The Bar Towel

I don't know about you, but for years I thought Keith's was a true IPA...I mean it was pale, it was an ale, and I assumed that it came from India somehow.

Then when I moved to the distillery and started hanging out at the new Mill Street brew pub, my perception of an IPA changed. Their was stronger, more rich and more bitter - I hadn't year discovered American IPAs yet, and I'm kind of glad, because I may have been turned off...I mentioned this in the Lake of Bays, thread, but I still have a soft spot for darker English IPAs.

Anyway, I guess my question is, what was your first "non-Keith's" IPA that turned your head and made you say, "THIS is an IPA???"

DFH 60 Minute

Scotch Irish Seargent Major

I honestly don't remember. I think it was either DFH 60 or SN Torpedo.

S. St. Jeb wrote:Scotch Irish Seargent Major

I miss that one

Three Floyds Alpha King. Talk about rude awakening. I know some of you will say its an american pale ale, not an IPA, but when your this bitter... you're either an IPA or a Leafs fan

Had the same aha moment with gueuze. Cantillon was my first.

iguenard wrote:Three Floyds Alpha King. Talk about rude awakening. I know some of you will say its an american pale ale, not an IPA, but when your this bitter... you're either an IPA or a Leafs fan

That is a great IPA! I don't know why they call it a APA.

S. St. Jeb wrote:Scotch Irish Seargent Major

Same for me. I had heard Keith's wasn't a real IPA, and I think this was the first thing I saw that wasn't Keith's that was labeled as an IPA. Night and day. I miss it too.

First IPA I actually enjoyed, DFH 60 Minute.

First one I had would be Southern Tier IPA, but that was before i was into craft beer and in my "buy stuff I haven't tried yet" phase.

At that point it was like "poison" to me and I was not a fan. However, it was during that phase that I found out about the Castle on King and learned more about craft beer, my tastes changed and I tried the DFH there.

I do like the ST IPA now, but I find a lot of their beers overly sweet for my tastes.

Stone IPA. Good lord I love that stuff.

DFH 60/SN Torpedo.

I'm still being "aha'd" often enough though, most recently with Alesmith's IPA. Deee-lish.

In chronological order:

1) Scotch Irish Sgt. Majors IPA brewed by Church Key, not Heritage.

2) Stone IPA

3) Troegg's Nugget Nectar

Nowadays I'm glad the Ontario scene is shaping up - our brewers and those east and west are doing great stuff. The Americans did it right. Why re-invent the wheel?

Though not listed as an IPA, Dragons Breath from Kingston Brewing Co. was perhaps my first experience with very hoppy beers. This would be when Hart was brewing it. I see now it is bewed by McCauslan. Not being much for over the top hops, I would have to say Bell's Two Hearted Ale, was my next, and I would still welcome a bottle or two, or three in my frigde.

W.

Ale's What Cures Ya wrote:Stone IPA. Good lord I love that stuff.

Same here.

For me it Southern Tier IPA