Too Many Beers – Best I.P.A?
Decatur Metro | September 14, 2011 | 11:02 amRemember the days when you could go into a Decatur liquor store and your only options were domestic beers and maybe some Sweetwater? My have times changed!
With the loosening of Georgia’s liquor laws a few years back allowing for higher octane brews, the Decatur market is now flooded with kilo-gallons of beer options. So, now instead of complaining about a lack of options, I’m now primed to complain about the tyranny of choice! I walk into Herb’s, Ale Yeah! or Sherlock’s and I’m presented with hundreds of beer options.
So, I need some help. We’ve done “Best Wines Under $15” recently, but I need some new beer standbys. So that at the end of a long day, I can go into a beer retailer and have five or six good options that I can grab and go, and not stand there for 10 minutes, mouth agape, before finally picking up another six-pack of 420.
There are a lot of beers, so let’s start with I.P.A. In the coming weeks we can move on to other ales, porters, Belgians, you name it.
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My favorites are Stone Sublimely Self Righteous (black IPA), Oscar Blues’ G’Knight (formerly Gordon.), Sweetwater IPA, Dogfish Head Burton Baton (oak aged IPA), Port Brewing’s Wipeout and Shark Attack (red IPA) and many many more. The IPA’s I brew are pretty damn good as well (but I may be biased).
Of the regular, American IPAs available to us in Atlanta, I’d recommend Two Hearted Ale by Bell’s Brewery, Stone IPA by Stone Brewery, and Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (a seasonal release around the holidays).
Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
Anything made by New Belgium is pretty good too. They seem to be gaining popularity around here lately.
Sweetwater and Dogfish 60 minute are both excellent. Racer 5 is also awesome, but not sure we can get it around here. I’ve had it on the west coast.
Racer 5 (Bear Republic Brewing) is indeed good. They have another IPA called Hop Rod Rye that is fantastic as well.
please let me know if anyone knows where to buy Racer 5 around here- would be nice to have my old hometown beer in my new hometown!
looks like SC is the closest state that carries Racer 5.
Another for Bells Two Hearted. There really are so many good ones that have come on the scene recently that it gets a little overwhelming. Heavy Seas Loose Cannon is one I’ve come to like recently as well as their Black Cannon(black IPA). Stone makes a great one. I think Sweetwater’s IPA is their best beer. I just tried Cigar City’s Jai Alai and wasn’t that impressed, but I’ve heard their oak aged is much better.
I’ve never seen Racer 5 in Atlanta, but I’ve heard good things about it.
+1 on Sweetwater IPA being their best beer.
I was very unimpressed with the Jai Alai as well. Sweetwater has a hoppy rye beer out right now that is pretty good as well.
Sweetwater IPA is the only Sweetwater beer I drink.
Sierra Nevada Torpedo is an easy choice for overall value… consistent, excellent quality, and widely available. With a 12 pack price of $13 – $15, hard to beat. Same goes for SN Celebration Ale when it’s in season.
Others than that, my top 5 IPAs available in the Atlanta market would probably shake out something like this:
1. Bell’s Two Hearted
2. Heavy Seas Loose Canon
3. Founders Centennial IPA
4. Lagunitas IPA
5. Sweetwater IPA (obvious choice, but may be a bit under-appreciated here I feel.)
How could I have forgotten Founder’s! Yes, the Centennial is very good, as is the Red’s Rye.
New Belgium Ranger and Sierra Nevada Torpedo are probably my two go-tos.
Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
Dogfish 90 minute
Sweetwater IPA
Bell’s Two Hearted Ale is a great, get just about anywhere IPA. Beyond the Bell’s there are sooo many that are just as awesome in todays market and – FINALLY – in Georgia. I am just starting to think IPAs again as I usually lighten up on my beer types during the long hot summer. Been loving the Bell’s Oberon in bottles and growlers – possibly my current favorite summer beer. Same with wine during the summer months – hard not to be thinking about a nice crisp chilled white when it is 90+ degrees out to accompany my food – which is biased considering the season.
After seeing all these posts, I understand why Bells has had problems meeting demand for the Two Hearted.
Smuttynose Big A IPA. A friend bought me a 4 pack for my birthday last winter and it quickly became one of my favorites. If you want to try it before you buy it, Brick Store had it on tap a few weeks ago – may still be pouring.
Big A is Smuttynose’s Double IPA… and delicious. The regular Smuttynose IPA is excellent as well.
Ah— that’s good to know. I need to check out the regular. I also checked the BSP site – and they are not pouring the Big A, but rather the Smuttynose IPA “Finest KInd”—if this is what I had a few weeks ago, it was pretty tasty as well.
“Finest Kind” is indeed their non-double, “regular” IPA
+1 for the Smuttynose “regular”…Being relatively new to the beer appreciation thing, I’m no expert, but I know what I like!
I live part of the year in Oregon. In addition to the many good ones already listed (Stone, SN Torpedo and Celebration, Bells 2 hearted, Ranger, Smuttynose, dogfish 60 min, Lagunitas, Sweetwater)
I would suggest trying some of my hoppy favorites:
Dechutes Inversion
Ninkasi Total Domination and Tricerahops
Lagunitas HopStoopid
FullSail
Had the Tricerahops in Seattle and it was very good (and an awesome name). HopStoopid is certainly another good one.
Said before by others, but +1 to Stone IPA and Dogfish head 60 minute
Harpoon IPA from New England is not the best by any means but if it is fresh it can be quite tasty.
Sweetwater IPA is my beer to come home to. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale and Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale are nice to visit.
Fresh Growlers of Sweetwater IPA are quite refreshing.
Celebration Ale = huge hangover if you drink more than 2 or 3.
I hope you mean drink 2 or 3 growlers and not actual glasses of beer!
Lots of good recommendations above, so I’ll only add a few unmentioned favorites.
-Weyerbacher’s Double Simcoe
-Southern Tier’s Gemini (which is a blend of their Hoppe and Unearthly, both of which are also quite good)
Ah, yes, good ones. The Oaked Unearthly is fantastic.
He’Brew’s Lenny’s RIPA on Rye is also delicious.
Another vote for Two Hearted + Sweetwater. I’m not sure if it qualifies as an IPA, but Founders Red’s Rye is fantastic as well. God bless the Brick Store and Ale Yeah
The following are some of my favorite IPAs. At least one of these will be in my fridge on any given day:
– Sweetwater IPA
– Bell’s Two Hearted
– Southern Tier 2XIPA
– Terrapin Hopsecutioner
– Sierra Nevada Celebration (when in season)
– Stone Ruination (occasionally makes an appearance…it’s a great beer, but also expensive)
Can I ask a question? I love love love Sweetwater 420. I enjoy trying new beers and have bought some brew in Ale Yeah! and Hop City. Fun shopping. But I discovered something that I think is going to be a future hindrance… Alcohol content. Is high alcohol content something that is supposed to be preferred by beer connoisseurs? I’ve had beer with as little as 7 or 8% alcohol and thought the taste was just too much on the alcohol side. I realize there are brews with way more than that available, but it still kind of surprised me how *not* into that I was. I’d like to try Wild Heaven, but think I’ll end up wasting some dough on a growler.
No, it’s not supposed to be preferred, meaning that high gravity does not necessarily equal better beer. I think many brewers have gone overboard on the alcohol content. To me one of the worst examples is Dogfish 90, which has a very off-putting, high-alcohol finish to it, as opposed to the infinitely better-balanced 60 minute.
Some high gravity beers are very good, like Sweetwater Happy Ending. I’ve found Invocation (Wild Heaven) to be excellent. Ode to Mercy is OK but has a pretty strong coffee flavor to it, as I recall, which I am not a fan of.
the short answer I believe is… the more fermentables (i.e. hops and malt), the higher the alcohol. IPAs tend to be brewed with a lot of malt and A LOT of hops, which in turn yields a higher alcohol %.
You are correct that the amount of sugar is what determines the potential alcohol content, and that typically comes from malt (and sometimes additional sugars such as candied sugar added to Belgian style beers). However, hops are used for bittering/flavoring and as a preservative, which is how IPAs came to be–lots o’ hops meant that they wouldn’t go bad on the boat ride from England to the thirsty troops in India. Hence the name India Pale Ale.
Thanks for this. I’ve always wondered at the name origin of IPA.
Pretty cool.
With regard to high alcohol that do not have a super alcohol taste, I would say Trappistes Rochefort. Not an IPA so I will reserve my post of undying love for that beer until we reach those but I wanted to respond to your comment.
I am not a fan of IPAs too much hop. The husband loves it.
not on the cheap end, but I love 90-minute by Dogfish.
But in the more standard price range, I’ll second what many said, like Bell’s Two-Hearted, Sweetwater, Stone, etc. But also one of my current favorites is Bridgeport IPA.
My favorites change frequently and hard to pin down just a few. Agree with most of above, but also wanted to mention that there are some great IPAs coming out in cans now. There are many benefits of cans over bottles that I won’t get into, but the big reason for me during the summer is ease of taking to pool, beach, picnics, etc. Without further ado, my favorites separated by cans/bottles and ranked in order (at least for this phase of the moon):
Cans:
1. 21st Amendment Brewery (great name!) Brew Free or Die IPA
2. Avery Brewing Co. IPA
3. 21st Amendment Brewery Back in Black (Black IPA) — a favorite of the wife who doesn’t typically like IPAs
Bottles:
1. Stone Ruination IPA
2. New Belgium Ranger
3. Bells Two-Hearted
4. Sierra Nevada Torpedo
5. Dogfish 60 minute
Making me thirsty just typing this. Is it 5 yet??
I’m with your wife. I like that 21st Amendment Black IPA. Otherwise, not normally a fan unless really thirsty and no other beer in house.
I’m amazed at how much agreement there is here. Maybe we need a beer summit the next time cycling/school redistricting /Dollar general…, come up.
Here are my picks:
Draught: Bells two hearted
Bottle: Founders Centennial
Seasonal: Sierra Nevada celebration
Local: Sweetwater
Value: Sierra Nevada torpedo
Not all “pure” IPAs but love Stone’s Arrogant Bastard is fab (“you’re not worthy”)……..He’Brew Lenny’s RIPA (“The Chosen Beer”) is a standout, I love Great Divide’s Titan IPA, Terrapin Big Hoppy Monster (aka “find someone else to drive”), Founders Centennial……..definitely always enjoy Sweetwater IPA when I’m in need of a lower-alcohol “session IPA”……….I really miss 3 Floyds “Alpha King” around here –super hoppy pale ale (used to distribute in GA, but not for several years)
1. Sweetwater IPA
2. Terrapin Hopsecutioner
3. O’Dempsey’s Inukshuk IPA
4. Jailhouse Mugshot IPA
5. Red Brick Pale Ale (not labeled as an IPA, but really is one IMHO)
Has anyone tried Monday Night Brewery Eye Patch Ale? Local guys (Atlanta). I had one at Cakes and Ale during the book fest and it was quite good for a lighter IPA.
I just tried Red Hare IPA outta Mayretta. Quite tasty. Cloudy with floral and citrus notes is what would say if I wanted to sound like someone who knew stuff.
The ATL local scene is heatin’ up!
I really need someone to take me on a beer appreciation tour through Decatur’s pubs. I like wine, I like cocktails, just never developed an appreciation for beer. Any volunteers?
I’ll volunteer for sure….if you like wine and cocktails then you just haven’t tried the right beer to match your taste buds.
You should go to the Decatur Beer Festival in October. Try them all out.
My default is DFH 60. Of the local brews, I like SW 420 and TP ‘cutioner.
My favorite IPA is a black IPA, and I recently loved Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA when I had it The Marlay. Serious stuff at 10.8% ABV, but man alive! It was good.
As far as regular IPAs, I of course love DFH 60, but I had a keg of Victory Hop Devil at my wedding, so that’s probably my favorite.
The 15th Anniversary Black IPA was indeed delicious.
Many quality IPAs have been mentioned so far. Let me add a few more that are available in Georgia,
Bells Hopslam DIPA
Stoudt’s DIPA
Victory Hop Wallop DIPA
Breckenridge 471 Small Batch DIPA
Dale’s Pale Ale APA
Great Divide Hercules DIPA
A Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale IPA
Local First: Sweetwater IPA and Terrapin Rye Pale Ale, Terrapin Hopsecutioner
Other: Bell’s Two Hearted, Ranger IPA (New Belgium), Avery IPA (can or bottle), Dale’s IPA, Sierra Nevada Torpedo
Just had a Cigar City Jai Alai IPA at Steinbecks last night. I’ve tasted MANY of those listed above and would put this one up against any of them. Complex but not overly hoppy; a little sweetness. Hadn’t heard of it before, but will seek it out again. Coupled with the famous Steinbecks Chang Dog (topped with kim chi with a serious bite) – there is not a better pub grub grab in Decatur. Promise.
Our household has a small obsession with 21st amendment’s Hop Crisis Imperial IPA which is available in spurts around the area. Dale’s Pale Ale, Lagunita’s and Racer 5 are some of the other favorites
There is only one King of Beers.