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BartOwl wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2023 12:39 pm
Thanks so much to Muskokan for sending me some free beer. I just received shipment this morning, so I had Lower West Side with my lunch.
It is a shade darker than most west coast ipas, which I can appreciate some malt complexity. It definitely has the hop flavour to balance. It's taste starts off a lot like a bone shaker, which is a good thing. However, I find the Columbus hops coming out in the finish as it is spicier and earthier than bone shaker. Overall, this is a great west coast ipa, and it is worthy of a try.
I have to say I was a little worried, as I had tried omnipollo beers when they first arrived here, some time ago. This is the same brewery that contract brews omnipollo. While I remember them being good, I thought they were overrated. Maybe, it was palate when I tried them. Anyway, I look forward to retrying them now that I have had a very good lower west side beer, and Muskokan has shipped me some omnipollo beers. Thanks again Muskokan.
Awesome. Greatly appreciate the feedback.
Yes, we definitely went a touch darker (more red) than BJCP guidelines would likely prefer, but we also like a touch more malt backbone (personal preference). Glad you enjoyed and I look forward to everyone else's feedback as we continue to refine and tweak this beer to be the best possible version.
Eager for you to try the Omnipollo beers. I am really digging the Zodiak Nelson; a spin on OG Zodiak but with Nelson Sauvin hops.
BartOwl wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2023 12:39 pm
Thanks so much to Muskokan for sending me some free beer. I just received shipment this morning, so I had Lower West Side with my lunch.
It is a shade darker than most west coast ipas, which I can appreciate some malt complexity. It definitely has the hop flavour to balance. It's taste starts off a lot like a bone shaker, which is a good thing. However, I find the Columbus hops coming out in the finish as it is spicier and earthier than bone shaker. Overall, this is a great west coast ipa, and it is worthy of a try.
I have to say I was a little worried, as I had tried omnipollo beers when they first arrived here, some time ago. This is the same brewery that contract brews omnipollo. While I remember them being good, I thought they were overrated. Maybe, it was palate when I tried them. Anyway, I look forward to retrying them now that I have had a very good lower west side beer, and Muskokan has shipped me some omnipollo beers. Thanks again Muskokan.
I like the sounds of that description quite a bit. Looking forward to trying this one.
I too tried the Lower West Side WCIPA and echo the comments above: a slightly lighter version of Boneshaker, in all the right ways. I really enjoyed it. Thank you!!
Question though: my can says 6% yet the lcbo image says 5%... why is that?
I haven't seen this out in the wild near me, but my wife stumbled on it at a 'bo near her parents and grabbed a couple. She has a mostly helpful habit of grabbing new stuff to try without knowing what she is getting into. It works until she bumps her head on some lactose crap or other unfortunate brewing stunt.
Anyway we tried this last night and I'm suitably impressed. I've generally been leaning toward dryer and lighter (from a malt perspective) IPAs for a while now, but this is a nice reminder of the form.
Brands are for cattle.
Fans are cash cows.
The herd will consume until consumed.
Tapsucker wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2023 12:48 pm
I haven't seen this out in the wild near me, but my wife stumbled on it at a 'bo near her parents and grabbed a couple. She has a mostly helpful habit of grabbing new stuff to try without knowing what she is getting into. It works until she bumps her head on some lactose crap or other unfortunate brewing stunt.
Anyway we tried this last night and I'm suitably impressed. I've generally been leaning toward dryer and lighter (from a malt perspective) IPAs for a while now, but this is a nice reminder of the form.
am I missing something or did not mention what beer you're talking about?
Tapsucker wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2023 12:48 pm
I haven't seen this out in the wild near me, but my wife stumbled on it at a 'bo near her parents and grabbed a couple. She has a mostly helpful habit of grabbing new stuff to try without knowing what she is getting into. It works until she bumps her head on some lactose crap or other unfortunate brewing stunt.
Anyway we tried this last night and I'm suitably impressed. I've generally been leaning toward dryer and lighter (from a malt perspective) IPAs for a while now, but this is a nice reminder of the form.
am I missing something or did not mention what beer you're talking about?
Sorry, I didn't quote. I was referring to the Lower West Side.
Brands are for cattle.
Fans are cash cows.
The herd will consume until consumed.
The one that comes to mind for me right now is Calabogie's IPA. Will be interesting to see if it survives or changes with the recent Whitewater merger.
drinkvine.com - a better way to find your beer and wine.
I haven't had a Calabogie IPA in like 5 years, but I remember being very pleasantly surprised when I tried it way back when. I should search that one out again sometime.
I tried the Lower West Side last night - very good. I was picking up a slight sweetness that wasn't familiar to me. Thank you Muskokan for this.
The others that came to my mind right away as favourites have generally been mentioned - Lone Pine, Ransack the Universe, Mad Tom, Boneshaker, Headstock
@sofakingdrunk
I had quite forgotten about Immodest. I loved that one.
Finally, another one popped into my memory from the early days of IPAs in Ontario, that being Flying Monkey's Smashbomb Atomic IPA. Would love to try that again.
S. St. Jeb wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 9:34 am
Finally, another one popped into my memory from the early days of IPAs in Ontario, that being Flying Monkey's Smashbomb Atomic IPA. Would love to try that again.
For a brief time, that was easily the best IPA around. I had many, many pints at The Wooly. But Peter (the owner) was known for constantly tinkering with his recipes and it started to change, and some of the other beers mentioned here started to appear, and it went the way of the dinosaur. Now it's been replaced by Juicy Ass, a beer I refuse to drink because the name is just to damn stupid.
S. St. Jeb wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 9:34 am
Finally, another one popped into my memory from the early days of IPAs in Ontario, that being Flying Monkey's Smashbomb Atomic IPA. Would love to try that again.
For a brief time, that was easily the best IPA around. I had many, many pints at The Wooly. But Peter (the owner) was known for constantly tinkering with his recipes and it started to change, and some of the other beers mentioned here started to appear, and it went the way of the dinosaur. Now it's been replaced by Juicy Ass, a beer I refuse to drink because the name is just to damn stupid.
I’d wholeheartedly agree that smashbomb was the best ipa around here for a period. I also drank tonnes of it, and would agree that it lost its way badly. Such a shame, as it hit everything I wanted almost perfectly.
Speaking of west coast IPAs that are no longer available in Ontario, my overall favourite was Green Flash, when we briefly had it imported here. I hope it makes a comeback. The hop flavour and complexity is intense for this one.
BartOwl wrote: ↑Fri Dec 22, 2023 4:47 pm
Speaking of west coast IPAs that are no longer available in Ontario, my overall favourite was Green Flash, when we briefly had it imported here. I hope it makes a comeback. The hop flavour and complexity is intense for this one.
I'd be curious to know what Green Flash is like nowadays, as it went through lots of ownership issues and is now owned by Tilray. Who know where's is brewed as I don't think they have a physical presence in San Diego anymore. Maybe Sweetwater.
Anyway, that's all to say I wouldn't get my hopes up for GF to return to Ontario.
BartOwl wrote: ↑Fri Dec 22, 2023 4:47 pm
Speaking of west coast IPAs that are no longer available in Ontario, my overall favourite was Green Flash, when we briefly had it imported here. I hope it makes a comeback. The hop flavour and complexity is intense for this one.
I'd be curious to know what Green Flash is like nowadays, as it went through lots of ownership issues and is now owned by Tilray. Who know where's is brewed as I don't think they have a physical presence in San Diego anymore. Maybe Sweetwater.
Anyway, that's all to say I wouldn't get my hopes up for GF to return to Ontario.
If I enlist my foggy brain on this, I'm going to say I most definitely maybe had this as recently as last spring in the Bay Area. If it sucked, I would remember, so I'm most definitely certain that it was probably still true to form.
I've always liked that one, the problem is that the places where it is served usually have so many things I want to try that I don't get around to it.
Last edited by Tapsucker on Fri Dec 22, 2023 7:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Brands are for cattle.
Fans are cash cows.
The herd will consume until consumed.
