I wasn't going to give into peer pressure on this grassroots #IPADay thing that's going around, since it sounds pretty gimmicky to me.... BUT the more I thought about it, the more I realized that almost any beer advocacy is good advocacy. So if you aren't busy tonight, or while you're at work even (I won't tell), crack open a nice IPA and enjoy this amazing craft beer boom that we are living in!
Speaking of India Pale Ales (I had to spell it out for the beer geeks in training...), what is your favorite? I don't know that I necessarily have a favorite, but at the top of my list would certainly be AleSmith IPA, Bells Two Hearted, and Surly Furious...
Wow, I almost forgot to mention Founders All Day IPA. This stuff is amazing, and is good for when you want to drink all day, but not get too belligerent. Should be available in bottles by next summer.
ReplyDeleteUm... India Pale Ale.
ReplyDeletehaha, thanks Mike, you are correct. I posted this before I had my coffee, or at least that is the defense I am sticking with.
ReplyDelete2 Hearted is great, but I have a really soft spot in my heart for Mad Hatter. Also, it's an Imperial, but Arctic Panzer Wolf always knocks my socks off!
ReplyDeleteAPW is pretty damn good. When I wrote the post, I was thinking about all of the IIPAs/DIPAs I really love and was having a difficult time naming my favorite IPA, and wrote that IPA stood for "Imperial Pale Ale"
ReplyDeleteAnother favorite misspelling of IPA that I usually type is "Indiana Pale Ale"
World class journalism here.... ha
Bell's Two Hearted is first to come to mind. Been enjoying Bear Republic Racer 5 lately.
ReplyDeleteIf we're including all types of IPAs, I'd also mention FFF Blackheart (English IPA) and Green Flash Le Freak (Belgian IPA).
If double/imperial IPAs are also in the conversation... Well, I don't know if I have enough time for that.
Never had the Le Freak, but I do enjoy some Blackheart, for certain. I'm not sure if IIPA/DIPAs are counted, and haven't checked into it yet since I just jumped on the bandwagon this morning.
ReplyDeleteGood article over at hoosierbeergeek.com, and it sounds like they have similar sentiments over this whole thing. I really don't need an excuse to drink great beer... but oh well.
Glad you jumped on the band wagon with us Andy. Ballast Point Sculpin is my favorite hands down. But Two Hearted is always in my frig.
ReplyDeleteNever had that one Eric, but thanks for chiming in!
ReplyDeleteEveryone check out Eric's coverage of IPADay over at Michiana Beer Nuts. There is a link on the left side of my page.
He's providing more info on this than I have the motivation to do...
I had Sculpin in San Diego last month and while I do agree that it's a great IPA and beer in general, it was missing something for me to really put it over the top into the highest ranks of my favorites. To each his own and all that jazz. Do agree that we really don't need a reason to drink great beer, but if it gets the word out about craft I really won't complain.
ReplyDeleteReally? No one has said Pliny yet? Still the best ever. And while technically not an IPA, Zombie Dust will top everyones lists within the year
ReplyDeleteBen, I was trying to avoid talking about PtE, since just the thought of not being able to enjoy one gives me the shakes. One of my all-time favorites, for certain.
ReplyDeleteAnd as far as Zombie Dust... well everyone knows my stance on that. I would consider having another child with my wife, just to give it up for a keg of that sweet elixir.
I thought PtE just goes without saying. :)
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