Harpoon: Leviathan Imperial IPA

As a hardcore New Englander, Harpoon brewery is about as much a part of my routine as Dunkin's and the Bruins. With their landmark IPA and Summer Ale, they helped launch yours truly into the world of craft beer. So when they launched the Leviathan series back in 2008 I was elated as my palate had become a playground. So why did it take me till 2011 to try any of the series? There is no excuse, only regrets but better late than never right?

Being known for an IPA can be tough for a brewery. IPA drinkers are a finicky bunch, and when a brewery has made their flagship beer an IPA, building on that can bring with it a pedestal and a fine toothed comb of scrutiny. Luckily for Harpoon and it's fans, the fact that this brewery not only produces a damn fine IPA along with a solid line up of regularly released beers, seasonals, and occasional releases, gives it a serious leg up on the trust factor when it comes to big beers and their supporters.

So it's no surprise that I have decided to start going down the line with the Imperial IPA. This beer boasts a 10% ABV so a 12oz bottle is sufficient. The aroma packs a big, pine induced hop punch but is mellowed out by a barrel full of rich, sweet malt. Caramel notes are picked up.

This beer packs some flavor, similar to their regular IPA the hops lean more towards the bitter citrus side but is smoothed out with caramel malts that give the bite a little bit of a playful side. Sweet, crisp and bitter. Finishes clean and dry with a lingering flavor. Great mouth feel and maintains the same dynamic when it reaches room temperature.

I kick myself in the ass for not getting to work on the Leviathan series earlier. There are breweries that are simply known for brewing nothing but unusual and or big beers. Harpoon has always been the opposite. True to traditional flavors, styles with near flawless execution. For these breweries who are known for the latter, to branch out to brewing styles lesser known by the general population, is a bridge building tactic. The person picking up a regular Harpoon IPA or UFO may opt to put their trust into a more bold attempt by the company and in turn, they will find the world of craft beer goes beyond any walls they may have imagined. This beer would be a good introduction for anyone who enjoys the Harpoon IPA.

Rogue: Brutal IPA

I find it surprising that so far this month with my focus being IPA's, that I have not even mentioned anything from Rogue. On tap now is their Brutal IPA, and as a fan of extremes I expect great things from anything with the word brutal in it's title. As a hop head, few beers frighten me when they claim to be so hoppy that your taste buds will not recover for hours and so, I continuously find myself in search of the one that will shake me to the bones. I did not find it here but I sure as hell found a damn good IPA. 

Like about 95% of their other beers this one is brewed with their very own revolution hops as well as some crystal hops and their own dare and risk malts. Light orange and hazy in color, with a thick rustic head and huge lacing. 

There is more citrus in the aroma than a lot of other IPA's that I have enjoyed and the hop presence comes through as being sweet, strong and well balanced by a malt undertone. Hints of grapefruit, and sweet pine.

Uh, yeah, not Brutal by any means. Sure, this beer is hoppy, and maybe my palate has just been desensitized by years of abuse but I know brutal and this beer is more sweet and smooth with a serious dash of bitterness to it. Flavors of grapefruit, toffee, and pine. At 59 IBU's however, any serious IPA drinker will know that they aren't in for a death star of a beer, but I assure you, you are in for a treat. 

This is a clean, dry IPA full of citrus, subtle pine and malt. Don't let the name fool you and don't be such a baby. 

What I have found with a lot of beers that claim to be a vicious assault on the taste buds is that it may just be all relative. Sure, if all you've had up till the point when you discover such a beer is Bud Light, you may be a bit turned off but as a hop head, I know that we rely on one masochistic notion; the bitter the better. Rogue created a great IPA with a unique flavor and even though there is nothing brutal about it, you still won't like it if you like a beer without a backbone. 

Black Market Beer

The first time I was given a black IPA, the transaction seemed more like a drug deal or a rite of passage into the Free Mason's society than a legal, open purchase.

I was at one of my local craft beer outlets creating a mixed six pack. With all but one spot empty, I was stuck at a dead end, staring at the singles cooler, mouth open, eyes glazed, potentially drooling on myself like a zombie on tranquilizers trying to make the million dollar decision. Then, out of nowhere I hear from behind me, "Hey man, I have the new Magic Hat variety packs out back. We can't put them out yet but they have this new black IPA you gotta try."
"Black IPA? What?!"
"Yeah man, I'll go grab you one. I was going to open it to get one for myself anyway."
I felt as though I should have walked out of there with the beer in a brown paper bag, or have him leave it by the back door. I felt like I was doing something wrong, not just because I was given a beer that he realistically should not have given me, but because he called it a black IPA.

Skeptical and curious, I saved it for last. For a week it stared at me from the back of the fridge, taunting me and challenging everything I thought I knew about beer. Finally I caved and gave it a try. Looking more like a dark brown ale than an IPA, and being a big sensory person when it comes to any beer I'm surprised my brain didn't shut down completely. The taste was that of a subdued IPA, not what I have come to associate with Magic Hat. I walked away from the experience pretty neutral. Unsure of how I felt, and positive that this seemingly black market purchase was the only one of it's kind, I went on with my life as though I had seen a UFO, like I would never see it again...or so I thought.

Cut to present day two months later: after making the decision to blaze my own trail amongst the vast jungle of beer bloggers and craft beer enthusiasts I had no real expectations. Of course I was aware the beer world I knew would open itself up to me much more so than it already had, yet I was unaware that once the flood gates were opened that this style of beer would somehow track me down yet again.

The style, as I have been told, was developed around 20 years ago by the late Greg Noonan, who is credited with opening the first brewpub in Vermont in 1988 after spending three years lobbying to legalize brewpubs in the state. He was an innovator and introduced many uncommon styles to the northeast at the time, the black IPA being one of them as well as the "Wee Heavy" strong scotch ale, which no one was brewing at the time in the area.

So why is this style of beer so damn important? Why should the black IPA be in every craft beer enthusiast's radar more so than any other style right now? One word my friends: evolution. It is no secret that our world is continually evolving and there are people out there who are always pushing the envelope, testing the waters and disassembling our liquid muse to discover it's hidden potentialities. Yet, while these advances in beer science are profound and refreshing, they are typically playing with well established styles just executing them differently.

The Black IPA on the other hand, is a style that every craft brewer can and should get behind as it seems to be the current standard of keeping up with the times. After being created 20 some odd years ago, it went into hibernation, existing like some beer sasquatch that few had seen but even fewer had tried. Now in 2011, we are seeing a rebirth of the style that gives a new meaning to true beer evolution. Combining the floral, citrus bitterness of centennial or cascade hops with roasted and black malts, the style delivers a deep, thick porter on sight but will surprise you with its complex aromas and hop flavors. The malt characteristics of this brew will also appeal to any dark beer lover as they will typically compliment the bitterness nicely with a huge mouthfeel and roasted coffee and chocolate notes.

In my research, I've found that what works for some might not work for others. Some breweries are leaning more towards the roasted malt side, focusing on creating more of a hoppy porter than a dark IPA while some I've found focus less on the malts and merely create a more complex IPA with a more deep brown appearance rather than black, as I found with the Yakima from Victory Brewing.

These various shades however are what make this beer so exciting. Rarely are we given the chance as enthusiasts to witness the growth of new styles of beer. We may try some new offerings that push a certain established style but we have been given a chance, in our life time to create history and to watch that history play out in front of our eyes. The black IPA is that history and it will continue to evolve and grow and what we will most certainly find years down the road, as we can assume from the continuing evolution of any other beer style, is that what the black IPA is now, is not what it will be.

I may still not quite get it, but with beer it is always better to throw caution to the wind and jump into the deep end head first because you never know what you might like. All I know is that I like it and I feel as though that initial introduction to the black IPA was in some ways, my rite of passage into a secret society of historians who will document the path of our liquid muse for future generations of beer lovers.

So I'd like to raise a toast to the memory of Greg Noonan, whom without I would not feel so compelled to be a part of history as I am right now. Beer may be our creation, we have destroyed it and built it up again. It may be something we can mold and shape into whatever we want, but it is our duty as beer lovers and brewers alike to unite around these new styles such as the black IPA because it is OUR history.

Review: Hop Noir Black IPA: Peak Organic Brewing Co. 8.2% ABV

There is a spy in our midst! There are forces out there which seek to shake the very foundation of what every IPA drinker out there has built their adoration for hopped up beers on. These dark forces have become a sheep in wolves clothing if you will. An IPA that looks more like a porter?! Surely you can't be serious. I am serious, and don't call me Shirley. I'm calling a full on investigation of this impostor and I want answers dammit! We're calling to the stand witness #1. Hop Noir from Peak Organic Brewing Company. Just what do you think you're doing conning everyone into thinking you're an IPA, one of the most beloved styles of beer in the world. What's the meaning of this?!
This beer is officially Public Enemy #1 and I'm going to make sure it goes away for a long, long time. After some more investigation of course...

Appearance: Pours a deep silky brown with a thick beige head. Dark black, deep strong porter resemblance. Beautiful lacing.

Aroma: Light toffee with a hint of roasted coffee. Bitter and piney overtones from the centennial hops used.  Malty and thick smelling.

Taste: Malted, bitter roasted black espresso. Hints of fruit and a woody after taste. The hop presence is very dominant despite the deep black malt flavors. Well balanced like an over-hopped porter with a lingering resin like bitterness. Excellent smooth mouthfeel that is reminiscent of a strong American IPA. There is a coffee like presence that due to the style, lasts on the palate long after each sip.

Overall: What the F***?! I have confessed to being an IPA fanatic. Golden, light, crisp, palate destroying IPA's. Roasted malts in an IPA just doesn't seem right. But if this is wrong, then I'm about to swallow my pride. A solid 7.5-8/10. Somehow beer has managed to pull off the greatest con ever. I won't be pressing any charges.

Black IPA you say? What's next, you going to tell me your alibi is a black pilsner? Wait, Stone did a Black Pilsner collaboration you say? Well, ok that may check out but I'll have to bring him in for some questioning as well. We can't hold you for any longer since we can't officially charge you with anything but hear me, watch yourself Black IPA because wherever you are, Bergie will be there, waiting for you to slip up.

Review: Lagunitas: Hop Stoopid Ale/8% ABV

We're starting our Ode to Hops month with Hop Stoopid. An Imperial IPA/American ale from Lagunitas.

Aroma: A forest of pine, pine resin and citrus notes. A hit of tropical, west coast flare with exotic flowers.

Appearance: Deceiving! Golden, almost burnt orange. Going into this, one might think it may not be all that stoopid...but you might be for underestimating it.

Taste: Let's just say, if you plan on drinking anything else, either make sure you have something edible to battle for control of your palate or just...don't. Right at the swing of the bat and you're hit in the head with hops, but in some sick masochistic way it's all pleasure. Flavors of rich grapefruit, tart citrus and smooth, deep woody, pine resin notes. Lasts on the palate for quite some time and as the beer warms, the malts become more present making for a much deeper, earthy flavor. Tastes like a rich hop harvest might smell. At 102 I.B.U. one would imagine they were in for a swift kick to the head but upon further investigation, one would be pleasantly surprised. Sure, an IPA with the name Hop Stoopid might appear to to be nothing but bitter, palate destroying taste but this beer should be a mainstay or a bucket lister of every hop head out there.

8/10: everything I look for in a solid IPA and more, just not nearly as ground breaking as I had anticipated. Still, very tasty. So take some time and get stoopid.

This brewery may be a hot name on the west coast, but for a New Hampshire boy, Lagunitas has just become another beacon of hope for the craft beer enthusiast who still wants just a damn good beer. Don't misinterpret, what this company is doing is far from average and from what I've gathered in my extensive research, they too are testing the boundaries of beer and while I have yet to dive into their selection too much (due to a lack of a huge presence on the east coast) it would appear that they prefer to work in the realm of less is more. No frills, made with few ingredients, with a lot of passion makes for a quality, fresh tasting beer.

Ode to Hops.

When someone asks me what I look for from an IPA, my initial response is always the same; how much it challenges my notion of what a beer can accomplish. Just how far can it bring my senses, how close to the edge can it take me without going over, and if we go over the edge, how comfortable am I going over with it. Sound extreme? It is. That's because that's exactly what this style of beer is all about, extremity in the form of sensual overload. Beer itself can challenge your senses to a no holds barred duel with how strong it might be or what obscure flavors the brewer chose to infuse it with. The IPA however challenges the drinker with one ingredient and one ingredient only; hops. The IPA doesn't need to add a plethora of outside influences to stand out, it doesn't even need to boost the alcohol content through the roof to make its presence known, though this is almost always an added bonus. The allure of the IPA works off of the four main ingredients that make up a basic beer; water, malt, hops and yeast and what makes it work, what makes each IPA find it's own character is the complexity found in the proper combination of hops.

Why do I say 'proper'? When as merely an enthusiast I know nothing about making a beer and should just keep my mouth shut? However as a beer enthusiast, I know what makes me tingle when it comes to an IPA is just how much hops a beer can pack into it's recipe and still maintain a sense of integrity where taste is concerned. So many attempts succumb to the expectation that this beer needs to be a haymaker of hops and butterness, so much so that the rest of the beer suffers and the malt characters are hidden beneath the haze. Now if you enjoy the bitter kick to the junk some IPA's deliver then that's your deal, but what you're truly missing out on is the true balance between the two that can be achieved while still bringing the hops to the forefront. I like to know that somewhere within the murky slap exists a beer, not beneath it.

I can't really remember my first IPA experience. It seems to be a distant blur of chance after chance that I had given to this severely acquired style but it was either around the time I tried the 60 minute IPA from Dogfish Head or maybe it just happened by chance, a natural evolution as a beer drinker perhaps, but I do know this, once the love affair began, the key was to take the adventure as far as I could.

Each IPA has a personality all it's own, each one that succeeds in pleasing the palate of a true IPA fan finds that balance of malt to hops, sweet to bitter. Each one accomplishes this in different ways but one thing remains true; the regular Budweiser drinker is not going to enjoy it. True, hardcore, intense IPA's are a beacon of hope for the craft beer world. They stand as our inside joke amongst each other because what the IPA doesn't try to do, is appeal to the masses.

Every beer drinker knows, or should at least, that hops are a main component of what makes up the final product, but what stands out about this style is it's ability to find the potential that this little flower holds and utilize it as a weapon for good and prosperity in the beer world. So this month we are raising our glasses to the shining, powerful spirit of beer. Cheers, to hops!