Brew Dog – Hardcore IPA

When I think of India Pale Ales, I don’t think of The Subcontinent, I’d venture to guess that most of you don’t either. Maybe California or Comstock, MI, but probably not India. The IPA is a British invention that is as tired as that other big British invention: Watt’s steam engine. America does IPAs the right way – the American IPA is the Saturn V rocket to the paltry British IPA. Or at least so I thought. Read More

Stochasticity Project | Grapefruit Slam IPA

ABV: 8.2%

IBU: 95

I was recently asked someone in passing what their favorite citrus fruit was. Is that an odd question? I guess that’s the kind of question you ask and can expect an honest-to-god answer. Why would anyone taradiddle on tangerines? I think you can tell a lot about a person by their taste in citrus fruit – I’d venture that a majority of replies will be “ummm, oranges?”. That’s fine, oranges are good, but in all honesty, they’re the Bud Light of the citrus world. I don’t have anything against oranges or the good people who grow them (I have a glass of OJ every morning when I wake up) but this answer is all too milquetoast. There are so many varieties of citrus fruit; it’s damn hard to get anything but excited about them. The lowly citron, the mandarin orange, the lemon, the Kumquat!, the possibilities are endless. Read More

Ultimate 6er | The Big Move

Moving sucks. It usually takes place starting at an ungodly hour of the morning, it involves hard physical labor, scratches and bruises, and at least one or two arguments. It also takes FOREVER. Being the loving and caring people we are, we usually invite our friends to share in this very special misery, bribing them with grand promises of delicious pizza and delectable beers. I’m going to be moving at the end of the month, so here are the beers I would bribe you with, if you were to help me. *HINT* *HINT* Read More

Weekly Growler Fill | National Beer News Roundup

It’s Monday. I’m sure plenty has happened over the weekend—things you remember, things you don’t—but the internet never sleeps. So I’ve rounded up all the beer-related content that you didn’t even know you were missing to help keep your weekend buzz going. I don’t know about you, but I’m craving some Thin Mints right about now.

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Anchor Steam Releases Anchor IPA

Beer week is a term I’m sure many of you do not take lightly. As a new resident to the city by the bay, San Francisco, I am … Read More

Singlecut Beersmiths – Billy 18-Watt IPA

IBU: 66 ABV: 5.0%

The last time I was in New York City, the only place I had much interest in going was MTV Studios in Times Square. That was … Read More

The Brew Kettle – White Rajah India Pale Ale

ABV 6.8%

Although TBK (The Brew Kettle) has been around since 1995, many of you may have not had the privilege of experiencing the brews that this place produces. Located … Read More

Ultimate 6er | Backcountry Skiers and Snowboarders

It is well documented that Coloradans have an intense passion for the outdoors. I’m talking fire in the circus and somehow the flaps are locked kind of intense. So it’s no surprise that after years on the slopes, many Colorado residents feel the need to up the ante when it comes to winter sports. Enter backcountry skiing and snowboarding. Backcountry skiers and snowboarders can be seen stranded intermittently, dotting the sides of the winding mountain roads adjacent to ski resorts with constant patience in wait for a ride back to the top of the hill, usually with a tasty brew. While packs and equipment are not only common, but necessary, a reserved spot for a churchkey in said packs and equipment, is not. Not to worry, here is your ultimate 6er of beers while waiting for your buddy and Truck (Truck is the name of his Prius) accompanied by unique ways to open bottled beers with limited equipment. Read More

Beer by Design Brewery Jacque’s Double Black IPA

ABV 6.1% IBU 66

In the front of a small industrial park housing an indoor soccer complex, an MMJ dispensary and a local hydroponic vegetable grower sits one of Colorado’s newest breweries, Beer by Design. The brewery is located in Northglenn, a little metro Denver town filled with mid century suburbs built from GI Bills. Their beer, “designed to be enjoyed”, is made for the demographic of the town, a shrinking retirement population and a growing group of young professionals and blue collar workers.

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Deep Ellum Brewing – Deep Ellum IPA

ABV: 7.0% IBU: 70

I don’t know if you’ve ever been to Dallas, but if you ever find yourself in this fair city, make sure to grab yourself one of … Read More

Schlafly – Tasmanian IPA (Special Release)

ABV – 7.2%, 60 IBU

Drooling, slobbering, out of control, the Tasmanian Devil etched himself into my mind from a young age, terrorizing the Looney Tunes universe throughout my childhood. … Read More

Bear Republic – Black Racer IPA

ABV: 8.1% IBU: 75

To give some background, while traveling down to visit my brother in Arlington, VA for his Halloween party, I knew it would be frowned … Read More

DC Brau – Alpha Domina Mellis DIPA

ABV: 8.5%

IBU: 100

UPDATE: Due to the use of an experimental hops variety from Hop Union, DC Brau is not currently making any new batches of this beer. And, … Read More

Sixpoint Brewery – Bengali Tiger

6.4% ABV

62 IBU

I was out running errands last Friday when I happened upon Sixpoint Brewery’s Bengali Tiger. I knew I had a beer showcase coming up, and my … Read More

Caldera Brewing Company – India Pale Ale

ABV: 6.1%

IBU’s: 94

Being the only hophead in the house, I volunteered to act as the guinea pig for Caldera’s India Pale Ale, one of the beers from my dad’s most recent Craft Beer Club shipment. On this gloomy fall day, the bright can in and of itself was just the pick me up I needed, not to mention the beer inside. Read More

Ska Brewing – Hoperation Ivy #23 Wet Hop IPA

Ska Brewing – Hoperation Ivy #23 Wet Hop IPA
ABV:?
IBU:?

Ska Brewing boasts a limited release every fall in the form of a harvest, wet hop IPA. It’s moniker – a word play on their love of ska and the ska-punk band, Operation Ivy. If you are not familiar, they are recommended if you like Rancid, Against All Authority and Common Rider. This year they have opted for an “all-Colorado” batch of Hoperation Ivy in which they commandeer fresh Colorado hops from High Wire Hop Farms in Paonia, and grain from Colorado Malting Company in Alamosa. This harvest IPA is a real treat. Big on hops but well balanced with malty sweetness. Bright, lively flavors of pine, spices, citrus, wildflowers, and spruce are rested on a substructure of creamy, smooth malts.

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Ballast Point Sculpin India Pale Ale

Ballast Point Sculpin India Pale Ale

ABV: 7%

IBU: 70

My usual process of discovering a new beer to review generally involves perusing through the beer aisles of my favorite stores and picking out new, interesting brews (confession: I’m a sucker for fancy labels). I also tend to gravitate toward more local brands (which for me is the DMV area). Tonight, however, was an exception. My roommate, who has not yet developed the taste for beer (the cause is not yet lost! I will be victorious!), picked up a bottle of Ballast Point Sculpin IPA out of San Diego, CA from the Whole Foods shelf and brought it home. Another confession: I had already enjoyed a glass of red wine before delving into the Sculpin. Though I doubt this ruined my palate, I feel full-disclosure is called for.

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Hopworks Urban Brewery- Centennial IPX

As I sit here sweltering on an unseasonably hot Oregon day, I feel like the beer gods have smiled on me. In my hand is a HUB (Hopworks Urban Brewery) IPX Single Hop Series brewed exclusively with Centennial hops. Unlike many of the intense, resiny IPAs that I am used to drinking that test the limits of my taste buds, this one is quite refreshing and definitely the right choice for a scorcher of an afternoon. At only 6% ABV and 60 IBUs, it is also very sessionable. I wish I had more bottles!

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Wet Hop Dream – Fresh Hopped Red IPA

As late August and early September hit, I begin to dream about Wet/Fresh Hop ales. Over 2 years ago I decided that I would take this passion for wet/fresh hop ales into my own hands. I planted my own hops and in turn would brew my own wet/fresh hop ale. The first year the hops grew rapidly and produced a good amount of Chinook, Cascade, and a small amount of Nugget. My girlfriend Lynn and I brewed a fresh hopped pale ale that was a hit at our Halloween party. The second year did not fare so well for our hops as they were attacked by some killer aphids. Our dreams were crushed as we were unable to harvest any hops. Going into 2013 I was very excited once again as the prospect of having fresh hops was on my mind. Read More

Stone Brewing Company – RuinTen IPA

ABV: 10.8%

IBUs: 110

Our awesome founder Tristan Chan came to the great state of Ohio over Labor Day weekend for the Gentlemen of the Road Stopover in Troy, and with him he brought a suitcase full of beer. I mean, would any of us expect anything less? His only requirement was that I write up a review on the bomber (22 fluid ounces) Stone RuinTen IPA, so here I am. Read More