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liamt07 wrote:
10 Bitter Years has been consistently disappointing. The first 2-3 batches of that beer were the best they've ever made, all downhill since. I wouldn't put 10BY even in a top 10 Ontario DIPA conversation.
I agree with everything you said Liam. I didn't exclude it from my list by accident
Agreed on 10BY. But, I think the same about Witchshark, honestly.....and everything hoppy that they do. All OK, but nowhere near what they use to be. Bellwoods still nails every stout, strong or sour they do, but their hoppy offerings have been consistently lacklustre for about a year now. I don't get the love, but I know I'm in a very small minority.
totally agree about the bellwoods hoppy stuff. the only hoppy beer ive had from them that was better then meh was the monogamy nelson.
TheSevenDuffs wrote:I agree with everything you said Liam. I didn't exclude it from my list by accident
Agreed on 10BY. But, I think the same about Witchshark, honestly.....and everything hoppy that they do. All OK, but nowhere near what they use to be. Bellwoods still nails every stout, strong or sour they do, but their hoppy offerings have been consistently lacklustre for about a year now. I don't get the love, but I know I'm in a very small minority.
totally agree about the bellwoods hoppy stuff. the only hoppy beer ive had from them that was better then meh was the monogamy nelson.
skeleton key on the other hand - MIND BLOWN
Monogamy Nelson was unreal. Other than that I've never been impressed by their hoppy stuff.
J343MY wrote:Monogamy Nelson was unreal. Other than that I've never been impressed by their hoppy stuff.
^ About the same for me. I like many of Bellwoods beer styles better than their Imperial / Pale Ales (Stay Classy is a fine fall-back besides some of the Monogamy series.)
And I'm sure there are many IPAs we'd disagree on.
I agree with Witchshark, but the Roman Candle I had this spring was by far the best hop-forward pale ale I have had from Canada.
The variance in hop opinions can sometimes be split among those who like dry west coast style hop beers, and those that prefer sweeter, maltier versions.
But then again consistency of quality is difficult to obtain with a varying hop harvest. Its so damn hard getting a consistent product (pellet hops) in sufficient quantity, brewers are forced to deal with multiple suppliers and this can end up influencing the end product.
But that Roman Candle... oh man was it ever good. The witch shark from the same release was nowhere near.
Its so awesome that getting a decent IPA is getting to be a question of choice rather than availability.
I do think Bellwoods' hoppy beers vary from batch to batch. I haven't had a really good Witchshark in awhile (adored it in the beginning). Roman Candle goes up and down- sometimes it is outstanding, sometimes just good.
Stay Classy is consistent and really enjoyable. Amazing that much flavour is in a 2.8% beer! Brings the term "session beer" to new levels.
Ren
iguenard wrote:But then again consistency of quality is difficult to obtain with a varying hop harvest. Its so damn hard getting a consistent product (pellet hops) in sufficient quantity, brewers are forced to deal with multiple suppliers and this can end up influencing the end product.
I remember some drastically inferior Rogue Brutal when there was a hop shortage, it was a mess. And Rogue is a sizeable USA micro. Have no idea how Stone and even Sierra Nevada stay pretty much consistent, except that the relative size of the brewery and the locations give each a favorable access to a more consistent supply of hops.
Maybe, too they have enough experience to compensate for variances in the different hops. This is like a good chef who knows each growing season brings out different qualities in the ingredients that affect the flavor balance - particularly herbs.
Over the weekend at home and at beerbistro:
Allagash Saison
Deschutes Jubelale
North Coast Pranqster
Sawdust City Lone Pine IPA
New Holland Michigan Awesome Hatter
New Holland Rye Hatter
"Bar people do not live as long as vegan joggers. However, they have more fun." - Bruce Elliott
We're at the yearly turning point for hoppy beers to go from meh to wow. The 2013 crop is still about while the 2014 crop is just around the corner and should be hitting breweries in pellet form soon.
If you ever wondered why Pliny the Younger, Hopslam, Immodest and a bunch of super-hopped beers come out early in the year, it's because the new crop just arrived and is at its peak aroma.
mgmoney wrote:What's the bottle date on that Sorachi Ace?
The date on both my bottles is mostly rubbed off but I think it says BB May 2017. Didn't see a production date.
That's what mine says too. So, maybe bottled in May? Still...plenty of juicy hop aroma. I have had this once before a few years ago, but don't remember it smelling or tasting anything like this. Must've been a older bottle.
"What can you say about Pabst Blue Ribbon that Dennis Hopper hasn’t screamed in the middle of an ether binge?" - Jordan St. John
