Best IPA

dave1226 · Oct 21, 2011

What is the best IPA from AHBS? I will be receiving hop bomb in the mail on monday and I'm looking forward to brewing it. But I'd like to know what you guys think is their best kit? Oh, and I haven't had anything from them yet. I usually shop at morebeer.

Dogphish · Oct 21, 2011

the best IPA i have ever had on draft, in a bottle, and even brewed myself is Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. MANY beer snobs would agree.

here is the recipe i used. you could easily convert it to extract if desired. if you order from a shop that carries Simcoe hops, i strongly suggest brewing it: http://hopville.com/recipe/596490/american-ipa-recipes/sculpin-clone

philjohnwilliams · Oct 21, 2011

Do you have a recipe for the Ballast Point Big Eye IPA? I had this a couple of weeks back and it was one of the best IPAs I've ever had. Would love to brew it.

Dogphish · Oct 21, 2011

have you ever had Sculpin? I have had Big Eye, and in my opinion, it is crappy when compared to Sculpin. I can't believe those beers even come from the same brewer.

to answer your question, no i don't have the recipe. after the success i had with the Sculpin recipe, i would never even attempt to brew Big Eye.

philjohnwilliams · Oct 24, 2011

I have never has Sculpin. Ballast Point isn't available around here, I tried Big Eye at a bar in New York a few weeks back and was quite happy with it. However, seeing as how popular the Sculpin is, i might just try brewing a clone.

scottland · Oct 25, 2011

Firestone Walker, Union Jack IPA is my current favorite. It's a fairly easy recipe to clone, but it has a BOAT load of hops.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/can-you-brew-recipe-firestone-walker-union-jack-188929/

There's the recipe. To convert to extract (assuming 5.5gal batch)

7lbs Light DME or 9lbs Extra Light LME
.75lbs Carapils
.25lbs Crystal 20
1lb Munich malt extract

follow the same hop bill. It's heavy on cascade and centennial which should be easy to find. Simcoe isn't the easiest hop to find right now.