So New Belgium and Elysian has this collaboration series called The Trip. I’m under the impression that these are actually brewed in Seattle, but I could be wrong on that. Neither brewery website has updated information on the series. Anyways, it’s an IPA with pink peppercorns. What else do you need to know?
Stats:
American India Pale Ale. 7.5% ABV. Washington. Limited Release.
Burnt orange in color with a really nice, fluffy head.
Well, you definitely get that peppercorn aroma on the nose. Just go open a tin of black pepper, that’s what it smells like. I’m not sure how a pink peppercorn differs, but it’s certainly peppery. You don’t get much else here other than a little bit of caramel.
Mouthfeel is really nice in this beer. A nice medium body with a lower carbonation level leaves this beer with a fairly heavy mouthfeel.
Peppery, with a little hint of caramel and vanilla. It’s like a spice cabinet in my mouth, but the pepper isn’t spicy and obnoxious. It does over power the hop flavor until the finish where you get some medium bitterness.
I like this beer. If you like pepper, then you will probably also like this beer. I’m glad it’s not overbearing, but it does over-power the hop flavor. 89 points.
On the list of classic American IPA’s this generally makes an appearance. It’s hopped with Chinook, Cascade, Columbus, and Centennial hops but packs enough pale and crystal to balance and bring it to 7%. I’ve had this beer a couple times in the past, but have managed to never review it.
Stats:
American India Pale Ale. 7.0% ABV. 75+ IBUs. California.
Nice light orange color with a pillow-y head and beautiful lacing.
It’s a lovely hoppy nose that brings a nice balance of citrus and earthy-ness. Nice little black pepper component. Almost makes me think of black pepper and orange zest.
Mouthfeel is lovely with a nice medium body and just enough carbonation. It’s perfect.
Orange zest, grapefruit, black pepper and a hint of vanilla and earth. Medium bitterness, very well balanced. Fantastic length.
It’s a classic for a reason and it can’t be denied. Drink this beer. 93 points.
Here’s a new release from the guys in Fremont. This is an all organic brew that does have organic Simcoe and Citra hops from the Carpenter Ranches in Cowiche Canyon in Yakima. It also includes Pale, Munich, and Honey malts.
Stats:
American India Pale Ale. 6.2% ABV. Washington. Limited Release.
Burnt orange color with a nice fluffy head.
Huge citrus aroma. Lots of orange and lemon here with just a hint of pine. Yep, this is clearly going to appeal to my palate with that amazing citrus. It smells just fantastic.
Mouthfeel is perfect with a medium body and just enough carbonation to cut through and make it drinkable.
Citrus, pine, and just a little bit of earth. It gets almost tart on the mid-palate and ends with a hint of orange and vanilla mixed with grain. Low to medium bitterness.
Holy shit is this good. It’s become one of my favorite IPAs already. Highly drinkable IPA with low bitterness and an amazing citrus flavor. 92 points.
Here’s a new Oregon brewery for me, in beautiful Astoria. It’s an IPA, of course, with 2-row, Munich, and Victory malt with Simcoe, Amarillo, and Centennial hops. Well, let’s see if it can stand up to the many other IPA’s in the NW.
Stats:
American India Pale Ale. 7.7% ABV. Oregon.
Burnt orange color. Pretty nice looking head.
Getting some piney and earthy hops but it does have a little bit of a bright grapefruit. And it’s got a bit of that illegal herb.
Lovely mouthfeel. Fairly full bodied. It’s quite a creamy beer.
Mushrooms and grapefruit is what I get initially. It does get a bit more fruity on the mid, but then turns a bit to the earthy side on the finish.
It’s a pretty solid IPA, but despite it’s description, this is definitely a hoppy NW style of beer. 87 points.
So here’s an 8% IPA in a tallboy can, not something you come across too often. Unfortunately, I can’t find any information on the beer, but I’m sure they through in some Summit hops. Let’s see how it is.
Stats:
American India Pale Ale. 8.0% ABV. Colorado.
Coppery color with a thick white head.
Very hoppy nose that brings a very piney and earthy aroma. It’s quite grassy, as well, with just a hint of citrus.
Mouthfeel is actually quite full bodied with a low carbonation.
Earthy, mushroomy, piney, with a hint of vanilla and orange. It destroys the palate with a vegetal bitterness and has a length of flavor akin to burnt chicken.
I hate this beer. Some may like the completely off-balanced and earthy hops, but if I wanted to shove pine cones in my mouth, I would go outside. There’s no semblance of finesse in this beer. 81 points.
This is Sierra Nevada’s newest seasonal. I’ve had a couple six packs by now, but I’ve yet to review it. This beer features Pale, Rye, Caramel, and Chocolate malts with Bravo, Chinook, Citra and whatever they are referring to as Experimental hops.
Stats:
Rye Beer. 6.6% ABV. 55 IBUs. California. Spring Seasonal.
Nice coppery color that also has a fine head. The lacing is especially impressive.
It’s got a hop forward nose bringing a floral and spicy note with a hint of honey.
Mouthfeel is great with a nice medium body with a medium to high carbonation level.
Floral and spicy hop profile that actually eases into a floral and fruit flavor on the mid-palate. Some stone fruits show up there, while it finishes on a more spicy note with a grainy-rye flavor left on the palate.
Just another solid brew from Sierra Nevada. At first blush, I wasn’t that impressed with this beer, but the more I drink it, the more I like it. 90 points.
Here’s an IPA that I’ve never had before. This Rogue IPA features 2-row, Cara Foam, and Melanoiden malts with Amarillo and Perle hops.
Stats:
American India Pale Ale. 6.2% ABV. 70 IBUs. Oregon.
Fairly yellow in color with a nice head and fantastic lacing.
Quite piney and citrusy on the nose. Reminds me of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale but with a dose of pine added to it, but otherwise quite citrusy.
Mouthfeel is pretty decent. Fairly medium body with a low-medium carbonation.
Citrus hits the palate first, but the pine follows just after. Brings a little bit of butter and vanilla on the mid-palate and then finishes on a fairly high bitter note with that dose of pine again.
Pretty solid beer here and now probably one of my favorite Rogue’s. 89 points.
In case you havn’t had enough IPAs from Oregon, here’s another. This Portland native features 2-row, C-40, and Carapils malts, with Simcoe, Amarillo, Cascade, Columbus, and Nugget hops. Let’s see how it tastes.
Stats:
American India Pale Ale. 7.5% ABV. 80 IBUs. Oregon.
Orange color with a fluffy head that has now subsided, leaving a nice half inch ring of lacing on the glass.
Quite a citrusy and tropical fruit nose with just a hint of pine. I almost thought fruit was added to this beer, because it’s got this amazing apricot and mango aroma.
Mouthfeel is on the high side of medium body with a bit of carbonation, making it crisp.
Just a ton of tropical fruit with mango and pineapple coming through. A hint of pine and diacetyl and a slight tartness to this beer. Long length with a hoppy pine and vanilla flavor.
This is nothing but a solid, delicious beer. If you are a fan of the Bridgeport IPA, this is up your alley. Low bitterness with a fruity profile will make this a pleasure for a lot of people, but can still get the west coast hop heads something to talk about. Yum. 90 points.
First of all, this label rocks. It’s name comes from the Horlucks & Sicks Brewing Co. You can see the old labels and read about their history here. The other cool thing about this beer is that it’s a 4% IPA. That just gets me all kinds of excited. The beer features Pilsner, Aromatic, and Honey malts with Warrior, Calypso, and Cascade hops.
Stats:
American India Pale Ale. 4.0% ABV. Washington. Available February-April.
Pale orange color. Very little head.
Wonderfully hoppy nose with the Cascades coming through strong.
Mouthfeel is light with high carbonation.
Cool. Lots of hop flavor, again, those cascades come through strong with a little bit of a buttery diacetyl component. The finish is a light to medium bitterness with a cracker malt flavor.
This just tickles me pink. I love the sessionability and the simple flavor components. It maybe a bit simple, but it’s tasty and has length. I could drink this over and over again. Fantastic job. Yet again, another great beer from Fremont. 90 points.
They call this an Imperial Pale Ale, but it really sounds like an IPA. It’s got a huge hop profile with Crystal, Cluster, Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, Columbus, and Challenger hops. This is the first I’ve had from this brewery. I believe their main brewpub is called the New Old Lompoc Brewery.
Stats:
American India Pale Ale. 6.9% ABV. 100 IBUs. Oregon.
Nice dark copper color with a small head. Leaves a little bit of lacing on here.
Decent nose. It’s got a nice hop spice in there with some caramel. It’s a very mild smelling nose if that makes any sense.
Mouthfeel is pretty much, fairly medium body with a higher carbonation level.
Just a hint of pine at the beginning which turns into a little bit of an earthy and floral mid-palate. Medium bitterness on the back with a hair of diacetyl.
It’s a decent brew. I don’t have too much to say about it, a bit boring. 84 points.
