If there’s another Double IPA to live up to what we experienced with Citra from Kern River, it would be another beer by the same guys! Their 5th Anniversary Ale is a Double IPA, and depending upon who you ask, is as good or better than Citra. From Kernville, CA this 8% ABV Double IPA exemplifies the same “west coast” IPA qualities as Citra: citrusy, juicy and equally bitter.
The Phin and Matt’s Extraordinary Ale from Southern Tier is billed as being a classic American style Pale Ale, and there is nothing wrong with any of that. Brewed with three types of hops and three types of malt there should be a good depth of flavor and balance. Being a standard Pale Ale, it should also be approachable. All this combined makes the Phin and Matt’s a beer that I’m excited to dive into.
Recently I was at my local Whole Foods and picked up two 32 ounce flip-top growlers of one of my favorite go-to IPAs, Port Brewing’s Mongo Double IPA. I easily polished off the first growler during the “Big Game” and saved the second one for a review. The growler was filled three days ago so it is still quite fresh.
Many members of my family went to college in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and Lancaster Brewing Company has been a must hit spot whenever we are in the area. One of my favorites to pick up is the Amish Four Grain Pale Ale which promises to be well balanced yet complex enough for the style.
Mendocino Brewing Company is one of those breweries that I didn’t know about until I received one of their beers via a “beer of the month club” package. Out of this package I got two beers, one of them the Black Hawk Stout and the other the White Hawk IPA. Today I’ll be reviewing the White Hawk as it is 60 degrees at the end of January, and an IPA seems fitting and refreshing.
