Sam Adams - Hop-ology

Last year, the Boston Beer Co. release a special Deconstructed series of their Latitude 48 IPA where batches were brewed using only one hop variety with the same recipe for Latitude 48.  It enabled the taster to compare and contrast the different hops used in Latitude 48.  This year, Hop-ology was released that featured 6 different IPAs and it is available in 12-packs.  The IPAs are as follows and note the various colors from the various styles:

Latitude 48 (6% ABV and 60 IBU) – an IPA

Whitewater IPA (5.8% AVB and 60 IBU) – a wheat IPA

Third Voyage (8% ABV and 80 IBU) – a Double IPA

Tasman Red (6.75% ABV and 60 IBU) – a Red Ale

Dark Depths (7.6% ABV and 55 IBU) – a Baltic IPA

Grumpy Monk (5.7% ABV and 55 IBU) – a Belgian IPA

These were all tasty and I think my favorite is Dark Depths, which is not surprising; it’s dark with nice hop bitterness.  I appreciate the Boston Beer Co. for releasing a mixed 12-pack like this as it give the taster a great opportunity to try a number of different Sam Adams beers.

Sam Adams– http://www.samueladams.com/

New Belgium - Belgo IPA

My wife and I cooked a dinner last night of roasted chicken using Sweet Mama’s BBQ Chicken Rub and Alderwood Smoked Salt from the Savory Spice Shop in Littleton, CO.  With the chicken, we prepared glazed carrots and a side salad.  I decided to pair New Belgium’s Belgo IPA (7% ABV and 60 IBU), a Belgian IPA, with dinner.  It was a very good combination and I think the Belgian IPA is a very versatile beer to pair with many dishes.

Belgian IPA description - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/174 - BeerAdvocate

Appearance – Pale yellow, straw-colored with a nice head poured into a New Belgium globe glass.

Aroma – Citrus from the four hop varieties that are citrus focused and the distinctive aroma of Belgian yeast.

Taste – Very nice balance between the citrus from and banana from the yeast with nice malt sweetness.   

Overall – A – New Belgium does the style well.  I highly recommend Belgo IPA, New Belgium is a very consistent brewer and you can not go wrong selecting something they brew.

Website description – “When we set out to brew, we use imagination and salvation to guide us – not necessarily style guidelines.  It’s the Belgian way.  So, Ameri-Belgo and IPA both being styles, the branding begged for new Belgium whimsy to liven things up.  Hmmm Belgo souds like a Belgian disco.  Hops like to party.  Next thing you know, we bust out the disco-ball and brewers started grooving.  Hops started hoppin.  Add in an authentic Trappist yeast strain and the place brewed into a frenzy of citrus hoppy folly.”

URL – New Belgium Brewing -  http://www.newbelgium.com/beer/detail.aspx?id=9c361fac-3e04-4e8b-8a74-bd9619e8cd5f

URL - The Savory Spice Shop - http://www.savoryspiceshop.com

Green Flash – La Freak Ale

I attended a Firestone Walker “pint night” at Parry’s Pizzeria & Pub and started off with a pint of Green Flash La Freak Ale (9.2% ABV and 101 IBUs), that Green Flash describes as mix of two different styles, Belgian Trippel and American Imperial IPA.  Since I enjoy both styles, I thought this would be a good one to try, along with the knowledge of my previous positive samples from Green Flash and very positive reviews.  I did order a Firestone Walker Union Jack for my second beer and also enjoyed some meatball sliders as an appetizer.

Belgian IPA description - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/174 - BeerAdvocate

Appearance – Light copper / gold with a nice head poured into a New Belgium “globe glass”.

Aroma –Definite hops aroma of citrus with Belgian yeast and malt breadiness. 

Taste – One gets sweetness from the malt, firm bitterness (citrus) from the hops, and the a Belgian yeast providing bubble gum / banana hints.

Overall – A – This is an easy A, with a very nice tasting experience and this Belgian IPA is a good one.  

Website description – “An ‘out of the box’ modern ale crafted by converging two beer styles, Belgian Trippel and American Imperial IPA. Dry-Hopped and Bottle-Conditioned – it’s a zesty brew with enticing American hop and fruity Belgian yeast aromatics.”

URL – http://www.greenflashbrew.com

URL - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

2 Pale Ales and 4 IPAs

Deschutes – Red Chair - NWPA

Red Chair (6.2% ABV and 60 IBU) is a seasonal offering from Deschutes and is described as a NW Pale Ale.  Red Chair is available January through April and it almost crossed the border into IPA territory.  Red Chair pours golden amber with a two-finger head.  Deschutes uses seven different malts with a citrus focus on the hops.  Red Chair is very well balanced and is another very good beer from Deschutes.   

Alaskan - IPA

Alaskan Brewing Co.’s IPA (6.2% ABV and 55 IBU) pours gold with a small head that quickly recedes.  If you compare the ABV and bitterness with the beer above, you can become confused in the difference between an IPA and a Pale Ale.  IPAs are typically higher in ABV and IBU than Pale Ales and I think Deschutes used the NW Pale Ale designation to categorize the beer between the Deschutes Pale Ale and the IPA.  Alaskan IPA is another well-balanced beer between malt sweetness and hop bitterness with a citrus focus.

Boulder – Mojo and Hazed & Infused

Boulder Beer Co. produces a number of styles and Mojo (7.2% ABV) is their IPA.  Mojo pours golden amber with a vigorous head – I had to pour it a few times to allow the head to recede.  Mojo leans towards bitterness over malt sweetness and Amarillo hops are used in the brewing of this beer.  I could not find information on the actually IBU of this beer. 

Hazed & Infused (4.85% ABV) is a dry-hopped ale that is very popular and is an award winner.  Hazed & Infused pours cloudy amber tan with a small head.  This is cloudy because it is an unfiltered beer.  There are 4 different hop varieties used in the brewing process and 2 are used in the dry-hopping (fermentation addition) phase.  I was expecting more bitterness and was somewhat surprised with the malt forward taste that had a well-balanced finish.  Hazed & Infused is very drinkable and I can see why it is so popular.

Upslope – IPA

Upslope is a new Colorado brewer based in Boulder and they currently offer 3 different styles in cans.  I had sample two at the Winter Brewfest and picked up a can of their IPA (7.2% ABV) last week.  One complaint is their website – there is very little information about the beer or the brewery.  Upslope’s IPA pours amber with a tan two-finger head that quickly recedes.  This IPA is not bad; however, there are others that are much better.  Upslope also brews a pale ale and a brown ale.  The pale ale has received positive notes and it will be interesting to compare it with Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale.  

Anderson Valley – Hop Ottin’

Anderson Valley is a California brewer and they brew a number of different styles.  Hop Ottin’ (7% ABV and  80 IBU)  is an IPA that pours golden amber with a nice head – it took a few pour / recedes before I could empty the glass – just look at the picture.  Very good use of aroma hops for a citrus bouquet.  This is a nice IPA with a focus on citrus hops and a lot of them.  If you are a hop-head, I think you will like it.  I look forward to sampling more from Anderson Valley.

It does amaze me at the variety of color, aroma, and tastes of beers of similar style.  The varieties of malt and hops and the varieties of way they are combined make an almost infinite number of possibilities.  Some you will like better than others.  I tasted these over the course of a week and it is great to be able to purchase mixed 6 packs to sample a number of different beers from different brewers.

Great Divide - Belgica

Belgica, a Belgian-Style IPA, from Great Divide has an ABV of 7.2%.  This one pours a crystal clear gold and has a nice fluffy head that takes some time to recede.  Be careful pouring as you can pour a large head on this.  The carbonation is incredible and I think it bubbled the entire time in the glass.  The words on the label are “Singular” and “Ebullient”, which means boiling or agitated (for liquid or matter) or cheerful and full of energy.  I can see with the carbonation, head, and taste where both definitions fit the descriptors.  Great Divide describes Belgica as “The Roman name for the Low Counties - is a marriage of the best in American and Belgian brewing traditions. Belgian pilsner malt, a generous amount of American and European hops and a unique Belgian yeast strain combine to give Belgica big notes of citrus and spice, creating a lively concoction perfect for spring in the Rockies - or the Ardennes.”  This is a nice beer and I can taste the Belgian influence as the Belgian yeast strain provides a “Belgian” taste to the beer.  This is a drinkable beer with a very low level of bitterness, but the bitterness is there and makes is distinct and different from a Belgian Golden Ale.