Drink Local: Five For National IPA Day
By Chuck Sudo in Food on Aug 2, 2012 8:40PM
Today is National IPA Day, celebrating the beer style whose origins date back to 17th century England. There is no shortage of IPAs to consume around town. We thought we'd stay local and offer five suggestions.
Wild Onion “Hop Slayer” Double IPA
We’ve mentioned the wonderful things happening at the Lake Barrington pub and brewery before and this is one of a dozen Imperial or double IPAs to be canned in the country. How hoppy is Hop Slayer? Five different hops are used in the brewing process; you get the bitterness, a pronounced citrus flavor on the nose and a lingering earthiness on the finish. For all that’s going on with the hops, however, there is a sweet maltiness on the palate to keep this beer in balance.
Haymarket Lizzie’s Simcoe IPA
Pete Crowley has focused mainly on Belgian-style ales since opening his brewpub on Randolph Street but he hasn’t fully ignored the hopheads with this IPA brewed in honor feminist, journalist and anarchist Sarah Elizabeth “Lizzie” Holmes.This American IPA is brewed with two pounds of Simcoe hops per barrel and you’ll pick up pine on the nose, grapefruit on the palate and an wonderfully bitter finish.
Piece Wingnut Double IPA
Jonathan Cutler continues to brew stellar beers as the city floats with each new brewery and brewpub announcement. Wingnut, contrary to its name, is a balanced ale in flavor, with pine and bitterness complementing a light caramel malt from aroma to finish.
Revolution Brewing Anti-Hero IPA
Jim Cibak and Josh Deth have brewed a very floral and balanced beer. At 70 IBUs this beer isn’t going to drown your tongue in bitterness, even though it’s marketed as “an American hop assault for all the ambivalent warriors who get the girl in the end.”
Three Floyds Blackheart IPA
The Munster brewery calls this beer a throwback to the style’s origins. It’s brewed with English malt, English yeast and slightly aged in oak. Of the five beers selected, this one is the most viscous of the bunch.