craft session ipa

New Beer Blog Ballast Point Brewing Mango Evan Keel

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another beer from Ballast Point Brewing.  We are going to sample a session IPA.  This will be second from last session IPA that will be featured on this blog.  We will feature Ballast Point Brewing Mango Evan Keel Session IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this California base craft brewery.  Let us get into this session IPA.

It has a slightly dark golden color to a light cooper color with a white constant head. The aroma has a citrus to heavy mango notes. The taste has a nice mango notes with a nice mango aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.ballastpoint.com):

Our Mango Even Keel is the ideal beer for easy drinking. This hoppy, session ale gets a flavor boost from mango, which perfectly plays off the citrusy hop bouquet. With fruit, hops, and a low ABV, this beer truly is on another level.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.ballastpoint.com

Twitter:@bpbrewing

In closing, I am a pretty big fan of Ballast Point Brewing.  I am done with Session IPA but mangoes are what made me buy this brew.  Session IPA’s are Pale Ales.  I am sick of the marketing gimmick.  I am not a fan. Ballast Point, please, call it a Pale Ale. I hate session IPA’s and this is the second frkm last one that I will try.  I recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Green Flash Mosaic Session India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Green Flash Brewery.  It is their Mosaic Session India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this West Coast craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Green Flash Brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear golden color with a semi on white head. The aroma has a heavy citrus to light mango notes. The taste has a light body with hints of sweet citrus to mango notes. The aftertaste has a dry bitter mango finish. It does not hang around in aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Epic Journey Limited Release

We believe in hop experimentation, constantly exploring new varietals, fresh combinations and innovative brewing methods.  Our passion for hops presents infinite possibilities.  Embark on an epic journey with each Hop Odyssey release, and discover unexpected brews to inspire and enlighten your palate.

Here is a description from their website (www.greenflashbrew.com):

ADVENTUROUSLY HOPPY

The first beer of our 2015 Hop Odyssey Series features Mosaic hops. This bold hop has notable characteristics from its parentage Simcoe and Nugget hops, but Mosaic creates a unique and complex floral, tropical, fruity blend with earthy characteristics. Mosaic also imparts blueberry and other dark berry notes to the beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.greenflashbrew.com

Twitter:  @Greenflashbeer

Closing, this is the second session IPA in which came from western part of the United States. The hops kick off tropical fruit like notes.  The malty backbone has a light body to it but it is still strong enough to kick through the hop that they picked.  I love this beer. They need to make it all time.  I just hope in the near future that they make this a full body IPA.  I like it as a session but there is too many Mosaic hopped session IPA’s.  I cannot think of one that is a normal IPA with a single hop of Mosaic.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some! Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog New Belgium Slow Ride Session IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to feature a new brew, which is Slow Ride session IPA, from New Belgium Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, them to get to know New Belgium Brewery.  Let us get into this session IPA.

It has a clear golden color with a white constant head on this session IPA. The smell has a floral to tropical notes. It has a complex aroma notes. The taste has a juicy citrus notes. This is a session IPA with a full body IPA that will keep hop head guessing all the way through this brew. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.newbelgium.com):

Kicking back and relaxing with a session beer requires little more than a couch, some free time, and a few pals. Slow Ride Session IPA is up for this easy-going challenge, starting with a pour of sheened gold and plenty of fluffy, white foam. A blend of eight hop varieties, led by exotic Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin, twist together brilliant tropical scents of melon, peach, lime and grapefruit for a vividly fruity aroma. The flavor mirrors the aroma, while balancing a malty-sweet yet clean start and hoppy bitterness in the back. Light bodied and extra quaffable, Slow Ride Session IPA brings the finish line to you.

Looking for Slow Ride in Texas? Our friends in the Lone Star State can find Slow Ride under the name New Belgium Session IPA beginning in early March. Don’t worry: It’s still the same green and yellow package and label with the same awesome couch bike and, most importantly, the same great beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.newbelgium.com

Twitter:  @newbelgium

In the end, I will say it again and again. Session IPA’s are pale ales.   This is just a reality check.  It is just a marketing situation which is fine.  Founder’s Brewery in Michigan started this trend with their All Day IPA.  There are some Session IPA’s that are not very good.  This one from New Belgium Brewery is very good and they did a great job throughout the process.  There is a ton of complex aroma notes that makes the craft beer drinker thinking he is drinking a full body IPA.  The taste profile is light body but with the aroma, it makes the beer drinker think he or she is drinking a full body IPA.  The aftertaste will bring new IPA drinkers into this hophead world because it is clean and crisp.  This session IPA is unlike any other session IPA’s on the market.  New Belgium Brewery has changed the way we look at session IPA’s.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Boston Beer Company Samuel Adams Rebel Rider Session IPA

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In this beer blog, we are  going to get into a new brew from Samuel Adams.  It is part of their Rebel IPA series.  It is their Rebel Rider Session IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers from Boston Beer Company, you know the history of this east coast craft brewery.  If you have not read them, please, read them to get to know this craft beer legend.  Let us get into this session IPA.

It has a clear golden color without a head on this session IPA. The aroma has a slight floral notes. The taste has a  citrus to slight grapefruit notes that makes this a light and refreshing brew. The aftertaste has a dry bitter finish. It is drinkable of course.

Here is a description from the beer bottle and their website (www.samueladams.com):

Bursting with bright citrus, grapefruit, and classic piney west coast hop character. This beer has a soft lingering bitterness and a lighter body overall our session IPA is brewed for easygoing days, so relax and enjoy!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.samueladams.com

Twitter:  @samueladamsbeer

In the end, I do not know why they are doing line extension on this beer.  Their normal Rebel IPA is not really good.  They have a really good IPA in their Latitude 42 IPA.  I do not know why I picked up a bottle of their Double Rebel and Rider IPA.  This is the new trend in beer world to make session IPA’s.  Founders All Day IPA was the first to start this new beer style.  It is not really a new beer style because they are really pale ales.  This is a marketing thing.  I believe this is about the worse session IPA that I ever had.  It is not very good. I just feel this beer is missing the punch like other session IPA.  I just feel the other session IPA’s have that punch of the hops.  I was not really impressed with this brew.  I guess television ad budget helps push the most average brews in the world just like Miller Lite, Coors Light, etc.  This is what Samuel Adams has become. Don’t go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Lagunitas Brewery Day Time Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Lagunitas Brewery.  It is their Day Time Ale.  This is a beer that I picked up a six-pack from the brewery while in Chicago.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this West Coast and Midwest craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us get into this session IPA.

This session IPA has a clear golden color with a white constant head. The aroma has a floral to earthy notes.  The taste profile has a light carbonation with hints of earth notes.  The aftertaste has a dry crisp hop finish.  It is all day IPA beer.

Here is a desecration from their website (www.lagunitas.com):

Sometimes you want a beer, then you realize how much crap you need to do before you call it a day. This is it. Nicely dosed with Big, Round Hop Flavors and a Toasty Malt Foundation to satisfy your every need. But it still lets you stay in the game to do what needs to be done. Yup.

AVAILABILITY: SUPER LIMITED
ABV: 4.65%
Sold as: 6-packs & Kegs
Net contents: Ounces and ounces of Malt, Hops, Yeast and water.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lagunitas.com

Twitter:  @Lagunitasbeer

Closing, I love this session IPA.  I just feel it is pretty hard to find their beers in southeast Michigan.  When I do, I feel  they are overpriced.  I hope with the new brewery in Chicago that could solve some issues.  I love this IPA beer style because I can get the big hop from aroma and taste but yet I am able to drink it most of the day.  Before this beer style, I had to switch to a pilsner or lager.  It was not making my taste buds happy.  I had to drink a few IPA’s and I have to move on to another beer.  I love the hops and the malty backbone is just about right.  I recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Southern Tier Farmer’s Tan IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Farmer’s Tan IPA from Southern Tier.  This is the frist time Southern Tier has appear on this blog.  Southern Tier was founded in Lakewood, New York in 2002.  The brewery was founded by Phineas DeMink and Allen Yahn.  They brew several different beer styles and has expanded their brewery a few times to keep up with demand.  This brewery continues to grow to this day.  Last year, they broke ground on a new brewhouse.  Let us get into this Session IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head on this session IPA.  The aroma has a floral to citrus notes.  The taste has a light carbonated citrus notes with a nice dry hop aftertaste.  It is an extremely drinkable to crushable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.stbcbeer.com):

When the sun hangs high overhead and the stars don’t glimmer until well into the evening, there’s nothing better than grabbing another beer. We specially crafted Farmer’s Tan to be the beer you enjoy on those long summer days. At 4.6% abv, it’s one of our lightest, with a smooth body and easy finish. We carefully limited the ingredients to two types of hops and two types of malts for a perfectly balanced, “sessional” India Pale Ale. We’ve got the beer covered. It’s up to you to keep the sunscreen on.

ABOUT THE NAME: Pardon any confusion on the recycled name as this version of Farmer’s Tan is indeed a brand new beer. Long-time Southern Tier fans may remember it as an Imperial Pale Lager, brewed as a summer seasonal (2010-2012). Farmer’s Tan 2014 is a wholly new beer and is different in every way, save for the name.

FOOD PAIRINGS: Particularly tasty when paired with hot dogs, burgers and grilled foods. Cheddar and derby cheeses, pizza and summer fare.

AVAILABILITY: Spring/summmer / 12oz (6pk and 24 bottle cases) / ½ keg, 1/6 keg

BOTTLE CONDITIONED: “For bottle conditioning, a small amount of sugar and yeast is added to the beer so that a small fermentation occurs in each bottle after packaging. This small fermentation does two important things: (1) it contributes carbonation to the beer and (2) it scavenges any residual oxygen that may have gotten into the beer during packaging. By further reducing the oxygen content of our packaged beer, the shelf stability of the beer is improved, making it taste fresher, longer. Bottle conditioning does result in a small amount of sediment in each bottle. This sediment is just brewer’s yeast and is completely harmless, tasteless, and odorless. If you’d rather not see it floating around in your glass, be sure to not agitate the bottle before serving, pour carefully, and leave a few milliliters in the bottom of the bottle at the end of the pour.”

ABOUT THE BEER
STYLE: Session India Pale Ale
BREWED SINCE: 2014
ABV: 4.6%
FERMENTATION: Ale yeast, two varieties of hops, two types of malts
COLOR: Pale Amber
EFFERVESCENCE: Generous
NOSE: Citrus, floral.
FLAVOR: Light hops, refreshing.
BITTERNESS: Medium-Low
BODY: Light, refreshing
SERVING TEMPERATURE: 40-45°F
GLASS: pint glass
 AVAILABILITY: Spring/summer / 12oz (6pk and 24 bottle cases) / 1/2 keg, 1/6 keg
CELLARING: 40-45°F

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.stbcbeer.com

Twitter:  @stbcbeer

In closing, I had several beers from this brewery.  I have to say I love their IPA’s but the rest of their beers.  I really do not know how I feel about them.  I know their Pumpking that I could do without in my world.  I know many people enjoy that beer and there is nothing wrong with it.  I was at my local craft beer bar and I saw this on draft.  I did not  have to look at the rest of the beer menu.  As many of you know, session IPA’s are growing at a rapid rate.  It seems like there is a new one hitting the market everyday.  The new ones are better than the last one.  This one topped Sierra Nevada Nooner IPA or tied in my world.  I really enjoyed this beer and love the hop notes.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it! Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Nooner Session IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer, which is Nooner Session IPA, from Sierra Nevada Brewery.  It is another beer from their 4-Way IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not read those posts, please, do so to get to know this West Coast craft brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head on this session India Pale Ale.  The aroma has a light citrus notes.  The taste has a light carbonated and notes of slight grapefruit to citrus.  The aftertaste has dry hop bitter finish. It is extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

There’s no better way to start a lazy afternoon than with a group of friends and a few beers. Nooner IPA is a session beer that’s light in body yet big in hop flavor. By using intense, whole-cone American hops in our Hop Torpedo we pack this small beer with a hefty hop punch.

Here is a description from their website (www.sierranevada.com):

Nooner™ Session IPA

Kick back with big hop flavor.

There’s no better way to start a lazy afternoon than with a group of friends and a few beers. Nooner IPA is a session beer that’s light in body yet big in hop flavor. By using intense, whole-cone American hops in our Hop Torpedo we pack this small beer with a hefty hop punch. Traditionally, IPAs have been bigger, stronger beers, but this session beer offers the same hop assertiveness with an easy drinkability.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.sierranevada.com

Twitter:  @SierraNevada

Closing, when I first had this beer, I thought it was the best session IPA that I ever had.  It is still a great brew and I love it.  I hope they will bottle and package it down into six pack bottles soon.  It is drinkable for an all day event or just a lazy weekend day.  I love the hops and the light malty backbone is just right. This is an awesome beer and I recommend this beer and the sampler pack.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13