The Bar Towel

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.

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.

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.

distr0 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2023 12:57 pm

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?

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.

MatttthewGeorge wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 10:03 am

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.

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.

Cass wrote: ↑Fri Dec 22, 2023 5:16 pm

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.