Tag Archives: india pale ale

A Craft Beer February Weekend in Sonoma Valley

Posted on March 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

Avid Suds Magazine readers and contributers, Dave/Jasper & Chris/Laura, recently made a quick trip to Santa Rosa and the Sonoma Valley in California to check out some great craft beer in the area. Here is a re-cap by Chris.

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We recently made the trek from Kelowna, BC down to Santa Rosa, California to investigate Russian River Brewing for ourselves. Along the way, making stops at a few other watering holes, such as Lagunitas, Anderson Valley and Bear Republic, to name a few.

We started off our weekend at Boundary Bay Brewing. They just happened to have their Imperial IPA on tap, so we figured we would stay for a pint or 2.

The next morning we flew to Santa Rosa on Craft Beer Friendly Alaska/Horizon Airlines from Seattle, enjoying Ninkasi Believer and Alaska Brewing IPA on the flight. When we arrived in sunny California and headed straight to Laguntias to check out the new patio and bar. We weren’t disappointed. Next we visited Moylan’s Irish Pub/Brewery in Novato, CA for dinner and brew. We then made our way back to Santa Rosa, where we stopped in at Third Street Aleworks for a quick Imperial IPA.

Beer Taster Rack at Russian River Brewing

Russian River Brewing's Taster Rack.

After that we settled into Russian River Brewing, where bartender Jeff Jones really took care of us. Jeff introduced us to all their fantastic beers, from the smooth belgiums, to their wine barrel aged sours and finally their hoppy IPA’s. The live band and outstanding food was just icing on the cake. RRB is definitely worth the trip.

The next morning we headed up north to Boonville, for a round of disc golf and beer at Anderson Valley Brewing. The scenery was great and so was weather. After a short stop for lunch at Ruth McGowan’s, we slid on in to Bear Republic Brewing to close out the day. The ‘X’ Imperial IPA was top notch and the burgers were amazing.

Boonville, CA Disc Golf at Anderson Valley Brewing

Disc golfing at Anderson Valley Brewing in Boonville, CA

We will definitely be heading back to Santa Rosa again in the near future. The area is full of friendly people, beautiful scenery and great craft beer!

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Lighthouse Brewing Switch Back IPA = Canada’s Pliny?

Posted on March 18, 2012 | 1 Comment

Recently I visited Kelowna’s top Liquor Store (Metro Liquor) to stock up my beer fridge and found a six pack of Victoria’s Lighthouse Brewing “Switch Back IPA”. It had a cool label and it’s a beer I’ve never tried before so I took home half a dozen bottles.

I opened my first bottle and “Bam”, the aroma immediately reminded me of Russian River Brewing’s “Pliny the Elder”! This is the Holy Grail of IPAs and something that is not available in Canada. In fact at many beer stores in the Pacific NW, there is a limit to how many bottles one can purchase at a time.

Luckily, I had two bottles of Pliny the Elder in my beer fridge, so did a side by side comparison. What I found was interesting. The aroma on both beers immediately after pouring was almost identical. The colour, a slight bit darker on the Switchback. The flavour profile very similar with the Pliny coming in a bit sweeter. The Pliny the elder had slightly more head retention.

As far as ratings, the Pliny the Elder is 8% ABV, while the Switch Back IPA clocks in at 6.5% ABV, hence the sweeter taste in the Pliny. Perhaps the Switch Back IPA would resemble the Russian River “Blind Pig IPA” a bit closer as it is closer in ABV.

Pliny the Elder IPA and Switch Back IPA Comparison

Russian River Brewing's Pliny the Elder vs Lighthouse Brewing's Switch Back IPA.

What does this all mean? Well, to us BC Craft Beer drinkers it means that we can have access to yet another great IPA brewed in Canada. Most importantly it means that there are brewers out there who can brew a class of IPA in the same tier as Pliny the Elder. Let’s hope Lighthouse Brewing can come out with an Imperial IPA that might blow us all away!

Cheers!

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What’s Your Favorite India Pale Ale?

Posted on December 14, 2011 | 4 Comments

According to many sources, America’s top selling style of Craft Beer is India Pale Ale, followed by Pale Ale. This does not surprise me as my favorite style is definitely Inda Pale Ale (and Imperial IPAs). I love the hops! I thought it would be time to go through my bottle collection and pull out my top ten IPAs and top ten Imperial IPAs. Here they are:

Suds Magazine's favorite IPAs

My Top Ten IPAs in my Bottle Collection

These are not in any order. From Left to Right:

Racer 5 IPA from Bear Republic Brewing (CA)

IPA (Inside Passage Ale) from Boundary Bay Brewing (WA)

Organic IPA by Hopworks Urban Brewery (OR)

Sculpin IPA by Ballast Point Brewing (CA)

Hop Diggity IPA by Port Townsend Brewing (WA)

Inversion IPA by Deschutes Brewery (OR)

India Pelican Ale by Pelican Pub and Brewery (OR)

West Coast IPA by Green Flash Brewing (CA)

Apocalypse IPA by 10 Barrel Brewing (OR)

Ruud Awakening IPA by Old Schoolhouse Brewery (WA)

And for the Imperial IPAs

My favorite Imperial IPAs

My Favorite Imperial (Double) IPAs

Again, not in any particular order, from Left to Right:

Double Jack by Firestone Walker Brewing (CA)

Ruination IPA by Stone Brewing (CA)

Imperial IPA by Green Flash Brewing (CA)

Tricerahops by Ninkasi Brewing (OR)

Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA by Alameda Brewing (OR)

Mongo IPA by Port Brewing (CA)

Pliny the Elder by Russian River Brewing (CA)

Workhorse IPA by Laurelwood Brewhouse (OR)

Hopsickle Imperial Ale by Moylan’s Brewing (CA)

The Maharaja India Pale Ale by Avery Brewing (CO)

I estimate that I’ve tried close to 300 IPAs in the last decade so it’s very hard to pick my favorite. I’d have to say it is very situational, meaning that my mood, the weather, the smells in the kitchen etc. play a big role on what would be my favorite IPA on any given night. I can conclude, however, that nine times out of ten, I’ll choose an IPA or Imperial IPA over any other style.

There are some close runner-ups… Diamond Knot Industrial IPA, Amnesia Copacetic IPA, American Brewing Breakaway IPA, Third Street Aleworks IPA and many more, but I can’t get carried away here.

The obvious question next is what are my least favorite IPAs. Well, I’d have to say any poser beer trying to pass as an IPA. A perfect example is Alexander Kieths IPA from Canada. This beer is lucky to be a lager, but since it’s marketed heavily by one of the big breweries, it completely destroys the style in the Canadian market and is responsible for the mass quantities of lacklustre craft beers on the market in Canada. Don’t get me wrong, there are some good ones, but in general, there are far too many mediocre and sub-par craft beers that are way to trendy. I call it the Tim Horton’s Effect. But that’s another article altogether.

Cheers to great American Style India Pale Ales and their big Imperial Brothers!

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Special Guest Posting – “My Craft Beer Experience” by Regina

Posted on March 14, 2011 | Leave a comment

Since I moved to Kelowna, BC Canada from The Philippines and met the Suds Magazine Crew I started being curious and wanting to try more about the local craft beers which are available in beautiful Kelowna which my friend is so addicted to it. I tried some craft beers but here are some of those that interests me the most to write.

Hophead India Pale Ale by Tree Brewing of Kelowna

Tree Brewing Hophead IPA

One night during our dinner, he let me try  the Hop Head India Pale Ale from Tree Brewing in Kelowna, BC paired with the Coconut Crab dish special from Big T Taphouse and Grill. This is my first Hoppy experienced. IPA was poured with a golden amber honey color. It has a nice sweet  aroma with a medium body that was lightly bitter. On my first sip, i noticed a clean and smooth on the palate and a nice bitterness from the hops but not in any way overpowering. As an inexperienced drinker of IPA., I highly recommend this beer and it can be paired with any cuisine. I really enjoyed every sip of it till the bottom.

I was at a get together with my friends birthday party when Suds Magazine brought some Audacious Apricot Ale from Pyramid Brewing. This caught my interest because it has an apricot flavor which I never had a flavored beer before. Most ladies I know like the taste for a lighter sweet beers, so I introduced this beer to my girlfriends and surprisingly they mentioned they liked this kind of beer because of its taste and its refreshing drink.

Pyramid Brewing Apricot Ale

Pyramid Brewing Apricot Ale

This Audacious Ale has a pale orange yellow color with a creamy small white head and a very pleasant Apricot aroma. It was poured in a small glass because it is the only available glass in the party but not bad as long as the main flavor of sweet apricot still there in the beer and it did not bother us to enjoy every sip of it. The smell was delicious and it has a little bit sourness on the nose. The apricot mainly contributes to the taste of the beer with a little of sweet caramel malts and a little hops around it.

It’s winter once again.It is nice to sit by the fireplace  with a cold one. I want to try something new for a drink. I am a martini lover  since I tried the special martini served at the Big T Taphouse and Grill. I kept going back with their martini and IPA  so i decided to do my own martini. As i was browsing what ingredients should I take for my martini at the BC Liqour store, the Black Chocolate Stout from Brooklyn Brewery made me stop and think why not try this one. Though I read at the bottom it was an extra strong stout with a 10% alc./vol on it, which i thought it is too strong for a woman like me, this did not made me stop bringing one of this home. Besides, Suds Magazine encouraged me to pair this for desserts or it is very good for stout float.

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Brooklyn Brewing Black Chocolate Stout

For my dessert after a great early dinner with the family I am working with, I poured this Black Chocolate stout on a glass which revealed a very dark almost black color. It has a strong smell of bittersweet chocolate and a roasted espresso. On my first sip, i noticed a sweet, smooth on the palate and warmth as it goes with a satisfying taste of chocolate and roasted espresso throughout the beer and some bitterness from the hops. Half of it I made as a stout float and indeed it turned out great. This is recommendable for a cold winter night on your happy hours. But for a lady like me, the alcohol content is so strong that it made me tipsy a little bit at the end, but still enjoyed this drink.

Regina is a recent transplant to Canada from The Philippines and enjoys trying new beverages and foods. She recently offered to share her ‘newbie’ craft beer experience with Suds Magazine. We think she did a fine job.

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