Henry Weinhard’s India Pale Ale

I noticed that Henry’s had come out with a new beer when I visited their website the other day to blog about their Belgian Style Ale… I just happened to see a 12 pack for $8.99 at my local Rite Aid today, so I figured I would pick it up and try it out. 

Henry Weinhard’s India Pale Ale offers some of the taste of a micro IPA with a lot less of the cost.  I say some because while I do like Henry’s beer, it is on the less expensive end and you do get what you pay for to some degree.  That being said, this wasn’t a bad IPA.  Beer for the value, it was quite good, in fact, and that is good in and of itself since the old guys in the cul-de-sac finished of the 12 pack in quick order… just in time for recycling tomorrow morning, in fact… thanks guys!

Taste is hoppy but not overpowering by any means.  Nose is definitely hoppier than normal Henry’s.  I didn’t get to see it in action because we drank out of the bottle, but I believe it was on the lighter side.  Taste was average.  A drinkable beer that won’t impress you or the neighbors until you tell them how much you paid.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Hop Ottin’ IPA

Strange name, strange brew. According to the label, this IPA’s

Brewed from only the finest hops, malted barley, hops, yeast, hops, and pristine Boonville mineral water. And hops.

and sure enough, you can really smell and taste the hops in here. Up front on the nose as you open the bottle, stronger as you pour, and a veritable bouquet of them as you take the first sip. They’re right on the edge of being overpowering, and if you don’t already like west-coast craft beers this probably is going to be too much for you.

But if you’ve managed to acquire a taste for them, well you’re in for a treat. This is a great example of what I like about American beers: strong, well hopped, and with a firm malt foundation to carry the hops along. Unfiltered but not unloved, Hop Ottin IPA is a great, refreshing mouthful of ale and another favourite from the AVBC. Good stuff.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Santa Cruz Ale Works IPA

This Santa Cruz Ale Works IPA is not quite like any kind of IPA I’ve had before, and as I’m drinking it, I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing or not. Out of the bomber it delivers a reasonably handsome pint, perhaps a little lighter in hue than one would expect, but nothing too unusual so far. Raising the glass though comes with a bit of a surprise - this is very fruity indeed, with a strong citric tang that brings grapefruits to mind. Oranges, coriander too?

Lively carbonation and a decent head makes it refreshing on the tongue, and it does taste OK with a pretty hight level of hoppiness. But there’s not quite enough malten bite to carry it through. While there’s some peppery undertones going on that means this might pair up quite nicely with some Thai food or something, I’m not a fan of it as a session brew.

My big problem with this beer is that it really doesn’t taste like I think an IPA should. Not even particularly close. Maybe I’m more of a traditionalist than I thought, but this just didn’t do it for me. Not bad by any means, but not the beer I was looking for.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Indica India Pale Ale

Driving to California sure gives a man a mighty thirst - luckily for me, the power of iPhone and Live Search leads me pretty quickly to the 41st Street Liquor Store in Capitola, which has what looks to be an outstanding selection of beers. Lucky me, indeed! Ten more days to sit by the beach and work my way through them… perfect.

First up - Lost Coast Brewery & Cafe’s Indica India Pale Ale, a golden amber beer with a full-bodied texture and generous helping of hops that sits easy on the tongue and washes away some of the sand from this afternoon’s swimming session.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

You have to be ready for this beer… If you think it is going to be like any other standard IPA you have tasted, that is where you would be very, very wrong.  Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA hits you with an interestingly mild and flowery taste that seems to hold the hops back from hitting you too hard.  At 60 IBU, it really isn’t that strong… I guess I thought it would be.  It was also much silkier than I expected. 

Overall, I am still a bit flumoxed by this beer, to be honest.  I think I am supposed to like it, based on everything I have read, but it didn’t stick with me.  I wasn’t thinking, “holy crap this one fine IPA.”  I was more on the side of, “this beer confuses me with its flavors.”  So, I am going to throw this in the middle until I can have it again…  I think I may change my mind, but then again, you never know. 

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

 

Anderson Valley Brewing Company 20th Anniversary Imperial IPA

Wandering the aisles of my local supermarket in search of inspiration for Mother’s Day dinner, I was distracted for a happy half-hour by the extensive and extravegant selection of ales on offer. Hard to make a decision… so, throwing caution to the winds, I dropped a bunch of bottles into my cart. And what a fine decision that was - for after a particularly crappy Saturday, this was exactly the pick-me-up the doctor ordered.

Brewed by the Anderson Valley Brewing Company out of Boonville, CA (another spot I need to put on the map for my summer road-trip), this Imperial IPA pours a golden, glorious sunset-orange pint (and more) that calls out to be drunk in a happy, sunny sitting. With a fantastically bright, sharp and citrus aroma, it fills you with a hoppy bitter hope for the future and a sense of well-being that only the cheekiest pint can provide.

Good times in a big brown bottle. As the first glass slides down, my attention turns to the label which like the psychedelic record sleeves of my misbegotten youth rewards deep contemplation. Bears with antlers, anyone?

The second glass lasts a little longer than the first; a little warmer and seemingly more lively now it’s had a chance to breathe, the sweeter malts and depth come forward and make for a mellow finish to the bottle. Or maybe that’s just down to the fact it’s got some decent legs in the alcohol department.

 

Fruit, hoppy, big and bouncy - this is a fine and daring ale that’ll hit you round the head with a mouthful of hops and fruit. It left me wanting more than I know is good for me, and it’s really no wonder there’s a hop shortage at the moment, given what’s in here… amazing stuff.

About the only downside is the pretty hefty price - $5.99 at Whole Foods Market… gotta be cheaper elsewhere, though. So, if you see a bottle on the shelf, take it down, take it home, and make a new friend. Take two. Go out and do it now.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

**UPDATE**

As we knew would happen from time to time, Po and I have overlapped in our tasting.  So… here is what I would like to add to this wonderful brew’s review:

I may have a new favorite brewery… at least for the time being.  Tonight’s special beer was the Anderson Valley Imperial IPA.  From the website:

“Also commemorating this special occasion, Anderson Valley Brewing Company will release their 20th Anniversary Imperial India Pale Ale (IPA) on February 2. This special brew, with its intense and complex flavors, is the proud result of decades of great beer-making, and comes in bottles and cases printed with a unique, colorful sunrise label. The 20th Anniversary Imperial Pale Ale is a limited edition brew and high demand is expected.”

I will be posting a potential Hall of Fame from these folks in the very near future, so I thought I would try something else from them.  This was picked up at Whole Foods in Bellevue the other day.

This anniversary IPA is probably one of the hoppiest and maltiest beers I have ever tasted.  I mean we have major pucker factor on this bad boy and it suits it well.  At 8%+ ABV, it packs a punch and doesn’t say its sorry, either.  With a clean finish, though, and an overall crisp taste, this solar powered beer is good to go!

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Bear Republic Racer X IPA

Sixth beer of the night at Monk’s Cafe.  See here for original post.

Bear Republic Racer X - On Tap

Last tap beer of the night.  Bear Republic Racer X out of California.  This one isn’t on their website, so not sure if it is special release, to be honest.  I think I recall that it is… let me know if you know, would you?

Anyhow, this was a good IPA.  Not too hoppy as I recall (and noted), but good none-the-less.  I do remember how soft it felt… the body was medium but the finish was nice and soft on the taste buds.  I had this really interesting aroma that I characterized as earthy on my tasting notes because I couldn’t quite put another word on it.  Big head with fruity taste.

A good beer that I would definitely have again.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Bell’s Brewery Two Hearted Ale

Fifth beer of the night at Monk’s Cafe.  See here for original post.

Bell’s Brewery Two Hearted Ale - Bottle

This beer wa probably one of the least memorable of the night.  Not that I was that far gone or anything, but it just wasn’t that remarkable.  Not a bad beer, but not great.  As noted, high ABV, definitely sweet, lite, and fruity, even after the Maharaja.  I will have to have this beer again if I come across it just to validate my thinking, but I just don’t think this one was one to write home about…

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Avery The Maharaja

Fourth beer of the night at Monk’s Cafe.  See here for original post.

Avery The Maharaja - On Tap

I *really* liked this beer… it was a bit twisted in its presentation as I was definitely not ready for it, but the wonderful folks at Avery were able to suck every fruity element they could out of this.  I remember tasting this beer and thinking I really should be on a tropical island somewhere, enjoying this beer with a plate of fruit.  The fruitiness infuses both the aroma and the taste, with the aroma more general at the tropical smell level but the taste more specific and on into the passion fruit realm.

This is a high ABV (9.7%) beer with an extremely fruity and rich flavor that really has me wanting more… right now… really.  I know Malt & Vine has some, so maybe I will head there… great stuff.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Fish Tale Organic IPA - Soundkeeper

First beer of the trip.  Had to kill some time and do some work at the airport last night, so sat down and had the Fish Tale Organic IPA - Soundkeeper.  This beer is a bit of a mystery… had to call Anthony’s Homeport at the airport today to confirm this was it since “soundkeeper” seems to be somewhat of a side name.

Anyhow, no picture… I forgot and my camera phone sucks.  So I bought a 22oz glass of the stuff and settled down with the warm glow of my laptop screen.  I was surrounded by fellow travelers that I quickly tuned out and ignored. :)  A lighter than expected color and small head greated me.  I took a taste and tasted the comfort of hops and malt… more hops than malt, of course.  The aftertaste is where I was let down, though.  It stuck with me… no clean finish.  Just mild hops and on into bitterness that left me feeling like I had bitter stuck in the back of my throat. 

Short review… overall not impressed.  Won’t be looking for this one in the store, I am afraid.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road