Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids, MI., Centennial IPA. 7.2% abv.  From 12 oz. bottles, it pours a rich, medium amber with a straw colored head and some light lacing on the glass.  Hops predominate on the tongue and the finish is very well balanced with some malty undertones. The Centennial hops offer a tasty pine and citruss flavor and make this is a very fine, quality IPA.

Troegs Brewing Co., out of Hershey, PA., brew many fine beers and has built a quality reputation in the Craft Brew industry. I sampled a six pack of the Perpetual IPA. In 12 oz bottles that comes in at 7.5% abv. Troegs calls this an “Imperial Pale Ale.” Personally, I’m not quite sure what the difference is between this and most IPAs which usually stands for an India Pale Ale. Usually, the India Pale Ales tend to be hoppier since back in the day the sailors used hops as a preservative to keep their ale fresh for the long voyage to India. Anyway, back to the Perpetual IPA (however it might be denominated). It pours a light gold in color with a whiteish head that leaves light but impressive lacing on the glass. The light color belies the full bodied flavor of this beer, which is very enjoyable and look forward to having it again….as well as sampling more of Troegs delicious, well made beers.

Stone Brewing Co. Out of Escondido, San Diego, CA. is the number 1 brewery in what is arguably the epicenter of the craft brew movement. I sampled their Ruin Ten from 22oz bottles. It pours cloudy amber with a strong hop and slight alcohol in bouquet. Big, pronounced hop and big al the tongue with a big hoppy finish. This was a good, DIPA but I have enjoyed some other Stone varieties more. It had a bit too much alcohol flavor. It is a big 10% DIPA, but their “Enjoy By” series is also high in alcohol but IMHO, is much smoother and it has that strong, sweet hop flavor. Look for more on the “Enjoy By” series another post.

We took our annual, end of summer beach vacation down on the Delaware shore this year. Before I left, I was told to keep an eye out for Evolution beers. Evolution Craft Brewing Co., out of Salisbury, MD was offered in tap and in bottles in restaurants in the area and the local beer store had a number of selections from them to choose.  The Lot No.6 is a Double IPA and comes in at 8.5% abv. Out of 12 oz bottles, it poured a cloudy amber with a medium to thick, almost creamy head. Strong, predominately citrus hops on the nose.  Sweet, citrussy and piney hop flavors predominate and it has a nice, smooth malty finish was surprisingly smooth for a big 8.5% double. I really enjoyed this beer and found it to be a very good DIPA.

While down on the Delmarva, I also sampled Evolution’s Lot No. 3, which is their single IPA. It too, was a very good beer. I believe it has a 6.8% abv and was smooth and hoppy. I didn’t bring any of them home so I don’t have a true review).  But, I did enjoy the Lot No. 6 more than the Lot No. 3.  But, I tend to enjoy prefer DIPAs.

Horace ‘Hop’ Wallop headed West a broken man.  For in the City of Blues a Miss LuLu Belle Lager had left him thirsting for more.  Drawn by wild tales of riches to be had in the gold mines, Hop pressed on westward.  His last nickle spent on a prospecting pan, Hop’s hunger got the best of him.  Two fistfuls of barley and three of some wild and wayward hops tossed in a pan with some clear water was to be his meal.  But sleep overcame him and he later awoke to a bubbling, cacaphonous concoction.  Overjoyed with the beautiful ale that he had made, Hop realized the secret of the green gold he had discovered in those fresh hops.  Celebrated far and wide, Hop Wallop lives on in this vivid ale with his words, “hoppiness is happiness.”  Enjoy!  (Story from the bottle label).

Victory, out of Downingtown, PA, labels this a “very hoppy ale”.  I enjoyed them out of 12 oz bottles which I poured into pint glasses and revealed a beer cloudy gold in color with a thinnish white head.  It had a strong malty nose with hints of hops and alcohol.  It is, after all, a big 8.5% abv. ale.  It has a slightly bitter, hoppy finish and overall is very enjoyable.  Not quite as much of a pronounced citrussy or piney hoppy flavor as I tend to enjoy best, but this is nonetheless, a very good beer and is quite tasty.

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(12 oz. bottle) The Shed Brewery, Middlebury, Vt.

Pours a cloudy amber in color with some good lacing on the glass.  Nice well rounded IPA.  Some mild hop flavor and bouquet up front with some malt flavors at the finish.  Overall, this is a very drinkable and sessionable English IPA at 6.0% abv., yet, IMHO, it lacks more hop flavors and aromas.

(12oz bottle) Great Divide Brewing Co., Denver, CO.

Pours a light brown/dark amber in color.  Small oatmeal colored head. Heavy malt bouquet with a distinct malty finish. Relatively smooth which belies the 8.7% abv.  Great Divide describes their Hibernation Ale as a malty, robust English style  Old Ale.  I’d have to say that pretty much sums it up.  I found it similar in flavor to a Sam Smith’s brown ale but it is a much fuller, heavier bodied version.