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| Stone has always been one of my favorite breweries for their over the top hop flavors and high alc content. While Ruination remains one of my favorite IPA's...the 10th Anniversary IPA wasn't quite as good. While it had amazing hop flavor, at 10% alc, it was a little too much of a good thing. Very fruity hop taste but the high alc content came thru a little too much making it too sweet and almost tasted like a barley wine. Ruination remains the best balanced of the Stone IPAs and one of the biggest hop explosion you will taste in a bottle! http://www.stonebrew.com/
Widmer Bros W'06 Hoppy Red Ale This year Widmer is releasing a hoppy red ale instead of the brewers choice IPA of last year. This is a very hoppy red ale that is 7.0% alc. Perfect hop/malt balance that will keep you coming back for more. Stock up if you can find this at a good price because it won't last long! I'm still longing for last years IPA! I hope these guys keep these seasonals coming. |
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| Dick's IPA
I recently found a mixed pack of Dick's Ales for a great price and thought I would give it a go. I have had the IPA on tap before but was not aware they were bottling. The best part of the mixed pack was that no beers repeated, it was a true pack of 12 different beers. I won't review all of them right now but will tell you about a few of my favorites that might interest the hopheads. Of course the most appealing would be Dick's IPA. I don't know why I didn't think the bottled version was as hoppy as the tap version I have had. The flavor is awesome though and you can't go wrong with this IPA though it doesn't pack the punch of some of the other similarly hopped IPA's at only 5% alc. Dick's Best Bitter I guess I expect more from NW Bitters than I should. I wish they all could be like Rogue Brutal Bitter! While this was a decent Bitter, it lacks the strenght and hop character that I would like to see in all my bitters! I know the brewer is trying to stay true to the original British style but how about a dry hopped version for us hopheads? |
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| Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale 2005
Definitely not the choice of Hopheads but a nice spicy winter ale. A little too sweet for my tastes but interesting flavor. |
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| Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA
Light in color, fruity smell and very citrusy hop flavor. Tastes like mixing half a Bridgeport IPA with half a Pyramid IPA. At 7% Alc. and in 22oz bottles, this is definitely a winner. From the looks of the awards it has won on the website, I am not the only one that thinks so! |
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Bison Organic IPA This is a very malty IPA, not overly hoppy though nicely balanced. Their website claims triple digit IBUs and it does have a very nice long finish but with the malt character of this beer, it could be considered a Bitter. It comes in 22oz bottles and at 6.8% alc, it definitely does the job. I haven't seen any of their other beers but am quite curious about the Honey Basil Ale they have listed on their website. Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA If you are a true hophead, you will love this beer! If not, run for your life from this! Much lighter in color than you might expect for the flavor explosion that is this brew. Incredible citrusy, hop intensity with a smooth finish. At 9% Alc. this stuff is not to be taken lightly! I had had this on tap but never seen it bottled until recently on a trip to the Central Market, a great source of exotic microbrews. If you get a chance, check out the interview with their brewer/founder in the movie American Beer. They also make a 120 Minute IPA that is 21% Alc and amazing! I have had this on tap but seriously doubt you can find it bottled anywhere in the Northwest, but if someone knows otherwise, please let me know! This beer is made in Delaware? How they got the idea and enough hops for this in Delaware is truly beyond comprehension! Very creative brewer! Check out their very cool website and plan a trip to Delaware! |
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Dick's Bottleworks IPA
Bottleworks IPA is actually made by Dicks Brewing. This is one serious Imperial IPA, very dark malty flavor with a sweet carmel malt flavor and strong hop finish. Very well balanced for a beer that is 8.5% ABV. http://www.dicksbeer.com/
Deschutes Cinder Cone Red
This is a great Red beer...smooth silky goodness with a generous amount of hop flavor for a red. It is a seasonal that is only available from January til March and fans are so fanatical about this red that they have started a petition to get it to be a year round offering. http://www.pyrcc.com/
I am always up for helping a great cause so plan on lending my support on this mission! Below are some comments on this brew that I couldn't say better myself! Go stock up while it is around...the end is near!
Teeters on the brink of world-class. Gorgeous to look at, with constantly shifting coloration ranging from ripe apricot to molten magma. The slathery head gets all over the glass and stays there, while the crushed velvet texture delivers up lacquery flavors that put a shine on the palate thicker than a triple coat of Verathane. The complex, never-ending hops notes are the icing on the cake. Killer beer.
David Gadd - Patterson's Beverage Journal, February 2007
June 2005 Summer Brewfest Review
Alaska IPA: Who knew? They make a great IPA but don't bottle it and according to the hand at the tap, only sell it in Juneau Alaska. We later found out that is not true as I have seen it show up in a few pubs but anyways...it is great stuff. Smooth, mellow, not super hoppy but full flavored with a great aroma and nice finish.
****
Big Time Brewing Hopfest: I love Big Time's IPAs but this was more of a very hoppy pale. I was not as impressed with this as I had hoped to be but after a bunch of IPA's it was tough to downshift to this. I have since had a cask version of this at Big Time Brewery and liked that much better. Definitely worth a go for anyone wanting to gradually work up to the IPA world!
***
Iron Horse Loco-Motive Ale: I am always happy to see new breweries at the fest. Iron Horse is located in Ellensburg Washington and made their debut at the Brewfest this year. They were serving their brown and this brew I would call a red. It was pretty good and very flavorful for a red, a style that is not really that popular in the Northwest. I hope to make it over to Ellensburg and try their IPA someday soon.
***
Lang Creek Brewery Sopwith Camel London Ale: Another newcomber to the Brewfest but I have to say I was not impressed with this beer. It was sour with not much other distinguishable flavor. I guess I expected a dark strong ale and didn't get this at all!
**
McMenamin's Two Block Walk IPA: This was one of the highlights of the day! I have had their other IPA's and thought they were good but this one was outstanding. Great hop flavor, lingering spicy finish and very complex yet well balanced. A fellow hophead called it "beer candy"
****
Water Street Brewing and Alehouse Queen Nina's Imperial IPA: Another newcomber to the fest but by far the best! These guys stole the show for me and not only did I think this was the best beer at the festival, I thought their other beer was one of the best also! Major hop flavor with a spicy finish yet a very smooth aftertaste. This one packs a punch too and must be around 7% alc. My only complaint was when I tried to contact the brewer later that week to secure a keg of the stuff, I got snubbed...not even a reply!
*****
Water Street Brewing and Alehouse Big Phatty Panama Red: Ah...maybe this name explains why I never got an e-mail back. With a name like this you expect no less than a smokey dark red ale close to 9% alc...very stoney! You don't have to be a red lover to appreciate this beer!
****1/2
Elliott Bay IPA: These guys simply make great beer. A very hoppy smooth finish IPA.
****
Pacific Crest IPA: pretty solid IPA though a little hint of a sour that I thought odd. Very long finish.
***
Well...that is all I could get away with trying...even with it being Father's Day! Lets hope next year is as much fun!
