Our newest (and now award winning) IPA, "Hoppy, Hoppy, Joy, Joy" is out on shelves today, even if it is our own shelves! It is a royal purple was and is not the same as the Celebration IPA with the same color released quite awhile ago. Currently we are going solo on this batch, but if we have to sell all of the cases bottled right here through our pub, than so be it.
That brings me to another point (rant).... DO NOT AGE IPAs!!! IPAs are meant to be drank fresh and consumed before the hop character has faded. Has anyone ever read the label on a Russian River IPA? They only state this 20 or more times. There is no benefit to aging IPAs. Your wait will be rewarded with muted hops and dashed hopes. Do not patronize locations where they have a wide assortment of our IPAs - that means two things...1) they must charge an arm and a leg for them otherwise they would move (I have heard reports of a $17 of 2008 IPA near Wrigleyville!!!) and 2) they are irresponsibly buying (or being irresponsibly sold) this style of beer. Each one is 1-2 months older than the last, do you really want an old IPA? Aged beers are good if they are the right style - IPA is not that style. So, in conclusion as I get off my soap box, DO NOT AGE YOUR IPAS!!!
7 comments:
I agree... to a point. Don't age an IPA and expect it to taste like an IPA. I've had many months old bottles of Pliny the Elder and Hopslam etc... They are still delicious in their own right, but they are definitely not IPAs as intended. The hops fade away and the malts start to shine through more and more.
I would agree though, if it's your thing, go ahead and buy stuff fresh and age it just to see how it changes, but I can't imagine paying a premium for old ipas
Is it available in 5gal kegs?
Ben, well stated and good point. Agreed.
It is not available in 5gal kegs.
Any beer if you age it is different but, I have to agree with Bryan, you buy an IPA for the hop flavor, bitterness, and aroma. The aroma and flavor are the first to go and will usually leave an unbalanced beer and, at times to me, resinous flavors/aromas that weren't meant for the beer. That said, if you want to taste an IPA for the what the brewer intended, drink them early. Bryan good job with the IPAs, I enjoy each and everyone.
When is Flossmoor Station going to start freshness dating the bottles? When at the store I'm not always up to date on what is the latest wax, and never buy SM Wheat because I have no idea how long it's sat.
It is still drinking well...
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