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Hercules Double IPA by The Great Divide

24 Apr

With a name like Hercules Double IPA You would expect a beer that is as strong as it is bold. But, if Kevin Sorbo has taught me anything, it’s that Hercules not only posses chutzpah sand strength but the smoothness of a mythological James Dean. I take a sip. This beer was appropriately named. Strong but seemingly sweet, the hops have more of a grassy note than a bitter one. Just like the beloved son of Zeus, this beer comes off seemingly harmless and smooth. But don’t be too quick to assume this beer as a session style IPA. This is not the kind of beer that you would expect to pack a punch that could send you to the lower end of olympus, but it does. At one point I grabbed the bottle to make sure I was reading the label right, a double IPA? But yes, this smooth tasting demigod of a beer is tilting the scales at around ten percent ABV, nothing to shake a stick, or a three headed dog at. I was as pleased with this beer. It made me feel like I could fight off the armies of Achilles with a bar stool…… I give it an 8.5.

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20th Anniversary IPA (Ipswitch Ale Brewery) | TheBEERSgoneBAD #124

03 Apr

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Description: Our 20th Anniversary Limited-Edition brew is a big balanced Imperial Pale Ale with rich malty sweetness and a bold hop character. This hand-crafted ale honors our past, present, and future as an Ipswich MA historic hometown favorite.

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Big Barrel Double IPA on Cask (Karl Strauss) | TheBEERSgoneBAD #122

19 Mar

When I asked the bartender at Karl Strauss what specialty beers they might have on tap , I was not expecting to be told they had a cask double IPA. How could I order anything else? The carbonation and temperature of the beer was what I had expected, low and warm, however the flavor was not. I have had some of the specialty beers from Karl Strauss before and they have blown me away. Their Boardwalk Black Rye as well as their Tower 10 IPA are exceptional beers with a presence that demands respect from every taste bud in your mouth, however this cask style double IPA did not march to the beat of that drum. This double IPA came off slightly acidic and grassy as far as the hops were concerned, and if you couple that with the lack of carbonation, there was just not a strong presence to this beer. That is not necessarily a bad thing though. If you can make a beer that weighs in around 9% ABV and drinks like a session beer, then by all means, I’ll take two. Besides, I didn’t need outrageous hop flavoring to enjoy this beer, the fact that Pat was still at work and I could send him pictures of me indulging in my new found cask treasure while he slaved away at the hand of his employers was all I needed to bring this beer up in the rating system for me. I’ll give it a 6.75.

Commercial Description:

When we kicked-off this series of intense hoppy beers, we wanted to go big. Imported New Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops provide a vibrant tropical aroma that raises eyebrows and expectations. Aggressive amounts of Warrior and Ahtanum hops produce an assertive bitterness that stands out against a firm malt backbone. Balanced even at 90 IBUs, Big Barrel leaves a considerable first impression that serves as a prelude of things to come.

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Amish Four Grain Pale Ale (Lancaster Brewing Co) | TheBEERSgoneBAD #115

28 Feb

This little guy was part of our BEER OF THE MONTH CLUB shipment. Scott decided he was going to take the reigns on this micro review and came out with this gem.

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Hop Riot IPA (High Water Brewing) | TheBEERSgoneBAD #115

21 Feb

I will pretty much try any beer that puts “hop” in the title of the brew. Couple that with some aggressive or suggestive phrasing, such as riot, and that beer has gone from the shelf to my cart. Congratulations beer industry, you had me at hop.

Now, we drink a lot of hoppy IPA’s on the show, and we don’t take kindly to beers that try to pass themselves off as something they’re not, just ask our buddies down at Epic, so although putting “hop righteous hate crime IPA” on your bottle may help you sell beers, you better be able to back it up. Now, I want to be clear on this, there is nothing wrong with being a mildly hopped beer, just don’t claim you’re bursting with hop flavors and aromas when you are not.

Now, The High Water Brewing Hop Riot IPA, uses the phrasing “hop riot” in the title. Nothing wrong with that. I anticipate my first sip will take me to the streets of Los Angeles in the spring of the early nighties. I want to feel little hop buds throwing molotov cocktails against the roof of my mouth. I want flavor, I want aroma, I want destruction. Instead my first sip is met with the imagery of hop pellets are playing in the sprinklers on a warm summer day. I imagine little hop buds running down a slip-n-slide giggling and laughing. I had anticipated structure fires. Nothing wrong with a little fun, but I don’t want to go to an action movie only to find out half way through the opening credits that Die Hard 4 is pg-13. High Water Brewing made a delicious IPA at 7.3%, but definitely mislead me into believing this was an R rated beer.

Grab Hop Riot IPA for your next summer barbecue, not your next pre meditated act of rage. I’ll give it a 6.5.

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Extra Special Bitter ESB (Ska Brewing Co) | TheBEERSgoneBAD #110

14 Feb

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
This English Special Bitter is our “Special Ale.” Special because it is one of only a handful of canned microbrews in the nation. Special because the Galena hops and pale ale malts create a crisp first sip, a hoppy tongue, and a malty sweet finish. Though “bitter” is part of the name, “better” would be a more accurate term. Fresh and lively, this canned beer suits the needs of any outdoor enthusiast. Like it says on the can: Fish, Luau, Golf, Raft, Toboggan. Ska can!