Sierra Nevada Pale Ale "Hoppiness"

[heinz57]

ALL of the best. Hands down. People just don't get it when they're from other places. If Ballast Point made more Sculpin, people would be crapping themselves to get a bottle. Amazing.

There is a very good reason I support the change of name from Imperial IPA to San Diego IPA, and I know I'm not the only one.

 

[carnevoodoo]

There is a very good reason I support the change of name from Imperial IPA to San Diego IPA, and I know I'm not the only one.

You aren't. I would actually be happy if it was changed to West Coast IPA. San Diego might be too specific, what with Russian River being in Nor Cal and starting technically right outside of San Diego.

 

[nutcase]

IPA. I have a clone recipe upstairs and it is insane. It is definitely an IPA with a IIPA hop schedule. 3 oz. just in dry hop alone. It is a special release and it goes faster than they can make it. There are still a few bottles left in the county, I think. We had 3 of them at my house tonight. Ballast Point is incredibly underrated, but their special releases aren't distributed widely enough for people to get it.

wow. thats alot of dry hop. next time I'm in SD my mission will be to find some sculpin

Could you possibly post or pm me the clone recipe sometime?

 

[nutcase]

You aren't. I would actually be happy if it was changed to West Coast IPA. San Diego might be too specific, what with Russian River being in Nor Cal and starting technically right outside of San Diego.

west coast would be good. i've lived in soCAl, norcal and now washington state and I have to say that there are some pretty damn good BIG IPA's in the northern part of the west coast too.

 

[heinz57]

You aren't. I would actually be happy if it was changed to West Coast IPA.

I'd have no problem getting behind that.

When I said I'm not the only one, I just meant that I'd read that commercial brewers feel the same.

Take Garrett Oliver for example, or even the fact that this article credits Vinny himself with the style.

 

[shlongstar]

Man, this thread really makes me realize how much more beer there is out there to try! I definitely need to look outside of Ralphs

 

[shlongstar]

If you're in Marina Del Rey then you have to go to Father's Office in Santa Monica. They usually have Pliny on tap, and if you're going for an extremely well balanced hoppy beer, it's a definite standout in the category. Not to mention the rest of the list there is usually very well selected. Just make sure you go on an off night if you can, or at least early on a busy night, otherwise it quickly turns into standing room only.

I somehow skipped over this post directed towards me.

I have been wanting to go to Father's Office for some time because it's literally recommended to me on a monthly basis. Must be good stuff! I hear their burgers are really good too.

I'm always given the usual "go when it's an off night" warning as well, which is probably why I haven't had time to go check it out yet!

 

[homebrewflyfish]

IMHO,

DFH 90 min is a great beer to try. I know they get a lot of perhaps excess credit, but to my tastes it's a perfect example of how malt can balance hops and vice versa. Yes, DFH IPA's are malty, but to me the usage of malts with high IBUs is a major difference in IPA's that could warrant a better classification/naming system.

There's a trend for more hops (bitterness, flavor, aroma) and malts are only used to keep the beer drinkable...but the star is the hops. Many west coast beers are in this camp. Then there's another style that I think DFH 90 is in where the malt and hops are co-stars...it's not about just showing the beer world that my hops are bigger than your hops...it's about crafting a balance. One where the complexity of the malt is as important as the hops. For instance, when I drink a 90 minute I get the amarillo and simcoe (a great hop combo) but I also experience a distinct mellow sweetness and a nuttiness that just adds an extreme sense of depth.

Garrett Oliver has also said that he is not a fan of the more hops for the sake of more hops trend. I like those beers too...sometimes it's great to be knocked over by the hops. But it's kind of like being a pastry chef and trying to be innovative by adding more and more sugar...at some point you need to add more dough.

Maybe we could have Imperial IPA (big time hops) and Pastoral IPA (seeking balance).

A few I've had recently that I recommend trying:
-Rogue Frog Rye IPA
-Victory Yakima Twilight (had it on cask...looks like a brown, tastes like heaven)
-Ninkasi Tricerahops
-DFH 90 minute
-Southern Tier Unearthly

 

[Brewsmith]

The whole problem with the "West Coast" (Stone, AleSmith, Pilney...) vs. "East Coast" (60 min, 90 min) debate is that no one on either side of the country has access to good examples of the bottles. I've heard stories of Stone beer in TX tasting sweet and stale. Until recently, the only way I could get a DFH beer was if one of you guys sent it to me. IPAs do not travel well at all and all of the hop character gets ruined very quickly. It's the reason that I have to look far and wide just to get Pliney thats made in my state. Vinnie won't ship it if it's not going to be handled right.

I say we settle the debate at the NHC this year. Everybody bring your favorite local IPA and we'll do a side by side tasting.

 

[Yankeehillbrewer]

If your liking SNPA, try the Celebration Ale as well. IMO it is very hoppy and very tasty. i would imagine it's available to you down south. Also try the other Seasonal ale. Anniversary ale and ESB are both very tasty and hoppy. In the summer they put out Summerfest which is one of their more mellow beers, it's a lager actually. Go check their website out if you haven't already, they put out a pretty good list of ingredients for each beer along with IBU's and gravity.

 

[mjaquillard]

If your liking SNPA, try the Celebration Ale as well. IMO it is very hoppy and very tasty. i would imagine it's available to you down south. Also try the other Seasonal ale. Anniversary ale and ESB are both very tasty and hoppy. In the summer they put out Summerfest which is one of their more mellow beers, it's a lager actually. Go check their website out if you haven't already, they put out a pretty good list of ingredients for each beer along with IBU's and gravity.

mmmmmm, Celebration Ale...can't reccomend that one enough, one of my favs

 

[GloHoppa]

SN Harvest Ale was nice, I love wet hop beers...there is nothing like that grassy dandelion stem sort of aroma and flavor that only comes from freshly picked whole leaf hops.


Our Leviathan Imperial IPA is something hop-heads HAVE to try! 122 IBU with over 1# of hops per barrel in the dryhopping phase alone!

 

[skadalajara]

This subject is near and dear to my heart. I cut my teeth on Harpoon IPA. And I can't find it out here.

SN Anniversary is my favorite beer right now. but AZ seems to have run out.
Second would be Green Flash. And their Hop Head Red is among my GF's faves as well.

I've been on a mission for about a year to try every IPA available locally. And I'm pretty lucky.. We have Whole Foods and Sunflower Markets, both of which have an impressive array of craft brews. And then there's Topps Liquors. It's just awesome. They probably stock over 1000 beers. and they encourage you to break up a 6pack to try different stuff. And most of the staff are great at matching you up with a beer you'll love, if you need help. They also have an impressive selection of scotch/irish whiskeys and probably 100 or more tequilas. The other end of the store is wine. And they have a better selection of sake than most Asian grocers.

Anyways... Port Brewing's fresh hop was nearly orgasmic. Bridgeport IPA has trub in the bottle and has a very balanced hoppyness to it. Eel River makes a decent organic one, but it's twistoff, which is a huge detractor for me. Bear Republic's IIPA sticks in my head as enjoyable. As does Hop Juice. Hazed and Infused (I forget the brewer) is just awesome. It was my first dry hopped beer. Now I seek them out whenever possible. Ooh and I can't forget Double Daddy by Prohibition. I think I might pick some of that up for brew day today.

 

[BeerMeChasay]

IMHO,

A few I've had recently that I recommend trying:
-Rogue Frog Rye IPA
-Victory Yakima Twilight (had it on cask...looks like a brown, tastes like heaven)
-Ninkasi Tricerahops
-DFH 90 minute
-Southern Tier Unearthly

I agree with the Ninkasi Tricerahops. I love that beer. I get that and the Total Domination IPA all the time. My go to's when I want a good beer!

 

[Madman]

I've been drinking DFH (Shelter Pale and 60min) almost exclusively lately, and I honestly don't find them to be sweet at all. Now, that may have something to do with the fact that, until just recently, I've been all about the malty brews, so I'm used to sweet ones. The hop-love just recently hit me. Like a train. In the liver.

I do find it interesting to hear people say that IPAs don't travel well. Wasn't the whole point of creating the IPA for long shipping times?

 

[magnj]

mmmmmm, Celebration Ale...can't recommend that one enough, one of my favs

Ok, so anything Sierra Nevada is good or great.

 

[0202]

I never thought of myself as a "hophead" but I guess I'm starting
to change my perceptions. Arrogant bastard was by no means a
mouthful of hops to me.

Sometimes I just want to drink a well balanced, complex beer.
Sometimes I just want to drink a refreshing, crisp beer.
Sometimes I want to drink something dark and crazy.

But I only really CRAVE hoppy beverages it seems.

The wet hop harvest was good, and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is
great for an anytime beer, IMO. I just finished a six pack of
Victory Hop Wallop - now THAT'S an unbalanced, bitter hop
explosion in my mind.

Anyone know the IBU for Hop Wallop?

FWIW - I also find some Dogfish to be a little too sweet after
a bottle or two. I usually prefer Victory offerings.

Edit - Although I do really like Dogfish Head's Raison d'être

 

[jharres]

I do find it interesting to hear people say that IPAs don't travel well. Wasn't the whole point of creating the IPA for long shipping times?

That is exactly what I was thinking. The whole point of the high level of hops was to preserve the beer for the boat trip from the UK to India (generally months).

 

[wildwest450]

This subject is near and dear to my heart. I cut my teeth on Harpoon IPA. And I can't find it out here.

SN Anniversary is my favorite beer right now. but AZ seems to have run out.

Make your own! I've got 10 gallons ready to be kegged right now, good stuff!!

 

[BillyVegas]

SNPA is what made me decide I don't hate all beers that have the word PALE in it.

Great stuff.

 

[skadalajara]

SNPA is what I've taken camping for years.
My first brew is a recipe very similar to it.
It's what my GF and I were drinking while bottling that batch.

 

[Hops]

I have 10 gal of DFH 60 going right now. 5 gal aging in a corny ( 2 more weeks till I can taste it ) and 5 gal in the primary. YooperBrew has good recipe.

 

[orangeandblue302]

dogfish leaves all the sugar from raw sugar cane. Benefits of the brew tour i have taken an ungodly amount of times.

 

[impatient]

but the 120 isnt bitter at all

Yes, I think the 120 has balance with the alcohol content.

 

[impatient]

What would be a good example of a beer that is hoppy (or higher in IBU) but still well balanced and doesn't make you pucker when you drink it?

You should try Three Floyds Alpha King.

 

[lmg95]

just picked up a six pack of alpha king and right now i'm enjoying the 2008 SNPA Wet Hop Harvest Ale... first time i've seen it at my Binny's and it's fantastic!!!

 

[artyusmc]

just finished some SNPA, then wife picked me up some Sam Adams lager. I want my SNPA back. the lager was fine but no kick.

 

[RKrizman]

So this thread has prompted me to go to the fridge and open a nice cold SNPA....mmmm......now what was the question?

-R

btw, for SoCal drinkers, you know Father's Office has a new outlet in Culver City, just on the end of the Helms Bakery off Venice Blvd. Same great selections, same incredible burgers, bigger and perhaps more comfortable than the Montana Ave.location.

 

[Brewsmith]

That is exactly what I was thinking. The whole point of the high level of hops was to preserve the beer for the boat trip from the UK to India (generally months).

The old British versions are not exactly the same as American IPAs. The American version is more bitter, and has more hop flavor and aroma. Hop character is something that does not last long is a beer. The aroma fades and the flavors oxidize easily. Plus, an ocean going ship is not the same as a freight truck across the country.

Bottom line, hop character is very fragile and is easily destroyed by bad handling.

 

[PavlovsCat]

I must admit, I love all beer, but have only tried Sierra Nevada in the recent months.

Upon first impression, I thought the bitterness was a bit too much for me... but I gotta say I'm starting to like it.

As reference for a newb like me... How would you guys rate Sierra Nevada's "Hoppiness"? I kinda find it a good balance, and can't imagine much more bitterness in a beer. Maybe I'll never be a "hophead?"

I felt the same way when I first had SNPA. Have really acquired the taste for it now, and it seems to be since I've been studying brewing. What's up with that? And the malty flavors that I previously enjoyed seem to be taking second chair to the hops. Now I'm on the prowl for hoppier brews.

Happy with Hops