you done with the real toho?

Just kidding....I just never thought you would EVER willingly drink an IPA.

Me either.

But I think a black IPA makes a great "palate-cleanser" after a good, heavy stout.

I'm also finding these IPAs go better with food than my usual beers.  A stout doesn't really go well with any food IMO. The old ales and Belgians I like don't really either.

I really went gung-ho into "IPA Land" today.  I bought a four-pack of Founders "Devil Dancer" Triple IPA.  And I actually like it.  It's overpriced but it's not too hoppy for me (at least these days) and has a nice balance of malts and hops.  But it's pretty boozy-tasting (at 12% APV I guess that's not surprising).

I think the uber hoppy trend is slowing down and the creators are trying different combos which is good. I like hoppy beer but not all the time, have to mix it up and I appreciate they are trying different hops too. Deschutes has one called Red Chair and it's more citrusy and a good beginner beer for those getting into the style.

Yeah, I'm discovering the only IPAs I don't like are the regular IPAs; it seems all the other variations either use different hops or more malts.  And you're right, you have to mix it up.  That's how I started down this path.  I was bored with "stout, stout, doppelbock, stout, Belgian, stout..."

I stopped using my prescription so I'm hoping my taste for carbonation comes back. Maybe I'll be able to participate in this thread again.

Currently drinking:

Founders Dark Decadence

A black IPA. This is after drinking Southern Tier's Mokah which is a stout brewed with chocolate and coffee.

I find these IPAs make great "palate-cleansers" after my normal beer-fare.

Off my meds for only 3-4 days and now I can taste carbonation again. Having:



Not sure how much longer I will be able to enjoy carbonation because I fear my headache problem may be coming back. Hopefully I can last long enough to enjoy this one:



Had this one for a while but once I found out I couldn't enjoy carbonation I delayed consuming it.

Man, that headache thing is a killer. Hope you can get it figured out.
As for that Southern Tier Mokah, we have a local that did a coffee/chocolate stout that was excellent.

That Ommegang is excellent. I like all their beers.

tohostudios wrote:

That Ommegang is excellent.  I like all their beers.

I might be drinking it tonight when I watch Wrestlemania.

Picked up one from a NW brewery called Breakside, it's a salted caramel stout and it's delicious.

Dark Horseman wrote:

Picked up one from a NW brewery called Breakside, it's a salted caramel stout and it's delicious.

That sounds really good.

Currently enjoying another Schlafly store-specific release I rounded up a week or so ago, "Schlafly Wee Heavy Scotch Ale".  Man is this stuff good.  Once I bought a single bottle and discovered how good it was I did another one of my scavenger hunts hitting up all the Schnuck's stores in my county.  I sold 6 bottles to my buddy at work who tasted it last night and gave this review:

Quote :

Damn that’s good stuff!

tohostudios wrote:

That Ommegang is excellent.  I like all their beers.

It sure was excellent!

Yeah, in my experience you can't go wrong with Ommegang.

Hey, wait...I think I just created the beginnings of a jingle.

Currently enjoying Southern Tier's "Mokah".

It's basically their Chocklat stout but has espresso coffee mixed in.   I bought a case right off the dolly before the local beer store could even put it out.

I love coffee stouts. Haven't enjoyed any Scotch Ales, not my thing I guess.

tohostudios wrote:

Well my foray into the IPA world is continuing.

One thing I learned this weekend is that the classification "double IPA" is misleading.  To me that always meant twice as many hops which of course made me steer far away from them.  What I learned is that it really means the same amount of hops offset by more malts.  And I'm finding that I love them.  So far I've tried Avery's Maharaja double IPA and Founders Double Trouble double IPA and I've enjoyed both.

Does this mean that it doesn't taste like "regular" IPAs? I've been trying different IPAs and I just do not like them. Just not my thing, but if this tastes different(better) I'll give it a try.

That Wee Heavy Scotch Ale is really good!

I had the Lagunitas Cappuchino Stout yesterday......very good....and on sale $5 for a 22oz.

chewie wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

Well my foray into the IPA world is continuing.

One thing I learned this weekend is that the classification "double IPA" is misleading.  To me that always meant twice as many hops which of course made me steer far away from them.  What I learned is that it really means the same amount of hops offset by more malts.  And I'm finding that I love them.  So far I've tried Avery's Maharaja double IPA and Founders Double Trouble double IPA and I've enjoyed both.

Does this mean that it doesn't taste like "regular" IPAs? I've been trying different IPAs and I just do not like them. Just not my thing, but if this tastes different(better) I'll give it a try.

I think the black IPAs and double IPAs use more malt which offsets the hoppiness you get in regular IPAs

Dark Horseman wrote:

I love coffee stouts. Haven't enjoyed any Scotch Ales, not my thing I guess.

I'm picky about Scotch Ales.  The Wee Heavy Scotch Ale actually tastes more like a doppelbock to me.