Big IPA Season

(Dave and Mike of Founders with Christina)

Lots of big IPAs on the shelves of West Michigan beer stores right now and on tap at breweries.


These beers are of a style soon to be temporarily extinct: over-hopped, inefficient, wasteful and glorious. Hops are now fast becoming scarce and expensive. Many breweries are opting not to brew these kinds of beers in the future in order to save hops and stretch them out over several batches. 2009 will prove to be even worse as far as hops go. But take heart; you could drink one today!

Founder's Devil Dancer (Grand Rapids, MI) - The most potent out there. I liken it to sipping congealing jello and hop juice. Nothing like it. Pretty sure Diamond brewed most of this year's batch.

Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree (Marshall, MI) - Very limited stuff. Waxed top. Very piny, sappy, wet hop tasting stuff. Sweet and tangy malt. Almost tastes like unfermented wort when it warms.

Bell's Hopslam (Kalamazoo, MI) Somehow this beer is very drinkable. A lot of people get in trouble with this, I know from experience. The most balanced of all these doubles.

Livery Double Paw (Bent0n Harbor, MI) Dark amber. Lots of hop flavor and aroma, balanced bitterness. On tap at brewery ans Hop Cat (Grand Rapids, MI)

Arcadia Hop Mouth (Battle Creek, MI) Distinct English take on an American Style

Arcadia Hop Rocket (Battle Creek, MI) Even more distinct. Particular spicy hop profile, sweet malt.

Stone Ruination (San Diego, CA) On the lighter side of the others listed here. Strong bitterness, easy drink-ability.

HE'BREW Lenny's Rye (Saratoga Springs, NY) Bittersweet, strong malt ans hop aromatics. Rye spiciness

Bitter Tony's Rye Bitter (Ann Arbor, MI) is flavorful session beer brewed with rye malt and lots of American Hops. (taken from website)