Stacked Deck Citiva IPA

Stacked Deck Citiva IPA. Made in collaboration with BSG (Brewers Supply Group). 

7.5 % ABV, Stacked Deck Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

Once more, my efforts to sidestep the hazies has been stymied. There is nothing on the label here to say "hazy" or "New England-style" or, NE. You just have to expect it now. Certain brewers, it's what they're gonna do. I guess Stacked Deck is one of those. Learn something new every day. 

The look: all fuzzy-like, hazy as it gets. Thick, even. Dull orange color. Milky. Slim, if long lasting white head. 

In the nose: This is something else. Citrus, with a side of berries and melons. Fresh, vibrant hoppiness, fruity, slightly sweet. Arrestingly original. 

In the mouth: More fuzz from the start. Coats the palate, Flavors from the nose emerge on the tongue, but all covered in fuzz. Chunky, almost. Hop flavors abound, but this one steers too hard into sweetness, leaving bitter way behind, practically nonexistent. I still don't see why anyone wants to pursue that and still call it an IPA. Don't get it at all. 

I will finish this, I will enjoy it to an extent, but mostly I yearn for some kind of clarity, even just a little. It's too much. 

Our collaboration with BSG Craft Brewing. Loaded with BSG's Citiva hop blend.

Starry Eyed XX Cream Ale

Starry Eyed XX Cream Ale.

6.8 % ABV, 17 IBU. Starry Eyed Brewing, Little Falls, MN. 

Clear, pale golden color, slim white head. 

In the nose: Mostly malty, little hops, slightly corny, clean. Bit o' sweetness.

In the mouth:  More malty, some grainy, and all smooth. Light bodied, slight corn husk flavor that I'm not sure is completely out of place for the style. It's not the freshest bottle, but that's all my fault. I left it in the back of the fridge and continually chose other beers before it. 

I drink cream ales so rarely, I can't recall if this should stand astride the best in the style. Gotta brush up on my cream ales. And so, I reread my reviews of other cream ales that I liked, and this one doesn't stray too far afield. It's a good cream ale and you can drink it, but maybe maltier than most. I don't mind that in the least. 

Sweetness remains, but doesn't overpower. Grainy/malty feel dominates, but persists pleasantly. Okay, I like this. But, I'd love to visit the taproom and drink it fresh. Someday, soon, I hope. 

Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale

Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale.

4.2 % ABV, 19 IBU. Goose Island Brewing, Chicago, IL. 

At last, I think to myself, an excuse to use my Goose Island 312 glass! And then I have to think, why do I have this? When have I used it before (I have other weizen-style glasses.)? Where did I get it? And then I started to wonder why I had the beer. Then, I remembered. My boss at the retail store I currently work at just decided to open up a variety pack of Goose Island to do a tasting with staff, and this one was left over, so I took it home. 

And now I discover that I reviewed it fifteen and a half years ago. I'm going to drink it and look at those old notes...posted on BeerAdvocate back in September, 2005:

So strange to see this beer "retired", as I'd just bought it, and never heard of it. Our local distributor doesn't like adding the number of beers they carry from a brewery like Goose Island, so I could only get it in the pub pack.

And, I've put away the pint glass I was going to use, as the box urged to employ correct glassware, and I always obey the box. Into a Weihenstephaner weiss glass you go!

Hazed, straw yellow look, big, booming head, commands the top of the glass, but assuredly simmers down. 

Aroma: soft, spicy, citric. Banana and lemon on top, creamy underneath...nice. 

Nice in the taste, too. Soft and mellow, fruit and light spices. Delightfully flavorful, and terrifically quenching. Very downable, light and easy, delicate in flavor, but tasty as heck.

Reminds me a bit of Oberon, without the funky yeast. 

If that silly distributor would have let me pick this up in a 6-pack, I surely would have gone through plenty over the summer.

I'm going to let those old notes stand. They do the trick. And I always use that Weihenstephaner glass, every time, except this time. 

And I have to notice that despite my last statement in those old notes, how rarely I've touched this beer since. And how quickly after this that it became one of their best sellers, and ubiquitous on tap.

Inspired by the city of Chicago and densely populated with flavor, 312’s spicy aroma of Cascade hops is followed by a crisp, fruity ale flavor delivered in a smooth, creamy body that's immensely refreshing.

Surly Rivet Head West Coast IPA

 Surly Rivet Head West Coast IPA.

6.9 % ABV, Surly Brewing, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN. 

Another Surly West Coast IPA? Again? Well, this one was released as part of the Unusual Suspects variety pack, before they put out Havoc Machine in six-packs. Let's take it out for a spin.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: Popping with citrus and pine, all the goodies are here. Intermingled among, notes of stone fruit, apricot, peach and such. 

In the mouth: Bitter, fruity, juicy, then dry, dry, dry. All those flavors from the nose arrive on the palate, clean and balanced. Bitterness never quits in this, and that's how I like. Barest malt, big hops and bitterness. Just my style. 

Hops, yeast, malt and water—those are the simple components of great beer. How those four are joined is where the magic happens. Rivet Head fastens a heavy dose of citrusy hop flavor to a dry and slightly sweet malt backbone for a classic take on the West Coast IPA.

Bent Paddle Hazy Pôrdij India Pale Ale

Bent Paddle Hazy Pôrdij ( #6) India Pale Ale. Featuring Suitana + El Dorado + Cashmere. 

When meeting someone coming the other way on a portage, the person carrying the canoe should always be given the right of way. (I'm just reading off the can here, folks.)

6.3 % ABV, 50 IBU. Bent Paddle Brewing, Duluth, MN. 

Another exemption from the boycott on the hazy. And why, this time? 1. It was a free sample. 2. I like Bent Paddle and I want to keep up with them. Let's go.

It's hazy, bright golden, slim white head. 

In the nose: Pleasantly citric, fruity, some berries, melons. 

In the mouth: Exceptionally sweet and fruity. Low bitterness. Lean malt, light bodied, Just enough hops to tickle the tongue, but bitterness is consistently mild. Smooth stuff. Easily consumable. Some tropical notes come through, a bit of pineapple, and even banana, terrifically tasty. Yum meets a dum dum. This is enjoyable, and  I enjoyed it. 

Every Pôrdij leads to new adventures! Just as a portage takes you to a new body of water, our Pôrdij navigates the ever-changing currents of the IPA style. This version of our Hazy India Pale Ale piles on a massive hop load, but the bitterness is kept at bay despite the added weight. The haze descends on this IPA like an early morning North-Shore fog with Sultana, El Dorado, and Cashmere hops leading the way. The bright hop flavors cut through the haze and lend a tropical citrus forward nose that supports the ample malt frame.

Waldmann Maibock Strong Golden Lager

Waldmann Maibock Strong Golden Lager.

6.3 % ABV. Waldmann Brewery, St. Paul, MN. 

Clear,  amber-hued, slim white head. 

In the nose: Slightly sweet, mostly malty. Fruity, floral, lightly hoppy. Nice.

In the mouth: A little sweet, a little sharp, and every inch a maibock. Rich and malty, while clean and lovely. Moderate bitterness, smooth drinking. Quite a delight. 

An unfiltered, deep golden, malty German style Maibock. Floor malted Czech Pils malt used in a traditional decoction mash is balanced by a noble hop bitterness, heritage flavor hops, and Hallertau Hersbrucker aroma hops. 

Alaskan SMaSH Galaxy Double IPA

Alaskan SMaSH Galaxy Double IPA.

8.5 %, 86 IBU, Alaskan Brewing, Juneau, AK. 

According to Untappd, this will be my sixth check-in to this beer. The last three were my previous cans from this 4-pack, and let me tell you, if I see a 4-pack of a double IPA for $12, I buy it. The first two were from when I had it on tap at Acadia Cafe in the fall of

2016. Let's drink it again and take notes, okay? Okay!

Clear, bright golden hue, slim, but long lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: Big, beautiful citrus notes, with a side of pine. Ah!

In the mouth: Bracing bitterness that starts fierce, then mellows out, leads the charge, with a large deployment of citric fruit flavors, orange and grapefruit and lime. Starts juicy, then turns dry, bitter, brittle. This is Double IPA the way it is meant to be. Absolutely delicious. Abundant citrus, growing alcohol presence, and unrelenting bitterness. Does everything a self-respecting double IPA ought to do. 

A balanced aroma gives intense passion fruit, light guava, and herbal notes similar to thyme, and hints of exotic citrus.The hop aroma is balanced by light honey notes that are characteristically associated with the malt of a crisp Pilsner. The flavor has an initial rush of tropical fruit and herbal notes that linger intensely. The Galaxy hops take center stage, and after several seconds the juicy hop notes are joined by the very intense bitterness typical of this Australian variety. 

Oskar Blues Pinner IPA

Oskar Blues Pinner  Session IPA. 

4.9 % ABV,  35 IBU, Oskar Blues Brewery, Longmont, CO & elsewhere. 

Clear, with light haze, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: Citrus and pine in command here, with a dose of tropical on the side. 

In the mouth: A blessing of happiness abounds on the palate, bitter and delicious. Light bodied, easy-drinking, while remaining flavorful. Just a little juicy in the mouthfeel. Ain't nothing wrong with this one. I had the first two from the sampler pack, tossing them back, thinking merely, "yeah, that's good." Now that I am publishing notes, what more need I say? Only that: I don't normally like most "session IPAs", but this one makes you forget that it is one. Well done. 

At 4.9% ABV and 35 IBUs, this drinkable IPA uses several varieties of hops to target the ever-evolving flavor. With tropical fruits, citrus juices, pineapple and spice berry up front in the aroma and flavor, the biscuit & toasted bread at the back balance out all the hops and make a great finish to go on to your next can of PINNER. It’s the perfect beer for a little sip, sip, give.

HeadFlyer Peach Whip Ale

HeadFlyer Peach Whip Ale.

5.2 % ABV, HeadFlyer Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

And here we have the fifth appearance of HeadFlyer Brewing in the Nib, the first in over two years, and the first time from a can. What took me so long? Suffice to say that I never saw anything that compelled me to buy, though did give a few some long, hard looks. Maybe next time, Coffee Porter. And this one was just given to me, so I had no choice. It certainly doesn't seem like my usual thing. Let's find out about it. 

First, I check it on Google, and have to bypass the stuff about a brand of pale ale made by the leader of a heavy metal band. Then, I use my noggin and guess that it's probably a cream ale with fruit added.  Next, I check their website and confirm my suspicions. I go into this knowing that it is definitely nothing I would spend my own money on, but forward we must go. 

It's all hazy-like, dull orange color, large, long-lasting ivory cap. 

In the nose: Sweetness. Fruit. Not much else. 

In the mouth: Fruit. Cream. Peach flavors coming forward. Silky smooth. Light bodied, easy drinking. Milky. A milkshake cream ale. This is what milkshake IPAs should be. Stop pretending to be an IPA, if that's what you're struggling not to be. Just be this. 

I will finish this, because that it what I do, and I tried it because that it what I do, but would never choose one again, knowing what it is. Maybe it's for you, though, go knock yourself out. I don't judge. (Well, maybe a little.But when I do, you deserve it.)

The freshest iteration of our Fruited Whip Series is Peach Whip, featuring healthy amounts of milk sugar and oats for a creamy mouthfeel, and of course loads of Peach for that taste of summer.

Finnegan's Kicked To the Herb Hemp Pale Ale

Finnegan's Kicked To the Herb Hemp Pale Ale. Pale Ale brewed with hemp seeds. "Here's to doing good."

5.5 % ABV, 45 IBU, Finnegan's Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

And here we have what will be the eighth appearance of Finnegan's in the Nib, but only the 7th beer reviewed (I did one twice, accidentally). The last one was over two years ago. This is a long-overdue revisit to this brewery. 

I purchased a 6-pack of this beer not due to any enthusiasm for hemp seeds, but because I wanted to have a pale ale in the fridge and I wanted to pay no more than $9.99 for it. That's how you get me. 

Shouldn't I have had this one on  4/20? Maybe, if I thought like that. 

Lightly clouded, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: Citrusy, hoppy, with a smear of stank. 

In the mouth: Fresh, lightly fruity, neatly bitter, but altogether smooth and palatable. Highly satisfying. Just a little juicy, moderate malt, well-balanced. Medium -bodied. Not too much of the hemp character comes through....no, wait, wait a minute...ah, there we go....a little herbitude goes a long way. 

Sweetness rounds out and it ends on a dry note, the throat is parched, and the thirst must be quenched....

Tasty little pale ale, and you can drink it. 

Pale Ale brewed with Citra, MN grown Zeus and Chinook hops to push the aromas of the hemp seed. You get high tropical notes and a piney resinous nose. Mid-level bitterness any hophead would love.

Arbeiter Hoop Jump Cold IPA (collaboration with Bad Habit Brewing)

Arbeiter Hoop Jump Cold IPA (collaboration with Bad Habit Brewing).

8.1 % ABV, 80 IBU, Arbeiter Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

And now, for the first time, I will consume a Cold IPA. Not an IPA that has been kept at cold temperatures, (although it has), but, well, I don't know what the hell it is. This is the first time I've heard of the "Cold IPA." Again, whatever that is.

It is called Hoop Jump because the two collaborators once worked together at Town Hall under Mike Hoops. 

Let's drink it. 

Clear, bright golden color, slim white head. 

In the nose: fresh, lively, bursting with citrus and pine. Good ol' IPA aromatics, the way they were meant to be. 

In the mouth: Crisp, hoppy, bitter. More notes of grapefruit, orange, lemon/lime, with a slice of pine, greet the palate harmoniously. Everything an IPA should be. Clean. Vibrant. Refreshing. Delicious. Light bodied, lean malt, just enough to hold it all together. 

I'm looking at the description posted below, trying to discern the qualities of the "Cold IPA". This is not rich in maltiness, at least not how I see that, but it does pack something of a punch. I cannot figure out what makes this different from other IPAs or double IPAs. This is just a good ol' IPA, or double IPA. And you can drink it. And I am. And I am liking it. 

Hoop Jump Cold IPA

ABV 8.1% | 80 IBU

We are excited to bring you Minnesota’s first COLD IPA!

Aaron Herman of Arbeiter and Erik Salmi of Bad Habit worked together at Town Hall Brewery under the tutelage of brewing legend Mike Hoops. After having the Bad Habit crew out for a brewery tour, Erik and Aaron hatched a plan to brew their collab. It just so happened Erik’s brother Drew recently sent him a new beer by Kevin Davey of Wayfinder Beer in Portland, it was a “Cold IPA”. It’s brilliantly clear, clean, has classic hop flavors yet it is rich in maltiness and packs a punch! Sometimes all the hoops line up perfectly, if you are ready, you can jump right through!

Aroma: A supernova of citrus and tropical hop aromas including passionfruit, grapefruit, and lime, along with bright cosmic dankness.

Flavor: Soft but intense tropical and pungent hop flavors of passion fruit, and restrained citrus, all followed by a warming and inviting resinous finish. Due to the high alcohol content and rich maltiness, Hoop Jump drinks “fuller bodied” than it actually is – the first sensation of a very light beer on your palette is quickly overcome with the aforementioned malt and alcohol.

Drumconrath Brewing Company Fluff Diver Fruited Blonde Ale

Drumconrath Brewing Company Fluff Diver Fruited Blonde Ale.

5.4 % ABV, 12 IBU. DCR Brewing, Fargo, ND. 

I am breaking my boycott against marshmallow beers, and it is for one reason only: this was given to me. It found it's way into my possession, I did not reject it, it was filed into my fridge, therefore it must be reviewed and entered into Ye Olde Nib. This is the way. Here we go: 

Thick and turbid. Slim white head. Orange juice orange. 

In the nose: Sweet and fruity, in that order. Citrus and ...fluff? Am I smelling the fluff?

In the mouth: Okay, now I can definitely taste the marshmallow. Orange, tart, citric, sweet, fluffy. No hops, malt is hidden. Carbonated fruity fluff. Definitely not made with me in mind. 

I'm going to finish this because that's what I do. And I'm sure some of you would like it. But I can't in good conscience recommend it. It isn't bad, but....I am a real beer drinker. I drink real beers. That is that. 

Fruit and marshmallows go together like best buds. We brewed up this fluffy guy with Rahr 2-row, and a pile of oats, then added heaps of marshmallow fluff and over 400lb of orange puree and some Madagascar vanilla just for good measure. What came out was a big, soft, fluffy beer that's perfect for dessert. Move over, fruit salad!

Junkyard Simcoe Single Hopped Double IPA

Junkyard Simcoe Single Hopped Double IPA.

8.5 % ABV, 100 IBU, Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN. 

It's clear (if just a little, lightly hazed), bright golden color, slim white head. 

In the nose: Bold and brilliant. Screaming Simcoe. Citrus, pine, stone fruit, and, yeah, a good dose of the litter box. Simcoe in your beer? You're gonna get some cat pee. 

In the mouth: Juicy, light bitterness, fresh hop flavor. Clean, lightly malty, delicious. Alcohol provides no hindrance just yet. Drinks down like a dream. The citrus and stone fruit is popping in the flavor. Tropical? That's here, too. Just a little bit of mango in my life, to match the grapefruit and orange. Here comes the ABV, tasting like candied fruits, gummi bears, grapefruit zest, ...tasty stuff, indeed. I'm digging it. 

This double IPA is hopped with all "Simcoe" hops. This hop variety boasts a medley of tropical fruits, reminiscent of tangerine, mango, and papaya. Pale base malts and a low final gravity give this beer a dry finish.

BlackStack Bottles IPA in Cans

BlackStack Bottles IPA in Cans.

7 % ABV, BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

And here we have a beer that I purchased in 4-packs for several reasons: 1. It was not priced above $16. 2. It seems like it might resemble a beer I could like. 3. I read the back of the can and felt that this was one I had to enter into the Nib. For reasons. 

Of all the interesting and fun names that BlackStack has given to their beers, they go ahead and call this one Bottles. There are bottles flying through the sky in formation on the label. And below, where they normally give me abbreviated style designation, i.e., "TDH DIPA", "DDH TIPA" and the like, they say: IPA in cans. Again, it's a beer called Bottles and it's an "IPA in cans." Aren't all of their beers IPAs in cans?

Bottle people are weird, but maybe can people are even weirder. I met a bottle man not too long ago, who said to me, "Hey, I usually drink Bass, or Sierra Nevada, or Fat Tire, but I think I should branch out and try something new. What do you suggest?" I pointed at Steel Toe Size 7, and he countered with, "do you have it in bottles? I haven't had a beer in a can in 30 years!" I assured him that cans are just as good, even better than bottles, and have been for a good 20 years, almost. (I also ignored the fact that Size 7 is in bottles, albeit bomber size.). That everyone's canning, even Sierra Nevada and Fat Tire. And that the beer is all the same once you pour it into a glass. I won him over. (For the sale, anyway, we haven't circled back with one another to check on his acceptance of cans.)

Bottle people are fussy people, resistant to change, sure in their ways, married to the glass through romance and nostalgia. What about can people, though, what can we say about them?

We'll get to the can label copy after we drink the beer. Let's crack it open, and pour it out: 

Hazy (this is BlackStack, they can't help themselves), bright yellow color, slight white head. 

In the nose: mild and citrusy, grapefruit and lemon. Orange zest. Pleasant enough. 

In the mouth: Big lemony, citrus hop bite up top. Thins out & dries out quickly. Fuzzy, yeasty flavor takes over. Malt is meager. Body is light. Drinkability is okay. Yes, just okay. Decent beer and you can drink it. Yeah, there's nothing particularly thrilling about this one. 

So, let's check out the back label copy that somebody wrote while stoned: 

A modern take on IPA as an homage to simpler times. 'Member going to the store and grabbing a sixer of clear & bitter IPA in twist off, short, squat, brown bottles and life was grand? Those were the days. This is 16oz of less than see-thru juice, courtesy of our hand-selected Mosaic, El Dorado & Simcoe Cryo in beer tubes for times like these.

Breaking it down: first line makes no sense. How do you do a "modern take" as an "homage to simpler times." If you half-ass it, I guess. The next two lines are meant to be read sarcastically I'm sure. The use of "'member" conjures up the member-berries of "SouthPark." Then, at the end, the omniscient narrator awakes from his dream with a confident voice, and we learn more unassailable facts about beer today. That it is called "juice", now.  That they will not brook clarity. That the 16 ounce "pounder" can, aka "tallboy",  is also known as a "beer tube", and that these are "times like these", times that call for tubes of juice. 

I don't know what to make of it. It drips of smarm and smirk. It feels like the voice of the tube is mocking those who 'member back when things came in glass bottles, because that's how it was, dagnabbit, and we liked it that way! 

Was someone "'membering" a bit too loudly at the taproom, and the brewers decided to take them down? They certainly didn't make a beer that evokes the IPAs of those days. Not even as an homage. 

I wish I could find a BlackStack beer that I really like, but it seems more and more that I am not in their audience. 

Surly Vietnamese Coffee Darkness Russian Imperial Stout

Surly Vietnamese Coffee Darkness Russian Imperial Stout.

12 % ABV, Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis & Brooklyn Center, MN. 

And here we have the final of the three Darkness variants that were released late last year. Possibly the best? We'll see...

Strictly Stygian appearance, utter opacity, slim brown head, nestles into nothing in no-time. 

In the nose: Deep malty expressions, cocoa, espresso, molasses, and more. Dark fruit, vanilla, cream, starting to pick up on the whole Vietnamese Coffee thing, slowly but surely. 

In the mouth: Pow! Intense entrance. Powerful malt flavors, the essence of Darkness are in full display from the start. More coffee, more cocoa, and a side of cream. 

Ultimately, not quite enough cream to deliver what I was hoping for in stout of this style. Came close, but didn't get there. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it. 

Inspired by the flavors of Vietnamese coffee–traditionally made by mixing concentrated coffee with sweetened condensed milk–we infused our Darkness base with a blend of organic robusta and arabica coffees from UP Coffee Roasters, vanilla beans, and coconut. After quality time aging in rum barrels, the rich coffee notes and enticing aromatics mimic the silky, bittersweet beverage with a distinctly dark twist.

Bear Republic Hop Shovel Double IPA: Citra! Citra!

Bear Republic Hop Shovel Double IPA: Citra! Citra! 

Independent Family Brewers. Independent Since 1995. 

9 % ABV, 85 IBU. Bear Republic Brewing, Healdsburg, CA. 

Clear, bright golden color, brilliant white head looms large atop. 

In the nose: Big, beautiful, bitter buzz at the start. Blazing citrus and pine and nothing but. Essential West Coast Double IPA aromatics from one of the pioneers. Intense. Grapefruit on fire!

In the mouth: Dank, resinous, rich and profound upon the palate. Citra-delicious. Explosion of wet, bitter, grapefruit and lemon flavors. Bam! Major hop delivery. I am personally loving it. This is a thick, wicked, mess of hops, juicy, then dry, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Full bore brunt force hop attack. Every double IPA should be exactly like this. 

And this is why I grab up a $12 4-pack of something like this, and eschew the $22 "TIPAs" and the like. I don't need to spend twice the money to get less flavor and hoppiness. 

An epic West Coast Double IPA brewed with shovels full of CITRA and CITRA. Gobs of citrusy grapefruit, lime, and orange hop flavor and aroma, a dry malt undertones and a pithy bitterness that invites another sip.

Stone Enjoy By 4.20.2021 IPA

Stone Enjoy By 4.20.2021 IPA. Blazy Hazy IPA. Brewed to be blazingly fresh. 

9% ABV, 50 IBU. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

Lightly hazy, bright orange hue, large and lasting creamy white head. 

In the nose: Fresh, lively happiness. Citrus & pine, slightly floral and tropical, with a touch of stone fruit, to boot. Lovely stuff. 

In the nose: More of the above drops on the palate. Big hoppiness matched by bigger booze. Powerful. Juicy. More tropical notes emerge  to join the citrus explosion. Full body. Big spill of flavors, juicy fruit, candied apricot, orange pith, gummi bears. 

Once again, the sixth bottle in the 6-pack is the one I publish notes upon. I did it, though, if there was any doubt, I managed to finish off the lot of them before the due date. Six bottles down in 10 days. I did it!

We’ve been brewing the groundbreaking Stone Enjoy By IPA series since 2012. Despite dozens of releases and a few variants over the years, we’ve never done a hazy version… until now. Stone Enjoy By 04.20.21 Hazy IPA is a celebration of those magical little green buds we call hops. This stunningly fresh imperial IPA is brewed to be enjoyed within 37 days, so don’t let the back of your fridge bogart. Sit back, relax, and take this puppy down in a blaze of hazy glory with a b̶i̶g̶ ̶o̶l̶’̶ ̶r̶i̶p̶ series of thoughtful sips.

Founders 4 Giants IPA Imperial India Pale Ale

Founders 4 Giants IPA Imperial India Pale Ale. 

9.2 % ABV, 80 IBU, Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids, MI. 

Clear, bright amber/crimson coloring, large and lasting ivory head above. Looking good. 

In the nose: Big everything up in here. Prodigious hops, substantial malt. Citrusy, slightly piney, plus plenty of malt sweetness. Interesting and inherently likable. 

In the mouth: First the juicy, then the bitter. Right from the start, I've met the kind of double IPA that I love to drink. Just delicious. Lot of fruit, juicy, bitter, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, apricot, met with massive malt, matched with the fire of higher alcohol. It's a hot one, sure, but so, so very yum a dum.  Quite tasty, and very satisfying . 

This was made from the recipes of four different double IPAs that Founders has previously brewed, and those beers seem to be represented by four figures convening on the label. I only recognize the bottom left face from Double Trouble. I searched BeerAdvocate and could not find labels corresponding with those other three. Is there a Founders superfan out there who can identify them for me? Step up, please! 

We’ve made a lot of imperial IPAs over the years and, in turn, have had a lot of arguments over which one is the absolute best. So, to settle this once and for all, our brewers mashed up four of our favorite recipes into the ultimate imperial IPA. 4 Giants boasts aggressive bitterness balanced by a malty, sweet backbone while huge aromatics come courtesy of the seven American hop varieties.

WarPigs Forge of Mars Intergalactic Porter

WarPigs Forge of Mars Intergalactic Porter. Ale with Coffee and Vanilla.

6.8 % ABV, 25 IBU. Brewed and packaged under supervision of Warpigs Brewing USA, LLC, Munster, IN. 

Deep black color, thoroughly opaque, large, if brief, brown head. 

It he nose: Coffee is here in abundance, with cocoa behind and vanilla sneaking in at the end. Earthy, nutty.

In the mouth: Coffee flavor is in command of the palate, with berries and nuts doing a cameo on the side, vanilla pops in to add a dash of sweetness. Medium bodied, smooth and drinkable. Some commenters have said that the coffee flavor feels "stale", and while I'm not sure I agree, I can certainly see what they're talking about. It lacks freshness, and the flavor falls off the palate far too soon.

This one has is good points, but not enough of them. Simply an average coffee porter, at best. Far from my favorite. 

Powered by solar flares and stoked by grim artisans, martian smiths craft the finest wares for exploring the Milky Way and beyond. Infused with coffee and vanilla. 

Odell Solarized Yuzu Double IPA

Odell Solarized Yuzu Double IPA.

8.2 % ABV, 60 IBU. Odell Brewing, Fort Collins, CO. 

Who doesn't love turtles? Or, turtles reaching their necks out to greet the sun? Or, wait, is he going for that yuzu fruit, is that it? 

Clouded, if but lightly, bright golden color, slim white head. 

In the nose: sweet, fruity, not too overt bitterness. Pleasing. Intriguing. 

In the mouth: Big, juicy fruit attack at the start, with hop bitterness coming in from behind. I am not familiar with the yuzu fruit and therefore cannot determine what exact properties it delivers to this beer. It's slightly sweet and juicy/tasty, that I can say. Bitterness is kept at bay, malt is perfect for balance. Alcohol slowly creeps in. Citrus flavor continues unabated. Very tasty, quite delightful. 

I enjoy the drawings on the labels of Odell beers so much that I forgot how much I detest the back side. Here goes: wait. I can't just swipe it off of Untappd. It only says: "Double IPA with Yuzu fruit." I don't want to have to type it out after reading the label. Let's try the website. Ah, perfect, here it is: 

Slow down, soak up the sun and get Solarized. The Western painted turtle inspired us to create Solarized Yuzu Double IPA. Featuring the exotic Yuzu fruit, characterized by a zippy grapefruit-like flavor with notes of mandarin orange and lemon zest, we carefully crafted a citrus-foward Double IPA that’s certain to shine a light.

You know what, that wasn't so bad. Moderate usage of punning. Although I do wonder, did they really think about a turtle and decide to make a beer after such contemplation?