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Each State's Best IPA Beer - Value, Drinkability, Taste and Artwork (3 Viewers)

Lots of people complaining that every tap in the bar is an IPA.

I really don't see this anywhere and think it's a huge exaggeration.

What I find even more peculiar is the number of macro light beers available at the Buffalo Wild Wings in our area. They have Coors Light, Miller Lite, Bud Light and for good measure, just put Busch Light up there. Like....why? And they don't serve them at any sort of steep discount so what's the point in having 4 of what I think is the same thing?
Because to many, they aren't. When I lived in a rural AZ city that was much more country and blue collar, there were massive debates amongst consumers about whether Coors Light or Bud Light was better or if you were some weirdo who drank Miller Light. Was to the level of Ford v. Chevy. All the while I'm sitting there dumbfounded because all of those light beers taste like water to me. But I can attest people have a strong preference or affinity for a particular light beer.
 
Lots of people complaining that every tap in the bar is an IPA.

I really don't see this anywhere and think it's a huge exaggeration.

What I find even more peculiar is the number of macro light beers available at the Buffalo Wild Wings in our area. They have Coors Light, Miller Lite, Bud Light and for good measure, just put Busch Light up there. Like....why? And they don't serve them at any sort of steep discount so what's the point in having 4 of what I think is the same thing?
Because to many, they aren't. When I lived in a rural AZ city that was much more country and blue collar, there were massive debates amongst consumers about whether Coors Light or Bud Light was better or if you were some weirdo who drank Miller Light. Was to the level of Ford v. Chevy. All the while I'm sitting there dumbfounded because all of those light beers taste like water to me. But I can attest people have a strong preference or affinity for a particular light beer.

That's fair. I think the fans of the macro beers would say the same thing about IPAs that I'm saying about their beers of choice. I certainly had my fair share of all of the light beers but just don't enjoy them anymore. My dad drinks Bud and occasionally I'll bum one of his but I don't find it very enjoyable.
 
There was a Doghead Fish beer I really liked but I can't remember the name of it. It's been years since I have had it and I don't think they make it anymore (or maybe they changed the name). It was probably 10-15 years ago when I tried it and I think I would know it if I heard the name. It was dark with high alcohol content. It wasn't an IPA (I know wrong thread). Any thoughts?

Was this it?

 
I wouldn't serve Ninkasi beers to my worst enemy. Their beers are gross.
Apparently I really liked the Tricerahops (or I was feeling mighty good when I entered it into my app). I did have some other Oregon IPAs right behind it.

It's probably the hoppiest beer ever made by mankind. It'll get you wasted but it tastes like tar and tobacco spit.
You should try Elysian Dank Dust. It's like drinking straight bong water.
 
Lots of people complaining that every tap in the bar is an IPA.

I really don't see this anywhere and think it's a huge exaggeration.

What I find even more peculiar is the number of macro light beers available at the Buffalo Wild Wings in our area. They have Coors Light, Miller Lite, Bud Light and for good measure, just put Busch Light up there. Like....why? And they don't serve them at any sort of steep discount so what's the point in having 4 of what I think is the same thing?

Branding.

I don't disagree they're all the same. But the zillions of dollars spent towards making them personal works.
 
Also I feel sorry for Nevada. i know the Vegas, Tahoe, Carson City scenes well enough. Nothing stands out. Alibi has a good business going in Tahoe, but the actual brews have been just okay. Able Baker is the hot brewery in Vegas but they specialize in 12%+ ABV stuff. The IPAs are also just okay. The arts district has an active scene but no brewery stands out. Reno? Maybe they got something good, but I wouldn't know.
Revision puts out some really solid beers.
 
Alright, let's get to Arizona, where I spent 11 days this past summer and on top of now knowing what it will feel like to be cremated, I was able to numb some of the pain with several Hop Knot IPAs from Four Peaks. They were easy to find, affordable and on a scorching hot July day by the pool, they go down smooth and easy, offering refreshment with a kick. 6.7% so right in line of where I like to live and while the design work is pretty basic, I love the colors. It's kind of nice knowing precisely what I'll order the next time I'm in Woz and Bobby Sac's backyard. No hesitation needed, one Hop Knot, please. Super duper cold!
 
Lots of people complaining that every tap in the bar is an IPA.

I really don't see this anywhere and think it's a huge exaggeration.

What I find even more peculiar is the number of macro light beers available at the Buffalo Wild Wings in our area. They have Coors Light, Miller Lite, Bud Light and for good measure, just put Busch Light up there. Like....why? And they don't serve them at any sort of steep discount so what's the point in having 4 of what I think is the same thing?

Branding.

I don't disagree they're all the same. But the zillions of dollars spent towards making them personal works.

That's very true - growing up in Texas, the adults in my life were either Miller Lite drinkers or Bud. And the two did NOT switch it up. In fact, when my dear friend and neighbor Beth came up to Oregon to visit my mom before she passed, she made sure my house was stocked up with Miller Lite for her. I've known her since I was four and I don't think I've ever seen her drink another beer.
 
Moving south to the great state of California, which - if you've ever driven through it length wise, ain't so great in many parts. But the parts that are great are fantastic, especially up north if you visit the amazing Redwoods. It was there that I discovered Lost Coast IPA from Eureka, CA. Is it the best beer California has to offer? No. But I was able to find it in almost every store for a reasonable price and it's crisp, refreshing and goes down smoothly. At 6.5% ABV it packs a little bit of a punch but won't put you out or make your fight your relatives. I was delighted when I went to a convenience store in Eugene, OR and found a 12 pack of Lost Coast which I took back to my son's apartment and shared with him and his roommates and friends. They are now fans too! The can design could be better, but it's easy to spot in the beer fridge which is an important feature for guys like me who have trouble locating things at stores....or anywhere else for that matter.
This is a pretty solid every day IPA that is readily available across the state. I like it better than stuff from Lagunitas and Stone.
 
I wouldn't serve Ninkasi beers to my worst enemy. Their beers are gross.
Apparently I really liked the Tricerahops (or I was feeling mighty good when I entered it into my app). I did have some other Oregon IPAs right behind it.

It's probably the hoppiest beer ever made by mankind. It'll get you wasted but it tastes like tar and tobacco spit.
You should try Elysian Dank Dust. It's like drinking straight bong water.

I've had a few Elysian offerings and they don't mess around - those beers can be strong!
 
Also I feel sorry for Nevada. i know the Vegas, Tahoe, Carson City scenes well enough. Nothing stands out. Alibi has a good business going in Tahoe, but the actual brews have been just okay. Able Baker is the hot brewery in Vegas but they specialize in 12%+ ABV stuff. The IPAs are also just okay. The arts district has an active scene but no brewery stands out. Reno? Maybe they got something good, but I wouldn't know.
Beer Zombies has a physical brewery now right? I thought their taproom and collabs were solid when I was there last.
 
Moving south to the great state of California, which - if you've ever driven through it length wise, ain't so great in many parts. But the parts that are great are fantastic, especially up north if you visit the amazing Redwoods. It was there that I discovered Lost Coast IPA from Eureka, CA. Is it the best beer California has to offer? No. But I was able to find it in almost every store for a reasonable price and it's crisp, refreshing and goes down smoothly. At 6.5% ABV it packs a little bit of a punch but won't put you out or make your fight your relatives. I was delighted when I went to a convenience store in Eugene, OR and found a 12 pack of Lost Coast which I took back to my son's apartment and shared with him and his roommates and friends. They are now fans too! The can design could be better, but it's easy to spot in the beer fridge which is an important feature for guys like me who have trouble locating things at stores....or anywhere else for that matter.
This is a pretty solid every day IPA that is readily available across the state. I like it better than stuff from Lagunitas and Stone.

Agree 100! I'm fine with both Lagunitas and Stone and have enjoyed many of their IPAs, but you nailed it - the Lost Coast IPA is a banger!
 
Lots of people complaining that every tap in the bar is an IPA.

I really don't see this anywhere and think it's a huge exaggeration.
Completely agree. Even in the heavy hops land of Oregon, I'd say at most 1/3 or 40% of the taps might be pale ale's or ipas.

BWW (I know you hate it, but there is conveniently one next to my office AND my house) just added pFriem Pilsner on tap. Delicious!
 
There was a Doghead Fish beer I really liked but I can't remember the name of it. It's been years since I have had it and I don't think they make it anymore (or maybe they changed the name). It was probably 10-15 years ago when I tried it and I think I would know it if I heard the name. It was dark with high alcohol content. It wasn't an IPA (I know wrong thread). Any thoughts?
Burton Baton? That was partially an IPA, but oak-aged and a cross with a strong ale.

 
Lots of people complaining that every tap in the bar is an IPA.

I really don't see this anywhere and think it's a huge exaggeration.
It's frustrating if you like to try different types of beer and 9 of the 10 handles are IPA's. I know a lot of people that are tired of this (not necessarily because they don't like IPA's) because the variety of different type of beers has gone down.
 
Lots of people complaining that every tap in the bar is an IPA.

I really don't see this anywhere and think it's a huge exaggeration.
Completely agree. Even in the heavy hops land of Oregon, I'd say at most 1/3 or 40% of the taps might be pale ale's or ipas.

This last friday I was at our grocery store trying to buy beer, there was 2 micrbrew stouts, a handful of boch's, since i live in texas, 5-10 pilsners/lagers/ amber ales, and about 40 IPA's.

I don't go to bars, but the grocery stores have been taken over.
 
Lots of people complaining that every tap in the bar is an IPA.

I really don't see this anywhere and think it's a huge exaggeration.
It's frustrating if you like to try different types of beer and 9 of the 10 handles are IPA's. I know a lot of people that are tired of this (not necessarily because they don't like IPA's) because the variety of different type of beers has gone down.
What I've been seeing the past couple years is the proliferation of hazy beers. If I want a straight ahead, non-hazy IPA, it's likely that one option will be available. But they'll have five hazy varieties instead. Not a fan.
 
Lots of people complaining that every tap in the bar is an IPA.

I really don't see this anywhere and think it's a huge exaggeration.
It's frustrating if you like to try different types of beer and 9 of the 10 handles are IPA's. I know a lot of people that are tired of this (not necessarily because they don't like IPA's) because the variety of different type of beers has gone down.
What I've been seeing the past couple years is the proliferation of hazy beers. If I want a straight ahead, non-hazy IPA, it's likely that one option will be available. But they'll have five hazy varieties instead. Not a fan.

I am not a fan of the Hazy IPAs either. They really shred my stomach. They are definitely quite popular out here and my neighbor buddy loves them, but I just don't like the way they make me feel.
 
As I look up from Oregon, the state of Washington looks back down on me and while I think our state has the better beers, there's no shame in Washington's game. Now this next beer is a fun one - well, fun for anybody who was a fan of the original Point Break movie with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. If you stumble upon an orange can of beer from Georgetown Brewing in Seattle, chances are you're holding a Bodhizafa IPA named after Swayze's character from the film. Now just look at this can! Is this thing awesome or what? The beer is a little pricier than I would like, but Trader Joes sells it for $11.99 a six and that's fine by me. It's a terrific adult beverage though a little higher on the alcohol side than my other selections at 6.9%. But if I'm cheating on my home state, I'm cheating with a Bohdi because who in their right mind would turn down the great Patrick Swayze in his prime?

One more picture - this is just gorgeous! https://res.cloudinary.com/tavour/image/upload/rfk7rjkfiyybuvmu8p4e
This is one of my top Washington IPAs along with 7 Seas Brewing's Rude Parrot IPA
 
Not technically an IPA...or beer...but would meet the price and sessionable notes in OP: Tricerahops Cider at Trinity Cider in Dallas. My favorite bar/brewery and it's a dry hopped dry cider. Very yummy.
 
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Michigan for session most popular is Founders All Day though it’s not my favorite. I’m still a 2 Hearted guy though it’s kind of strong for putting back a bunch of them. M43 by Old Nation is a great hazy.
Hopslam from Bells is pretty damn good (and scores better than All Day and 2 hearted), but not as well known.
HopSlam and Hop Juju from Fathead are great. For whatever reason Hopslam always messes me up regardless of amount consumed. And yet I still pick it up every time I see it.
Hopslam is like 10% ABV so yeah they pack a punch. It’s seasonal though IIRC usually March release?
Hopslam and Juju usually come out within a week or two of each other (at least here in Cincy)

Use to be right around end of Early Feb- Valentines day time frame. (Always remember it as it was my treat to myself after our annual audit was done which was always end of Jan). Within the past couple years, they started to release more frequently, Hopslam more so than Juju. Probably 4/5 times a year I'd guess.
 
I'm part owner/VP Sales for a fairly large craft brewery in Ontario. Unfortunately the laws don't make it easy to export to the USA, so you've probably never had/heard of it.

Here's a general dump on some topics that have been discussed in here.

- there is definitely a trend towards lagers. 2 years ago our brewery made one lager that was a 4% pilsner/light lager hybrid and that was enough to satisfy the lager demand. We've added in the past two years an every day 5% lager that in the summer is our #1 beer, as well as a second pilsner and a Kolsch. All four of these have an audience.

- up here you have to apply to the government run outlet that operates 650+ stores and basically determines your provincial distribution. We had for a while a Hazy IPA, Red Ale and Pale Ale as year round core beers. When we launched the 5% lager we swapped out the Pale Ale. It's been a great decision.

- every six months we get the opportunity to apply for new permanent listings, we always get rejected but this year we were approved for a session IPA as core beer #4. It it a true session at 4.6% - it's going to be hopped with Simcoe and Motueka hops.

- we also get seasonal listings. The trend on these is more and more to six packs. Overall consumption is down but six packs be it all the same beer or a variety pack are really trending up. This winter we had a holiday 6-pack (sold out quickly), a chocolate stout (sold out quickly) and a 100 calorie 2.5% IPA (selling quite slowly) as seasonal listings - I think that's interesting in light of all the talk of low/no alcohol and better for you beers.

Upcoming we have a blackberry/lime/vanilla sour, a pink lemonade sour and an IPA 6-pack as spring/summer listings with provincial distribution. For the fall/winter we have a pumpkin pie IPA, the chocolate stout again and another hazy IPA.

- We've recently tweaked our flagship Hazy IPA. It was Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe and Mandarina Bavaria hops. We've cut two bags of Mandarina Bavaria per batch and added an additional Simcoe. It's cost neutral (Simcoe hops cost twice as much) but there's more available oil and we're actually finding a better "pop" and more flavour this way, which was the goal.



Happy to chime in on any questions, if anyone is interested, obviously the Ontario market is a bit different but most things would be similar I think.

 
Say, you know who has two thumbs and got to spend 10 days in December in the tropics of Michigan? THIS GUY! :mellow:

Actually, it wasn't too bad; the weather wasn't as bad as it could have been, so that was nice. Even better was being able to enjoy many Bell's Two Hearted IPAs, a beer I've been a fan of ever since my wife started dragging me to her home state. Some will prefer the Founders over Bell's IPA but not me. In fact, I'd say Bell's Two Hearted could compete with anything Oregon has to offer from a large scale produced IPA. And the can/bottle? Best one out there, IMO. Beautiful color and that fish is menacing looking, like he's about to rip your lungs out, Jim. At 7% ABV it is a touch on the higher end for me, but I don't feel overly impacted by it. Just a delicious beer start to finish and the cost is right too. On occasion, I'll find it out here in Oregon, but the stores price gouge it. Still, I'd put this drinkable IPA up against just about any in the country.
 
The power of suggestion is so annoying sometimes. I haven't had a beer this year. I had less than a twelve pack last year. But here at 9:30am on a Wednesday I'm headed to the local beer shop to pick out something for breakfast.

YEAH! Update us!

I'm back. I referenced Beer Advocate as I perused the many options and chose a diy four pack.

Chocolate Rain by The Bruery - American Imperial Stout at 19.6% 😳

Citra by Kern River Brewing - Imperial IPA I've had before. Supporting local. :-)

Speedway Stout by Alesmith - Bourbon barrel aged coffee stout. Love Alesmith. :coffeecup:

Sucaba by Firestone Walker - Barleywine! Love me some malty brew. :banned:

It's barleywine for breakfast.
 
I'm part owner/VP Sales for a fairly large craft brewery in Ontario. Unfortunately the laws don't make it easy to export to the USA, so you've probably never had/heard of it.

Here's a general dump on some topics that have been discussed in here.

- there is definitely a trend towards lagers. 2 years ago our brewery made one lager that was a 4% pilsner/light lager hybrid and that was enough to satisfy the lager demand. We've added in the past two years an every day 5% lager that in the summer is our #1 beer, as well as a second pilsner and a Kolsch. All four of these have an audience.

- up here you have to apply to the government run outlet that operates 650+ stores and basically determines your provincial distribution. We had for a while a Hazy IPA, Red Ale and Pale Ale as year round core beers. When we launched the 5% lager we swapped out the Pale Ale. It's been a great decision.

- every six months we get the opportunity to apply for new permanent listings, we always get rejected but this year we were approved for a session IPA as core beer #4. It it a true session at 4.6% - it's going to be hopped with Simcoe and Motueka hops.

- we also get seasonal listings. The trend on these is more and more to six packs. Overall consumption is down but six packs be it all the same beer or a variety pack are really trending up. This winter we had a holiday 6-pack (sold out quickly), a chocolate stout (sold out quickly) and a 100 calorie 2.5% IPA (selling quite slowly) as seasonal listings - I think that's interesting in light of all the talk of low/no alcohol and better for you beers.

Upcoming we have a blackberry/lime/vanilla sour, a pink lemonade sour and an IPA 6-pack as spring/summer listings with provincial distribution. For the fall/winter we have a pumpkin pie IPA, the chocolate stout again and another hazy IPA.

- We've recently tweaked our flagship Hazy IPA. It was Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe and Mandarina Bavaria hops. We've cut two bags of Mandarina Bavaria per batch and added an additional Simcoe. It's cost neutral (Simcoe hops cost twice as much) but there's more available oil and we're actually finding a better "pop" and more flavour this way, which was the goal.



Happy to chime in on any questions, if anyone is interested, obviously the Ontario market is a bit different but most things would be similar I think.


Terrific insight, thank you for sharing. Your job sounds super cool!

I used to have go to BC for work when I was younger, but back then I wasn't very adventurous with beers. I remember going out to eat with a few guys in Abbotsford and when they ordered their Molson's they would add a little salt into the glass which I thought was bizarre until I tried it and you know what? Pretty tasty! Molson is a solid beer, IMO.
 
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I'm part owner/VP Sales for a fairly large craft brewery in Ontario. Unfortunately the laws don't make it easy to export to the USA, so you've probably never had/heard of it.

Here's a general dump on some topics that have been discussed in here.

- there is definitely a trend towards lagers. 2 years ago our brewery made one lager that was a 4% pilsner/light lager hybrid and that was enough to satisfy the lager demand. We've added in the past two years an every day 5% lager that in the summer is our #1 beer, as well as a second pilsner and a Kolsch. All four of these have an audience.

- up here you have to apply to the government run outlet that operates 650+ stores and basically determines your provincial distribution. We had for a while a Hazy IPA, Red Ale and Pale Ale as year round core beers. When we launched the 5% lager we swapped out the Pale Ale. It's been a great decision.

- every six months we get the opportunity to apply for new permanent listings, we always get rejected but this year we were approved for a session IPA as core beer #4. It it a true session at 4.6% - it's going to be hopped with Simcoe and Motueka hops.

- we also get seasonal listings. The trend on these is more and more to six packs. Overall consumption is down but six packs be it all the same beer or a variety pack are really trending up. This winter we had a holiday 6-pack (sold out quickly), a chocolate stout (sold out quickly) and a 100 calorie 2.5% IPA (selling quite slowly) as seasonal listings - I think that's interesting in light of all the talk of low/no alcohol and better for you beers.

Upcoming we have a blackberry/lime/vanilla sour, a pink lemonade sour and an IPA 6-pack as spring/summer listings with provincial distribution. For the fall/winter we have a pumpkin pie IPA, the chocolate stout again and another hazy IPA.

- We've recently tweaked our flagship Hazy IPA. It was Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe and Mandarina Bavaria hops. We've cut two bags of Mandarina Bavaria per batch and added an additional Simcoe. It's cost neutral (Simcoe hops cost twice as much) but there's more available oil and we're actually finding a better "pop" and more flavour this way, which was the goal.



Happy to chime in on any questions, if anyone is interested, obviously the Ontario market is a bit different but most things would be similar I think.


Awesome. Thanks for sharing and for the insights.
 
The power of suggestion is so annoying sometimes. I haven't had a beer this year. I had less than a twelve pack last year. But here at 9:30am on a Wednesday I'm headed to the local beer shop to pick out something for breakfast.

YEAH! Update us!

I'm back. I referenced Beer Advocate as I perused the many options and chose a diy four pack.

Chocolate Rain by The Bruery - American Imperial Stout at 19.6% 😳

Citra by Kern River Brewing - Imperial IPA I've had before. Supporting local. :-)

Speedway Stout by Alesmith - Bourbon barrel aged coffee stout. Love Alesmith. :coffeecup:

Sucaba by Firestone Walker - Barleywine! Love me some malty brew. :banned:

It's barleywine for breakfast.

19.6%???? Oh holy moly!!!! I wouldn't be able to operate my TV remote after one of those. :lmao:

Godspeed, Chaos!
 
A secretary I used to work with who was in her 40s, very mild mannered was sort of getting into craft beer when she told me once after work a local chain restaurant who for whatever reason was selling $5 pints of Hopslam. She had no idea what it was but it was cheap and tasted good so she had 3. Before she knew what hit her she and her friend were crawling on the bar like Madonna in the 80s. Keep on in mind it was like 6 PM on a Wednesday.They had to call her husband to take her home. She was mortified.
 
A secretary I used to work with who was in her 40s, very mild mannered was sort of getting into craft beer when she told me once after work a local chain restaurant who for whatever reason was selling $5 pints of Hopslam. She had no idea what it was but it was cheap and tasted good so she had 3. Before she knew what hit her she and her friend were crawling on the bar like Madonna in the 80s. Keep on in mind it was like 6 PM on a Wednesday.They had to call her husband to take her home. She was mortified.
Yeah. Back before the pandemic there was a place that would do $5 pints of my entry into this (Hop Drop N Roll) right across from our work. We were definitely obnoxious.
 
The power of suggestion is so annoying sometimes. I haven't had a beer this year. I had less than a twelve pack last year. But here at 9:30am on a Wednesday I'm headed to the local beer shop to pick out something for breakfast.

YEAH! Update us!

I'm back. I referenced Beer Advocate as I perused the many options and chose a diy four pack.

Chocolate Rain by The Bruery - American Imperial Stout at 19.6% 😳

Citra by Kern River Brewing - Imperial IPA I've had before. Supporting local. :-)

Speedway Stout by Alesmith - Bourbon barrel aged coffee stout. Love Alesmith. :coffeecup:

Sucaba by Firestone Walker - Barleywine! Love me some malty brew. :banned:

It's barleywine for breakfast.

19.6%???? Oh holy moly!!!! I wouldn't be able to operate my TV remote after one of those. :lmao:

Godspeed, Chaos!
Gosh, I had an Avery Brewing Tweak Stout at 17.8% and thought I was a somebody...I'm a dang rookie!
 
I'm part owner/VP Sales for a fairly large craft brewery in Ontario. Unfortunately the laws don't make it easy to export to the USA, so you've probably never had/heard of it.

Here's a general dump on some topics that have been discussed in here.

- there is definitely a trend towards lagers. 2 years ago our brewery made one lager that was a 4% pilsner/light lager hybrid and that was enough to satisfy the lager demand. We've added in the past two years an every day 5% lager that in the summer is our #1 beer, as well as a second pilsner and a Kolsch. All four of these have an audience.

- up here you have to apply to the government run outlet that operates 650+ stores and basically determines your provincial distribution. We had for a while a Hazy IPA, Red Ale and Pale Ale as year round core beers. When we launched the 5% lager we swapped out the Pale Ale. It's been a great decision.

- every six months we get the opportunity to apply for new permanent listings, we always get rejected but this year we were approved for a session IPA as core beer #4. It it a true session at 4.6% - it's going to be hopped with Simcoe and Motueka hops.

- we also get seasonal listings. The trend on these is more and more to six packs. Overall consumption is down but six packs be it all the same beer or a variety pack are really trending up. This winter we had a holiday 6-pack (sold out quickly), a chocolate stout (sold out quickly) and a 100 calorie 2.5% IPA (selling quite slowly) as seasonal listings - I think that's interesting in light of all the talk of low/no alcohol and better for you beers.

Upcoming we have a blackberry/lime/vanilla sour, a pink lemonade sour and an IPA 6-pack as spring/summer listings with provincial distribution. For the fall/winter we have a pumpkin pie IPA, the chocolate stout again and another hazy IPA.

- We've recently tweaked our flagship Hazy IPA. It was Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe and Mandarina Bavaria hops. We've cut two bags of Mandarina Bavaria per batch and added an additional Simcoe. It's cost neutral (Simcoe hops cost twice as much) but there's more available oil and we're actually finding a better "pop" and more flavour this way, which was the goal.



Happy to chime in on any questions, if anyone is interested, obviously the Ontario market is a bit different but most things would be similar I think.


Terrific insight, thank you for sharing. Your job sounds super cool!

I used to have go to BC for work when I was younger, but back then I wasn't very adventurous with beers. I remember going out to eat with a few guys in Abbotsford and when they ordered their Molson's they would add a little salt into the glass which I thought was bizarre until I tried it and you know what? Pretty tasty! Molson is a solid beer, IMO.
Yeah for lagers now, I just drink our stuff for the most part or whatever they bring in on tap at my local pub. When I was younger I would walk into the "The Beer Store" and 24s of either Labatt Blue or Molson Canadian would be on sale every week and I would just buy whichever it was at the time. In hindsight/being part of the industry now, this was definitely collusive pricing between the two companies - who also co own "The Beer Store" but at the time I didn't care, I just grabbed one or the other and went on my way.

These days for the macro stuff I personally put Blue, Blue Light and Miller Lite/High Life at the top, probably just that they lean closer to a pils style and would grab them before Molson, Bud, Busch, Coors etc.. and their light offerings.
 
Boise has a great brewery scene. There's 11 breweries, last I checked, within walking distance of me in downtown
I've kind of moved away from IPA's but will still get a Mother Earth Heavy Cloud Hazy now and then. I've heard their Boo Koo is really good but I'm still on their Milk Truck Stout for the winter. Getting it Nitro is amazing.

eta: Barbarian Brewing Little Wolf IPA is good too.

Oh, hello jamny.....

As I move left to right from Oregon to Idaho, it was the summer of 2020 and COVID had essentially shut most everything down. Well, most everything with the exception of the state of Idaho, where COVID wasn't viewed in the same light and masks were about as common as a Cowboys' fan in Philadelphia. Staying near the town of McCall, I stumbled upon an IPA from Sockeye Brewing out of Boise and became an immediate fan of their Dagger Falls IPA. The design work isn't great - the fish looks like something a kid might draw for a fantasy football website - but the beer is splendid. Another 6.5% ABV offering which might just be my sweet spot. If you're enjoying more than one, this is a fine choice.
I used to drink a fair amount of Dagger Falls. It’s not my favorite IPA but its always at Costco for a pretty reasonable price here in southern Idaho. I had to quit drinking it because about every other case is full of cans that are over pressurized to the point that when you open it, you better be ready to drink 1/3 of the beer right this instant! Nothing like sitting down on the couch, opening a beer, scrambling to drink as fast as possible and then going and changing clothes.

As far as other Idaho IPAs that are a decent value, available, good and sessionable, still looking.
 
As I look up from Oregon, the state of Washington looks back down on me and while I think our state has the better beers, there's no shame in Washington's game. Now this next beer is a fun one - well, fun for anybody who was a fan of the original Point Break movie with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. If you stumble upon an orange can of beer from Georgetown Brewing in Seattle, chances are you're holding a Bodhizafa IPA named after Swayze's character from the film. Now just look at this can! Is this thing awesome or what? The beer is a little pricier than I would like, but Trader Joes sells it for $11.99 a six and that's fine by me. It's a terrific adult beverage though a little higher on the alcohol side than my other selections at 6.9%. But if I'm cheating on my home state, I'm cheating with a Bohdi because who in their right mind would turn down the great Patrick Swayze in his prime?

One more picture - this is just gorgeous! https://res.cloudinary.com/tavour/image/upload/rfk7rjkfiyybuvmu8p4e
This is one of my top Washington IPAs along with 7 Seas Brewing's Rude Parrot IPA
Also if you like Bodhi, Georgetown Brewing's Lucille is also quite nice, just a little bit lighter.
 
As I look up from Oregon, the state of Washington looks back down on me and while I think our state has the better beers, there's no shame in Washington's game. Now this next beer is a fun one - well, fun for anybody who was a fan of the original Point Break movie with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. If you stumble upon an orange can of beer from Georgetown Brewing in Seattle, chances are you're holding a Bodhizafa IPA named after Swayze's character from the film. Now just look at this can! Is this thing awesome or what? The beer is a little pricier than I would like, but Trader Joes sells it for $11.99 a six and that's fine by me. It's a terrific adult beverage though a little higher on the alcohol side than my other selections at 6.9%. But if I'm cheating on my home state, I'm cheating with a Bohdi because who in their right mind would turn down the great Patrick Swayze in his prime?

One more picture - this is just gorgeous! https://res.cloudinary.com/tavour/image/upload/rfk7rjkfiyybuvmu8p4e
This is one of my top Washington IPAs along with 7 Seas Brewing's Rude Parrot IPA
Also if you like Bodhi, Georgetown Brewing's Lucille is also quite nice, just a little bit lighter.

I've had it! It's terrific. Great call.
 
Memories are a little fuzzy, but I *THINK* I went to Half Acre Brewery with @Aaron Rudnicki followed by some late night antics at my friend's condo near Wrigley. My wife and two older boys took the train from Pontiac to Chicago to check the city out and man, WHAT A CITY. I fell in love with Chicago and can't wait to go back. For when I do, I'm going to find Bodem IPA in a tall can and enjoy a fine Illinois IPA. Great design, delicious beer, very easy to drink at 6.7%. And because I didn't know, I searched out the word "Bodem" and learned it means ground, or more specifically, the solid surface of the earth. Which makes sense for a brewery named "Half Acre". Between the food, culture, beer and people, Chicago is just an amazing city.
 
Well, that's about it for now. I'm not qualified to suggest anything from my home state of Texas nor Mississippi where I went to college. Had no idea what an IPA was back then. It took me years to break into him up here. Just wasn't my thing, but now, it's my favorite style for sure.

Heading to Vegas in March; hoping to add to the list. Spent a bunch of time in Maine, but not in years and don't recall one that was a 'go-to' for me.

Been to Hawaii twice, but back then I was drinking lighter stuff. Alaska, same thing. Did a bunch of fun stuff in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but was just drinking whatever the group was. Don't recall any IPA that stood out back then, but again, I had different tastes then.

Feel free to keep adding your favorite IPAs and maybe one day, we'll be able to share one together here, there and where ever we may be.
 
So the elephant in the room with IPAs is age. How long has it been in the bottle or the can? Obviously the fresher the better. The quality and smell and taste can start to change in 30 days or less. Yes, I'm a snob who will check the canning date on the bottom of the cans. I typically won't buy it if it's more than 45 or 60 days old. I usually try for inside of 30 days.
 
There was a Doghead Fish beer I really liked but I can't remember the name of it. It's been years since I have had it and I don't think they make it anymore (or maybe they changed the name). It was probably 10-15 years ago when I tried it and I think I would know it if I heard the name. It was dark with high alcohol content. It wasn't an IPA (I know wrong thread). Any thoughts?

Was this it?

It might be that. All the descriptors of if sound correct but the name doesn't ring any bells. I will see if I can search it out locally and give it a try.
 
There was a Doghead Fish beer I really liked but I can't remember the name of it. It's been years since I have had it and I don't think they make it anymore (or maybe they changed the name). It was probably 10-15 years ago when I tried it and I think I would know it if I heard the name. It was dark with high alcohol content. It wasn't an IPA (I know wrong thread). Any thoughts?
Burton Baton? That was partially an IPA, but oak-aged and a cross with a strong ale.

No....... the label is definitely wrong and not quite the right description.
 
Sucaba by Firestone Walker - Barleywine! Love me some malty brew. :banned:
This is one of my favorites. Firestone Walker does anniversary brews every year around Christmas time. I stumbled upon one time many, many years ago (it might have been around 2000). They are fantastic. I think one them turned into Sucaba or I might have just got a bottle of Sucaba in addition to the anniversary ale that particular year.
 
Well, that's about it for now. I'm not qualified to suggest anything from my home state of Texas nor Mississippi where I went to college. Had no idea what an IPA was back then. It took me years to break into him up here. Just wasn't my thing, but now, it's my favorite style for sure.

Heading to Vegas in March; hoping to add to the list. Spent a bunch of time in Maine, but not in years and don't recall one that was a 'go-to' for me.

Been to Hawaii twice, but back then I was drinking lighter stuff. Alaska, same thing. Did a bunch of fun stuff in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but was just drinking whatever the group was. Don't recall any IPA that stood out back then, but again, I had different tastes then.

Feel free to keep adding your favorite IPAs and maybe one day, we'll be able to share one together here, there and where ever we may be.
Hawaii: Overboard IPA from Big Island Brewing Company
 
Love a good IPA, especially in hot weather. The more bitter it is, the better.

Here in North Carolina, my favorite local is Pernicious IPA from Wicked Weed Brewing in Asheville. A bit over 7% so it's not exactly session-able, but it's not crazy either. Just have 2 instead of 3.

I tried a bunch of lower alcohol session IPA's, and most of them are little lacking in the taste department. If you drink an All Day IPA after a Pernicious, you know it.

This is precisely why I started this thread - INFO! Now I know what to order when I'm in North Carolina. :thumbup:
A lot of folks stays away from Wicked Weed after being bought by AB Inbev. I still like them but like some of their other stuff a lot more (sours and some stouts).
I hear you, but I still think freak of nature is great
Not a hater by any means. It's also a good value that you can find. I just think of their great sours or their Milk n Cookies before their IPAs.

An IPA like Surf Wax from Burial is great and approachable, but you never see it.
Kind of surprising. It's in Whole Foods in Asheville and maybe Ingles. They do have a Charlotte location so I suspect they have....after more research....


I'll check the Lowes in Mooresville the next time I'm charging there, but I suspect they aren't close to the $20 per 12 price tag.
Yeah I see it a lot in wilmington. well I guess I haven’t been specifically looking lately, but it definitely has been readily available in general.
 
There was a Doghead Fish beer I really liked but I can't remember the name of it. It's been years since I have had it and I don't think they make it anymore (or maybe they changed the name). It was probably 10-15 years ago when I tried it and I think I would know it if I heard the name. It was dark with high alcohol content. It wasn't an IPA (I know wrong thread). Any thoughts?

Was this it?

This is good, but it was the last beer I drank on a really heavy night many years ago and puked afterward and can’t drink it anymore. Hopefully this answers GM’s original question.
 
it was the last beer I drank on a really heavy night many years ago and puked afterward and can’t drink it anymore.
I did that with Guiness in college. It took me years before I was willing to try it again. Once I tried it again and I really liked it. You might try it again if it's been a lot of years.
 
New York- Equilibium- Einsteins delight- it’s a triple but I don’t like rules or guidelines.

Ohio- Fatheads Hop Juju, Clag brewing Fat beer in a little can or Great Lakes Chillwave

Focal Banger>Heady topper but both are great
 

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