This is a new blog based on a previous blog...this will be a listing and semi-rating of each of the 88 IPAs i have partaken of.
One thing to consider when rating IPAs here in California is that we are up to our knees in choices....but California, specifically San Diego IPAs, brews are a variation from other IPAs and the traditional IPAs which are english. the double IPAs are close to traditional in the fact of weight and alcohol content.
The IPA is the biggest and widest brew category in craft and microbrewing- it's strange that IPAs don't dominate the taps in the bars, but i think maybe it's because there aren't alot of people drinking IPA- it's just a lot of IPA being drunk by a bold few.
here it is....
Pliny the Younger (Russian River)-awesome beer, it's very complex yet crisp and easy to go down, but you'll only want to sip it to make it last longer.
Hop 15 (Port Brewing)-very awesome layered hoppy flavors, moderate alcohol traces, good APV
Stone IPA- there are better IPAs, but then again there are not. great bouquet. great consistent taste and always welcome strong APV without tasting sour.
ACME IPA (North Coast Brewing)- good session IPA, not too strong, but not subtle...this is what you dirnk when you wake up in the morning with some toast and jam
Indica IPA (Lost Coast Brewing)- not too big a fan of this one. lost coast is awesome, but they use unconventional hop choices for this beer- even for california style IPA. it's okay. i prefer sunny delight and this is minute maid- nothing wrong with it, just not my preference.
Green Flash Imperial IPA- one of the best double IPAs- strong APV and good flavor, pretty robust.
Deschutes Inversion IPA-good session IPA
Bison Organic IPA-decently priced session 22oz IPA
Avery IPA-awesome citrusy IPA, one of the best regular IPAs
Maharaja Imperial IPA (Avery)-super awesome, top five IPAs, good APV
Sleighor Reaper Ale Double IPA- decent daily drinker, good price for a double-4 dollars
Medocino White Hawk IPA- eh, not tasty enough....
Pyramid Thunderhead IPA-weaksauce
Widmer Borken Halo IPA-weaksauce
Red Hook Longhammer IPA-weaksauce
Snake Dog IPA (Flying Dog)-it's alright, but i wouldn't take it to the moon with me
Hop Ottin' IPA (Anderson Valley)- dog piss...it's so highly recommended, but it's not that great
Hop Devil (Victory Brewing)-good, but in a different context, it's deeper like a cognac almost....
Hop Rod Rye (Bear Republic Brewing)- it's a good companion for sandwiches
Racer 5 IPA (Bear Republic Brewing)- always a good choice, crisp hoppy flavor
Sierra Nevada IPA- more tradional, severe alcohol trace with moderate APV
Alesmith IPA-very tasty, but has an almost menthalating alcohol footprint
Big Daddy IPA (Speakeasy)- very good basic IPA, pretty complex for a small beer
Double Daddy Double IPA (Speakeasy)- builds on basic IPA and blossoms nicely in the mouth
Full Sail IPA-eh, it sucks, even for a traditonal IPA
Wipeout IPA (Port Brewing)- ports IPAs are always good, but you can only drink one 22 oz. -you want to drink multiple port beers despite this- for some reason they just are consistently drinkable brews...
Nectar Ales IPA (Humboldt)- good session IPA california/tradional hybrid
Union Jack IPA (Firestone)- fucking aweseom IPA it's my plan B, next to Stone IPA- i recommend it highly
Rubicon IPA- decent session IPA
IPA (Blue Frog Brewing), eh...jumbled flavor, tastes like soda, not very balanced...
Hoptown IPA- session IPA...pretty good
Stone Ruination- do i have to tell you?
Sierra Nevada Celebration- good seasonal, this should be their year round offering...
Steelhead Double IPA (Mad River)- good session double....if that's possible
Ballast Point IPA- fuckin awesome. 7% very citrusy but also moderately malty simultaneously without being too brash like a rye IPA...good
Lagnitas IPA-pretty good. not as consistent as i'd like, but tastes good overall...
Coastal Fog IPA- great session IPA, very close in flavor to union jack...highly recommend it.....
Meantime IPA- expensive, but it gives you an idea of the basis for our modern socal IPAs...bitter without backup flavor, but good for it's raw nature...
Moylan's Hopsickle Triple Hoppy Ale- the name says enough...it's pretty good...close to Russian River...not as complex, but full throttle...
Moylan's IPA- english style...very good if you can get your hands on it...
Lagunias Maximus- awesome 2.99 double IPA- LAGUNITAS IS CHANGING MY EXPECTATIONS
Shipyard- fuggles IPA- fuggles...are a good bittering hop, but it lacks complexity and bouquet...
Greenflash West Coast IPA- lots of sediment, but it keeps the dick hard
Butte Creek Organic IPA- don't remember too much, changed labels...
Samuel Smith IPA- weak, but tasty, not enough hop bouquet nor bitterness...session IPA..
Left Coast Hop Juice- hop infused vagina flavor- awesomely sour!
Mission Brewing IPA- benchmark quality
Stone Belgian Style IPA- i must give it time to grow on me, yeasty hoppiness....
BJs Owen's IPA-pretty tasty, i underestimated it at first, but it's good....grab a growler of one at your local BJs....
Maui Brewing Company Big Swell IPA- it was in a can and it was delicious. aftertaste of pineapple and tasty hop traces.
Anchor Brewing Liberty Ale-session IPA....easy going down but obvious foot print...rides the line between APA and IPA in a good way....
Anderson Valley 20th Anniversary Imperial IPA-maltiness clouds any hop flavor- drinkable, but too drinkable for an imperial IPA
Grand Teton Brewing Sweetgrass IPA-too sweet and malty- good session, but shouldn't be mistaken for a hoppy beer....
Santa Cruz Ale Works IPA-awesome find- 2.99........close to Stone IPA in Bouquet and flavor....awesome
Brasseirie D'Achouffe Double Belgian IPA Trippel- yeasty flavor overiddes hoppiness...but delicous . just the same...
Port Brewing- 2nd Anniversary Ale- awesome...the best eight bucks you can spend on a bomber of tasty, complex hop juice...get it- it's rare around here and obviously a seasonal...
Drakes IPA- awesome...i can see how it won at the gabf
Victory Hop Wallop- good sweet, hoppy seasonal, very effervescent
Urthel Hop IT- it was good, better than other beligan IPAs. heres the twist. it's a dutch beer in the belgian style that tries to copy IPAs, but it's good.
Bear Republic Racer "X"- never seen this before, hasn't been bottles in five years, but is occasionally available for draft. not my favorite- racer 5 is better
Avery/Russian River Collaboration, not litigation IPA- kinda good, not what i expected from these two breweries. maybe their brewing styles were working against each other instead of being complementary
Coronado Brewing Islander IPA- pretty decent drinker...top ten easy...
Coronado Hoppy Beer Belgian IPA- the best Belgian IPA i've had...
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing IPA- not good. organics almost never have enough hops
He'brew Lenny's RIPA- double IPA with too much rye malt to be able to define itself as bittersweet or an IPA. not good. too thick
Stone 11th Anniversary Ale- the best RYE IPA....hops shine straight through with malty accents- the way it should be
Piraat Ale- it's a good trippel, but i don't taste enough hops, maybe it's the variety, but it oculd just be that danm belgian yeast
Dogfishhead 90 mintue IPA- very smooth and refined, deep like brandy, but hoppy. this is a beer i would move to the east coast for
Full Sail Prodigal Sun IPA- i never cared much for this brewery, but this was in fact a decent offereing. the only thing i would change would be the crappy finish, but it's a decent drinker other than that.
Russian River IPA- very drinkable, just the right amount of citrus flavor and balanced with hops.
Oskar Blues Gordon- really good, but uber expensive. it's a hybrid of an amber an a double IPA....it's very malty and sweet, it's similar to a rye IPA but better
21st amendment brewery Brew Free or Die IPA- very well balanced, but still has hopped up edge. six pack of cans is 9 bucks- a steal compared to Maui breiwing big swell and oskar blues gordon
Belhaven Twisted Thistle IPA- classic english beer. like a bitter but without the creaminess malt flavor...good show....
Left Coast Brewing Torrey Pines IPA- delicious pine laced citrusy IPA with good hop balance and clean finish
Hitachino Classic Ale- creamy session IPA in a good japanese way- domo arogatu!!!
Pliny the Elder double IPA by Russian River- delicious double IPA- quite possibly the best, so hoppy yet balanced, perfect hop choices and crisp aftertaste
Stone 10th Anniversary IPA- deliciously thick and complex with caramel, toffee and rye accents...too much almost
Hair of the Dog Blue Dot Double IPA- tastes like a san diego ipa, gloriously hopped up and full of IBUs, but tasty
St Peter's IPA- skunked, but still tasted smooth and mildly bitter, but not creamy like an esb
Burton India Empire Ale- this is where it all started- delicious lightly hopped pale, but with rocky taste (just like it's brother BASS)
Craftsman IPA- too creamy, but a good session
Craftsman Point 5 IPA- better, with more citrus peel accents
Big Sky IPA- delicious roasty malt flavors with awesome piercing bitterness shining through
Alaskan IPA- very bubbly, and soap sudsy type of head...but lacking in bitterness and complexity
Odell Brewing IPA- delicious tart bit right at the end...nice creamy head- decent balance with good bittering hop choice
Boulevard Double Wide IPA- great, no citrus here, more acidity but from an apple perspective- delightful
Alesmith Yulesmith- Christmas came early this year and it was delicious
Coronado Idiot IPA- signature coronado flavor...great
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